New Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens Test

New Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens Test

Images have been posted of the first tests with the soon to be released Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens. Photos Rumors recently posted the following info about a release they found from Xitek. The images look VERY nice and if the price is right, I might be ditching my Canon 50mm 1.4 for this.

The reviews show the new Sigma lens (labeled 311) against 3 other lens that include the Sony Planar T* 50mm F/1.4 ZA SSM, the Nikon Nikkor AF-S 58mm f/1.4G, and the Otus Zeiss 55mm f/1.4 Otus. Let’s take a look at the comparisons.

Sigma-50mm-f1.4-DG-HSM-Art-lens Sigma-50mm-f1.4-DG-HSM-Art-lens-test-center Sigma-50mm-f1.4-DG-HSM-Art-lens-test-corner Sigma-50mm-f1.4-DG-HSM-Art-lens-test-vignetting Sigma-50mm-f1.4-DG-HSM-Art-lens-specs-comparison

 

The quality from these sample images seem to be showing a nice glimpse into what could be a killer lens. We also can not forget that Sigma had already said that they want the performance of their new 50mm Art lens to be close to that of the Zeiss $4000 55mm F/1.4 Otus Distagon T*. “Sigma mentioned they're confident they'll surpass competitive products from Canon and Nikon and are instead gunning for Zeiss's new 55mm Otus lens. It's a serious claim. The Zeiss 55mm f/1.4 Otus lens -- with its $4000 price tag -- is squarely aimed at high-end professional shooting such as fashion, advertising and editorial work."

We still do not have any information on an exact release date or what type of price range we will be in. When that information is given to us we will definitely be sharing it with you all.  Until then, what are you current thoughts on this lens?

[via Photo Rumors]

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47 Comments

I own the 18-35 1.8 and I absolutely love it. I cannot wait for Sigma to get this out, because if the tests are anywhere near accurate, I might be ditching my Nikon 50mm.

Sigma is gunning hard for Nikon and Canon (and now Zeiss!?) and I for one, hope they give 'em a good run for their money.

Oh hell ya! About time someone steps up with a sharp 50mm lens with AF for Nikon. I went through the Nikon 50 1.8, 50 1.4g, 58 1.4g and the sigma 1.4, none satisfied me. I need a 50 with the quality, sharpness and bokeliciousness of my 85 1.4g. God bless hope this is the one that'll help me sleep better at night.

Purchased the Sigma 18-35 1.8 for my Canon C100, WOW! what a lens. My Canon primes are collecting dust now.

it is a crop sensor lens correct?

Yeah! It is designed for APS-C.. Would have loved it to FF doh

Its a DG series lens which means FF not Cropped according to their website

Just write the damn info:

Focal Length 18 - 35mm
Comparable 35mm Focal Length: 28.8 - 56 mm
Aperture Maximum: f/1.8 Minimum: f/16.0
Camera Mount Type Canon EF
Format Compatibility Canon (APS-C)

its a crop sensor lens.

This is for a FF not APS-C

talking to the guy asking about the 18-35mm .... Witch is an DC, and APS-C lens...... http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/967344-REG/sigma_18_35mm_f1_8_dc_h...

No...DG designates a FF lens DC is for APS-C

Believe he is asking Martin about the 18-35mm...

my bad didn't see that above

I will be buying this for sure as long as it's priced along the same lines as the others in the series.... I hope they come out with an 85mm and a 24-70 in this art series.

This.

If they come out with 85mm and 24-70 (even f/2 or f/2.8) in art series, I'm ready to replace my current lenses with it. I'm gearing to purchase 35mm f/1.4 to replace my Nikon 35mm f/1.8 DX lens since I've update it anyways for my new FX body and if 50mm f/1.4 is anywhere near $1000 it's definitely making it to my shopping list. Man, my wallet is gonna hate me this year. :P

The Sigma 35mm 1.4 is my favorite lens in my bag. Doesn't work for every shot, but when i can use it, I do!

There is some indication that they will come out with a 24-70mm f2... I'm not optimistic that it will happen this year but next.

Their 35 1.4 Art lens is priced at $900-ish if I remember correctly, I'm sure this one won't be far off that price. They're both on my list of glass to buy in 2014.

mine, too

799$

Eh? Are you sure? The 35mm f/1.4 retails around $900...

I'm currently using a 50mm 1.8 from canon and thinking about ditching it for the L series. This announcement will definitely make me wait till it drops. Any suggestions in terms of release date?

This spring is the latest time frame given

it's odd. if sigma produces a 24 and 85 or 100 with the same quality as this 50 and the 35 i'd be using all sigma glass (except for super teles) on my canons

somebody needs to give canon a wake up call.

Sigma just did.

i'm in the same boat. the only canon lenses i plan to keep are the 24-70 2.8 II and 70-200 2.8 IS II. the rest will probably be all sigma. and i believe there is a 100mm art lens coming. but probably not for at least a year.

Day one.

Wow, this looks as good if not better than the OTUS and it comes with AF and at probably less that a quarter of the price.

I can't wait to see what they do with the rumoured 135 f2.

me, as well. I can't wait to see a Sigma 135...although, if they're going to continue as they are, it might be a 1.8 :)

Out of the holy trinity of the Nikon Lenses I have. The Sigma 35 1.4 is the sharpest and my favorite. Sometimes hard to focus at long distances, but what wide lens isn't. Im in.

question is when in the world are they releasing it? getting quite impatient about it since they've announced the lens months ago!

All I have heard is this spring...

Possibly April-ish

shut up and take my money!

After canon nearly doubled the price of the 24-70L I lost all respect for them in the lens department, mostly because it wasn't much of an approvment over an already sub par lens. If I can buy a lens that bests the L equivalent for less money, I'm sold. It will be interesting to see how Canon price with their expected array of lenses this year. The sigma art lenses are really nice looking as well as great performers it seems. I've also heard that Yongnue will release a 600ex rt which has been reversed engineered from the canon original. Another ridiculously priced unit I couldn't understand.

To be fair (and I'm a fan and owner of Yougnuo) it's easier to release a cheaper unit when you just reverse engineer rather then design from the ground up.

Oh totally agree. Yongnuo even use the same prefix, it's like they're taunting Canon with some kind of immunity and how they get away with it is a complete mystery to me. However, £540 for a speedlite canon?

Damn that's around what I payed for my freaking camera LOL

Surprising how ratty the Sony is in the center, you'd almost think that was the edge image. The Sigma has a bit of CA in the center as well. I wonder if those charts are actually opposite of what they're listed as. Let's hope this Sigma winds up around $1200 or so.

The sharpness and CA control are very impressive even at the corners! Plus the contrast is better than the Otus despite having 1 extra glass in the build, indicative of better light transmission and likely better glass. Imagine what I can do with it for night sky long exposures! Can't wait to have this wicked gear!

The 35mm-A is impressive, now I'm waiting for this 50mm-A... I hope they also make an 85mm-A to complete a good kit of primes (and a 200mm f/2 maybe?). Sigma, finally you're in the game!

Sigma's 85mm 1.4 is pretty great, but I know what you mean - if they made an 'art' 85, it would be amazing

Yeah I know. But with the Art 35mm was pretty impressive and now this 50mm looks promising - what more if they make an 85, right?

it's unfortunate that they didn't put Canon's lenses in there with it even though we already know how they'd score...but it would have been nice to have a visual

Sigma 50mm F1.4 EX DG HSM Art price - 790 USD. http://www.sigma.by/sigma-50mm-f1.4-art.

This wasn't a test was it? Where did you get this crude from CHINA?