Review: Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens

[Viggo]

I find it weird that there is only 1 shop in Norway that have the lens in stock. When I preordered they said they will begin shipping next month.. Maybe this afternoon I will receive the lens, if the norwegian postal doesn't screw up with its delivery. They're notoriously known for their long delivery times.

Ordered from FotoVideo on Saturday and still haven't received tracking number and confirmation that it has been sent yet, so combine that with the slowness of "Posten" and we're looking at Friday instead of Tuesday.

 

[sdsr]

The Otus is will likely prove to be the best 50 for a DSLR.

Sure, if you can conjure up the rather limited range of circumstances in which a manual lens can be made to work well on a dslr. In the highly unlikely event I ever acquired one I would used it on a mirrorless camera instead so that I could take advantage of the in-viewfinder focus peaking and magnification that make manual lenses fairly easy to use.

 

[Loswr]

The Otus is will likely prove to be the best 50 for a DSLR.

Sure, if you can conjure up the rather limited range of circumstances in which a manual lens can be made to work well on a dslr.

+1

Also, you'd better have an appropriate focusing screen installed (not the stock one) if you plan to focus through the VF and shoot at wider apertures.

 

[Eldar]

I find it weird that there is only 1 shop in Norway that have the lens in stock. When I preordered they said they will begin shipping next month.. Maybe this afternoon I will receive the lens, if the norwegian postal doesn't screw up with its delivery. They're notoriously known for their long delivery times.

Ordered from FotoVideo on Saturday and still haven't received tracking number and confirmation that it has been sent yet, so combine that with the slowness of "Posten" and we're looking at Friday instead of Tuesday.

Got mine from Japanphoto (Norwegian mail order) today No time to try it before the weekend though.

 

[razeac]

Mine has arrived. I just received an sms and its ready to be picked up. I'm not home yet.

 

[Viggo]

I find it weird that there is only 1 shop in Norway that have the lens in stock. When I preordered they said they will begin shipping next month.. Maybe this afternoon I will receive the lens, if the norwegian postal doesn't screw up with its delivery. They're notoriously known for their long delivery times.

Ordered from FotoVideo on Saturday and still haven't received tracking number and confirmation that it has been sent yet, so combine that with the slowness of "Posten" and we're looking at Friday instead of Tuesday.

Got mine from Japanphoto (Norwegian mail order) today No time to try it before the weekend though.

I am on the waiting list at japan photo, but haven't heard from them yet, didn't know they had them yet. I'm very envious Eldar, but luckily it's only a couple days out.

 

[Dylan777]

I find it weird that there is only 1 shop in Norway that have the lens in stock. When I preordered they said they will begin shipping next month.. Maybe this afternoon I will receive the lens, if the norwegian postal doesn't screw up with its delivery. They're notoriously known for their long delivery times.

Ordered from FotoVideo on Saturday and still haven't received tracking number and confirmation that it has been sent yet, so combine that with the slowness of "Posten" and we're looking at Friday instead of Tuesday.

Got mine from Japanphoto (Norwegian mail order) today No time to try it before the weekend though.

Let us know how you like it Eldar

 

[Eldar]

I find it weird that there is only 1 shop in Norway that have the lens in stock. When I preordered they said they will begin shipping next month.. Maybe this afternoon I will receive the lens, if the norwegian postal doesn't screw up with its delivery. They're notoriously known for their long delivery times.

Ordered from FotoVideo on Saturday and still haven't received tracking number and confirmation that it has been sent yet, so combine that with the slowness of "Posten" and we're looking at Friday instead of Tuesday.

Got mine from Japanphoto (Norwegian mail order) today No time to try it before the weekend though.

Let us know how you like it Eldar

I can assure you that it will be plenty of comparison shots with the Otus. I need to know what the extra $3k is worth

I am also crossing my fingers for the AF system. I don´t want to get the same will-it-focus-properly-worry I have with the 35A.

 

[Viggo]

I find it weird that there is only 1 shop in Norway that have the lens in stock. When I preordered they said they will begin shipping next month.. Maybe this afternoon I will receive the lens, if the norwegian postal doesn't screw up with its delivery. They're notoriously known for their long delivery times.

Ordered from FotoVideo on Saturday and still haven't received tracking number and confirmation that it has been sent yet, so combine that with the slowness of "Posten" and we're looking at Friday instead of Tuesday.

Got mine from Japanphoto (Norwegian mail order) today No time to try it before the weekend though.

Let us know how you like it Eldar

I can assure you that it will be plenty of comparison shots with the Otus. I need to know what the extra $3k is worth

I am also crossing my fingers for the AF system. I don´t want to get the same will-it-focus-properly-worry I have with the 35A.

Just because you experienced the AF issues I had with my 35 I am HIGHLY interesting to see our two 50'arts does with AF. Let's hope Sigma really made it this time with most if the copies.

 

[zlatko]

The Otus is will likely prove to be the best 50 for a DSLR.

