More Sigma 56 and Canon 50 comparisons
Nov 9, 2019
20
There was a request for more comparisons, with subjects further away and more to the sides of the frame. So, I did a few more this morning. These are from about 8 feet away. With these lenses that would give roughly a three quarter portrait of a person. Since the 56 is ideally suited to portraits--everything full head (the distance of my previous comparison) to full length--I thought this would be a useful comparison. This is probably the last comparison I'll post, though I'll continue to post plenty of shots with the 56. This first set has the subject towards the top left of the frame. Spot focus on the eye. Canon first in each pair. Wide open, then F2 and F2.8:
Canon F1.8
Sigma F1.4
Canon F2
Sigma F2
Canon F2.8
Sigma F2.8
And now a different subject towards the top right of the frame. Spot focus was on the right eye (as you look at it). Again, Canon first in each pair:
Canon F1.8
Sigma F1.4
Canon F2
Sigma F2
Canon F2.8
Sigma F2.8
All shots were taken in low-speed burst mode, with 3 shot bursts. I selected the middle shot of each burst for this comparison. All shots were taken in CRAW, and processed in LR, using the same settings, except for lens profile corrections. Obviously, I used the Canon 50STM profile for that lens, and the Sigma 56 profile for that lens.
To my eye, the Sigma has better sharpness throughout. These are full resolution images, so you can view them at 100%. Also, and this is something that didn't show up in my previous comparison, the bokeh of the Sigma is much better. You can see it in each pair, but the difference is most dramatic in the second set of F2 comparisons. I still think the Canon is a good lens, and excellent value for money. But the Sigma is so much better. As I said about the other comparison, I think the Sigma is on a par with the Canon 32. I've been using it for shots of people at departmental colloquia (I teach at the University of Colorado, and we have frequent talks), and getting great results. I'll post some of those soon too, though probably not full resolution (my standard size for web posting is 2000 pixels on the longer side).
If you can afford this lens, get it.
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As the length of a thread approaches 150, the probability that someone will make the obvious "it's not the camera, it's the photographer" remark approaches 1.
Alastair
http://anorcross.smugmug.com
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