Sigma 50mm F/14 Dg Hsm Art Lens Review
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Sigma 50mm f/i.four
World'south Sharpest 50mm AF lens
DG HSM ART (2014-)
Intro Specifications Performance Compared Recommendations
Sigma 50mm f/i.iv DG, Nikon version (covers all full-frame and APS-C formats, 77mm filters, 28.5 oz./809g, 1.iii'/0.4m shut focus, about $950. Too comes in Catechism EOS, Sony Alpha (Minolta MAXXUM) and Sigma mounts.) The biggest source of support for this free website is when y'all use these links, especially this link direct to this lens at Adorama and this link to information technology at Amazon, when yous get annihilation, regardless of the state in which you live. It helps me keep adding to this free website when you get yours through these links — but I receive nothing for my efforts if you buy elsewhere. Thanks for your back up! Ken.
September 2015 Sigma reviews Nikon Canon LEICA Pentax Sony
NEW: Premium 50mm Lenses Compared 04 September 2014
Sample Epitome Files (more than are in the review)
Hoehn, 29 August 2014. (Nikon D810, Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM ART, f/8 at 1/250 at Auto ISO 100, Perfectly Articulate.) bigger or Full-resolution © file.
Rat Palm, 02 September 2014. 36 MP FX Nikon D810, Sigma 50mm f/1.iv DG HSM ART, f/5.6 at one/125 at ISO 100. Camera-original Large Basic JPG (5 MB; the palm isn't flat so much isn't in focus).
Rat Palm bark, 02 September 2014. 36 MP FX Nikon D810, Sigma 50mm f/one.four DG HSM ART, f/4 at one/60 at ISO 100 at close focus. Camera-original Big BASIC JPG (5 MB; the palm isn't flat and then much isn't in focus).
Introduction top
Intro Specifications Functioning Compared Recommendations
This Sigma 50mm f/ane.iv is an optically superb lens. Optically information technology is the best 50mm, 55mm or 58mm SLR lens I've ever tested.
Under exacting test conditions, this Sigma lens is sharper than Nikon's and Canon's best, and sharper than LEICA's 50mm f/1.4 ASPH. This Sigma lens likewise has no distortion, unlike whatever f/i.iv or f/1.two lens from LEICA, Catechism or Nikon.
Optically this lens is extraordinary — but and so are the Nikon 50mm f/i.4 Thousand, Nikon 58mm f/1.4 One thousand and Canon 50mm f/1.2 L. This Sigma lens is a piddling sharper on the test range, and has less distortion than any other f/one.four or f/1.ii lens — but I'd never see any departure in real-world shooting.
There are no visible sharpness differences between this Sigma and other 50mm lenses at normal shooting apertures. At f/iv and smaller, all these 50mm lenses are the same, and fifty-fifty the f/1.8 lenses are indistinguishable from ane some other.
The sharpness differences appear at the largest apertures similar f/one.four, and appear in the far corners. This is where this Sigma lens shines, and the others are almost as good. If I rig upwardly a examination with all other variables removed I tin demonstrate the higher corner sharpness of the Sigma lens at f/one.iv, but few people take any demand or interest in sharpness at f/ane.4 in the far corners, since they are usually supposed to be out of focus. If you're an f/1.4 test-chart and brick-wall shooter you'll love this lens to death, merely if you stop down, they're indistinguishable from one some other.
This Sigma lens is much bigger, heavier and more expensive than similar camera-brand lenses like the superb Nikon 50mm f/1.iv G.
Focus is silent, and you lot may grab the ring at any time for instant manual focus override. At to the lowest degree on the Nikon version I bought, Sigma finally has this figured out.
Compatibility
It comes in mounts for Nikon, Canon EOS, Sony Blastoff (Minolta MAXXUM) and Sigma.
It covers all size sensors.
Nikon
I tried information technology 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 business is will it piece of work with cameras we buy in 10 years about which Sigma knows nothing today? Just the years will tell.
The Nikon version should work perfectly on every digital Nikon always 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.
It also should be perfect on decent or recent AF film cameras like the F6, F100, F5, N80 and N75.
The incompatibilities for older or cheaper 35mm cameras are that:
1.) It won't autofocus with the cheapest new AF 35mm cameras like the N55, but if you focus manually, everything else works great. Fifty-fifty if yous lose autofocus, these cameras take in-finder focus confirmation dots to assistance you.
