Sigma Af 35mm F14 Hsm Dg a Art
At the fourth dimension of its launch in 2013, the Sigma 35mm F1.iv DG HSM Fine art ($899) was a revelation. As the kickoff full-frame prime lens in the company's Global Vision Art series it made a big impact, undercutting other f/1.4 lenses in price without sacrificing image or build quality. Over the time since nosotros offset reviewed the lens the competition has gotten stiffer, and image sensors have dramatically increased in resolution, so we're updating our accept to look at the lens on both 20MP and 50MP bodies. Even though it falls a little short of the Canon competition when paired with a 50MP sensor, information technology retains our Editors' Choice based on its value and superb functioning with more mainstream cameras. The stiffest competition in its toll range is the Tamron SP 35mm f/i.eight Di VC USD ($404.05 at Amazon UK) , another Editors' Pick that sacrifices some light-gathering adequacy and shows more than chromatic aberration, simply adds prototype stabilization, a boon for handheld video recording.
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Pattern
The 35mm Art ($404.05 at Amazon United kingdom) is typically sized for an f/1.iv prime of its focal length. It measures 3.7 by iii inches (HD), weighs 1.five pounds, and supports 67mm front filters. Its barrel is a mix of metallic and polycarbonate, finished in black. A reversible lens hood is included.
Sigma markets the 35mm for a number of SLR systems: Canon EF, Nikon F, Pentax M, Sigma SA, and Sony A. There are are also mirrorless versions for Leica/Panasonic/Sigma L-mountain and Sony Due east-mount cameras. Information technology tin can be paired with either a full-frame or APS-C camera body, and if yous alter systems at some signal you can send the lens to Sigma to have its mount changed for a nominal fee.
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An internal motor drives focus quickly on the bodies with which I've paired the lens. Full-fourth dimension manual focus override is available by turning the focus band, which sits at the front and is covered in textured rubber. There is a focus toggle switch, useful if you desire to disable autofocus entirely.
Focus is possible equally close as 11.8 inches, magnifying subjects at one:five life-size. That's pretty typical for a 35mm f/1.4 lens. If you want a 35mm with most macro performance, consider the Tamron SP 35mm—it locks on at seven.9 inches, which results in a 1:ii.5 magnification ratio. A small window at the pinnacle of the barrel shows the current focus distance, with markings in feet and meters.
Image Quality
I've tested the Sigma 35mm with a pair of cameras, the 20MP Canon EOS 6D ($404.05 at Amazon UK) and the 50MP Canon EOS 5DS R ($404.05 at Amazon Great britain) . With the 6D, which has a sensor resolution in line with most electric current full-frame SLRs, the lens manages a very potent ii,438 lines per moving picture meridian on the centre-weighted Imatest evaluation. That'due south meliorate than the ane,800 lines nosotros want to run into at a minimum from a lens when paired with a sensor in the 18 to 24MP range. It increases slightly as y'all stop downwards, peaking at 2,625 lines at f/5.vi—that's well-nigh as much resolution as you can promise for from the 6D.
When paired with the 50MP 5DS R, results aren't quite as outstanding. At f/1.iv the lens shows two,567 lines, which is better than the 2,220 lines nosotros want to meet at a minimum from a high-resolution system. But it'southward a bit shy of what the pricier Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM ($404.05 at Amazon United kingdom) scores at the same aperture with the same camera body—three,448 lines. If yous're shooting with a 5DS R you're likely in want of resolution above all, and volition find information technology worth it to pay for the Catechism lens.
That's not to say the Sigma is a poor performer when paired with a loftier-resolution sensor. Its center is extremely sharp at f/1.four, although as you move abroad (to the eye and outer third of the frame) the resolution dips to about ii,100 lines, which appears slightly soft.
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Narrowing the aperture to f/ii improves overall score to 3,100 lines, with stiff performance in the middle and edges of the frame (two,400 lines). There's further comeback at f/two.eight (3,226 lines), f/iv (3,809 lines), and f/v.half dozen (4,386 lines). Diffraction sets in at f/8 with the 5DS R sensor, cutting the resolution a fleck, but all the same managing a superb 3,985-line score. It's more of an issue at f/xi (3,630 lines) and f/16 (two,966 lines).
Canon isn't the just camera maker out in that location with a high-resolution sensor, of course. Both the Nikon D810 ($404.05 at Amazon United kingdom) and Pentax K-1 ($404.05 at Amazon United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland) sport 36MP imagers, and the upcoming Sony Alpha 99 II pushes the envelope to 42MP. Results from unlike cameras aren't direclty comparable, but you can become a ballpark idea from looking at examination numbers from 1 arrangement to another.
I recommend the Sigma 35mm Fine art over the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 35mm f/i.4G ($404.05 at Amazon Great britain) , which underperforms when you consider its toll. The closest lens to the Sigma in the Pentax world is the SMC FA 31mm Express ($404.05 at Amazon UK) , an f/1.8 prime that isn't the Sigma'southward optical equal, only has a singled-out look and charm of its ain. Sony sells a 35mm f/one.4G ($i,499.99) for the Blastoff 99 II, just we haven't tested it. It's an older lens with a screw-drive focus system, and others who accept evaluated it state that it'southward on the soft side, which makes the Sigma sound like a better option.
Sharpness isn't the simply aspect of lens functioning that'due south important, of course. The Sigma 35mm shows about 1.vi percentage barrel distortion, typical for a lens of its type. It's a mild upshot that y'all'll likely notice in architectural shots or images with a articulate horizon line, and is easily removed using a lens profile or the distortion correction tool bachelor in Lightroom ($404.05 at Amazon UK) .
The Sigma 35mm does show a stiff vignette upshot, dimming corners and edges at broad apertures. Image corners lag backside the middle by -v.7EV at f/1.four, a deficit that's cutting to -3.2EV at f/2, -1.5EV at f/2.8, and -1EV at f/4. At narrower apertures information technology's not noticeable in field atmospheric condition. As with distortion, yous tin burnish corners and edges in Lightroom. The pricier Catechism EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM shows near the same corporeality of the vignette effect. The best fast 35mm we've seen in controlling it is the Tamron SP 35mm, which shows only -i.4EV at f/ane.viii. But the Tamron has more of a tendency to exhibit chromatic abberation, in the form of purple colour fringing, which both the Sigma and Canon lenses avoid.
Conclusions
The Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM Art isn't the merely third-party option in town. The Tamron SP 35mm f/i.8 has its own gear up of benefits, including a lower price tag, more uniform illumination, closer focus, and image stabilization. But it also has two big drawbacks—a maximum aperture of f/1.viii, which cuts calorie-free-gathering past shut to half, and a trend to exhibit chromatic abnormality.
For most SLR owners, the Sigma is the best 35mm f/1.iv lens available. It captures crisp images at every f-stop, has a wide maximum aperture for shooting in low-lite and capturing photos with a shallow depth of field, and comes in at a much lower price than alternatives from Canon, Nikon, Pentax, and Sony. The merely caveat I offer is that owners of the Catechism EOS 5DS ($404.05 at Amazon UK) and 5DS R should consider the EF 35mm f/one.4L Ii USM—it's twice the price, just worth it for phographers in search of the highest resolution when shooting at wide apertures. For everyone else, the Sigma remains the best pick, and our Editors' Pick.
Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM Art
The Lesser Line
The Sigma 35mm F1.four DG HSM Art captures crisp images, opens upwards to f/1.iv, and undercuts competing lenses on toll.
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Source: https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/sigma-35mm-f14-dg-hsm-art