Review - Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM

[StepBack]

Justin from your article "Vignetting is incredibly prevalent on this lens, enough so that you may have to adjust your metering accordingly." What aperture did u use on the last shot in the review of the boy reading? I suppose one could just crop a bit or as u say use post editing to wash away the added imperfection. Funny that proprietary s/w enables people to add vignetting but that's another story. I really loved the shots and the other pro shots I've seen with the 5D3 are incredibly sharp and the color tuned to "what that can't be" level. Wish I could get those results. Checked out your Huff review and the pros who liked your stuff on Flickr, Best of luck with your career and being a "stay at home dad".

 

[JVLphoto]

Justin from your article "Vignetting is incredibly prevalent on this lens, enough so that you may have to adjust your metering accordingly." What aperture did u use on the last shot in the review of the boy reading? I suppose one could just crop a bit or as u say use post editing to wash away the added imperfection. Funny that proprietary s/w enables people to add vignetting but that's another story. I really loved the shots and the other pro shots I've seen with the 5D3 are incredibly sharp and the color tuned to "what that can't be" level. Wish I could get those results. Checked out your Huff review and the pros who liked your stuff on Flickr, Best of luck with your career and being a "stay at home dad".

That image was taken wide-open at 1.4, I was attempting to see what kind of flare could be produced with light going into the lens (I believe I took the hood off too). You can see a bit of green flaring, but not much else beyond that, and the image remains sharp and contrasty.

 

[distant.star]

And I am sure that all of you know what I am talking about.

Sorry to sound like a therapist, but what I hear you saying is:

1. You prefer the look of images you make with the Canon lens.

2. You've had a bad experience with Sigma and don't trust them.

What I don't understand is your "wink, wink," you know what I'm talking about. Is there something you've said that I'm not hearing?

 

[Pi]

And I am sure that all of you know what I am talking about.

no , sorry I don't

please show me, I have both canon 35/1,4 and the sigma 35/1,4

I do.

 

[Pi]

.
It approaches the Canon 135mm f/2.0L in just about every characteristic (betters it in none as far as I can tell) and it's far more versatile for me.

It could not be farther apart from the 135L. The 135L is a bokeh machine, while the S35 is not, to put it mildly.

 

[distant.star]

.
Colors on the left are more vivid. Background on the right is more pleasant to the eye. Is the Sigma on the right?

Thanks.

OK , I took these few minutes ago, same parameters.
Now there are differences in the red colors, one camera can not separate red/orange colors as the other, mainly because of the CFA and also the profile.(we can take a color profile discussion later so all understand what a profile does or not with the bokeh, contrast curves, colors etc who plays a major role in what we think us se, or not )

Now to the background
which one do you think is more pleasing than the other? here are the same parameters regarding contrast curve=linear and the same adobe profile are chosen

canon 35mm and sigma 35mm both at F 1.4

 

[distant.star]

.
Our experiences have led us to different conclusions. So be it.

.
It approaches the Canon 135mm f/2.0L in just about every characteristic (betters it in none as far as I can tell) and it's far more versatile for me.

It could not be farther apart from the 135L. The 135L is a bokeh machine, while the S35 is not, to put it mildly.

 

[infared]

OK...what I have become a big "fanboy" of is Justin's reviews. They are fantastic, along with the images he includes.
Love the shot of Trevor (and thanks for the lighting info).
I own the lens and it is simply the best 35mm on the market for a Canon 5dIII owner, (the great price is just a bonus).
It is a joy to twist this glass onto the front of my rig. (No winking needed). Who cares if Canon updates their 35L!
(I figure with the $1000 I saved I will pick up a 135L next week when the rebate kicks in!).
Unlike Justin...the only complaint I have is the useless toaster-cozy case? WTF? A big square lunch case for a sleek round lens???? Go figure. That thing went right back in the box as soon as I took the lens out. What would be nice is a custom-fit, sleek neoprene case. Keep it simple.
I also own the Sigma 50mm and although it is not at the level of this new 35mm I am very happy with that lens, too. (Guess I got a good copy... I covered the unsightly shinny gold ring with pinstriping tape, no...not red, just for fun and to confuse enthusiasts! LOL!).
My only question is: Dare we expect more of this from Sigma????

 

[Pi]

OK , I took these few minutes ago, same parameters.
Now there are differences in the red colors, one camera can not separate red/orange colors as the other, mainly because of the CFA and also the profile.(we can take a color profile discussion later so all understand what a profile does or not with the bokeh, contrast curves, colors etc who plays a major role in what we think us se, or not )

Now to the background
which one do you think is more pleasing than the other? here are the same parameters regarding contrast curve=linear and the same adobe profile are chosen

canon 35mm and sigma 35mm both at F 1.4

This is a closeup, almost a macro, and the image on the right is taken from a slightly closer distance (maybe due to the different lens and the different body). As a result, the background on the right is blurred more, and you can see the different perspective. Also, in closeup shots, the effective FL changes a lot, the f stop changes, etc.

Testing non-macro lenses in such closeup situations is not such a great way to evaluate a lens. BTW, next time you do that, do not put the other camera in the frame!

