Spacesuit Media’s Andy Clary is one of the few photographers to be granted a 2018 season-long pass (a “hard card”) for the US motor racing series IndyCar. What is his lens of choice? The SIGMA 20mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art lens.
Shooting IndyCar is no mean feat: the single-seater racing cars can top 230mph in qualifying trim, and the series races at a variety of locations, including street courses, race tracks and ovals.

Each team uses the same chassis and aero kit, and chooses between a choice of two engine manufacturers. Keeping many components identical throughout the paddock increases competition and puts the emphasis on driver performance.

Open testing for the 2018 IndyCar season took place in Phoenix, Arizona, in February. Six hours of running on two consecutive days included afternoon and evening slots. The light was constantly changing and the cars got faster and faster – hitting nearly 190mph around the one-mile oval.

“I shoot with two Canon bodies,” Andy says, who is based in Indianapolis. “The images you see here were captured with my Canon 5D MkIII and the SIGMA 20mm | Art lens.”

Andy chose the Sigma lens for a few reasons. “The reviews really impressed me first of all,” he explains. “Speaking to other professional photographers who own an ART series lens (including quite a few Spacesuit photographers), I received only praise about the build, clarity, and edge-to-edge sharpness.”

Andy then decided to see if the Sigma product really was as good as it appeared to be. “I needed to actually get my hands on the lens to make a decision about whether to buy or not,” he says. “So down to my local camera store I went. When I tested the lenses in person, I loved the 20mm F1.4; the focal length and aperture makes for a special combination. The lens and camera felt very balanced in my hands which I had never really discovered before. The price of this lens is about half of the equivalent Canon version which was just icing on the cake.”

Did the lens live up to expectations at the racetrack? “This was my first time purchasing a Sigma product and my first non-Canon lens and I have been very impressed,” Andy confirms. “When using the lens at the track, it’s perfect for when you’re in tight spaces but need to capture the entire scene that is only inches away. The wide aperture and wide angle make creating stunning images easy. The lens focuses just as fast as the Canon equivalent which I also have, but I love the colour that the Sigma lens produces.”

The million dollar question, of course, is: would Andy recommend the lens to other photographers? Andy concludes: “Most definitely! The build quality, focusing speed, sharpness and price make using the Sigma lens a wonderful experience.”

See more of Andy’s work at spacesuitcollections.com.