Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM first impressions

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Red G8R
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p.15 #1 · Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM first impressions

DPreview just posted samples and promises a review before year end. Samples aren't that great though. Better ones here by phil.

Dec 05, 2012 at 12:58 AM

CSStevens
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p.15 #2 · Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM first impressions

Just ordered the lens. Really looking forward to putting it to use!

Dec 05, 2012 at 12:59 AM

Pixel Perfect
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p.15 #3 · Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM first impressions

So the next fly in the ointment is how will the new Canon 35 f/2 IS stack up against the 35L and Sigma 35? Looking at the difference in bokeh between f/1.4 and f/2 I could live with f/2 if it's tack sharp like the Sigma is wide open. The 4 stop IS and 50% lower weight will make it more discrete and easier to travel with.

Dec 05, 2012 at 01:42 AM

svassh
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p.15 #4 · Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM first impressions

Pixel Perfect wrote:
So the next fly in the ointment is how will the new Canon 35 f/2 IS stack up against the 35L and Sigma 35? Looking at the difference in bokeh between f/1.4 and f/2 I could live with f/2 if it's tack sharp like the Sigma is wide open. The 4 stop IS and 50% lower weight will make it more discrete and easier to travel with.

Any ship date on the new Canon 35 f/2 IS yet?

Dec 05, 2012 at 04:14 AM

Pixel Perfect
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p.15 #5 · Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM first impressions

svassh wrote:
Pixel Perfect wrote:
So the next fly in the ointment is how will the new Canon 35 f/2 IS stack up against the 35L and Sigma 35? Looking at the difference in bokeh between f/1.4 and f/2 I could live with f/2 if it's tack sharp like the Sigma is wide open. The 4 stop IS and 50% lower weight will make it more discrete and easier to travel with.

Any ship date on the new Canon 35 f/2 IS yet?

Actually I've not seen any date reported yet, but I may have just missed it.

Dec 05, 2012 at 05:34 AM

Michaelparris
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p.15 #6 · Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM first impressions

canondoc wrote:
deepbluejh wrote:
Congrats, you got one good web-sized image out of your lens? Seriously though, I have no doubt there are some "good copies" of all Sigma lenses floating around out there and that many people are happy with them. If you fall into this category, great.

Fact of the matter is, there is too much smoke for there not to be a fire and I think it's fair to say Sigma lenses have far worse quality control than Canon L lenses. That's the risk you pay for buying a third party lens that is half the price of the name brand. You didn't think you were getting something for nothing did you?

Now I am not a Sigma hater. I've owned several of their lenses in the past and have been very happy. That said, I've had poor "luck" with their fast primes in the past few years. Even so, I just might give the Sigma 35 a try once more people report back first. I am in no hurry to buy and I won't be the guinea pig for this one.

...good web sized image? Just because it HAPPENS to look good web sized doesn't mean it doesn't look amazing printed in a magazine.

I've owned the 85mm 1.2L mkII and used extensively the 85mm 1.4G on a D3X. I can afford 100 of any of them, and I chose the Sigma.

But again -- what do I know?

Couldn't agree more.....Rolled the dice on a Sigma 85 and 50 and I am glad I did. Fantastic lenses. I own the 35L put it up against the sigma 50 and I saw NO difference in image quality the only difference was the FL.....

Dec 05, 2012 at 06:50 AM

vipergts831
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p.15 #7 · Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM first impressions

Just some quick shots around Time Square with 5dmkIII and Sigma 35 1.4 wideopen:

KE2A7427-Edit by Prodigy83, on Flickr

At least he was honest!

KE2A7429 by Prodigy83, on Flickr

Even near these guys!

KE2A7432 by Prodigy83, on Flickr

Dec 05, 2012 at 06:55 AM

Snopchenko
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p.15 #8 · Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM first impressions

Wonder how this lens would fare with a closeup adapter on it? Or an extension tube?

Dec 05, 2012 at 08:19 AM

Orestis.Ch
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p.15 #9 · Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM first impressions

mttran wrote:
Sharpness is only calibration matter. Colors and AF are two most important things to test a lens. Sigma seems to have a winner here and that does not mean to replace the 35L.

So if i calibrate my 17-40 it will become 24TS-E sharp?

