Photozone has released their review of the Sigma 35 1.4...

[Quasimodo]

Albeit on a Nikon mount.

http://www.photozone.de/nikon_ff/792-sigma3514dgfx

[Quasimodo]

Short, positive and a seldom thumbs up

[Menace]

Heard a lot of good firsthand feedback about this lens. Tempted to get this one over the 35L 

[Quasimodo]

Heard a lot of good firsthand feedback about this lens. Tempted to get this one over the 35L 

I have it, and like it a lot. Feels good to get photozone's approval though.... They check it in ways I cannot.

[skitron]

LOL, I will surely spring for one of these when I finally get sick and tired of my Rokinon (aka Samyang) being a manual lens. It's a great lens but this is the 21st century after all, and AF is hard to do without when we don't have split prism focus screens for 5D3. Plus the Sigma is even better anyway...

[wickidwombat]

the focus tracking in servo on the 5Dmk3 with this lens blew me away, I have never ever seen a sigma lens perform like this lens. the 85 is ok but it cant compete with the 70-200 in servo and i would put this 35mm in the same category of the 70-200 for its tracking accuracy. very impressed so far

[Invertalon]

Amazing lens IQ with the Sigma 35, that is for sure. Miles better than the Canon L.

However, I tried (2) copies and both had focusing issues in artificial light that my 35L's have not. It would front focus significantly when used in some indoor lighting (not all). I was constantly having to switch from 0 MA outdoors to +9 indoors (sometimes) and other times 0MA was fine. Drove me a bit insane.

Other then that quirk, it was incredible. I hope to try again in the future, as I don't want to give up on that amazing lens... I just know others have had the same exact issue happen with them and their 5D3, so it may be with that body only, who knows... Waiting to see more info as time goes on before rebuying, again.

[Quasimodo]

Amazing lens IQ with the Sigma 35, that is for sure. Miles better than the Canon L.

However, I tried (2) copies and both had focusing issues in artificial light that my 35L's have not. It would front focus significantly when used in some indoor lighting (not all). I was constantly having to switch from 0 MA outdoors to +9 indoors (sometimes) and other times 0MA was fine. Drove me a bit insane.

Other then that quirk, it was incredible. I hope to try again in the future, as I don't want to give up on that amazing lens... I just know others have had the same exact issue happen with them and their 5D3, so it may be with that body only, who knows... Waiting to see more info as time goes on before rebuying, again.

Interesting. I have not had this problem, but that might also be because I have only used it on a 5D II and a 1Ds III, and not a 5D III. I had the chance to use it on a 1Dx this weekend, but did not think of it, as I was lucky enough to borrow the 500 F4.0L II But I will get the chance again.

I have had one issue with mine, a greenish cast on pictures taken in studio, but was told by the servicedep. that it was probably due to a sort of flare phenomenon.. Otherwise I have had a great time with it

[Viggo]

the focus tracking in servo on the 5Dmk3 with this lens blew me away, I have never ever seen a sigma lens perform like this lens. the 85 is ok but it cant compete with the 70-200 in servo and i would put this 35mm in the same category of the 70-200 for its tracking accuracy. very impressed so far

Have you tried AF speed and accuracy against the 35 L?

[bchernicoff]

Have you tried AF speed and accuracy against the 35 L?

The AF speed and accuracy are as good as anything Canon offers. Sigma has finally nailed AF with Canon.
I would argue this is a better lens than 35L in every way but weather sealing. Some would favor the OOF rendering of the Canon over the razor sharpness of the Sigma. To each their own. No reason for a current 35L owner to switch though.

[Viggo]

Have you tried AF speed and accuracy against the 35 L?

The AF speed and accuracy are as good as anything Canon offers. Sigma has finally nailed AF with Canon.
I would argue this is a better lens than 35L in every way but weather sealing. Some would favor the OOF rendering of the Canon over the razor sharpness of the Sigma. To each their own. No reason for a current 35L owner to switch though.

The 35 L isn't weathersealed either, and it's one of the biggest reason I want the 35 L II now that the sigma isnt't sealed either.

I must say that the 35 L is my favorite fast prime, and I have had them all.

This is a snap from the other day at , hm, think it was f1.8

[drjlo]

Amazing lens IQ with the Sigma 35, that is for sure. Miles better than the Canon L.

However, I tried (2) copies and both had focusing issues in artificial light that my 35L's have not. It would front focus significantly when used in some indoor lighting (not all). I was constantly having to switch from 0 MA outdoors to +9 indoors (sometimes) and other times 0MA was fine. Drove me a bit insane.

IME, this sort of thing is the reason when one buys Sigma lens, it MUST be from a place with good return policy.  I learned this lesson the hard way myself..

[TommyLee]

I had a 35L for a few yrs..
JUST sold it to await the Canon 35L II...I am waiting still...
////////

right now I bought the Sigma 35 f1.4 WHILE I am waiting...
the Canon was 2 clicks off of perfect on a 5d2@
.... and on 5D3...the Sigma is 3 clicks off.............. well I am still fiddling with it...
but very close to done ...near...far shots.... just about right

it is almost 1 stop sharper than the 35L..
meaning Canon @ f2 is about like Sigma at f 1.4

Sigma ...for me focuses slightly slower...

but VERY sharp wide open...
and accurate on 5D3 ...all the time low light....big light....

as I said I will buy the Canon 35L II IFF it is better...

just a few shots here ...so far

[TommyLee]

and these two shots

way lower chromatics too.....
and I say the bokeh is about the same MAYBE Canon is smoother...but very small difference

again, the Canon focuses slightly faster... sometimes

nice solid lens
my 14L II,  this 35 f1.4  and either 85L II, 100L macro or 135 f2...
....three lenses is all you need to walk about and get a lot of options

Canon needs to go for the distagon bokeh and even sharper and lower CA..
I am waiting for the NEW Canon  35L II

good enough to KEEP

competition is grand...ain't it?

[Zlatko]

it is almost 1 stop sharper than the 35L..
meaning Canon @ f2 is about like Sigma at f 1.4

Sigma ...for me focuses slightly slower...

but VERY sharp wide open...
and accurate on 5D3 ...all the time low light....big light....

as I said I will buy the Canon 35L II IFF it is better...

just a few shots here ...so far

Those shots look great.  That is super-duper wide open performance.