Sigma 40mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens with the FTZ

dave gaines · Jan 5, 2022

Is anyone here shooting with the Sigma 40mm f/1.4 Art lens on a Z camera? Is there a Nikon S lens equivalent?

According to Thom Hogan many of the Sigma lenses work without issue on a Z camera with an FTZ. For some reason the 40mm f/1.4 is not on his list.

https://www.zsystemuser.com/z-mount-lenses/z-mount-adapters/ftz-compatible-sigma-lenses.html

What about using the Sigma 40mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens with the FTZ? Thom Hogan doesn't have it on his list of compatible lenses. It's a wide to normal lens, not much different than a 30 mm focal length that is on his list. It's widely reported to be as sharp as the Nikon 35 mm f/1.4G, an FX lens. It would be highly desirable to use this on the FTZ and a Z camera.

According to Sigma, "The 40mm F1.4 DG HSM Art is Sigma’s first lens developed originally to live up to the sought-after angle of view and performance standard for a benchmark cine lens. This lens effectively arranges three FLD (“F” Low Dispersion) glass elements and three SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass elements to correct axial chromatic aberration and magnification chromatic aberration. Designed for exceptional sharpness at maximum aperture, this lens excels at available light photography. With less than 1% distortion and near non-existent sagittal coma flare, this lens demonstrates consistent optical results featuring both 8K-compatible resolution and a beautiful bokeh. The Sigma 40mm F1.4 DG HSM Art is available for Sigma, Nikon, Canon and Sony E mount camera systems."

anotherMike · Jan 5, 2022

Well, until I read your post, even as a 40//1.4 Art owner, I couldn't answer.

The 40/1.4 Art *lives* on my D850. It is a reference standard lens: no Nikon lens, Z or F mount at 35 or 50mm is as good (the 50/1.2 probably is in the neighborhood, but I haven't shot that one), and it's a *lot* better than the 35/1.4G (that I used to own) and quite easily so.

However, gotta be honest here - its a big, heavy monster even on the D850. On the FTZ on the Z7 (I just tried it), it's really front heavy, bigger than my 24-70/2.8S, and just an uncomfortable unbalanced experience. It also seems to be markedly slower to autofocus on the Z7; it's actually pretty speedy (and VERY consistent/accurate) on the D850. So yea, it works...

So while optically, it really has no peer, would I want to shoot this on the Z7 regularly? No way in hell. On the D850, I'm good with it all day long and it's the primary lens for my full length studio work. On the Z7, I'll use something else to maintain my sanity LOL....

So I think this is a lens better suited to the DSLR world, or for tripod use on a Z body, than handheld on a Z body. But make no mistake about it's optical qualities - it's world class in that regard.

Dibyendu Majumdar · Jan 5, 2022

dave gaines said:
Is anyone here shooting with the Sigma 40mm f/1.4 Art lens on a Z camera? Is there a Nikon S lens equivalent?

I use it on FTZ and Z6. Works perfectly.

dave gaines said:
What about using the Sigma 40mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens with the FTZ? Thom Hogan doesn't have it on his list of compatible lenses. It's a wide to normal lens, not much different than a 30 mm focal length that is on his list. It's widely reported to be as sharp as the Nikon 35 mm f/1.4G, an FX lens. It would be highly desirable to use this on the FTZ and a Z camera.

I think the Sigma 40mm is probably the closest you can get to the Otus quality while spending a fraction of the cost; but is very heavy lens. Size and weight is more than say a 300mm PF lens.

nmphoto1 · Jan 5, 2022

I owned on and used it with a z6ii primarily for astro photos. I didn't ever fall in love with it. It was very front heavy especially with the ftz. The performance wasn't in my experience quite at the level of the hype for stars. I also found it to be slow focusing and would chatter quite a bit on the Z body. I ended up selling it and bought a 50mm 1.2s which I'm much happier with. It's no doubt a great lens, but I do think it's better suited to DSLRs.

dave gaines · Jan 5, 2022

Thanks Mike,

I'm still shooting with the D800E and D850 and I will be for a while. This lens has been on my wish list. But if I eventually switch to the MILC Z system, when Nikon releases something in between the Z7II and the Z9, I wanted to know the lens will function. With the current FTZ and tripod mount I can see it would be fairly easy to add an Arca-Swiss style lens plate to fit my RRRS monopod head, making it easier to handle.

anotherMike · Jan 5, 2022

I intend to be a dual system guy - DSLR for studio, Z7 for landscape and most everything else, and I still shoot a pair of D800E bodies along with my D850, so I've taken the approach of native S lenses for the Z7, and not using the DSLR lenses on the Z personally. The D800E still delivers!

dave gaines · Jan 5, 2022

Here's a review I read that has lots of info about the performance aspects of this very sharp wide-normal lens. The comments here and this review convinced me to buy this lens.

