Sigma Announces the 50 f/1.4 Art Lens & More

[mrsfotografie]

Re: Sigma Announces the 50 f/1.4 Art Lens & More

I made a ahem paper "replica" to get my head around the size. Seems about the same size and thickness as an average coffee mug.

Observe.

Without comparing like for like, that is a big lens. In that sense I think I prefer my current Sigma 1.4, just for its size (and it is also not a very small lens)...

 

[ahsanford]

Re: Sigma Announces the 50 f/1.4 Art Lens & More

I made a ahem paper "replica" to get my head around the size. Seems about the same size and thickness as an average coffee mug.

Observe.

Without comparing like for like, that is a big lens. In that sense I think I prefer my current Sigma 1.4, just for its size (and it is also not a very small lens)...

The coffee mug cracks me up - nice work.

I checked the listed specs and compared them to TDP's database. The new Sigma lens is as big as the recent Canon 24-70 F/4L IS (fully closed / widest FL). The hood will undoubtedly be bigger for the Sigma, as the small petal hood of the Canon zoom is made for the 24mm FL, I believe.

- A

 

[mrsfotografie]

Re: Sigma Announces the 50 f/1.4 Art Lens & More

Good for lens collectors, but I imagine many people in the field would rather take the 35mm and do some cropping. That's what I'd do, at least.

Shoot a subject against any background with the subject being the same size with both 35 and 50 and you'll see just how different it looks. A 35 and 50 are different beasts.

I'm not saying that a 35mm replaces EVERY 50mm. I'm saying that, for me at least, it replaces a 50mm with the same characteristics and optical signature. I'd rather invest the money in something that really lets me do something different or at least in a different way.

Always in my opinion, of course, 50mm is a useless FL unless the lens you're using is really special (and I found a little gem in the CV Nokton 58mm). It's usually too long for a walkaround and too short for portraits. I'd rather have with me a 35mm and a 85mm instead of a 35mm and a 50mm - again, especially if both lenses have similar characteristics.

This time of year (when it's generally dark and glum) I find I carry both the 35 and the 50 a lot of the time. These focal lengths really are very different and have their specific uses although they can both perform as a general purpose lens depending on ones preference. Aside from the angle of view, the perspective is much more important. It took me a while to understand the 35, but in certain situations it offers me the ability to create pictures with more 'drama' to them.

 

[jhanken]

Re: Sigma Announces the 50 f/1.4 Art Lens & More

I have the 35mm Art and the previous 50mm Sigmas, both of which I love. This is a killer development, but I love my current 50mm and probably won't be tempted to trade up. The lens I am really waiting for is the 85mm Art, now THAT lens I will scoop up in a second to replace the Canon 85mm 1.8. The Canon is a fine lens, but that half a stop make a difference in low light.

Keep 'em coming, Sigma! This is great for us gear heads.

 

[zlatko]

Re: Sigma Announces the 50 f/1.4 Art Lens & More

When I said Canon has been sleeping "here"...I was referring to 50mm focal length. This is the NORMAL focal length for FF and the Canon offerings have been in my mind disrespectful of photography. I think Canon should be offering something solid, reliable and competent in this BASIC staple. The do not, as far as I am concerned. I bought the old Sigma 50mm f/1.4 (not without its own problems...but apparently I bought a good copy), because the canon offerings were so anemic...and the price on the L lens for what it offers is embarrassing. Also, if they ever do come to bat on this situation, (a 50mm f/2.0 IS is NOT addressing this BASIC issue) you can bet the pricing will suck the air out of the room. Whatever is going on over at Sigma Corp. I for one hope that they keep sending lots of it our way. Hope this new Sigma busts the 50mm situation wide open. We will see. (fingers crossed).

Canon offers five flavors of standard lens (40/2.8, 50/2.5, 50/1.8, 50/1.4, 50/1.2). Four of them are very affordable. I would not call that "disrespectful of photography". Each of them offers some advantages, and each has found many buyers, and each has made many fine photos. Your old Sigma 50/1.4 is about $500 or about 25% more than Canon's 50/1.4, so it should be better at least in some way. Now Sigma offers a $900 version of a 50mm, which is much less affordable than four of Canon's offerings. And it's not weather-sealed. Should Canon have offered a $900 large-sized non-weather-sealed 50mm lens? That would be nice, but can you really blame Canon for not filling every possible price niche. And I disagree about a 50mm f/2 IS. That would be a "basic staple". A 50/2 has been a basic staple in the photography world for generations. Adding IS would make it even more attractive, especially for video.

