Sigma 35mm F14 Art Dg Hsm Lens for Canon Refurbished

At the time of its launch in 2013, the Sigma 35mm F1.four DG HSM Art ($899) was a revelation. As the first full-frame prime lens in the visitor'southward Global Vision Art series it made a big affect, undercutting other f/1.iv lenses in toll without sacrificing image or build quality. Over the time since we get-go reviewed the lens the contest has gotten stiffer, and image sensors have dramatically increased in resolution, so nosotros're updating our take to wait at the lens on both 20MP and 50MP bodies. Even though it falls a footling brusque of the Canon competition when paired with a 50MP sensor, it retains our Editors' Choice based on its value and superb performance with more than mainstream cameras. The stiffest contest in its price range is the Tamron SP 35mm f/1.8 Di VC USD ($404.05 at Amazon U.k.) , some other Editors' Choice that sacrifices some light-gathering capability and shows more chromatic aberration, merely adds paradigm stabilization, a boon for handheld video recording.

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Design

The 35mm Art ($404.05 at Amazon United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland) is typically sized for an f/ane.four prime of its focal length. It measures 3.7 past 3 inches (Hd), weighs 1.v pounds, and supports 67mm forepart filters. Its barrel is a mix of metal and polycarbonate, finished in black. A reversible lens hood is included.

Sigma markets the 35mm for a number of SLR systems: Canon EF, Nikon F, Pentax G, Sigma SA, and Sony A. There are are besides mirrorless versions for Leica/Panasonic/Sigma L-mount and Sony East-mount cameras. Information technology can be paired with either a full-frame or APS-C camera body, and if yous change systems at some point y'all can ship the lens to Sigma to accept its mountain changed for a nominal fee.

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An internal motor drives focus rapidly on the bodies with which I've paired the lens. Full-time manual focus override is available past turning the focus ring, which sits at the front and is covered in textured safe. At that place is a focus toggle switch, useful if y'all desire to disable autofocus entirely.

Focus is possible as shut every bit 11.viii inches, magnifying subjects at 1:five life-size. That's pretty typical for a 35mm f/1.4 lens. If you desire a 35mm with near macro functioning, consider the Tamron SP 35mm—it locks on at vii.9 inches, which results in a 1:2.5 magnification ratio. A small window at the superlative of the barrel shows the current focus distance, with markings in feet and meters.

Image Quality

I've tested the Sigma 35mm with a pair of cameras, the 20MP Canon EOS 6D ($404.05 at Amazon UK) and the 50MP Canon EOS 5DS R ($404.05 at Amazon UK) . With the 6D, which has a sensor resolution in line with most current full-frame SLRs, the lens manages a very potent 2,438 lines per picture summit on the eye-weighted Imatest evaluation. That'southward better than the one,800 lines we desire to see at a minimum from a lens when paired with a sensor in the eighteen to 24MP range. It increases slightly every bit y'all end down, peaking at 2,625 lines at f/5.vi—that's well-nigh as much resolution as you lot can hope for from the 6D.

When paired with the 50MP 5DS R, results aren't quite as outstanding. At f/i.4 the lens shows two,567 lines, which is better than the 2,220 lines we desire to encounter at a minimum from a high-resolution system. Simply it'southward a bit shy of what the pricier Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L 2 USM ($404.05 at Amazon Britain) scores at the same aperture with the same camera body—three,448 lines. If yous're shooting with a 5DS R you're probable in want of resolution higher up all, and volition observe information technology worth information technology to pay for the Canon lens.

That's not to say the Sigma is a poor performer when paired with a loftier-resolution sensor. Its center is extremely sharp at f/1.iv, although as yous motility away (to the middle and outer third of the frame) the resolution dips to virtually two,100 lines, which appears slightly soft.

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Narrowing the aperture to f/ii improves overall score to 3,100 lines, with potent performance in the heart and edges of the frame (2,400 lines). There's farther improvement at f/2.8 (3,226 lines), f/4 (3,809 lines), and f/5.half dozen (four,386 lines). Diffraction sets in at f/8 with the 5DS R sensor, cutting the resolution a bit, but still managing a superb 3,985-line score. Information technology's more of an issue at f/11 (iii,630 lines) and f/16 (two,966 lines).

Canon isn't the only camera maker out there with a loftier-resolution sensor, of form. Both the Nikon D810 ($404.05 at Amazon UK) and Pentax M-one ($404.05 at Amazon UK) sport 36MP imagers, and the upcoming Sony Alpha 99 Two pushes the envelope to 42MP. Results from different cameras aren't direclty comparable, but you lot tin can become a ballpark idea from looking at exam numbers from 1 system to another.

I recommend the Sigma 35mm Art over the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 35mm f/1.4G ($404.05 at Amazon United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland) , which underperforms when y'all consider its toll. The closest lens to the Sigma in the Pentax world is the SMC FA 31mm Limited ($404.05 at Amazon Uk) , an f/i.8 prime that isn't the Sigma'southward optical equal, simply has a distinct look and charm of its own. Sony sells a 35mm f/1.4G ($i,499.99) for the Alpha 99 Ii, but we haven't tested it. It's an older lens with a screw-drive focus organisation, and others who accept evaluated it state that it's on the soft side, which makes the Sigma sound like a ameliorate option.

Sharpness isn't the only aspect of lens performance that's important, of form. The Sigma 35mm shows about one.half-dozen per centum barrel distortion, typical for a lens of its type. It's a mild upshot that you'll likely find in architectural shots or images with a clear horizon line, and is hands removed using a lens profile or the distortion correction tool available in Lightroom ($404.05 at Amazon Great britain) .

The Sigma 35mm does testify a strong vignette effect, dimming corners and edges at broad apertures. Image corners lag backside the center by -five.7EV at f/1.4, a deficit that's cut to -3.2EV at f/2, -1.5EV at f/ii.eight, and -1EV at f/4. At narrower apertures information technology's non noticeable in field weather. As with distortion, y'all can brighten corners and edges in Lightroom. The pricier Catechism EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM shows about the same amount of the vignette effect. The best fast 35mm we've seen in controlling it is the Tamron SP 35mm, which shows only -i.4EV at f/1.8. Just the Tamron has more of a tendency to exhibit chromatic abberation, in the form of majestic color fringing, which both the Sigma and Canon lenses avoid.

Conclusions

The Sigma 35mm F1.four DG HSM Fine art isn't the only 3rd-party option in town. The Tamron SP 35mm f/1.8 has its ain ready of benefits, including a lower price tag, more uniform illumination, closer focus, and image stabilization. But information technology likewise has ii big drawbacks—a maximum aperture of f/one.8, which cuts light-gathering past close to half, and a trend to showroom chromatic abnormality.

For most SLR owners, the Sigma is the best 35mm f/one.iv lens available. Information technology captures crisp images at every f-stop, has a wide maximum aperture for shooting in low-light and capturing photos with a shallow depth of field, and comes in at a much lower price than alternatives from Canon, Nikon, Pentax, and Sony. The merely caveat I offer is that owners of the Canon EOS 5DS ($404.05 at Amazon Uk) and 5DS R should consider the EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM—it'due south twice the price, but worth it for phographers in search of the highest resolution when shooting at wide apertures. For everyone else, the Sigma remains the best selection, and our Editors' Choice.

Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM Art

The Lesser Line

The Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM Art captures crisp images, opens upward to f/1.4, and undercuts competing lenses on toll.

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Source: https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/sigma-35mm-f14-dg-hsm-art