Or a 28-135 => 100macro sharp ?

Sharpness hasn't got anything to do with calibration. AF accuracy has.

Dec 05, 2012 at 11:43 AM

Greggf
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p.15 #10 · Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM first impressions

Great shots Phil!! I, too, love this lens! A few shots recently, all wide open.
Gregg

2013 © Greggf

Dec 06, 2012 at 03:20 AM

leftymgp
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p.15 #11 · Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM first impressions

Dammit Sigma. My next lens decision was going to be easy - the 35L. Now you have to go and make this difficult.

Dec 06, 2012 at 12:53 PM

tbkphotoco
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p.15 #12 · Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM first impressions

Canon 35L on top, Sigma 35 on bottom.... do not like the onion ringing.. outside of that its a great lens. I did these shots last night.

Dec 06, 2012 at 01:48 PM

svassh
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p.15 #13 · Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM first impressions

tbkphotoco wrote:
Canon 35L on top, Sigma 35 on bottom.... do not like the onion ringing.. outside of that its a great lens. I did these shots last night.

Great comparison!

Dec 06, 2012 at 02:20 PM

M Vers
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p.15 #14 · Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM first impressions

tbkphotoco wrote:
Canon 35L on top, Sigma 35 on bottom.... do not like the onion ringing.. outside of that its a great lens. I did these shots last night.

Except the 35L shares the same onion bokeh characteristic as well...bring down the levels on the 35L shot, you'll see it.

Dec 06, 2012 at 05:28 PM

tbkphotoco
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p.15 #15 · Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM first impressions

Same exposure on both shots... the Sigma vignettes a lot more than the 35L... I did bring down the levels... looks the same. Plus bringing down the levels is not going to change the shape. Do you have both lenses at your disposal to test out?

Dec 06, 2012 at 05:42 PM

Sven Jeppesen
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p.15 #16 · Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM first impressions

M Vers wrote:
tbkphotoco wrote:
Canon 35L on top, Sigma 35 on bottom.... do not like the onion ringing.. outside of that its a great lens. I did these shots last night.

Except the 35L shares the same onion bokeh characteristic as well...bring down the levels on the 35L shot, you'll see it.

+1

Dec 06, 2012 at 05:48 PM

Sven Jeppesen
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p.15 #17 · Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM first impressions

asabet wrote:
Legion5 wrote:That site uses extremely high jpg compression which removes the texture from the Sigma's bokeh.

First, I disagree. There is plenty of detail in those shots. Second, if you want to make a point about the Canon and Sigma respective bokeh, the only valid way to do it is a controlled comparison with the same subject matter. That site has done it. You have not.

Anyone can cherry pick examples of ugly bokeh for any lens. Your samples are invalid.

That's the last thing I have to say about this.

+1

Dec 06, 2012 at 05:50 PM

splathrop
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p.15 #18 · Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM first impressions

IMO, the Sigma is embarrassing the 35L.

Look at the test again. At f/1.4 the Canon has the edge in the center, and Sigma wins moving outward. (Maybe this needs a good monitor to see.)

By f/5.6 Canon is doing better in the corner than the Sigma is. Between those poles the Sigma mostly gets its advantage in the outer parts of the frame.

However, the test subject matter gives a heavy advantage in apparent sharpness to the Sigma, because unsubtle contrast control can be rewarded by limited tonal and color range in a subject. I continue to suspect (still withholding judgment, but based on images shown so far) that the Sigma is going to be a relative disappointment on contrast. I predict a head-to-head test using subtly shaded color and contrast in the subject, Sigma against the Zeiss 35mm f1.4, would show the differences in a way that most people would see readily. Happy to be proved wrong.

Dec 06, 2012 at 06:37 PM

goosemang
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p.15 #19 · Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM first impressions

don't worry guys, if all you do is take photos of out of focus lights it won't matter if you have onion bokeh because nobody will look at your images

Dec 06, 2012 at 06:56 PM

badlydrawnboy
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p.15 #20 · Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM first impressions

goosemang wrote:
don't worry guys, if all you do is take photos of out of focus lights it won't matter if you have onion bokeh because nobody will look at your images

Hilarious.

Dec 06, 2012 at 09:30 PM

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