Sigma 35mm F14 Art Lenses Sony Emount Review
Introduction
The Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG DN Art is a designed-for-mirrorless companion to the company's first Global Vision lens, the 35mm F1.4 DG HSM Art from 2012. It's available for both the L-mount shared by Leica, Panasonic and Sigma, also as for Sony East-mountain and will piece of work on both full-frame or APS-C cameras.
Its 35mm focal length and bright aperture make information technology well-suited to weddings, events and street photography, where its smaller, lighter pattern relative to adapting the 2012 version to mirrorless cameras is a definite plus. And information technology has potential every bit a video lens as well, although with a caveat which nosotros'll discuss shortly.
Available from mid-May 2021, list pricing is set up at $899.
All images edited in Adobe Camera Raw xiii with adjustments express to white balance, exposure, highlights, shadows, white and blackness levels. Sharpening and noise reduction at ACR defaults.
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Treatment | Autofocus and focus breathing | Epitome quality | Determination | Samples
Key specifications:
- Mount: Sony E-mountain and Leica/Panasonic/Sigma L-mount
- Focal length: 35mm (52.5mm with APS-C crop)
- Aperture range: F1.iv - F16
- Stabilization: No
- Filter thread: 67mm
- Close focus: 0.3m (11.8")
- Maximum magnification: 0.19x
- Diaphragm blades: 11
- Hood: Included
- Weight: E-mount 640g (i.41 lb); L-mount 645g (1.42 lb)
- Optical construction: 15 elements in 11 groups (2 SLD, 1 ELD, 1 FLD, 2 aspherical)
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| ISO 800 | 1/2000 sec | F1.4 | Sony a7R IV Photograph by Jordan Drake |
The 'original' 35mm F1.4 Fine art from 2012 was designed for apply with D/SLR cameras, whose sales at that point still dwarfed those of the fledgling mirrorless market place. Information technology was after modified for compatibility with E-mount and 50-mount mirrorless cameras as well, simply this compatibility came at the expense of increased weight and barrel length, to account for the decreased flange-back distance of the mirrorless systems.
By contrast, the new lens is designed specifically to have reward of the shorter flange-back distance of mirrorless cameras.
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| ISO 100 | ane/640 sec | F4 | Panasonic S1R Photo by Dan Bracaglia |
It's not quite the night-and-day departure nosotros saw with the recent Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN Art, only it's still quite noticeable. Compared to the earlier versions of the 35mm F1.iv Fine art lens, this new model has shrunk by 8mm (0.iii") in length, and shed a not insignificant 110-115g (3.9-4.1 oz) in weight.
Equally well equally the earlier lens, which remains bachelor as of this writing for a discounted price of $799, the new 35mm F1.4 DG DN has several other direct competitors. The Sigma 35mm F2 DG DN and 35mm F1.2 DG DN for instance are available for both E-mountain and 50-mount. And for Sony shooters, the splendid Sony Fe 35mm F1.iv K Master lens is definitely worthy of consideration.
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| ISO 100 | 1/chiliad sec | F1.4 | Panasonic S1R Photo by Dan Bracaglia |
Sigma's 35mm F2 is more consumer-friendly, with a slightly less bright aperture and weather-sealing only at the lens mount, but it's smaller, lighter and at $639, costs near a tertiary less.
The Sigma 35mm F1.2, meanwhile, is a lot larger, weighs nearly twice equally much and at $1499 costs around two-thirds more than than the F1.4. But y'all likewise get an even brighter aperture with shallower depth of field and a quick HSM autofocus bulldoze.
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| ISO 100 | ane/2000 sec | F3.2 | Panasonic S1R Photo by Dan Bracaglia |
And for Sony Due east-mountain shooters, the Gilt Honour-winning Sony Fe 35mm F1.4 GM strikes u.s.a. as most-perfect if you can stretch to its $1399 price-tag. Its focal length and maximum aperture are identical, but it'south virtually twenty% lighter, 16mm (0.6") shorter, focuses significantly faster and matches or exceeds the Sigma'southward image quality in all respects.
