I know this comparison is very controversial, but I couldn't find the answer to my particular question even after a search.
People talk about the "unique bokeh" of the Sigma 50mm f/1.4. But I have never seen side-by-side samples of the Canon and the Sigma. Could you please post some side-by-side samples taken by the two lenses at f/1.4?
I would agree that the Sigma has better bokeh. However, I've tried a couple locally and had some focus issues which my Canon f1.4 does not have. If I could find a Sigma that would focus well, both near and far, when shooting close to wide open, I would go with the Sigma. Until then, I am using my Canon f1.4 and watching closely for the new version which is rumored now.
It still seems a bit odd that people today are buying a lens based on what it looks like when out of focus, but that's the case. Now that people are paying attention to this quality, the manufacturers are increasing blade count and rounding them, which seems to give smoother out of focus content.
Its an area of improvement you will most likely find in the newer lenses.
robert61 wrote:
It still seems a bit odd that people today are buying a lens based on what it looks like when out of focus, but that's the case. Now that people are paying attention to this quality, the manufacturers are increasing blade count and rounding them, which seems to give smoother out of focus content.
Pretty much anyone buying a fast aperture lens cares about the bokeh. When we've got usable ISO 12,800 and 4-stop IS at our disposal, having super fast lenses is much less a requirement these days back when we were limited to ISO 800 film. Now its almost always about the fast aperture "look".
p.1 #10 · Sigma and Canon 50mm f/1.4 bokeh samples
with a wide aperture lens large areas of you images are typically out of focus, maybe even more than what is in focus so it can be a very important atribute.
Increasing blade count rounds the highlights, but rarely does much to change the "nervous" character of a bokeh (you can just shoot any lens wide open if you are fixated on round highlights anyway).
>>It still seems a bit odd that people today are buying a lens based on what it looks like when out of focus, but that's the case. Now that people are paying attention to this quality, the manufacturers are increasing blade count and rounding them, which seems to give smoother out of focus content.
p.1 #11 · Sigma and Canon 50mm f/1.4 bokeh samples
Daan B wrote:
The Canon seems to vignette more too...
It does.
I bought the Sigma to replace my Canon because of the because of the nicer bokeh and I've been very pleased with it. Mine had to be sent to CRIS for calibration and now its perfect but I certainly understand that many have had a negative experiences with AF issues with this lens without resolution. For me, the better bokeh has been worth the troubles.
p.1 #14 · Sigma and Canon 50mm f/1.4 bokeh samples
4honor wrote:
Well now that's interesting... Thanks for the photos! The lights in the Sigma are round, and the Canon one is like oval...
Spell check on isle 'tress' Anyway, yes the Sigma does render more circular OOF highlights BUT it does create onion bokeh, which is the series of circles within the OOF highlight fill. Some like it, some don't.
p.1 #15 · Sigma and Canon 50mm f/1.4 bokeh samples
The "onion" look can be puzzling and distracting. I honestly can't decide if I like the look of the specular out-of-focus highlights from the Sigma. And this is turning out to be an onions and oranges comparison.
p.1 #16 · Sigma and Canon 50mm f/1.4 bokeh samples
aubsxc wrote:
The "onion" look can be puzzling and distracting. I honestly can't decide if I like the look of the specular out-of-focus highlights from the Sigma. And this is turning out to be an onions and oranges comparison.
p.1 #17 · Sigma and Canon 50mm f/1.4 bokeh samples
yeah, most modern highly corrected and sharp lenses make specular OOF highlights look distracting... I try not to shoot photos that include them whenever possible... which is why aperture blade number is not usually the driver for my lens selection.
p.1 #18 · Sigma and Canon 50mm f/1.4 bokeh samples
Thanks for the samples Tim, Michael and Matt. These are very interesting. Although the Sigma does have rounder bokeh than the Canon, the Sigma's bokeh is "fingerprint bokeh". See what I mean?
p.1 #19 · Sigma and Canon 50mm f/1.4 bokeh samples
Dpic_arctic wrote:
Thanks for the samples Tim, Michael and Matt. These are very interesting. Although the Sigma does have rounder bokeh than the Canon, the Sigma's bokeh is "fingerprint bokeh". See what I mean?
Onion bokeh. Keep in mind, it only shows up in certain situations.
ed at 'nervous' looking bokeh.
