Review: Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art

mackguyver said:
Radiating said:
The Canon also probably isn't built better, it's 3 times less reliable than the Sigma 35mm f/1.4, which is pretty bad.
Radiating, those are mostly good and valid points, but where did you get this last stat?
Ah, I see, it must have come from the LensRentals Repair Data 3.0 post, but it says, "Two lenses (the Canon 50mm f/1.2 and the Sigma 100-300) have behaved so well they’ve dropped below the 10% repair rate cutoff."
 
Upvote 0
mackguyver said:
mackguyver said:
Radiating said:
The Canon also probably isn't built better, it's 3 times less reliable than the Sigma 35mm f/1.4, which is pretty bad.
Radiating, those are mostly good and valid points, but where did you get this last stat?
Ah, I see, it must have come from the LensRentals Repair Data 3.0 post, but it says, "Two lenses (the Canon 50mm f/1.2 and the Sigma 100-300) have behaved so well they’ve dropped below the 10% repair rate cutoff."

Correct. Lens rentals keeps track of how reliable their collection of 12,000 lenses are. Of the 700 models of lenses they have, the 50mm f/1.2L has been listed on their worst list, or just barley made it off the list depending on the year. The Sigma 35mm has had dead average reliability with lens rentals, which roughly translates to being 3 times more reliable.

While digital sensors may let less of the oblique light hit the sensor, for you to say that f/1.2 "on a digital camera is a lie" is simply false and a one-dimensional interpretation. The DxO 'fast lenses are for idiots' essay has one major flaw - depth of field. That's why fast lenses are still relevant and why Sigma & co. are still making fast lenses in a time when the 200-400 1.4x is being used to cover indoor sports.

I'm not saying f/1.2 and f/1.4 are far apart, but f/1.2 and f/2 sure are, even if they are letting the same amount of light reach the sensor. It probably needs to be updated, too, as microlenses and other factors may have changed things somewhat, at least if we're to believe some of the manufacturer's (Panasonic & Leica) literature.

Finally, science, graphs, test chart shots, and lousy comparisons aside, what really matters is the photo. We can spend our entire lives measurebating, but that's just a sad way to live.

I'm going to hold onto my 50L because it takes beautiful portraits and if I need sharper photos, I have plenty of lenses for that. I'm positive the Sigma will be an excellent lens and take beautiful portraits as well.

Keep in mind the light reject by digital sensors at fast apertures is the same light that is responsible for additional background blur with a fast lens. So not only do you have a fraction of the low light performance you'd expect but you have a fraction of the additional background blur you'd expect.

For all intents and purposes there isn't a meaningful difference between the 50L @ f/1.2 and f/1.4:

f/1.4
f14.jpg


f/1.2
f12.jpg
 
Upvote 0
Those shots are from the 85mm f/1.2 II and I had already acknowledged that the difference between f/1.2 and f/1.4 is small. While I don't think one set of photos that you keep posting is the definitive answer on this, I certainly don't expect a half stop do persuade anyone to buy the Canon over the Sigma. The same set of photos does show a noticeable difference between f/1.2 or 1.4 and f/2, however, which was the point I was making. If we're to follow DxO's essay, we're all idiots for buying fast lenses. If they got out of the lab more, they might realize that shallow DOF is the reason that fast lenses are still relevant.

I understand on the LensRentals data - their blog isn't tagged the best, but I see it come up when I Google it. I'm not sure how well rental durability translates to real life, but it's failure rate is still tiny compared to the worst offenders. The Sigma 50 A looks like it's built well and I'm sure that won't be a differentiator, either.
 
Upvote 0
There aren't any really obvious winners and losers here, just a personal choice of where you want your strengths and compromises to sit. I've used a 50L for many years and It's been a reliable work horse. I don't reach for it when i'm after critical sharpness. No, I reach for it when I want that certain creamy bokeh type of look. It's that kind of lens and it does it really well. It's contrast, colour fidelity, build and flare control are exceptional. I've not had any build issues with mine and neither has my 2nd photographer. But i have heard of some other pro's having issues with the front dust cap coming off with the hood. This I believe was due to a defective batch from Canon and were offered free repairs.