Compared to...
| Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG DN | Sigma 35mm F2 DG DN | Sigma 35mm F1.ii DG DN | Sony 35mm F1.four GM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toll (MSRP) | $899 | $639 | $1499 | $1399 |
| Mountain(southward) | Sony E / Leica L | Sony Due east / Leica L | Sony Due east / Leica L | Sony E only |
| Optical construction | 15 elements, 11 groups | 10 elements, nine groups | 17 elements, 12 groups | 14 elements, 10 groups |
| Aperture blades | 11 | ix | 11 | 11 |
| Conditions sealed | Yep | Yeah, mountain-gasket only | Aye | Yes |
| AF bulldoze | Stepping motor | Stepping motor | Hypersonic motor | XD linear motor |
| Minimum focus distance / max magnification | 0.30 m (xi.8″) / 0.19x | 0.27 g (10.6″) / 0.18x | 0.xxx 1000 (11.8″) / 0.20x | 0.25 m (ix.eight″) / 0.26x |
| Filter size | 67mm | 58mm | 82mm | 67mm |
| Diameter 10 Length (no hood) | Eastward-mount: L-Mount: | E-mount: L-Mountain: | E-mount: L-Mount: | 76mm x 96mm (3.0" x iii.8") |
| Weight | E-mount: L-mountain: | Both mounts: | E-mount: L-mount: | 524g (18.5oz) |
Treatment
The Sigma 35mm F1.four DG DN Art isn't quite equally meaty and lightweight as we might have expected, given that it's designed specifically for mirrorless. Compared to the original DSLR-oriented 35mm F1.4, its barrel bore is near indistinguishable and its weight has only dropped by around xx-25 grams (0.7-0.9 ounces). As noted in the previous section, the size and weight advantage versus the mirrorless variant of Sigma's older design is rather more than noticeable, nonetheless.
Balance of the E-mount version on our Sony a7R IV body is fairly skilful. It's a little scrap forepart-heavy, largely because while its weight hasn't fallen much, mirrorless bodies tend to be a fleck lighter than DSLRs. But regardless, we didn't notice the pairing uncomfortable to shoot with. With that said, it might prove a bit ungainly with smaller, lighter bodies like the original Sony a7/R.
On larger L-mount bodies like Panasonic'due south S1 and S1R, the Sigma 35mm balances really nicely: you may notice it a chip front-heavy on the more petite S5, just in general, the well-sized grips on Panasonic's cameras help make this lens experience a bit less heavy than it is.
Build quality is expert, as we've come to expect from Sigma'due south contempo prime number lenses. The magnesium alloy-bodied 35mm F1.four feels very rugged, with a well-constructed, premium feel. Its physical controls – and especially the large, nicely-damped, buttery-shine focus ring – reinforce that feeling.
Likewise as the focus ring, at that place are 5 other controls. An aperture ring allows you to punch in your chosen aperture directly, and an unlabeled switch on the right side of the lens barrel can be used either to lock the ring in its Auto position or, thoughtfully, to lock information technology out of the Auto position so you don't accidentally stray beyond F16 into auto way.
The 'Motorcar' position on the aperture ring will control aperture, well, automatically if you're in Program Auto or Shutter Priority modes, for example, but volition simply pass off aperture control to a camera command punch if you're in Aperture Priority or full Manual control.
On the left side of the butt, superlative to bottom, you'll find a focus manner switch, an autofocus lock button and a "Click" switch. This final can be used to de-click the discontinuity band for polish, stepless discontinuity command. Every bit for the AF lock push button, it's customizable and can be inverse to provide for diverse other functions, although the precise option on offer will be dependent upon your camera body.
There's no in-lens prototype stabilization, though this isn't an particularly common feature on 35mm primes (Canon and Tamron offering exceptions here). The Sigma does include comprehensive sealing against dust and moisture. In all at that place are eleven seals, and these protect every switch, ring, button and join between components, as well as the interface between lens mount and camera body.
Up front end, at that place's a 67mm filter thread. This is both the same size used in the SLR-oriented lens from 2012, and also a common size that should testify piece of cake to discover at an affordable price.