 

[AcutancePhotography]

Re: Sigma Announces the 50 f/1.4 Art Lens & More

I'd rather have with me a 35mm and a 85mm instead of a 35mm and a 50mm - again, especially if both lenses have similar characteristics.

That was my thought process when I started rebuilding my lens kit. I am usually of the mindset of either 35 or 50 but not both. But with this new Sigma 35mm A lens, it is tempting to add a 50 to stick between my 35 and 85.

 

[ahsanford]

Re: Sigma Announces the 50 f/1.4 Art Lens & More

When I said Canon has been sleeping "here"...I was referring to 50mm focal length. This is the NORMAL focal length for FF and the Canon offerings have been in my mind disrespectful of photography. I think Canon should be offering something solid, reliable and competent in this BASIC staple. The do not, as far as I am concerned. I bought the old Sigma 50mm f/1.4 (not without its own problems...but apparently I bought a good copy), because the canon offerings were so anemic...and the price on the L lens for what it offers is embarrassing. Also, if they ever do come to bat on this situation, (a 50mm f/2.0 IS is NOT addressing this BASIC issue) you can bet the pricing will suck the air out of the room. Whatever is going on over at Sigma Corp. I for one hope that they keep sending lots of it our way. Hope this new Sigma busts the 50mm situation wide open. We will see. (fingers crossed).

Canon offers five flavors of standard lens (40/2.8, 50/2.5, 50/1.8, 50/1.4, 50/1.2). Four of them are very affordable. I would not call that "disrespectful of photography". Each of them offers some advantages, and each has found many buyers, and each has made many fine photos. Your old Sigma 50/1.4 is about $500 or about 25% more than Canon's 50/1.4, so it should be better at least in some way. Now Sigma offers a $900 version of a 50mm, which is much less affordable than four of Canon's offerings. And it's not weather-sealed. Should Canon have offered a $900 large-sized non-weather-sealed 50mm lens? That would be nice, but can you really blame Canon for not filling every possible price niche. And I disagree about a 50mm f/2 IS. That would be a "basic staple". A 50/2 has been a basic staple in the photography world for generations. Adding IS would make it even more attractive, especially for video.

Agree. This forum seems to prefer the prospect of a large F/1.4 lens, but many, many photogs would snap up an F/2 IS with all the modern niceties of the 24/28/35 non-L refreshes.

F/1.4 glass creates unique images -- uniquely soft images everywhere other than the center. Those aren't the shots I want to take. I still think this new Sigma will be sharper when equivalently stopped down than the new Canon 50mm F/'something' IS (we still don't know the max aperture yet), but not by so much that I don't want IS and a much smaller lens.

My mind's not made up by any means -- let's see the reviews! But my 'overall lens sensibilities' / 'best lens for what I shoot' spidey sense remains pretty firmly in the 'small + IS is better' camp.

- A

 

[zlatko]

Re: Sigma Announces the 50 f/1.4 Art Lens & More

By the way, all of the problems of the 50/1.2L didn't stop this guy from putting it to good use:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/petezelewski/

 

[candyman]

Re: Sigma Announces the 50 f/1.4 Art Lens & More

I'm very happy with my current f/1.4 Sigma - but did anyone notice the maximum magnification ratio of 1:5.6? The MMR of the current model is only 1:7.4, something I stumble into when I do museums with this lens.

I used to own the 50mm f/1.4 and used it on a 550D and 7D. Great lens for museums.
Africa Museum - very little light inside
550D iso3200 and f1.4(of course) - there is some noise here

 

[Viggo]

Re: Sigma Announces the 50 f/1.4 Art Lens & More

By the way, all of the problems of the 50/1.2L didn't stop this guy from putting it to good use:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/petezelewski/

Absolutely, but they are pretty much all dead center, and it doesn't appear to be that much shots wide open. Awesome portraits though, and it has nothing to do with the lens, or at least very little. Light and subject and balancing ambient and flash is done soo right.

 

[Viggo]

Re: Sigma Announces the 50 f/1.4 Art Lens & More

Good for lens collectors, but I imagine many people in the field would rather take the 35mm and do some cropping. That's what I'd do, at least.

Shoot a subject against any background with the subject being the same size with both 35 and 50 and you'll see just how different it looks. A 35 and 50 are different beasts.

I'm not saying that a 35mm replaces EVERY 50mm. I'm saying that, for me at least, it replaces a 50mm with the same characteristics and optical signature. I'd rather invest the money in something that really lets me do something different or at least in a different way.

Always in my opinion, of course, 50mm is a useless FL unless the lens you're using is really special (and I found a little gem in the CV Nokton 58mm). It's usually too long for a walkaround and too short for portraits. I'd rather have with me a 35mm and a 85mm instead of a 35mm and a 50mm - again, especially if both lenses have similar characteristics.