Sure, if you can conjure up the rather limited range of circumstances in which a manual lens can be made to work well on a dslr. In the highly unlikely event I ever acquired one I would used it on a mirrorless camera instead so that I could take advantage of the in-viewfinder focus peaking and magnification that make manual lenses fairly easy to use.

Manual focus lenses where used for many years on SLRs. The only thing different about focusing a manual focus lens on a DSLR is the focusing screen. But Canon offers the old-style focusing screens for certain camera bodies; these show the actual depth of field even at f/1.4. That's all that's need to make the Otus work well on a DSLR.

 

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

I find it weird that there is only 1 shop in Norway that have the lens in stock. When I preordered they said they will begin shipping next month.. Maybe this afternoon I will receive the lens, if the norwegian postal doesn't screw up with its delivery. They're notoriously known for their long delivery times.

Ordered from FotoVideo on Saturday and still haven't received tracking number and confirmation that it has been sent yet, so combine that with the slowness of "Posten" and we're looking at Friday instead of Tuesday.

Got mine from Japanphoto (Norwegian mail order) today No time to try it before the weekend though.

Let us know how you like it Eldar

I can assure you that it will be plenty of comparison shots with the Otus. I need to know what the extra $3k is worth

I am also crossing my fingers for the AF system. I don´t want to get the same will-it-focus-properly-worry I have with the 35A.

I would love to see you actually start a new thread with comparison photos and anecdotes. I will have a copy for review soon, but will probably never have the Otus in hand for comparison purposes!

 

[Viggo]

I find it weird that there is only 1 shop in Norway that have the lens in stock. When I preordered they said they will begin shipping next month.. Maybe this afternoon I will receive the lens, if the norwegian postal doesn't screw up with its delivery. They're notoriously known for their long delivery times.

Ordered from FotoVideo on Saturday and still haven't received tracking number and confirmation that it has been sent yet, so combine that with the slowness of "Posten" and we're looking at Friday instead of Tuesday.

Got mine from Japanphoto (Norwegian mail order) today No time to try it before the weekend though.

Let us know how you like it Eldar

I can assure you that it will be plenty of comparison shots with the Otus. I need to know what the extra $3k is worth

I am also crossing my fingers for the AF system. I don´t want to get the same will-it-focus-properly-worry I have with the 35A.

I would love to see you actually start a new thread with comparison photos and anecdotes. I will have a copy for review soon, but will probably never have the Otus in hand for comparison purposes!

That's a great idea. "Experience with 50 art & Otus" or something.

 

[razeac]

Hey guys,

When I bought my 17-40mm F4L, I changed it 3 times because of front/back focusing and severe MA on the camera..

This Sigma 50mm 1.4 Art though, it's very precise - I don't need to change it..

I went outside 30 mins earlier and took some shots. I must say, I have the same satisfaction when I bought my 70-200 F2.8 L non IS. This lens is a blast!!!

I tried myself to miss my focus on different apertures. It did none!

 

[aalbert]

Awesome to see it on the streets… Anybody stateside heard of B&H shipping yet ? I placed my order on the 18th, so I know I am not at the top of the list, but am hoping to still get it in the first wave…. Any idea how many B&H has coming in?

 

[Viggo]

Hey guys,

When I bought my 17-40mm F4L, I changed it 3 times because of front/back focusing and severe MA on the camera..

This Sigma 50mm 1.4 Art though, it's very precise - I don't need to change it..

I went outside 30 mins earlier and took some shots. I must say, I have the same satisfaction when I bought my 70-200 F2.8 L non IS. This lens is a blast!!!

I tried myself to miss my focus on different apertures. It did none!

Wow! Grattis! That's awesome to hear about the AF it's very promising!

 

[razeac]

some sample shots

damn flickr changing everything on its UI...

 

[Loswr]

Manual focus lenses where used for many years on SLRs. The only thing different about focusing a manual focus lens on a DSLR is the focusing screen. But Canon offers the old-style focusing screens for certain camera bodies; these show the actual depth of field even at f/1.4. That's all that's need to make the Otus work well on a DSLR.

The resolution of current digital sensors exceeds that of film, particularly when you consider the 'typical' print sized enlarged from 35mm negatives vs. print sizes easily possible with a ≥18 MP digital file. That means slight focus errors that were tolerable with film are often unacceptable with digital.

Also, Canon doesn't really offer 'old-style' focus screens, they offer 'not-so-old-style'. Currently, you can get a screen with without the same degree of laser microetching for brightness - those are the 'super precision matte' screens that show you the true DoF of fast lenses…or you can get screens with manual focus aids (split prism or microprism) but they're based on the stock screens that don't show the true DoF of fast lenses. When shooting film, there were focus screens that both showed the true DoF of fast lenses and had the split prism/microprism collar focusing aids.

 

[Viggo]

some sample shots

Thanks a lot! Keep'em coming! ;D

 

[Dylan777]

some sample shots

damn flickr changing everything on its UI...

I don't know about you guys, but those two photos look good to me

Have you try shooting at smaller apertures? Any focus shift?

Thanks

 

[aalbert]

Agreed… I like… Can't wait to try it out.