LENS REVIEW – SIGMA 35MM F1.4 DG HSM

For the past several weeks I’ve have been using and testing Sigma’s new 35mm F1.4 DG HSM lens and every time I mention it or post one of the photos, everyone asks “what do you think of it?”  The short answer is…..Stellar results and performance!

 So what makes this lens so great?

This is one of the newly designed lenses from Sigma’s new Art line, one of the three new lines that also includes Contemporary and Sports categories. When I first saw this lens several months ago at a trade show I was quite impressed with the solid feel and mechanical  quality/construction.  As soon as you see and start handling it you realize the quality of this lens, it has a feel to it of being a superior  professional lens – which it is.  There are many well thought out and designed features, one which I really thought was very well done is the large and well placed manual focusing ring, which is a full-time manual override.  Since the depth of field at F1.4 (as it is with any F1.4 lens) is only a very thin plane of focus, I sometimes find myself fine tuning the focus manually. I’m old school and this approach works for me. That being said, the majority of the time I use the auto focus and with this lens I found it to be quick, accurate and there it almost completely silent. Just take care where you place your focus point(s), as you would with any F1.4 lens. The minimum focusing distance is about 12 inches, which allows you to get in really close to your subject, an added bonus.

So what about image quality? The sharpness and colours are amazing. The resolution/sharpness wide open is excellent, and shooting at F1.4 – F2 is one of the main reasons why you are buying this lens.  The in-focus details are razor-sharp and the bokeh, background blur, is very soft and diffused. For low light photography this lens is 2 stops faster compared to my 24-70 F2.8 and with my Canon 5D MKIII it focuses incredibly quickly and accurately. Plus there is the additional advantage of the 1.4 aperture for bokeh, which is way better bokeh than f2.8.  There is practically no chromatic aberration, fringing and distortion. On a cropped sensor camera it would be a fantastic normal field of view lens, as it would be approximately the equivalent of a 50mm lens. Before getting this lens, I already had the Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM a lens that truly impresses me with it’s image quality. The new Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM actually surpasses the build and image quality of the 85mm.

 Below are some of the photos that I have taken using a Canon 5D MKIII and the Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM lens.

Canon 5D MKIII - Sigma 35mm 1.4 DG HSM @ F7.1

Canon 5D MKIII – Sigma 35mm 1.4 DG HSM @ F7.1

 

Canon 5D MKIII - Sigma 35mm 1.4 DG HSM @ F2.0

Canon 5D MKIII – Sigma 35mm 1.4 DG HSM @ F2.0

 

Canon 5D MKIII - Sigma 35mm 1.4 DG HSM @ F2.0

Canon 5D MKIII – Sigma 35mm 1.4 DG HSM @ F2.0

 

Canon 5D MKIII - Sigma 35mm 1.4 DG HSM @ F4.0

Canon 5D MKIII – Sigma 35mm 1.4 DG HSM @ F4.0

 

Canon 5D MKIII - Sigma 35mm 1.4 DG HSM @ F1.4

Canon 5D MKIII – Sigma 35mm 1.4 DG HSM @ F1.4

 

Canon 5D MKIII - Sigma 35mm 1.4 DG HSM @ F1.4

Canon 5D MKIII – Sigma 35mm 1.4 DG HSM @ F1.4

 

Canon 5D MKIII - Sigma 35mm 1.4 DG HSM @ F11

Canon 5D MKIII – Sigma 35mm 1.4 DG HSM @ F11

 

Canon 5D MKIII - Sigma 35mm 1.4 DG HSM @ F1.4

Canon 5D MKIII – Sigma 35mm 1.4 DG HSM @ F1.4

 

Canon 5D MKIII - Sigma 35mm 1.4 DG HSM @ F1.4

Canon 5D MKIII – Sigma 35mm 1.4 DG HSM @ F1.4

 

 

 

Given the high optical quality and the excellent build of this lens, I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending it. The lens sells for a very reasonable price, which is also substantially less than the camera manufacturers’ equivalents. It also comes with a 7 year warranty from Sigma Canada. Bottom line – I would definitely recommend this lens, it is probably the highest quality lens that I have ever shot with!

 

 

6 Responses to “LENS REVIEW – SIGMA 35MM F1.4 DG HSM”

  1. Pete Ryan says:

    Totally agree with you! I’m anxiously waiting until they bring out more lenses. They have really changed everyone’s, well most photographer’s, perception of 3rd party lenses. BTW, I bought the Sigma 70-200 that you recommend: LOVE IT!!!!!!!!

  2. Stuart Maclean says:

    Wow! This lens is now on my list of must haves. I have heard about it from a couple of other photographers’ reviews and everyone just say enough good things about it. Great review with the photos showing practical uses with the lens.

  3. Wendy S. says:

    I constantly spent way too much time reading reviews of photo equipment and in the end, I am more confused than I was when I started researching. I wish you did more reviews, you get right to the point and I like that you show a diversity of “normal” photos. The type that I would like to take.

  4. Garry Black says:

    Thank you Wendy,
    Glad that you enjoyed the review and found it to be beneficial. I earn my living from taking/creating photographs, for me what is important is how the lens or any piece of photographic equipment handles, preforms and it’s quality/build and then does it give my client publishable image. If you watch my blog and Facebook posts, I quite often mention what equipment I used to take or create a photo. You can be sure that if I am using something then it’s worthwhile to get.

  5. Donna P. says:

    Hey Garry, I told a friend of mine about your review when we were talking about Sigma’s new series of lenses. He picked up the Sigma 35mm from Henry’s and since they have that 14 day return policy and he also tested it. Thinking that he could return it, he keep it and also promptly sold his Nikon 35mm F1.4

    I wish I could afford one :) Can you get me any deals?????

  6. Garry Black says:

    Hi Donna,

    The quality of this lens really is truly amazing. However, I am afraid that I can’t get you or anyone else a deal on it. Keep your eye open for specials, especially during Henry’s Exposure Show and Vistek’s Profusion Show in a couple of months.