You can now preorder the brand new Sigma 28mm f/1.4 DG HSM. This lens was announced back in September ahead of Photokina. This is definitely a lens I'm looking forward to using.
Sigma 28mm f/1.4 DG HSM at Adorama
Press release after the break.
The classical angle of view with the latest lens design
28mm angle of view used to be a representative wide-angle in the era of film cameras and attracts many fans even today. To accommodate the request from many photographers who expressed the strong interest in using the familiar 28mm with Art line quality, SIGMA produces the SIGMA 28mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art, based on the know-how gained through the development of the Art F1.4 prime lens lineup released so far. This newest traditional wide-angle lens, advantaged by the latest design and materials, as well as the processing technologies, is now available from SIGMA’s Art line.
Accessories: Case, Hood (LH828-01) supplied
Corresponding AF mounts: SIGMA / Nikon F mount / Canon EF mount / Sony E-mount
SIGMA, Nikon F mount and Canon EF mount are scheduled to start the shipment in January 2019. Launching date of Sony E-mount is not determined yet.
For my own part, if Canon introduced a body which didn't work with the Sigma Art lenses, that would make me not buy the body or at the very least make me put off buying the body until I absolutely needed it. I don't know how many other people would feel similarly, but if I'm representative of a large enough group then - apart from the fact the third party manufacturers would have a reason to make new firmware which works with any new Canon camera if there was a compatibility issue - that's a reason why Canon itself would be unlikely to create a situation where there are other incompatibilities.
Anyway, yes there could be firmware issues but you have to weigh up all of the pros and cons..
My question: Why yet another slightly different focal length? I'd rather see AF problems fixed on existing Sigma Art offerings.
Which AF problems? I have the 14/1.8, 20,/1.4, 35/1.4, 50/1.4, 85/1.4 and 135/1.8 Art lenses (and soon the 28/1.4) and they work perfectly on my eos R, 7d2 and 5d3 cameras. All with the most recent firmware ... Its a great system. On the R it is even better.
If Sigma were more transparent regarding this issue, then I'd have more confidence. In other words, if they would admit the problem, then clearly state that for any given lens they have fixed the problem, then I'd be more of a fan. For example, if the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art is focusing erratically (with nothing do with calibration, the dock, or anything on the user end) and Sigma says, "We are working on it," then a few months later says, "We have fixed the problem with the 5D III but are still working on the 5D IV," I'm all in and happy to be patient.
But instead it seems Sigma just keeps asking their customers to play the lottery and say, "Well, it was a pretty good deal, so what if the AF success rate is only 25% instead of the 70-80% in the same scenarios with the native Canon lenses?"
Did you use the ef 50/1.2L or the horrible ef 50/1.4? Both are very unreliable lenses. I ownwed both. The SA 50/1.4 plays in a different league. I am sorry for you bad experience for you bad copy but have it replaced or repared is the way to go then ... Now with the eos R its even better. My sigmas are incredible relable on it. Seem to be a very lucky guy.
I've owned my copy of the Canon EF 50 f1.4 for over 15 years, it is very sharp when stopped down, focuses perfectly at f1.4 and despite much abuse has never let me down in several backpacking world trips.
I don't think you want to compare a list of fast lenses you owned or used with me, just saying, without turning it into a "my dad can beat your dad" scenario.
As YuengLinger said, it's NOTHING in the user end that's the issue here. It's Sigma that can't reverse engineer the Canon AF on most or all bodies.
And I'm not saying Sigma is the only company that doesn't like to talk about AF issues. You mention the ef 50mm f/1.2L USM, perhaps Canon's most controversial lens. I have never used it myself. I'm friends with a journalist professor who uses it more than any other lens and and loves it. I'm friends with high-end wedding and portrait photographers who say it is horrible because of the focus-shift issue, and way too slow to AF at any type of event.
I have never used the ef 50mm 1.2L, but I have studied image after image on the web, and I've watched very clear demonstrations of the focus-shift issue on superb videos. I know that I don't want it because of the focus-shift problems--and because I think the "magic" bokeh can easily look very ordinary or jittery.
Canon? To my knowledge, correct me if I'm wrong, has never clearly stated that the lens has a problem at certain apertures and distances (but might have said something about the lens's unique qualities resulting in compromises). And then there are rumors around the Web that the lens had some sort of stealthy fix after its initial release, a fix which improved the AF problems. But the focus-shift issue still remains.
(For reference, I owned and loved the ef 85mm f/1.2L II for years, then traded it in for the ef 85mm f/1.4L IS to enjoy quicker AF and the image stabilization. I believe Viggo is not as happy with his 85mm f/1.4 as I am with mine. The point is, we want lenses that work for us, regardless of brand. We aren't bashing Sigma because it isn't Canon!)
So, no, Sigma is not the only company that dances around problems with products. But I have tried two copies of the 50mm f/1.4 Art, and I'll never purchase another Art, because, sure enough, it AF's erratically and cannot be trusted when narrow DoF is desired to achieve a look. On the other hand, I have a Sigma 180mm f/2.8 macro that actually focuses as reliably as any Canon lens I've owned, and works beautifully even as a portrait lens. Love it. But that was made before the Art series, which, seemingly, made some algorithm or communication changes to speed AF and instead made it hit-or-miss. Nobody expects a long focal-length macro to be a speed demon, so that might be why mine works so well. Or I won the lottery with that one, who knows? Because Sigma doesn't publicly discuss any shortcomings.
By the way, nubu, do you often use the Sigma Arts wide-open from within six to ten feet of the subject? Just curious about how you use yours.