Sigma 40mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens Review (the-digital-picture.com)

dave gaines · Jan 5, 2022

Dibyendu Majumdar said:
dave gaines said:

Is anyone here shooting with the Sigma 40mm f/1.4 Art lens on a Z camera? ...

Click to expand...

I use it on FTZ and Z6. Works perfectly.

Member said:

...

Click to expand...

I think the Sigma 40mm is probably the closest you can get to the Otus quality while spending a fraction of the cost; but is very heavy lens. Size and weight is more than say a 300mm PF lens.

Thanks for the input. I needed to know that.

I have the Zeiss Otus 55 mm f/1.4 and it is a superb lens. There is no Otus 40mm so I look forward to using the Sigma.

dave gaines · Jan 5, 2022

The review I posted below reinforces what you say about slow focus. They did say they'd expect it to focus better on a mirrorless camera. It's also a fine video lens because it does not experience focus breathing, or a change in image size with a change in focus distance. The Z cameras are better for video than a DSLR.

Thanks for your reply.

anotherMike · Jan 6, 2022

You might already know this, but the 40 art started life as a cine lens project with very high quality goals, and from what I've heard, originally it was never to be a still lens, but once they realized how good the resulting cine lens was, they ported the design over to the still world. Which explains it's performance characteristics as well as how it deals with breathing.

DarkShift · Jan 6, 2022

I have this lens too, and yes it works with FTZ adapter on Z7II

Mackiesback · Jan 6, 2022

DarkShift said:
I have this lens too, and yes it works with FTZ adapter on Z7II

I have not heard of an Art series lens that does not work with the adapter. I have the 50mm 1.4 pre-Art Sigma, and that didn't work, but I sent it to Sigma anyway for a software update, and it now works. Sigma told me it wouldn't and even they were surprised that it did.

Anyway, for general info, I think anything in the Art series should be good.

dave gaines · Jan 6, 2022

Mackiesback said:
DarkShift said:

I have this lens too, and yes it works with FTZ adapter on Z7II

Click to expand...

I have not heard of an Art series lens that does not work with the adapter. I have the 50mm 1.4 pre-Art Sigma, and that didn't work, but I sent it to Sigma anyway for a software update, and it now works. Sigma told me it wouldn't and even they were surprised that it did.

Anyway, for general info, I think anything in the Art series should be good.

Thanks for the info from both of you. When I read Thom Hogan's list of lenses that work I couldn't understand why he didn't list the 40mm f/1.4 Art. That's why I posted this thread - to ask people who might be using it on the Z system.

dave gaines · Jan 6, 2022

anotherMike said:
You might already know this, but the 40 art started life as a cine lens project with very high quality goals, and from what I've heard, originally it was never to be a still lens, but once they realized how good the resulting cine lens was, they ported the design over to the still world. Which explains it's performance characteristics as well as how it deals with breathing.

Thanks Mike. I got that impression. When you read any description of the lens, including Sigma's own website, you find:

"The 40mm F1.4 DG HSM Art is Sigma’s first lens developed originally to live up to the sought-after angle of view and performance standard for a benchmark cine lens. This lens effectively arranges three FLD (“F” Low Dispersion) glass elements and three SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass elements to correct axial chromatic aberration and magnification chromatic aberration. Designed for exceptional sharpness at maximum aperture, this lens excels at available light photography. With less than 1% distortion and near non-existent sagittal coma flare, this lens demonstrates consistent optical results featuring both 8K-compatible resolution and a beautiful bokeh. The Sigma 40mm F1.4 DG HSM Art is available for Sigma, Nikon, Canon and Sony E mount camera systems."

Despite it's size and weight on a Z camera, I think this lens would be a sought after lens for video on any Z camera. I would try to adapt a long lens plate to the FTZ to support it for seamless, steady videography.