2.) Late 1980s ~ early 1990s AF cameras like the N90s, N70 and F4 will focus just fine, merely you'll lose VR. Y'all'll accept Programme and Shutter-priority modes, merely lose Transmission and Aperture-priority since you have no manner to set the discontinuity on the photographic camera or on the lens.
3.) You're actually pushing it with the oldest AF cameras like the N2020, N6006 and N8008. You'll have no AF, confused exposure modes, and no VR. Manual focus is fine, along with electronic focus indications.
four.) Since it has no aperture band, it's but about useless with manual focus film cameras. It will shoot every shot at its minimum discontinuity.
Encounter Nikon Lens Compatibility for details with your photographic camera. Read downwards the "AF-Southward, AF-I" and "Yard" columns for this lens. You'll go the least of all the features displayed in all columns, since "K" (gelding) is a deliberate handicap which removes features and compatibility.
CatechismIt is supposed to work on all EOS cameras, which means everything from 1987's EOS 650 to everything in 2014.
Specifications top
Intro Specifications Performance Compared Recommendations
Name tiptop
Sigma calls this the Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM ART.
DG: "Digital," just marketing fluff. Works fine on autofocus 35mm SLRs, as well.
HSM: Ultrasonic autofocus motor.
ART: "Art" series, which is more than marketing distortion. I create Fine Fine art, non just "art" (I don't show my piece of work in java shops), and would prefer a FART lens optimized for that.
Eyes pinnacle
thirteen elements in 8 groups.
3 elements of SLD drinking glass, which Nikon calls ED and Canon calls UD.
Aspherical rear chemical element.
Multicoated generally in blue-green.
Internal (rear) focusing. Nothing moves externally equally focused.
Diaphragm top
Sigma 50mm f/1.four.
9 rounded blades.
Stops down to f/16.
Very round at large apertures, while still giving reasonable sunstars stopped down.
Coverage top
35mm flick, Full-Frame, FX, DX and APS-C.
Focal Length top
50mm.
When used on a DX or APS-C camera, it sees an bending of view similar to what an 80mm lens sees when used on an FX or 35mm camera.
Angle of View peak
46.8° diagonally on full-frame.
Close Focus top
i.3 feet (0.iv meters) from the image plane, specified.
1.25 feet (0.39 meters), measured.
Maximum Reproduction Ratio acme
1:5.6 (0.18x).
Hard Infinity Focus Stop? top
No.
You lot have to let the AF system focus at infinity.
Focus Scale height
Aye, simply compressed and pretty much illegible.
Depth-of-Field Calibration top
None, unless you lot consider ticks for only f/sixteen as a calibration. I don't.
Infra-Red Focus Index top
None.
Aperture Ring pinnacle
None.
Filter Thread top
77 mm, plastic.
Does not move.
Size top
Sigma specifies iii.4" (85.4 mm) diameter by iii.9" (99.9 mm) extension from flange.
Weight summit
28.545 oz. (809.3g), actual measured.
Sigma specifies 28.7 oz. (815 g).
Hood height
LH-780-06 Hood on Sigma 50mm f/1.four DG.
Plastic LH-830-02 bayonet hood, included.
Example top
Example, Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG.
Overnice padded nylon instance included.
Included top
Lens, caps and hood.
Case.
Paperwork.
Fabricated in elevation
Lens made in Japan.
Warranty elevation
1 twelvemonth.
Sigma United states of america's website implies iii years extended warranty for the USA, for a total of iv years.
Packaging top
White cardboard box.
Box, Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG.
In this box sits the case with the lens and hood inside. The case is the padding - there is no foam.
Appear top
Apr 2014.
Available Since top
August 2014.
Price, Us top
August-September 2014: $950.
Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG. enlarge.
Functioning peak
Intro Specifications Functioning Compared Recommendations
Overall Autofocus Bokeh Color Blackout
Distortion Ergonomics Falloff Filters
Focus Breathing Ghosts Hood Lateral Colour Fringes
Macro Mechanics Sharpness Sunstars
Overall operation acme
The Sigma 50mm f/1.four DG has fantastic eyes — only its mechanics and potential for hereafter photographic camera incompatibility are why you pay less for Sigma than for a professional person Nikon or Canon lens.
The but mode to see any optical difference between these is if you're shooting test charts at f/1.4 and looking in the far corners. If non, Nikon and Catechism's least expensive 50mm f/1.8 lenses offer images just as sharp, and also without any distortion in the example of the Nikon 50/i.8 AF-D.