It's too worth noting that the L-mount variant of the Sigma 35mm F1.four DG DN supports the company'due south optional USB dock, which can be used both to update firmware as necessary, and to tune the speed/sensitivity of the focus band to your tastes. As of this writing, no equivalent dock accessory is bachelor for Sigma's E-mount lenses, just firmware can exist also updated via the camera for both E and L-mounts.
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Autofocus and focus breathing
The Sigma 35mm F1.4's autofocus is driven by a stepping motor, simply since it has to move merely a single focusing element, focusing speeds are reasonable and focus transitions in video are very smooth. However, stills shooters used to faster, more modernistic linear motor speeds may be disappointed by acquisition and continuous focusing speeds.
Macro focusing is possible to a respectable minimum altitude of 30 cm (11.8"), which is sufficient to provide a maximum magnification of 0.19x (1:5.4).
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| ISO 100 | 1/8000 sec | F1.4 | Sony a7R 4 Photo by Chris Niccolls |
If you prefer to employ AF to make it the ballpark and and so fine-tune focus manually, you'll exist pleased to hear that straight manual focus is available at all times just past rotating the focus ring, with no need to film switches first. Of grade, you tin also disable autofocus entirely with the focus fashion switch if you desire to forego AF altogether.
The only meaning bad news on the focusing front will be of relevance to videographers, rather than still shooters. Unfortunately, the 35mm F1.iv DG DN exhibits quite heavy focus breathing, which gives the impression that you're zooming in and out as the focus distance is adapted. The skilful news for video shooters, at least then long as you can alive with the focus breathing event, is that AF is very quiet.
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| ISO 320 | 1/threescore sec | F1.4 | Panasonic S5 Photo by Barney Britton |
And in fairness, Sigma'southward strongest E-mount rival, the otherwise-superb (and much more expensive) Sony 35mm F1.4 G Master also shows significant focus breathing, albeit not quite as strongly as in this lens. But it still feels similar a scrap of a missed opportunity for Sigma to differentiate itself from its rival, and is something of an Achilles' heel on the video front.
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Image quality
Since the launch of its Global Vision program in 2012, Sigma has congenital a reputation for neat image quality. Every Global Vision lens is individually checked for optical defects on a custom-fabricated, in-house testing rig, and that coupled with excellent optical designs has seen some of its lenses outperforming even first-party glass. In virtually respects, the Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG DN doesn't disappoint either, with but a couple of small concerns and very impressive sharpness fifty-fifty when shooting wide-open up.
Sharpness
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| ISO 100 | 1/1600 sec | F4 | Panasonic S1R Photograph by Dan Bracaglia |
When focused in the eye of the frame, the Sigma 35mm F1.4 delivers smashing detail and even the corners are just very slightly softer wide open. There's a slight brume to the image, or loss of contrast, wide open up, but stopping downward merely slightly to F2.8 is sufficient to get a beautifully precipitous paradigm beyond the whole frame. Peak sharpness is reached by F4.
Alternatively, focusing in the corner does help slightly if that's where you lot most need sharpness and y'all adopt to shoot wide-open rather than stopping downwardly a little. Put another way, whatsoever edge softness that yous meet wide open in brick wall shots focused at the centre is likely irrelevant if you lot apply a modern mirrorless system and place your AF bespeak at the precise location of your off-center subject.
Bokeh
The 35mm F1.four DG DN's 11-bladed aperture yields nicely-rounded bokeh not but wide-open, merely even every bit you end down to F4. And that bokeh is very make clean, equally well, with no visible onion ring or soap bubble effects. Sigma has come a long way in ensuring that bokeh that does not appear busy fifty-fifty at the macro level in contempo designs, and information technology shows; viewing the image in its entirety below, the out-of-focus groundwork appears pleasingly polish.
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| ISO 100 | 1/160 sec | F1.4 | Sony a7R IV Photograph by Jordan Drake |
True cat's eye effect is an upshot, though, yielding football-shaped (or for not-Americans, rugby ball-shaped) bokeh, and not just in the corners but almost to the eye of the frame at F1.4.
Stopping down helps, but cat's eye is always a factor with this lens. Depending on your tastes and subject matter, information technology can either lend a dynamic expect to your images or y'all may feel that information technology'south busy and distracting.
