Sigma has just released the pricing of the highly anticipated 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM lens, something we have all been curious about since we first heard about this lens. It's available "immediately" for $900 MAP. Given the release of the Canon 35mm f/2 less than 48 hours ago, it is going to be hard to not to compare these two lenses. Sigma is touting this lens' speed and "stunning bokeh background effect" as well as the hyper sonic motor when compared to other lenses on the market.
This is the first of three known (with more likely on the way) lenses that will be organized into Sigma's three defined categories of lenses. This lens is categorized under their "Art" line. When comparing to the new Canon lens, it is important to note that there is no optical stabilization on the Sigma 35mm f/1.4.
Primary features of the new 35mm F1.4 DG HSM include:
- One “F” Low Dispersion (FLD) glass lens and four Special Low Dispersion (SLD) glass lenses to ensure exceptional correction of lateral and axial chromatic aberration, the latter of which cannot be corrected in post production
- A floating inner focus system to provide extremely high optical performance for close-up photos
- Super Multi-Layer Coating to reduce flare and ghosting and provide sharp and high contrast images even in backlit conditions
- A HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor) that ensures high speed, accurate and quiet AF
- Rubber incorporated into the attachment part of the lens hood, and an improved redesign of the lens cap and AF / MF changeover switch have been improved
- Thermally Stable Composite (TSC), which has high affinity to metal parts, that are housed internally, increases overall functionality, lifespan, and quality of the lens
- A rounded 9 blade diaphragm creates an attractive blur to the out-of-focus areas of the image
- A newly developed USB dock, which will be sold separately and exclusively for new product lines, can be paired with new Sigma Optimization Pro software to update the lens firmware and adjust parameters, such as micro focus adjustment
MTF Chart:
Distortion
Vignetting
The lens is available for pre-order now from B&H and is expected to ship November 15.
So we want to know, what do you think? If you could ask Sigma anything about this lens, what would you ask? Post those questions in the comments below.
You can order new Sigma at B&H. Price is 899
i buy a f1.4 every minute over a f2.0 IS version... im no video guy.
i only hope sigmas has a better quality management now and the lens is tack sharp from f1.4 on.
anyway.... while not so important i think this lens is realy sexy :-)
My question, is it weather sealed on canon weather sealed bodies?
"...... If you could ask Sigma anything about this lens, what would you ask? Post those questions in the comments below. ..."
i would like to know a bit more specific how they attack their quality management problems.
i know they have a new testing procedure but it´s somewhat unclear what exactly will change and how that affects the sigma typical issues in the past.
i mean.... i have 2 sigma lenses and it took me 4 copys to get a good one.
thank god for amazon and that they replace lenses without a problem.
anyway... for the future i would like to be sure that i don´t have to test 4 lenses to find one good lens.
AF inconsistency, decentered and just bad justaged lenses should be a thing of the past with GOOD quality management.
Man did Sigma step up their design team. That has to be one of the cleanest lens designs in awhile. Looks like a murdered out Hasselblad. Hope it kills it in the focus speed/sharpness performance.
It is a very beautiful looking lens. I'm sure it will be stellar.
I have the same thought as "ThePope2012"... How do they QC their lenses... I've had a few 70-200s to test which were all miss aligned with Focus... Their 85 1.4 is pretty much spot on most of the time.
But since ThePope asked this already I'm going with:
"For how much and when can I get this lens in Europe (Netherlands)?
I'd like to ask for sample images shot at f1.4 with no vignette correction. Based on the chart, the edge should by 80% darker than the center. I'd like to see how this compares to my very expensive Nikon 35mm f1.4.
well i took 5 minutes to write about it but the MODs seem to have removed my totally fine reply.
again in short: the nikkor has a worse vignetting when shooting raw.
see photozone for more info.
a nice fast 35mm is defiantly a hole i want to fill in my lens collection
What I want to know is: Where is the samples link? :) Looks brilliant, hope it's sharp and with good contrast. I didn't like 50/1.4 contrast so let's see if this is any better.
USB Dock & SIGMA Optimization Pro Software
Because of its redesigned series of lenses, Sigma developed
proprietary software (SIGMA Optimization Pro) and a USB docking system
that allows you to update the lens' firmware and adjust its parameters
such as focus without having to ship it back to Sigma for adjustments.
This will be interesting to see..the docking system I mean and the ability to adjust the parameters of the lens.
Wow the new lens lineup looks gorgeous!
Can't wait for the reviews to see if it performs!
Mtf chart does NOT look impressive, in fact it falls off from the centre pretty soon (10mm), and the corner resolution seems quite low(0.5)! Why are they touting this less as such improvements, I feel it's just marketing. The outer shell design is obviously very attractive, but I feel nothing more. If the MTF charts were better, this would be a steal at $900 at f/1.4.
I think I'll wait for samples before I make too many assumptions!
Comparing with the Nikon 1.4 charrts: 3220113009.jpg AND the EV drop off chart: vignetting.png it's not a bad lens. the 35 1.4 drops earlier on MTF charts if I'm correct and the 2.1 EV loss is pretty similar (2 EV is 2 stops so 1/2 of 1/2 light = 25% right?? ;)).
you should learn to read an MTF chart before talking about it!!
sigmas MTF charts are for f1.4 ... that means wide open.
unlike canon who shows f8 too.
so go to photozone and compare the EF 35mm f1.4 L with the sgima.
info: the black lines in the canon chart are for wide open aperture.
if you have .. come back and apologize... :)
sigmas MTF chart IS IMPRESSIVE!!
ThePope2012: Thank you for your clarification. An apology and you are absolutely right, they do look very impressive compared to the Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L, and by a large margin!
I guess I was looking at it on face value and not relative to the Canon. I'm still not impressed with the drop off, but I guess this cannot be helped by the lens being somewhat wide.
yes you can not compare a MTF cart of a telephoto to a wide angle lens.
a good telephoto lenses will always look better in MTF charts (without this massive drop on the borders) then a good wide angle lens.
you have to compare lenses of the same class (telephoto to telephoto... wide angle to wide angle).
thought... 35mm is not really "wide angle", but you get the picture i guess.
and with this in mind, the sigma looks very good (on paper).
Can't wait to see a comparison between this, the Canon 35 f/1.4 L, and Canon 35 f/2 IS. I've had my eye on a 35 f/1.4 L for a while, can't wait to see what Sigma delivers with this and then the refreshed 120-300 f/2.8
I know that Ronkinon 35/1.4 out preforms the Nikon version. But Rokinon is MF only. But then again, so is Zeiss. Im wondering how this will compare with the new Rokinon 35 lens.
What business decisions stopped them from upping their quality assurance sooner?