--
Dave - Be safe. Stay Healthy.

dave gaines · Jan 6, 2022

The sigma 40mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens is on sale. If you hunt around you'll find it for $300 off at one of the major NYC camera stores. My local camera store here in Los Angeles, Samy's Camera was happy to match this price so I bought it locally. I ordered it from their local warehouse and I'll pick it up later today.

If you search you'll find it on sale from Walmart for an unbelievably low price, but the seller is 6Ave Camera who has a terrible reputation. Read this thread from last week about buying lenses from Walmart.

Buying lenses from Walmart?: Nikon SLR Lens Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

Ellis Vener · Jan 6, 2022

dave gaines said:
With the current FTZ and tripod mount I can see it would be fairly easy to add an Arca-Swiss style lens plate to fit my RRRS monopod head, making it easier to handle.

DarkShift · Jan 6, 2022

dave gaines said:
Mackiesback said:

DarkShift said:

I have this lens too, and yes it works with FTZ adapter on Z7II

Click to expand...

I have not heard of an Art series lens that does not work with the adapter. I have the 50mm 1.4 pre-Art Sigma, and that didn't work, but I sent it to Sigma anyway for a software update, and it now works. Sigma told me it wouldn't and even they were surprised that it did.

Anyway, for general info, I think anything in the Art series should be good.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the info from both of you. When I read Thom Hogan's list of lenses that work I couldn't understand why he didn't list the 40mm f/1.4 Art. That's why I posted this thread - to ask people who might be using it on the Z system.

I've also the Sigma 50 1.4 Art. While it is fine lens, at wider apertures it not as spectacular, and the Nikkor Z 50 1.8 S is sharper. Stopped down there is not much difference.

If you like normal lenses, then the Z 50/1.8 is one of the best out there.

dave gaines · Jan 6, 2022

DarkShift said:
dave gaines said:

DarkShift said:

....

Click to expand...

Thanks for the info from both of you. When I read Thom Hogan's list of lenses that work I couldn't understand why he didn't list the 40mm f/1.4 Art. That's why I posted this thread - to ask people who might be using it on the Z system.

Click to expand...

I've also the Sigma 50 1.4 Art. While it is fine lens, at wider apertures it not as spectacular, and the Nikkor Z 50 1.8 S is sharper. Stopped down there is not much difference.

If you like normal lenses, then the Z 50/1.8 is one of the best out there.

I'm not ready to adopt a Z camera yet, but I know it's inevitable for any Nikon DLSR owner. When looking at the Sigma 40 mm f/1.4 I wanted to be sure I could adapt this lens to the Z cameras using an FTZ. So I haven't read reviews of the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.8 yet.

If you read the review I linked above:

Sigma 40mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens Review (the-digital-picture.com)

you'll find the author tested the Sigma 40mm f/1.4 Art on a Canon body. That doesn't change the results of the review but near the end of the review he also compared the lens to several Canon, Nikon and Tamron lenses. He said:

"One of my favorite wide-aperture 35mm lenses is the Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM Lens and this lens is a worthy competitor to the Sigma 40 Art lens. In the image quality comparison at f/1.4, the Canon is a bit sharper in the center of the frame and the Sigma is a bit sharper in the periphery. Which is better depends on the scenario being photographed. Stopped down a couple of stops, the Sigma catches the Canon in the center and retains the periphery advantage. The Sigma shows slightly less flare."

I've heard a lot of good reviews of the Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM Lens. That lens may compete well with anything in the 50mm focal length.

Of course, this is all hypothetical talk. Neither of us can use a Canon lens on our Nikon gear.

Ellis Vener · Jan 6, 2022

dave gaines said:
Of course, this is all hypothetical talk. Neither of us can use a Canon lens on our Nikon gear.

I’ve used EF mount lenses on Nikon F and Z mount cameras for years. Primarily the 17mm and 24mm Canon TS-E lenses but also the 65mm Macro lens and at one point was using the Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II and 135mm f/1.4L II lenses and the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art lens.

--
Ellis Vener
A working photographer since 1984.
To see my work, please visit http://www.ellisvener.com
Or on Instagram @EllisVenerStudio

DarkShift · Jan 7, 2022

Yes, the Sigma Art 40/1.4 is better than Art 50/1.4 at wide open. But it is also very large lens.

And when you buy a Z body, getting the Nikkor Z 50 1.8 S is another priority

The sharpness is really outstading considering the price and size. There is regular discounts each year.

https://www.opticallimits.com/nikon_ff/1109-nikkorz5018s

Sigma 40mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens with the FTZ

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