This time of year (when it's generally dark and glum) I find I carry both the 35 and the 50 a lot of the time. These focal lengths really are very different and have their specific uses although they can both perform as a general purpose lens depending on ones preference. Aside from the angle of view, the perspective is much more important. It took me a while to understand the 35, but in certain situations it offers me the ability to create pictures with more 'drama' to them.

+1 ,word for word.

 

[cliffwang]

Re: Sigma Announces the 50 f/1.4 Art Lens & More

Yes! Love my 2 ART lenses, now they just need to make that UWA zoom

+1

Sigma please can you hear that? I am also waiting your UWA zoom art lens.

 

[mrsfotografie]

Re: Sigma Announces the 50 f/1.4 Art Lens & More

I'm very happy with my current f/1.4 Sigma - but did anyone notice the maximum magnification ratio of 1:5.6? The MMR of the current model is only 1:7.4, something I stumble into when I do museums with this lens.

I used to own the 50mm f/1.4 and used it on a 550D and 7D. Great lens for museums.
Africa Museum - very little light inside
550D iso3200 and f1.4(of course) - there is some noise here

It's a fabulous lens for this application; only the small displays could use a little more magnification though (on full frame) but I don't consider 1:5.6 vs 1:7.4 max magnification to be enough of a difference to justify getting the new Sigma for this feature only

I visited a museum for ethnic sciences, they have some African stuff too
http://www.mrsfotografie.nl/musea/museum-volkenkunde

Sample below: Canon EOS 5D Mark II ,1/50 sec, f/2.8 iso 2000, -0,67 EV

 

[mackguyver]

Re: Sigma Announces the 50 f/1.4 Art Lens & More

I'm really intrigued by this lens, esp. if it's less than $1k. I think it's a given that it will smoke the Canon 1.4 and 1.2 on the test charts, but I wonder how it will compare to the 1.2 in results. The 1.2 gives such a unique look and the color and contrast, and bokeh are amazing, it may be hard to top that. For portraits, sharpness isn't the end all, be all, so it's going to be interesting.

I'll plan to pre-order one and compare it to my 1.2 and go from there.

 

[ahsanford]

Re: Sigma Announces the 50 f/1.4 Art Lens & More

I'm very happy with my current f/1.4 Sigma - but did anyone notice the maximum magnification ratio of 1:5.6? The MMR of the current model is only 1:7.4, something I stumble into when I do museums with this lens.

I used to own the 50mm f/1.4 and used it on a 550D and 7D. Great lens for museums.
Africa Museum - very little light inside
550D iso3200 and f1.4(of course) - there is some noise here

It's a fabulous lens for this application; only the small displays could use a little more magnification though (on full frame) but I don't consider 1:5.6 vs 1:7.4 max magnification to be enough of a difference to justify getting the new Sigma for this feature only

I visited a museum for ethnic sciences, they have some African stuff too
http://www.mrsfotografie.nl/musea/museum-volkenkunde

Sample below: Canon EOS 5D Mark II ,1/50 sec, f/2.8 iso 2000, -0,67 EV

Clearly, more will be improved than min focus distance...

See attached. Again, this is just for sharpness -- and there is a ton more to a lens than sharpness -- but there clearly is room for improvement, esp. on the wider end, esp. in the corners.

But you can see why some folks still prefer the Canon 50 F/1.4 over the L lens, and why most every 50mm prime shooter wants a better option. This Sigma and the long-rumored Canon 50 refresh represent that opportunity.

- A

 

[zlatko]

Re: Sigma Announces the 50 f/1.4 Art Lens & More

By the way, all of the problems of the 50/1.2L didn't stop this guy from putting it to good use:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/petezelewski/

Absolutely, but they are pretty much all dead center, and it doesn't appear to be that much shots wide open. Awesome portraits though, and it has nothing to do with the lens, or at least very little. Light and subject and balancing ambient and flash is done soo right.

"nothing to do with the lens, or at least very little"? ... I wouldn't discount the quality of the lens so much. The lens definitely contributes something to these photos. How much is hard to measure. Yes, a lot of the photos are at f/2. The 50L is fantastic at f/2, at least for this kind of photo. The 50L can't do everything, but it does some things very well.

A photographer I know switched to Nikon for a while and the 50L is the one lens he missed. He's a wedding & portrait photographer with a very refined sense of how various lenses draw. Neither Sigma nor Nikon could fully replace what he liked about the 50L. He's now back to Canon (5D3) + Leica.

