{"id":1003,"date":"2014-03-08T22:50:05","date_gmt":"2014-03-09T04:20:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pixelarge.com\/?p=1003"},"modified":"2020-05-14T13:43:55","modified_gmt":"2020-05-14T08:13:55","slug":"sigma-35mm-f1-4-dg-hsm-lens-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pixelarge.com\/sigma-35mm-f1-4-dg-hsm-lens-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM Lens – Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

Prologue<\/a> | Specifications<\/a> | Performance<\/a> | Recommendation<\/a> | Ratings<\/a><\/h2>\n

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\"Sigma<\/a><\/p>\n

Price –<\/h2>\n

Around $899<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Prologue \u2013<\/h2>\n

Back when in 2012, Sigma reinvented itself with its art series for professional-consumer( pro-sumer) photography needs, I didn\u2019t gave it much thought considering the bad quality controls from Sigma and second grade stuff I knew it for( I admit to being unnecessarily obnoxious there). But then I overheard praises for this glass from a variety of colleagues and friends which prompted me to borrow one and test for myself. After spending a month with it, I have come to agree that this Sigma is indeed a lens worth consideration among the big boys.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM lens\u00a0has different variants for full and APS-C format cameras of Nikon, Canon, Sony and Pentax<\/strong>. I find it incredible for low light portraits, landscapes, Street and travel photography<\/strong>. It performs very well even in challenging situations. Adding to its sharp image rendition<\/strong>, it is an excellent build<\/strong> lens costing half of what a 35 mm f\/1.4 Nikon, Canon or Sony will cost. Scepticism about future compatibility with next generation cameras is there but not relevant according to me as it is uncertain with other lenses as well.

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Specifications \u2013<\/h2>\n

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Focal Length<\/h3>\n

The 35mm focal length<\/strong> of this lens is most useful one on DX and FX format cameras equally. On FX format camera, it acts as a moderate wide angle glass. On DX format camera it gives the popular 50 mm field of view<\/strong>. Since it is a FX lens it gives just the sweet spot of the\u00a0center\u00a0on crop sensor<\/strong>, and hence you see the best this lens can offer.<\/p>\n

\"Sigma<\/a><\/p>\n

Aperture<\/h3>\n

Maximum aperture f\/1.4<\/strong> which is great for shooting low light indoors or street photographs. Minimum aperture<\/strong> goes down to f\/16.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Diaphragm<\/h3>\n

The diaphragm has nine rounded blades<\/b> and hence i got some attractive bokeh pictures with smooth transition to background blur.<\/p>\n

Barrel and Rings<\/h3>\n

Ergonomically<\/strong> Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM\u00a0feels like a Carl Zeiss lens<\/strong> which is pretty cool thing to have.<\/p>\n

\"Sigma<\/a><\/p>\n

I would say the metal barrel is better than earlier Sigma lenses<\/strong> and hence it gives better feel than Nikon 35 f\/1.4G<\/a> in handling. The focus ring is big and quite smooth<\/strong> for an AF lens, it doesn\u2019t rotates during the auto focus<\/strong> operation. I found that it rotates in manual mode in opposite direction than what Nikon and Pentax lenses usually do<\/strong>, so it took me a while to adjust my hand to it. Also the Nikon\u2019s Focus assistance will give you signal in opposite directions which was annoying initially, then I just naturally accommodated. There are depth-of-field indicators<\/strong> for the minimum aperture of f\/16 only.<\/p>\n

\"Sigma<\/a><\/p>\n

When I get a pro lens this cheap I would not expect weather sealing, and hence I am not as surprised to see No weather sealing<\/strong> on this lens. It can be an issue for some but I would take it as an acceptable con, considering that none of the other manufacturers of 35 mm f\/1.4 give weather sealing except Nikon.<\/p>\n

Mount<\/h3>\n

The mount is metal<\/b>; this somehow pleases my orthodox sense of sturdiness<\/strong> over a period of time.<\/p>\n

Filter Thread<\/h3>\n

The size of 67 mm<\/b> is not common for professional lenses. I used a step up ring to be able to use my usual filters. It does not rotate so polarizing and ND filters were easy to use.<\/p>\n

Hood<\/h3>\n

The Plastic petal-shaped lens hood<\/b> is supplied with the lens. I found it working fine, easy to attach and remove with its ribbed ring.<\/p>\n

Lens Construction<\/h3>\n

\"Sigma<\/a><\/p>\n

Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM\u00a0lens has the most complex 13 elements in 11 groups<\/b>\u2019 construction, which can be considered a lot complicated for a prime lens.<\/strong> I compared it to the Nikkor counterpart and it has only 10 elements in 7 groups. This would make it more susceptible to ghosts and flares. I believe, to combat that Sigma engineers have put in two aspherical and four special low-dispersion elements <\/b>(that\u2019s close to Nikon’s ED glass). These reduce aberrations and flares.<\/p>\n

Size and Weight<\/h3>\n

It is longer and slimmer than the fellow Nikon and canon lenses, with 77 mm or 3 inches in diameter and 94 mm or 3.7 inches in length<\/b>. I found this little heavier than the Nikkor and Canon<\/strong> brand lenses. Since it weighs 665 g<\/b>, I\u2019d say it\u2019s a bit on the heavier side for a 35 mm lens, but it balances well on camera.

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Performance –<\/h2>\n

Focus<\/h3>\n

It gives 0.3m closest focus<\/b>. With internal focussing<\/b> mechanism, the lens barrel retains its shape throughout. AF was very accurate and fast<\/b> all the time I used this lens. The hyper sonic motor (HSM) is swift and adequately quiet<\/strong>. The all time manual over-ride adds to handling and ease of use. Although the focus ring is not as smooth as the Nikon variant has. Pleasantly, I didn’t encounter any front or back focus problem contrary to my fears regarding the cheap Sigma.<\/p>\n

\"Sigma<\/a><\/p>\n

Sharpness<\/h3>\n

I could shoot with amazing sharpness<\/b> even at maximum aperture which is remarkable feat for a lens at the given price. Most fast primes would have to be stopped down for adequate sharpness but this lens only made me do that when I wanted more depth of field, not otherwise. Sigma deserves some brownie points for pulling this.<\/strong> When stopped down, it is incredibly sharp<\/strong> at the mid as well as corner section of the frame. I am impressed by its color rendition and contrast<\/b>; it\u2019s like having a Zeiss lens. This lens gives other established brands a run for money by this sort of performance.<\/p>\n

Distortion<\/h3>\n

\"Sigma<\/a><\/p>\n

#Straight grid as seen by camera<\/em><\/p>\n

I came across little barrel distortion<\/b> which can be easily corrected in post processing. It is much reduced than the Nikon 35 mm f\/1.4 G<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Chromatic Aberration<\/h3>\n

There is visible chromatic aberration but much less than its Nikon counterpart<\/strong>. It is worth mentioning that majority of these aberrations are easily fixed in post processing, so I don\u2019t worry about them much.<\/p>\n

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Flares and Ghosting<\/h3>\n

It is much controlled even while shooting directly at the sun <\/b>or bright light. But I find the Nikon 35 f\/1.4<\/a> better at flare and ghost reduction.<\/strong>

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\"Sigma<\/a><\/h2>\n

Pixelarge recommendation \u2013<\/h2>\n

The Positives<\/strong> for Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM<\/a> are<\/p>\n