Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM review

I've been in and out of my local camera store nearly once a week for the past few months trying to decide between the Sigma 1.4 Art and the Canon 1.2L. After A LOT of deliberation, I'm about to buy the Sigma. Not because it's sharper (it is), not because the AF feels a little faster(well maybe just a little), not because it's cheaper (this definetley helps), but because of the overall general aesthetic of the image it produces. It's difficult to explain, but the in-focus area when shot at 1.4 tends to really pop out. More so than the Canon. The bokeh is not as dreamy as the Canon, probably because it's sharper overall, but it's nice.
One of my main concerns though, besides it's weight, is the customer service and quality. I have nothing but good things to say about my local Canon Service Center. Their customer service is amazing. After seeing some people mention some QC problems with the Sigma, I'm feeling kind of nervous about pulling the trigger.

Sharp at 1.4. Nice bokeh though not as creamy as with Canon 50 F/1.2L. Much better than other Canon 50mm.

I can fully aggree on the conslusions, except for one thing: It puzzles me that it is regarded as expensive, given how unshamefully good it is. I mean: Next step up would be the Otus.
Anyway, I am deeply awed by it, and it is such a joy to see how Sigma has stepped up their game. (More like a quantum leap, actually.)
And no, I don´t have any close friends at Sigma.

HI,
I want to buy this lens to use it on a D3200 Nikon. Are there going to be any issues with focusing with this lens on this camera and is it a good choice and should I go for it?

Thanks in advance!

It appears that the Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM standard lens is a true winner, a very fine lens! I have a Canon digital SLR (Rebel XS), and it seems whether most photographers have and shoot with a Canon, Nikon, or other digital SLR, then this standard lens is definitely the glass to choose, and use!

Sharp, great color, distortionless and exquisitely detailed. The bokeh is decidedly short of dreamy however....

does this work with nikon d7100?

In love with the new 50mm and 35mm 'art' lenses. only had an issue with one of out of what we've sold. It's good to see Sigma have stepped up their mark a fair bit.

This Lens is exceptionnal, the bokeh are so soft and dreamy wow!

I had it for a few days, very ordinary, i prefer my 50 mm 1.4 by Canon.
Maybe i got a bad one....

I want it

Sigma's long standing problem has been quality control and consistency, they could design good lenses but go on to build a rather significant proportion of them that were not quite right.......I hope they have cracked it.

My Sigma 50mm Art arrived last week. I had been told by Brisbane Australia camera shops that I could not get one until late in 2014. BUT Leederville Cameras in Perth Australia has them and their service is very good.

Am I happy with the lens on a Canon 6D? After all the hype I am a touch disappointed. The lens set at "0" microfocus was alarmingly back focused. Reikan Focal suggested +12 to overcome the problem. This seems a lot to me but the images while sharper are not as I expected. They are nothing like a Zeiss 21 - perhaps not a fair comparison - not quite as good as a well set up Fuji X100s 50mm and, dare I say it, not even as sharp as my Canon 24-105 at 50mm.

I will continue to work at the micro adjustments in the hope of getting something better out of the lens.

So far I am underwhelmed. Good luck to all those who are happy with their purchase. Unless it gets better I think I will stay with Canon and Zeiss lenses.

OMG not even one decent image with the best lens you have ever reviewed (well maybe there was but I gave up) . Look guys I like the site but come on how about some guest photographers or something! Pretty please. : )

Thanks for the info - will definitely add this my list of gear to buy for wedding photography :)

i like

I do not see anything in the samples to make me buy one, and my old Nikkor will just have to do. It's great to know they can be made, but outside of controlled studio conditions,with no IS either to get that resolution, as there is no weatherproofing at all, the risk that electronically it may die, or be ruined by damp and/or dust tells me that Sigma do not care about buyers.Like most makers these days...

You would need to stop taking pictures if it rained, and now ALL of the modern fast primes we compare it to are useless outside in normal weather conditions. This from a country with a climate like our own and subject to tsunami and volcanic eruptions makes no sense at all.

Weighs three times a Nikon 50mm f1.4 does too

Horses for courses as usual. The Sigma is obviously a very fine lens: no question.
However a point of order here: Most DSLR lenses from Canon and Nikon have very low contrast.
I am lucky enough to own a Nikkor 135 F2 DC: to my mind this has THE best bokeh of any 35mm lens. However, it has, in comparison to my MFT lenses, and particularly the 75 1.8 frighteningly low contrast. This is not a small difference: it is massive and its a key reason that Nikon and Canon DSLR's are so lax at CD. CD relies on contrast. So, my point is when are the "big 2" going to get real and start producing lenses that make crap PD systems obsolete?
Anyway well done Sigma.

In the past Sigma Lens seldom get mentioned by Pro's etc but today it's brand that's not only getting recognised but getting good review rank. This Japanese company come a long way. Very patient, great achievement. Only thing is, the price of their fine achievements are going upwards to.

You love primes ?
One word : PENTAX
And another word : Limited

After that, you can speak about overpriced Zeiss, Sony, Sigma Tamron, Canon, Nikon, whatever lenses.

http://nikonrumors.com/2013/03/13/dxomark-best-lenses-for-the-nikon-d800-camera.aspx/

Hi!
Can someone explain me something about the 3 shots of the distant clock to point out focus inaccuracy?

As the clock is really distant, I guess focus is set on infinity, right ? Moreover, focusing and exposure is always measured the aperture fully open, that is 1.4. So why is there misfocusing? Infinity is infinity, no ? There's no infinity + a little front focus or back focus.

Thanks for explaining.

The sharpest lenses manufacturers from now on are Carl Z and Sigma.

Nikon will come after Canon.

Come on Sigma put a 4/3 mount on a few of them. I'm sure you have some left over from the old 50mm F1.4. I still us for portrait work.

This new lens can almost compete with a 35 year old 55mm f2.8 AIS Nikkor for sharpness and CA! I think I'll keep the 55 and buy a tripod to cover those rare f1.4 moments.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm not quite sure the comparison of the center to corner image quality (on the Westminster photo) at wider apertures on the "Image Quality" chapter is fair. At f1.4, the focal plane is so shallow that the "lack of image quality" in the corner may be due to the fact that it's not in the same plane and DOF is causing the blurring.

It is just as heavy and big as Canon 24-70/2.8 II. I would consider having 5DIII+Sigma 50/1.4 combo. Having Sigma as the only lens would be a good discipline. I already have Sigma 35/1.4, which I find a bit short for the photography I do, so only 50/1.4 would be perfect (alternatively EF 24-70/2.8II or combo Sigma 35/1.4 and upcoming 84/1.4)