 

[cayenne]

Re: Sigma Announces the 50 f/1.4 Art Lens & More

I can't compare this Sigma Vs my 50L yet. However, my 50L is quite awesome when shoot wide open or at f1.4. As an owner of 50mm f1.4 for 2-3yrs, I do know the history of this lens. The color and contrast from f1.4 are flat. I'm not good reading reviews or showing 3rd party testing data. I like to see my own photos

The 50L sure does draw nice. One good thing about this new Sigma is that it is about 4 ounces lighter than the 50L. If it draws as nicely and autofocuses well, it may be a good substitute for the 50L and the 50/1.4 USM.

Goodness...does a bit of size and weight make THAT much of a difference to you folks?

I actually like having a nice lens with heft to it...feels like my money's worth was had, and I like the solid feel of it, like with my 70-200 f/28L II....sure it is big and heavy, but what a lens.

I rented the 50L from canon, and fell in love with it...definitely on my list to buy this year...

But really...is a little extra bulk and weight that big a deal? I mean, do you all carry EVERY lens you own with you on every shoot?

Just curious...


cayenne

 

[cayenne]

Re: Sigma Announces the 50 f/1.4 Art Lens & More

Assuming the fabrication and image quality is at the same level as the 35mm Art, it should be very good. Compared to what else is on offer, it simply should be better option than the current Canon's 50mm AF choices of:

•The slow/noisy 50/1.8
•The non-ring USM in the 50 F/1.4 that often hunts
•The diva of the 50 F/1.2L that needs AFMA tuning

I used and sold the f1.8 and f1.4 Canon versions, current Sigma 50mm f1.4 (not good AF) and currently have the 50 F/1.2L. This Sigma might address many of the problems we've had with Canon. If so, I will buy one ASAP.
Anyone interested in this 50mm f1.2L lens?

What are you wanting to sell the 50L for?

 

[candyman]

Re: Sigma Announces the 50 f/1.4 Art Lens & More

I'm very happy with my current f/1.4 Sigma - but did anyone notice the maximum magnification ratio of 1:5.6? The MMR of the current model is only 1:7.4, something I stumble into when I do museums with this lens.

I used to own the 50mm f/1.4 and used it on a 550D and 7D. Great lens for museums.
Africa Museum - very little light inside
550D iso3200 and f1.4(of course) - there is some noise here

It's a fabulous lens for this application; only the small displays could use a little more magnification though (on full frame) but I don't consider 1:5.6 vs 1:7.4 max magnification to be enough of a difference to justify getting the new Sigma for this feature only

I visited a museum for ethnic sciences, they have some African stuff too
http://www.mrsfotografie.nl/musea/museum-volkenkunde

Sample below: Canon EOS 5D Mark II ,1/50 sec, f/2.8 iso 2000, -0,67 EV

I must admit, I did not like the sigma 50 on my 5d MKIII. I sold it but I am awaiting the new sigma. First I would like to see some reviews with field examples using a FF camera

 

[zlatko]

Re: Sigma Announces the 50 f/1.4 Art Lens & More

I can't compare this Sigma Vs my 50L yet. However, my 50L is quite awesome when shoot wide open or at f1.4. As an owner of 50mm f1.4 for 2-3yrs, I do know the history of this lens. The color and contrast from f1.4 are flat. I'm not good reading reviews or showing 3rd party testing data. I like to see my own photos

The 50L sure does draw nice. One good thing about this new Sigma is that it is about 4 ounces lighter than the 50L. If it draws as nicely and autofocuses well, it may be a good substitute for the 50L and the 50/1.4 USM.

Goodness...does a bit of size and weight make THAT much of a difference to you folks?

I actually like having a nice lens with heft to it...feels like my money's worth was had, and I like the solid feel of it, like with my 70-200 f/28L II....sure it is big and heavy, but what a lens.

I rented the 50L from canon, and fell in love with it...definitely on my list to buy this year...

But really...is a little extra bulk and weight that big a deal? I mean, do you all carry EVERY lens you own with you on every shoot?

Just curious...


cayenne

A little extra bulk and weight is normally not a big deal, but it can add up. Consider a 10-hour wedding day. Two cameras with lenses on your body, sometimes one or both with a flash. More cameras & lenses & flashes in the bag, along with batteries for everything. ALL 10 hours on your feet, constantly moving, constantly searching for pictures, constantly lifting camera to eye, sometimes holding camera over head. Sometimes getting down low and then getting up. Up and down stairs, sometimes a narrow curving passageway to a church balcony. Crossing streets, sometimes in rain or snow. Getting in & out of buses, limos, etc. Then the weight & bulk start to add up, and smaller lenses have more appeal.