Has anyone else noticed the focal lens difference between the Canon and Sigma. The 50L is slightly long for a 50mm....closer to a 55mm to my eyes. The Sigma looks a little wide, maybe 45mm? Could be an issue if you are pairing it with a 35mm and not a 24mm.

I'm not a big 50mm user any more. I far prefer using a 35mm / 85mm combo on a pair of 5DIII's than a 24mm / 50mm option.
 
Upvote 0
preben said:

Correct, difference is minimal given everything I've seen thus far - unless you make a living shooting flat sharpness test charts.

The 50 f/1.2L was designed with uncorrected field curvature+spherical aberration with a priority on bokeh.

If you shoot flat test charts, that could be a problem. But since things we shoot generally are not a flat test chart and do have depth, real world performance in the shots I have seen appear to have minimal difference sharpness/CA. Wide open the Sigma does have a slight advantage in sharpness/CA real world use, but I expected that given the larger f/1.4 retrofocal design - at narrower apertures the Canon actually appears to pull ahead of the Sigma in sharpness (likely due to reduction of field curvature).

Field curvature does not make a lens subpar even though it will not perform as well on a test chart (just ask the $10k+ Leica Noctilux). In the end, the real world performance is what counts. And, some lenses will sacrifice some test chart sharpness/aberrations for superior bokeh and real world performance.
 
Upvote 0
jdramirez said:
I suppose it is time for me to drop out of this conversation... I just bought an 85L mkii... so... I guess the 50mm sigma wasn't meant to be.

Congrats JD ;) You gonna LOVE this lens. Post some photos whenever you ready.

I took Neuro advice and bought B&W 3stop ND filter for this lens. Shooting wide open in day time is fun.
 
Upvote 0
Dylan777 said:
Congrats JD ;) You gonna LOVE this lens. Post some photos whenever you ready.

I took Neuro advice and bought B&W 3stop ND filter for this lens. Shooting wide open in day time is fun.

Thanks. That's not a bad idea re: the filter. I like my f/2.8 lenses... but there is just something fun about shooting at f/1.4 or f/1.8... and now I can push that to f/1.2.
 
Upvote 0
jdramirez said:
I suppose it is time for me to drop out of this conversation... I just bought an 85L mkii... so... I guess the 50mm sigma wasn't meant to be.
Congrats, you'll love it. It took me a long time to build up the nerve to buy it, but I had no regrets from the moment I saw the first photo. In fact, my wife will only let me shoot her with that lens because she loves how the photos turn out with it.
 
Upvote 0
jdramirez said:
Dylan777 said:
Congrats JD ;) You gonna LOVE this lens. Post some photos whenever you ready.

I took Neuro advice and bought B&W 3stop ND filter for this lens. Shooting wide open in day time is fun.

Thanks. That's not a bad idea re: the filter. I like my f/2.8 lenses... but there is just something fun about shooting at f/1.4 or f/1.8... and now I can push that to f/1.2.

You paid big $$$ for that f1.2, make sure you use it right ;D. This lens shines @ f1.2 - period.
 
Upvote 0
mackguyver said:
jdramirez said:
I suppose it is time for me to drop out of this conversation... I just bought an 85L mkii... so... I guess the 50mm sigma wasn't meant to be.
Congrats, you'll love it. It took me a long time to build up the nerve to buy it, but I had no regrets from the moment I saw the first photo. In fact, my wife will only let me shoot her with that lens because she loves how the photos turn out with it.

+1.... ;)
 
Upvote 0
Ruined said:
preben said:

Correct, difference is minimal given everything I've seen thus far - unless you make a living shooting flat sharpness test charts.

The 50 f/1.2L was designed with uncorrected field curvature+spherical aberration with a priority on bokeh.