Autofocus performance top
Overall
AF works great on my Nikon D810 and every other Nikon on which I tried information technology, even my Nikon F4 from 1988.
It's fast and quiet.
AF Speed
Autofocus is very fast.
AF Accuracy
On my Nikon D810, AF was dead-on for every frame, especially shot at f/1.four where this is critical.
Manual Focus
Transmission focus is corking, but take hold of the ring at whatsoever time for instant manual focus override.
The transmission focus band is geared for full general news and activeness shooting.
Information technology'south non as precise (slow) equally you might like if you're using Live View on a tripod.
Manual Focus Override
Manual focus override works great, at least on the Nikon version I tried.
Bokeh performance top
Bokeh, the grapheme of out of focus backgrounds, not simply how far out of focus they are, is off-white to good at f/1.4.
Backgrounds go soft and rarely distract, simply they aren't always completely soft.
Color Rendition operation tiptop
The color rendition seems the same as my Nikkor AF lenses.
Coma performance top
Coma (saggital coma flare) ofttimes causes weird smeared blobs to appear around vivid points of light in the corners of fast or wide lenses at big apertures. In lenses that take it, blackout goes abroad as stopped downwardly.
I run into very picayune coma with this aspherical lens, and what footling there is goes abroad every bit stopped down.
Distortion operation top
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 Photographic camera-original LARGE Basic JPG (5 MB).
The Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG has no visible distortion, which is much better than whatsoever f/1.4 or f/1.2 lens I've always tested.
This is more important than sharpness. This Sigma isn't that much sharper than other lenses, only information technology does have much less baloney than any f/1.4 or f/1.2 lens ever from Canon or Nikon or LEICA. Bravo!
This is good because no Nikon or Canon camera volition be able to correct this automatically considering there is no in-photographic camera profile available.
This Sigma has no measurable distortion at distances of i meter or more. Information technology has slight butt baloney at its closest focus altitude.
The distortion at the closest altitude isn't visible and can exist corrected easily by plugging these figures into Photoshop's lens distortion filter for more critical utilise. These aren't facts or specifications, they are the results of my research that requires hours of photography and calculations on the resulting information.
© 2014 KenRockwell.com. All rights reserved.
Ergonomics (handling and ease-of-employ) performance top
Sigma 50mm f/1.four DG.
Ergonomics are obvious: grab and go.
This lens is a pain compared to Nikon or Catechism's f/one.four or f/1.two lenses; this Sigma is too darn big and heavy to actually want to carry it around all 24-hour interval.
Its edges are relatively difficult, dissimilar Nikon and Canon'south lenses whose edges are softer.
The ribbed rubber rings grip very well, but accept precipitous ridges and are much less comfortable than the pro lenses.
The footage calibration is illegible; it's tiny and night greyness. In my studio shot in a higher place it'southward well-lit and bigger than life, but in reality you'll rarely be able to read it — and if y'all can, good luck remembering which is meters and which is feet.
Falloff (darkened corners) operation top
I run into nearly no falloff at f/ane.iv, and none at other apertures, all on full-frame.
This is superb functioning, and important because there are no lens profiles to bail you lot out on Nikon and Canon.
I've greatly exaggerated what little at that place is by shooting a gray field and presented the images against some other gray field:
Sigma 50/1.4 Fine art falloff on FX and 35mm at infinity, no correction.
© 2014 KenRockwell.com. All rights reserved.
Filters, use with performance top
There is no problem with vignetting, even with thick filters.
There is no vignetting even with three stacked filters, even on full-frame.
The filter ring never moves.
Focus Breathing performance top
Of involvement mostly to cinematographers focusing back and forth between 2 subjects, the paradigm from the Sigma 50mm f/one.4 DG HSM ART gets larger every bit focused more closely.
It seems most the aforementioned every bit a common unit-focussed lens, even though it is a unique internally focused design.
Ghosts, Flare and Sunstars performance pinnacle
Ghost resistance is dandy. The edges of the elements are all very effectively blackened, and I come across little to no internal components off of which flare could bounce.
Even with all this glass, at that place is merely ane very dim blueish blob, and it's only visible under the almost contrived conditions thusly:
Flare blob, full solar disc, 02 September 2014. (Nikon D810, Sigma 50mm f/1.4, f/eight at 1/250 at Machine ISO 100, Athentech Perfectly Clear.) bigger.