 

[giotto]

Hi, I want to post a pic and try to use the attachment function - but I have no success. The file is 1,3 mb and a jpeg format. I want to upload it from my HDD. But it failed all the time.
In the browser address I have this: http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?action=post2;start=45;board=70

and then I can wait for a lot of time and the screen is only white.

I havn`t found any helpdesk for my problem and I also don`t know how to reach an administrator to help me.
So I choose this way

WHO CAN HELP ME :-[ :-[ :-[

 

[Eli]

Another thread turned into a test chart comparison argument. I'm surprised there's no BBQ in these photos.

 

[JVLphoto]

Another thread turned into a test chart comparison argument. I'm surprised there's no BBQ in these photos.

Notice how I don't do that in my reviews

 

[infared]

Another thread turned into a test chart comparison argument. I'm surprised there's no BBQ in these photos.

Notice how I don't do that in my reviews

THANK GOD!!!!!!

 

[vscd]

Sadly, both lenses have no weathersealing. I think it's a shame to shoot with optics worth a grand and they get spoiled in the first rain. I think the producingcosts of some siliconrings can't exceed more than a few bucks. Of course the design would be a little bit more complicated, but this lense is meant to be superior...

It even would push canon a little bit more to produce a Mark II of their own lense, for a fair price.

 

[Zv]

Sadly, both lenses have no weathersealing. I think it's a shame to shoot with optics worth a grand and they get spoiled in the first rain. I think the producingcosts of some siliconrings can't exceed more than a few bucks. Of course the design would be a little bit more complicated, but this lense is meant to be superior...

It even would push canon a little bit more to produce a Mark II of their own lense, for a fair price.

How often do you shoot in the rain?

 

[bjd]

Hi, I want to post a pic and try to use the attachment function - but I have no success. The file is 1,3 mb and a jpeg format. I want to upload it from my HDD. But it failed all the time.
In the browser address I have this: http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?action=post2;start=45;board=70

and then I can wait for a lot of time and the screen is only white.

I havn`t found any helpdesk for my problem and I also don`t know how to reach an administrator to help me.
So I choose this way

WHO CAN HELP ME :-[ :-[ :-[

Hi, one time I had similar problems, seems like some pgms create .jpgs that the CR website cant handle. Try to download a jpg from the site and then post it again. You know that jpg will be OK. If it works then just modify your post. Now, what exactly the problem is with certain jpgs, who knows?

Cheers

 

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

Sadly, both lenses have no weathersealing. I think it's a shame to shoot with optics worth a grand and they get spoiled in the first rain. I think the producingcosts of some siliconrings can't exceed more than a few bucks. Of course the design would be a little bit more complicated, but this lense is meant to be superior...

It even would push canon a little bit more to produce a Mark II of their own lense, for a fair price.

How often do you shoot in the rain?

"Spoiled in the first rain"??? Do you really think these lens are THAT delicate? Admittedly, most of my kit is weathersealed, but I have shot with non-weathersealed lens in a lot of crazy weather and have yet to have a lens be "spoiled in the first rain". I think you should always exercise caution and protect your gear as much as possible, but I don't think either the 35L or the Siggy are quite so delicate as that.

 

[Zv]

Sadly, both lenses have no weathersealing. I think it's a shame to shoot with optics worth a grand and they get spoiled in the first rain. I think the producingcosts of some siliconrings can't exceed more than a few bucks. Of course the design would be a little bit more complicated, but this lense is meant to be superior...

It even would push canon a little bit more to produce a Mark II of their own lense, for a fair price.

How often do you shoot in the rain?

"Spoiled in the first rain"??? Do you really think these lens are THAT delicate? Admittedly, most of my kit is weathersealed, but I have shot with non-weathersealed lens in a lot of crazy weather and have yet to have a lens be "spoiled in the first rain". I think you should always exercise caution and protect your gear as much as possible, but I don't think either the 35L or the Siggy are quite so delicate as that.

@ Vscd: All you need really is a decent rain cover for your camera bag for unexpected showers. Or are we talking about actually walking about in the rain with your gear cos that seems silly to me even with weathersealed lenses. ???

 

[Pi]

If we are looking at something subjective as Bokeh the contrast curve and many other things plays a major role
like the profiles we are using , behind is a Husqvarna (Husky) motor saw and the color is orange, here we can see how adobe standard + linear curve represents the orange as red , on the right is a custom profile for my Canon camera created with qp-card+linear curve , the same raw file are used, colors, contrst curves etc plays a major role in what we call bokeh, not only the lens.

How does it compare to the Adobe camera profile?

 

[Pi]

THANK GOD!!!!!!

same here, notice that I have the both lenses and are a little bit allergic to peoples statements when they not have a clue what they are talking about and have not tested the lenses against each other
So here comes two new files. Which is best regarding bokeh ? f-1,4 from sigma and canon and the background
I see clearly green ca from one of the lenses, is this to short or to long from the sharpness plane and to the back ground?

The only thing deserving attention here are the letters on the bottle: "TRE" and "47". The Sigma is much worse, as expected. The background is blurred enough not to matter.