If you shoot flat test charts, that could be a problem. But since things we shoot generally are not a flat test chart and do have depth, real world performance in the shots I have seen appear to have minimal difference sharpness/CA. Wide open the Sigma does have a slight advantage in sharpness/CA real world use, but I expected that given the larger f/1.4 retrofocal design - at narrower apertures the Canon actually appears to pull ahead of the Sigma in sharpness (likely due to reduction of field curvature).

Field curvature does not make a lens subpar even though it will not perform as well on a test chart (just ask the $10k+ Leica Noctilux). In the end, the real world performance is what counts. And, some lenses will sacrifice some test chart sharpness/aberrations for superior bokeh and real world performance.



20140413-IMG-3156.jpg


20140413-IMG-3159.jpg


This would be a real world comparison. There is a night and day difference in sharpness. With the way the forum downsizes images if that were displayed at 1080p the uncropped image would fit the whole screen.
 
Upvote 0
mackguyver said:
infared said:
...but I would love to see a comparison of the new Sigma 50mm vs. the old Sigma 50mm. I know
This sure is fun.
Here's a brief one from the Phoblographer: Which One? Sigma 50mm f1.4 I vs Sigma 50mm f1.4 II Art
Read

Thanks. I found that review to be somewhat helpful. The comparison could have been a little more thorough when comparing the two lenses at f/1.4, but as we all know the new Art 50mm is the better lens...but not enough so to make me run out and preorder it. I really like my original Sigma 50mm and the images I have made with it. ...plus, it's somewhat smaller and lighter. I am glad that Sigma has come up with this new improved offering...and that they have garnered a lot of attention and accolades with this new lens.
 
Upvote 0
preben said:
Ruined said:
preben said:

Correct, difference is minimal given everything I've seen thus far - unless you make a living shooting flat sharpness test charts.

The 50 f/1.2L was designed with uncorrected field curvature+spherical aberration with a priority on bokeh.

If you shoot flat test charts, that could be a problem. But since things we shoot generally are not a flat test chart and do have depth, real world performance in the shots I have seen appear to have minimal difference sharpness/CA. Wide open the Sigma does have a slight advantage in sharpness/CA real world use, but I expected that given the larger f/1.4 retrofocal design - at narrower apertures the Canon actually appears to pull ahead of the Sigma in sharpness (likely due to reduction of field curvature).

Field curvature does not make a lens subpar even though it will not perform as well on a test chart (just ask the $10k+ Leica Noctilux). In the end, the real world performance is what counts. And, some lenses will sacrifice some test chart sharpness/aberrations for superior bokeh and real world performance.

This lens is really in an entirely different class than Canon 50/1,2


At first, after only viewing the Sigma vs Zeiss, I was going to say that the Zeiss is clearly better through at least f4 (that's as far as I looked). The Sigma simply puts the 50L to shame, by a large margin. If you leave the Sigma at f/1.4, it still remains sharper than the 50L until about f/5.6, which is astounding.
You have to be really blind if you do not see the differences

The Zeiss 50 f2.0 was the best 50 for Canon by a larger margin, before the Otus, which technically isn't a 50, but oh well. The Zeiss 50 f1.4 however is absolute rubbish. So if the Sigma is worse than that it would be demolished by the Otus in the same way the sf-s 55-250 gets destroyed by the 70-200 mk2.

I can't see how the Sigma can be only slightly better than the 50 L and still compete with the Otus, that just doesn't add up. I'm beginning to wonder if the 50 Art lenses tested are all preproduction with high copy variation when the results differentiate so much.. But in some cases the example shots are just done wrong.

I downloaded the Zip with the raws from the 50 Art and I wasn't impressed at all, and with the first images shot by the Otus they blew my mind, so either Sigma lied, plain and simple, or people can't shoot or it's very high degree of copy variation and or preproduction lenses. This also of course mean I have to buy one, and buy it new so I can exchange it 4-5 times until a good copy is found.
 
Upvote 0