Even though the diaphragm is circular at large apertures, sunstars are reasonably proficient at moderate apertures. Bravo!
Sunstar, partly shielded sun, 02 September 2014. (Nikon D810, Sigma 50mm f/1.4, f/eight at 1/250 at Motorcar ISO 100, Athentech Perfectly Clear.) bigger.
Hood performance top
LH-780-06 Hood on Sigma 50mm f/one.4 DG.
The big hood is included.
This Sigma has no flare problems, so the only reason to utilise the hood is that it tin help go on grime and flight food out of your lens.
Lateral Color Fringes operation acme
In that location are no lateral color fringes as shot on my Nikon D810, which corrects any that might exist at that place automatically for any lens. Nikons need no lens data to right this; they can correct any random lens.
I take non tested this on Canon, which would not exist able to correct it without a lens profile, which does not be. I suspect this Sigma has petty to no lateral colour.
Macro performance top
Macro gets a little closer than every other non-macro 50mm lens.
The published close-focus distance is just 0.4 m instead of the usual 0.45 m:
Full-frame image at close-focus distance at f/viii.
Stopped down, it'southward super sharp:
Crop from above 36 MP image at 100%. If this is half-dozen" (15cm) wide on your monitor, the unabridged image printed at this aforementioned high magnification would be 72 ten 48" (i.eight x 1.25 meters)!
Mechanics and Construction operation meridian
Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG. enlarge.
The Sigma 50mm f/i.iv DG is a heavy lens made of plastic and metal, with lots of glass inside.
Filter Threads
Plastic.
Hood
Plastic bayonet.
Hood Mount
Plastic.
Focus Ring
Metallic; rubber covered.
Depth-of-Field Scale
Only for f/sixteen.
Rear Barrel
Plastic.
Very back of barrel
Metallic.
Aperture Band
None.
Internals
Seem similar plastic and metal.
Mount
Shiny chromed brass.
Markings
Paint.
Mounting Index Dot
Pocket-size white plastic ball on the outside, and a ruddy dot painted into an engraving in the lens mounting flange.
Identity Plate
None, simply painted on the lens barrel.
Serial Number
Laser engraved onto the lens barrel above and the right of the focus scale window.
Moisture seal at mountain
None.
Noises When Shaken
Balmy clunking from the diaphragm and focus systems.
Fabricated in
Nihon.
Weaknesses
As an off-make lens it has unproven (with me) service facilities, and unknown future parts availability. When the HSM motor dies, yous're dead unless yous tin can get a replacement part — and you lot just might not be able to in 10 years when you'd most demand it.
New cameras may or may not piece of work with this lens, and off-brand lens makers only sometimes will update lenses to work on new model cameras. 10 or more years from now I know my Nikon and Canon lenses volition work on new cameras, merely I don't have any high hopes for any off-make lens.
Sharpness performance top
Alarm one: Image sharpness depends more on you lot than your lens.
Warning 2: Lens sharpness doesn't mean much to good photographers.
This is the sharpest 50mm f/1.4 lens I've ever tested — but not by that much.
Amateurs waste too much time worrying well-nigh lens sharpness, and since this lens is designed for amateurs, it'due south super sharp.
I tested this randomly purchased sample on a 36MP DX Nikon D810 on the test range at infinity.
It'southward super sharp at every setting clear out to the corners, although but a little less sharp in the corners at f/1.4 due to a lilliputian bit of coma. It's very sharp in the corners at f/one.4, only quite not every bit abrupt equally at the heart.
The Sigma 50mm f/i.4 is astoundingly precipitous at every setting. You just demand to exist certain information technology's in focus and that nil moves.
It'southward really much more uniformly sharp than the sample of Nikon 58/1.4G I purchased. The Nikon 58/1.4G was softer on the left, which this Sigma is perfectly centered and every bit sharp everywhere. Hah!
Compared top
Intro Specifications Performance Compared Recommendations
NEW: Premium 50mm Lenses Compared 04 September 2014
I compared my Sigma directly to my Nikon l/1.4G and my Micro-NIKKOR 55mm f/2.8 AF on the test range at infinity.
At most apertures, they are indistinguishable from ane another.
The Nikon 50/1.4G is the only lens of these three with any baloney.
This Sigma is actually slightly sharper than the Nikon 50/one.4G at f/1.4, but information technology's only the very slightest departure, and simply visible under tightly controlled test conditions. I'd run across no deviation in the field for actual photography; the newest Nikon 50/one.4G is a superb lens.