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| ISO 200 | ane/1600 sec | F1.4 | Sony a7R IV Photo by Jordan Drake |
Flare, ghosting and sunstars
Sigma includes an upgraded plastic, petal-way lens hood in the bundle with its new 35mm F1.4, and it features both a very overnice, partly rubberized barrel and a more secure button-locked bayonet attachment.
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| ISO 100 | 1/25 sec | F16 | Sony a7R 4 Photo by Chris Niccolls |
Lens flare is very well controlled, only with the dominicus in or near the frame, you lot tin can nevertheless get quite a flake of ghosting. Sunstars are quite well defined when stopped down, providing a prissy effect so long as you tin can live with the ghosting that comes hand-in-hand with them.
Longitudinal chromatic aberration (fringing)
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| Click or tap through to see just a chip of fringing on the chainlink contend on the center-left portion of the frame. ISO 100 | 1/8000 sec | F1.4 | Sony a7R 4 Photo by Chris Niccolls |
The 35mm F1.iv DG DN Art is prone to a lilliputian flake of longitudinal chromatic aberration, also known as LoCA, although this is common for most lenses of this type (and its functioning is far ameliorate than the original 2012-era 35mm F1.4 Art lens for D/SLR). Where it appears, LoCA presents equally magenta fringing in front of the focus aeroplane, and greenish fringing behind it, and these colored fringes can be tricky to get rid of in post-processing.
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Conclusion
| What we like | What we don't |
|---|---|
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Given that the Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG DN Art is available on two competing lens mounts, our concluding thoughts depend to some extent on which mount y'all're shooting with.
Of course its image quality, AF performance, handling and build are essentially identical on both mounts, but the contest on each mountain differs, and E-mountain shooters have access to Sony'southward truly excellent 35mm F1.four Thou Principal lens, albeit at a higher price-tag than Sigma'south rival.
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| ISO 100 | 1/160 sec | F2.8 | Panasonic S1R Photo by Dan Bracaglia |
Both East-mount and L-mountain versions of the Sigma 35mm F1.4 are very sharp lenses, and in most respects tin can deliver great paradigm quality even when shooting wide-open. Although there are issues with ghosting and true cat'south eye, in many situations y'all'll be able to piece of work around these.
And while it'southward perhaps a tad front-heavy on smaller bodies, handling is otherwise excellent. We're fans of the lockable discontinuity ring, silky-shine focus ring and rubberized, lockable lens hood in particular.
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| ISO 100 | 1/160 sec | F8 | Panasonic S5 Photograph past Barney Britton |
A bigger concern is the Sigma'due south modest autofocus functioning, especially when compared to Sony's very swift-focusing G Master lens if you're an E-mount shooter. And videographers will also want to bear in mind its significant focus animate, although that's also an outcome for the Sony lens to a somewhat lesser extent.
If you're an L-mount shooter, the Sigma 35mm F1.4 represents a very nice selection for achieving a shallow depth-of-field and overall adept paradigm quality while staying on a reasonable upkeep. The Sigma 35mm F1.ii DG DN is as well worthy of consideration, simply you'll have to spend a lot more and piece of work out your biceps for the benefits information technology tin bring.
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| ISO 100 | 1/4000 sec | F2 | Panasonic S1R Photo past Dan Bracaglia |
But for Eastward-mount shooters, we think the Sony 35mm F1.4 GM represents an even meliorate option cheers to its smaller, lighter trunk, faster AF, lack of ghosting and bottom cat'south middle and fringing; if yous can stomach the substantially higher toll.
If it'southward simply beyond your budget, though, there's certainly enough to like in the crisp results delivered by the Sigma, fifty-fifty when shooting wide-open.
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DPReview TV review
Run into what our team at DPReview TV has to say almost the Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG DN Art.
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Sample galleries
Delight do not reproduce any of these images without prior permission (come across our copyright page).
E-mount version with Sony a7R Iv
Fifty-mount version with Panasonic S1R / S5
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Scoring
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Source: https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sigma-35mm-f1-4-dg-dn-art-field-review
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