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Just posted: Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM lens review

Dec 21, 2012 at 16:02:15 GMT

REVIEW LENS REVIEW SIGMA

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Earlier this year Sigma outlined a new vision for its product line-up, with lenses to be split into three categories: Contemporary, Sports and Art. The 35mm F1.4 DG HSM is the first release in the latter, and is designed to offer a relatively affordable alternative to the camera manufacturers' equivalents. It works on both full frame and APS-C cameras, and will be available in mounts for all major brands. In our latest review in partnership with DxOMark, we take a detailed look at how it performs, including test data from all of its closest competitors to see how it measures up. Click through to find out what we thought.

Click here for our in-depth review of the Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM

Click here for the Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM on DxOMark

Comments

Total comments: 182

Good job Sigma! I'm getting one but out of stock already.

0 upvotes

I guess the Phoblographer was right!!! He swapped all his Canon optics for Sigma.

0 upvotes

If it weren't for the onion bokeh, this would beat the 35L.

0 upvotes

What, the 35L doesn't have Onions?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pong0814/5596735626/

6 upvotes

Yea, unfortunate side-effect of heavy use of aspherical element. Its sorta price for high performance. There are lens like 35 L or Zeiss/Leica which have asph element, but dont do this much, but they are mostly not that amazing from MTF point of view and then is Sigma, which is amazing from MTF point of view, but for some price..

Tho Leica is great in both, but then there is that price. :D

Comment edited 40 seconds after posting

1 upvote

Nishi Drew

All asph lens do that when its provoked by certain use. Leica included, just in case of them its mostly not visible.. thats that difference.

0 upvotes

Oh yes, I'm aware of that side effect, I'm just replying to a post that basically says "the 35L doesn't do that".
Though indeed, just something that's unfortunate, but doesn't really bother me anyways, and thus my soon-to-be-mine Sigma

0 upvotes

The 35L has problematic bokeh as well but not as bad as the Sigma.

0 upvotes

What, the Nikon 35G doesn't have Onions?

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2195318/web%20forums/101225-113746%2035mm_f1.4.JPG

0 upvotes

I've never noticed onion bokeh on my copy. Perhaps I want looking hard enough. I searched and there does appear to be onion bokeh on the 35L.

0 upvotes

The reason you never noticed it in the 35L is that in most cases it won't be visible unless you look at your image at 100%. Unless you have some lights which take up an unusually large portion of your image frame, you just won't see it in normal viewing. So yeah might be a serious issue for some but nothing to worry about as far as I am concerned. A 35mm 1.4 lens is an extreme design and always requires compromises. You will never find any 35mm 1.4 lens which will be perfect without any flaw. Based on the reviews so far, the Sigma is as close to perfect as have been seen for a 35mm 1.4 lens so far. So you can either choose to worry about a problem which may have no practical concern for you in your photography or enjoy a great lens.

1 upvote

Actually, double lines (due to onion bokeh) are very well visible without going to 100%. The 35L does this as well, but the Sigma is worse. There were direct comparisons in the Canon forum.

0 upvotes

You mention that the Canon & Nikon counterparts are weather sealed. The Canon 35mm f1.4 is not weather sealed.

11 upvotes

Thanks, that's corrected.

1 upvote

The Canon 35/1.4 L is weather sealed. All L series lenses are

0 upvotes

Not all L glass is weather sealed.

12 upvotes

"The Canon 35/1.4 L is weather sealed. All L series lenses are"
LOL you must be kidding me

10 upvotes

@Sandyramirez

All L series lenses designed in the last 10yrs or so are weather-sealed (except the TS-E ones), but the 35L came out before Canon was applying weathersealing to their lenses. It is not officially weather-sealed and lacks a rubber gasket at the lens mount.

That being said, I have the equally non-sealed 24L mk1 and it has been accidentally soaked several times without issues: I think there is a certain amnt of sealing despite not having the gasket on the mount.

0 upvotes

If Sigma made an Art series 50mm f/1.2 or even f/1.4... it would become my first Sigma lens! And that's meant as a compliment as I'm a die hard Nikkor fan :)

7 upvotes

I just bought the current 50/1.4 and it's a great lens, but I'd buy an Art series version simply for the USB functionality.

1 upvote

A plastic filter thread and no weather sealing....That's a pity for almost a perfect lens.

1 upvote

You can't have it all and at the lowest price.

8 upvotes

At least neither of those affect IQ

3 upvotes

Absolutely right. But aiming this lens at professionals, at least a metal filter thread should heve been added in my opinion.

1 upvote

Remove the glass from a cheap clear filter and use the metal housing as a insert and waallaa a metal fliter thread.

0 upvotes

Hi Apewithcamera, true and wrapping a plastic bag around your lens and it's weather sealed

Comment edited 43 seconds after posting

5 upvotes

"waalaa" LOL! :)

I think you mean, "viola"? Or is that a big violin. I am never sure of these things.

0 upvotes

Voilá as meant above.
Viola as in the big violin.
See, letters can be trikcy...eh, tricky :-)

1 upvote

How about presto a metal filter thread :)

0 upvotes

the 135L has a plastic filter thread and is not sealed, and that lens gets all sorts of love, and used by many professionals. And as for wrapping a plastic bag around, even for sealed lenses if your out in the rain it's suggested you get your gear wrapped up regardless.

0 upvotes

Sounds like a winner! Sigma really seems to be on a roll with their fast primes. Hopefully they roll out similarly fast lenses in MFT format...

0 upvotes

Wow!

Aside from vignetting wide open on FF, this is nearly flawless. Good job Sigma!

0 upvotes

Total comments: 182


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