This Sigma is also slightly sharper at f/2.eight than the Micro-NIKKOR 55mm f/2.eight AF is at f/2.viii. Neither has any distortion at most distances, although the Sigma has a tiny bit of distortion at shut distances which the Micro-NIKKOR does non.
I did non compare it to the Nikon 58mm f/1.4 G which is even slightly better than the Nikon 50mm f/ane.4G. (I accept test data from the same range at a different time.) The Nikon 58mm f/ane.4 G has moderately strong baloney, while the Sigma has none.
I didn't compare it to the $4,000 manual-focus Zeiss OTUS. Equally a manual-focus lens, the OTUS doesn't intrigue me.
These lenses are all so proficient that I wouldn't worry about any optical differences; I'd worry nigh how much weight I want to carry and if it auto focused or non, even if the toll was the aforementioned.
Ergonomically, the OTUS and this Sigma are pigs. They are big, heavy lenses that are not fun to behave around my cervix on a 5D Mk III, D810 or bigger camera all day. The other lenses are one-half the weight or less, and perform the aforementioned at anything other than f/i.4.
Recommendations top
Intro Specifications Operation Compared Recommendations
This is an optically superb lens, simply there is far more to a great photo than a sharp lens. It has to be low-cal plenty to bask taking with you.
This Sigma is fantastic, if you don't heed conveying it. Personally, I prefer to pay a piffling more for my fully professional Catechism 50/1.ii L, which is fifty-fifty faster than this Sigma, and merely weighs one-half as much. For my Nikon, I prefer my Nikon fifty/i.4G which weighs only a tertiary as much, and costs a third of what the Sigma does. The optics are 98% the same, while the size and weight of the Nikkor 50/1.4G are far superior to the Sigma.
This Sigma is platonic for people who shoot with tripods. Its performance is unmatched, but it's more weight than I desire to carry.
When shot in the existent world, any 50mm lens is going to be extremely abrupt, and sharper than than a 24-70mm f/2.8 pro zoom. Before you go spending a lot of coin on a super-duper 50mm lens, try any 50mm lens, especially the f/i.8, first.
I may be a little weird, but I always invest long term. I'd be shy about this Sigma lens because I demand the lens I purchase today to be earning coin for me for at least the next 20 years, and to notwithstanding be serviceable and valuable when I sell the lens afterwards all that time. My Nikon and Catechism pro lenses do this for me. I bought my Nikon 17-35mm f/2.viii AF-S in the 1990s, and information technology'south still Nikon's pinnacle professional ultrawide zoom fifteen years later (the Nikon xvi-35 VR is only a consumer lens, and the Nikon 14-24 is a special-purpose lens much less useful than the 17-35). My 17-35/2.8 is still worth, used, what I paid for it new.
If all you care about is the all-time possible optical quality for the adjacent several years, and so by all means this Sigma lens is superbly sharp, focuses extremely fast and has no visible baloney. If you don't worry about long-term as I do, this Sigma lens is fantastic.
If you think you desire one of these Sigmas, or desire the sharpest possible 50mm lens for your DSLR, you'll beloved it. Its optics actually are as good every bit y'all've heard.
If y'all've found my review helpful, the biggest source of support for this free website is when you use these links, peculiarly this link directly to this lens at Adorama and this link to it at Amazon, when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. It helps me keep adding to this free website when you go yours through these links — but I receive nothing for my efforts if you buy elsewhere.
Cheers for your support!
Ken.
Deployment
Sigma'due south caps aren't as skillful as Nikon's or Canon'southward. Go out them in the box for resale, and buy a real Nikon 77mm cap to use with this lens instead, regardless of which brand of photographic camera you shoot (Nikon makes the best caps). Also go a Nikon rear cap or Catechism rear cap and go out the Sigma cap in the box.
I would also leave the hood in the box for resale time. I don't use hoods.
Honestly, I rarely use front caps at all.
I'd leave either a 77mm Nikon Clear (NC - UV) filter, a 77mm Hoya Blastoff MC UV or impenetrable 77mm Hoya HD2 UV on the lens at all times instead. Think of it as a clear optical lens cap, and yous'll be shooting a lot faster without fumbling.
If I was working in nasty, dirty areas, I'd forget the cap, and utilise an uncoated 77mm Tiffen UV filter instead. Uncoated filters are much easier to clean, but more prone to ghosting.
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