Anyone tried Sigma EX DN 19mm f2.8 for UV?

[Timber]

I am just wondering if anyone tried this lens for UV performance. I have the 30mm and I got some good results with it (not as good as other accidental UV lenses, but still useable) but I would like to have a wider lens with AF for UV video works. I wonder if anyone tested this lens. I heard the Sony SEL 16 f2.8 is useable but all tests got the Sigma a way better performer in all other aspects (sharpness, distortion etc).

[Alex H]

Why specifically Sigma? There should be other useable wide angle lenses.

[Timber]

Alex I am looking for AF lens for video. Also I haven't found any wide angle (<20mm) which is known for good UV. On the UV Lens List 25mm is the widest for a cine lens (if I am reading it right), with an FFD shorter than the Sony E mount, so it's not good for me, so the widest is 28mm, the RMC Tokina, which I already have. But as I said I need a wider one. Also as I have the Sigma 30mm f2.8 from the same group (19, 30, 60) and I am quite happy with it's UV capabilities that's why I was thinking that the 19mm might have similar UV performance (obviously the performance of the 30mm is nowhere near any guarantee for the performance of the 19mm)...

[Alex H]

If you need autofocus, than I can not help. Although, I though that precise geared manual focusing is preferred in video world, but I may be mistaken.

 

Lens lists sticky is very big but nowhere near exhaustive. There are a number of wide manual focus lenses that are suitable for UV-photography and which had been discussed here or at the NikonGear/Fotozones Invisible section. Search should bring up those threads back to life.

 

I personally am found of this little lens – Olympus G Zuiko AUTO W 20mm F3.5 for Olympus Pen-F/FT half frame cameras. Here are few examples:

 

http://www.ultraviol...st-storangsudd/

 

http://www.ultraviol...h-of-stockholm/

 

I have two of these lenses in fact.

[Andrea B.]

Thanks Alex for the Oly rec. It is on the list to be added to the Sticky.

 

Suggestion List:

http://www.ultravioletphotography.com/content/index.php?/topic/713-thread-for-suggested-additionscorrectionsedits-to-the-stickies/

 

I thought I had everything from Fotozones/Nikongear, but maybe not.

[Alex H]

4.0/18 Nikkor that Bjørn uses.

 

2.8/16 Sony E-mount I showed at NG and also discussed by Boon (if my memory serves me well, which is very doubtfull). Note that there is some color shift with front-mounted Baader U2.

 

4.5/21 Tamron Adapt-a-matic I showed at NG.

 

None of these lenses will reach 320nm, but they all show floral UV-signatures nicely.

[enricosavazzi]

Unfortunately the Sony 16 mm f/2.8 is no help for Micro 4/3, so I might consider the Nikkor 18 mm.

 

(In manual focus, of course)

[nfoto]

The Nikkor 18/4 is quite nice for more artistic UV projects. As its UV response is a little subdued, you need a strong UV source to get the most out of it.

 

Here is a Tussilago shot using the 18 on a D40X. On this occasion I availed myself of a battery pack to power a Broncolor studio flash in order to give 'sparkle' to the flowers. I hesitate to do this on a regular basis though, as field weather and mud are not exactly the best environment in which to use such gear. I could probably gotten a long way towards the same with one or two of my SB-140 units, but with such a wide view, having more distance between the subject and the flash is highly recommended.

 

[Alex H]

Great example, Bjørn!