The only surprise with the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DC HSM | A is just how good it is. Having compared its test results to those of the 50mm lenses that we tested in AP 20 July 2013, the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 lens performs better than the twelve lenses in that test, in all areas and in every respect. At its centre, it is sharper than all of the other lenses, including the older Carl Zeiss Planar T* 50mm f/1.4, which was even tested on a slightly higher-resolution Nikon D600. The bokeh rendering capability of the lens is quite pleasing for a 50mm prime. Highlight shapes do show defined transitions, but they do not look distracting as on some lenses. The dreaded onion-shaped bokeh that I showed on the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art is barely visible when photographing extremely bright points of light. Below are two comparisons that illustrate bokeh rendering capabilities of the following lenses: Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art, Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM, Nikon 50mm f/1.4G and Nikon 58mm f/1.4G. Here is the first comparison that shows bright highlights: Interestingly, there seemed to be a slight loss of light when shooting with a narrow aperture, like f/16. I noticed similar results for sharpness. At f/16, all the softness suddenly disappears

Even though the diaphragm is round at large apertures, sunstars are reasonably good at moderate apertures. Bravo! These lenses are all so good that I wouldn't worry about any optical differences; I'd worry about how much weight I want to carry and if it auto focused or not, even if the price was the same.The Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM is available in Canon EF-mount, Nikon F-mount (FX), Sony E-mount, and Sony A-mount. And it’s also available in the L-mount and Sigma mounts. For comparison, the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM weighs only 0.6 lb (290 g). So this lens might not be the ideal choice for travel photography. Key Features For axial chromatic aberration that is hard to correct even during the image processing, SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass elements are incorporated, ensuring high image quality throughout the entire focusing range. The lens achieves sharp and high contrast image rendering.

It's super sharp at every setting clear out to the corners, although just a little less sharp in the corners at f/1.4 due to a little bit of coma. It's very sharp in the corners at f/1.4, just quite not as sharp as at the center. It seems about the same as a common unit-focussed lens, even though it is a unique internally focused design. When you take the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM | A out of the box, the first thing you notice is its weight. At a hefty 815g, it comes as no surprise to learn that it is constructed from 13 elements in eight groups. This is an extremely complex arrangement for a 50mm f/1.4 lens. Most other similar optics have 6-8 elements, but Sigma clearly has a new-found confidence to manufacture this unique design, and rightly so. Amateurs waste too much time worrying about lens sharpness, and since this lens is designed for amateurs, it's super sharp. Detailed specifications for the lens, along with MTF charts and other useful data can be found in our lens database. NIKON D700 + 50mm f/1.4 @ 50mm, ISO 320, 1/4, f/8.0 Lens Handling and BuildI tried it on my Nikon D810 (2014), Nikon D2HS (2005), Nikon D100 (2002), Nikon D1 (1999) and Nikon F4 from 1988 and everything worked fine. That's easy, since Sigma knows about these cameras. Our concern is will it work with cameras we buy in 10 years about which Sigma knows nothing today? Only the years will tell.

It feels well-built and able to handle the stress of daily use that professionals demand. And it has a single switch on its left side. This is used to switch between auto and manual focus.

Sigma 40mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art review: Introduction

Let’s review some of the specs which make the 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art lens unique. Mount and Compatibility The Nikon version should work perfectly on every digital Nikon ever made, both FX and DX, from the best Df, D4s, D810 and D610 to Nikon's cheapest digitals like the D40, D40x, D60, D3000, D3100, D3200, D3300, D5000, D5100, D5200 and D5300. Focus is silent, and you may grab the ring at any time for instant manual focus override. At least on the Nikon version I bought, Sigma finally has this figured out. Museum Courtyard, San Francisco, 02 September 2014. 36 MP FX Nikon D810, Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM ART, f/8 at 1/250 at ISO 100. bigger or Camera-original LARGE BASIC JPG (5 MB). At the risk of telling you the obvious, this is what makes small formats really attrractive--not the bodies, but the smaller lenses. ... My point is that if you're going to deal with bulk and weight it should be for something exotic, not a 50mm/1.4. " -AbrasiveReducer