Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art lens

[spawnx]

Why so hostile? It's a free market. And no I was not planning on buying it from the States. Just stating a point.

You are worryingly defensive about the local pricing. Perhaps unnecessarily too?

How is this hostile? Kenny is also stating a point.

If you prefer the US price, then go get it from there or ship it in lar... lol!

 

[richiemccaw1]

Haha ok. Fine. Points all taken

 

[ZeroDivine]

More sample images from Lenstip
http://www.lenstip.com/2084-news-Sigma_A_50_mm_f_1.4_DG_HSM_-_sample_images.html

in comparison with Otus 55 1.4
http://www.lenstip.com/390.12-Lens_review-Carl_Zeiss_Otus_55_mm_f_1.4_ZE_ZF.2_Sample_shots.html

I would say Zeiss does not have to worry... the rendering and quality of the out of focus area is in a different league altogether. I know which lens I would save up for hehe...
Although admittedly it's quite impressive for Sigma to rival in terms of wide open sharpness, for 1/4 the price

 

[Blur Shadow]

Another impressive lens by Sigma! Looking forward to trying it out!

 

[ricleo]

the otus rendering does looks better from the images below, but the scenes are quite different, and shot in different seasons as well (autumn vs spring).

I think it is hard to compare the rendering and out of focus fairly unless both are side by side shooting the same scene?, same subject matter with same background etc

More sample images from Lenstip
http://www.lenstip.com/2084-news-Sigma_A_50_mm_f_1.4_DG_HSM_-_sample_images.html

in comparison with Otus 55 1.4
http://www.lenstip.com/390.12-Lens_review-Carl_Zeiss_Otus_55_mm_f_1.4_ZE_ZF.2_Sample_shots.html

I would say Zeiss does not have to worry... the rendering and quality of the out of focus area is in a different league altogether. I know which lens I would save up for hehe...
Although admittedly it's quite impressive for Sigma to rival in terms of wide open sharpness, for 1/4 the price

 

[ZeroDivine]

Ideally of course it would be best to compare under exact same condition, however it's still pretty obvious which is the winner.
The most obvious is when comparing the red letter box, which is as static and shot at as similar distance as possible. The quality of background blur of the otus is simply more 3d like to me than the sigma which by no means a bad lens (just not when put side by side). I think the Sigma is probably better compared to the Sony FE 55 1.8 Zeiss which in itself is an amazing lens and approaches Otus quality at 1/3 1/4 the price as well.

Still, like I said it's an amazing feat that Sigma manages to churn out such an impressive optic at a stellar price. Just I think some reviewers are a bit too excited when they mention it's comparable to Otus when all factors are considered (not just sharpness).

the otus rendering does looks better from the images below, but the scenes are quite different, and shot in different seasons as well (autumn vs spring).

I think it is hard to compare the rendering and out of focus fairly unless both are side by side shooting the same scene?, same subject matter with same background etc

 

[ricleo]

agree that the post box shot is the nearest in terms of composition, but from the shot i would say the angle and distance from the post box is still different which distorts bokeh comparisions, with the sigma further and from a lower angle vs the otus from a higher angle.

however I would say the bokeh rendering of the sigma seems smooth enough vs the otus looking at the out of focus highlights. the otus shot is lower contrast and has a more yellowish wb from the nikon d3x vs the otus shot on the canon 5D3, which has higher contrast.

most definitely agree on the stellar price vs quality ratio sigma offers from the art and sports range of lenses.

sig50_otus55 by ricleosg, on Flickr

Ideally of course it would be best to compare under exact same condition, however it's still pretty obvious which is the winner.
The most obvious is when comparing the red letter box, which is as static and shot at as similar distance as possible. The quality of background blur of the otus is simply more 3d like to me than the sigma which by no means a bad lens (just not when put side by side). I think the Sigma is probably better compared to the Sony FE 55 1.8 Zeiss which in itself is an amazing lens and approaches Otus quality at 1/3 1/4 the price as well.

Still, like I said it's an amazing feat that Sigma manages to churn out such an impressive optic at a stellar price. Just I think some reviewers are a bit too excited when they mention it's comparable to Otus when all factors are considered (not just sharpness).

 

[richiemccaw1]

ric - Im sure you are a huge fan after your experience with the 120-300

 

[ricleo]

ric - Im sure you are a huge fan after your experience with the 120-300

Haha and the 35 1.4 art too...

 

[celebo]

Ric, How is the balance mounting the 35 1.4 on the A7 with laea4? I am seriously considering the 50 f1.4 but worry that the whole set up will be too heavy and unbalance. Thks.

 

[ricleo]

Ric, How is the balance mounting the 35 1.4 on the A7 with laea4? I am seriously considering the 50 f1.4 but worry that the whole set up will be too heavy and unbalance. Thks.

I use the sigma 35 1.4 sigma on my 5D3.

for the A7, i regularly use the sigma 85 1.4 with laea4 without a problem.

 

[daredevil123]

From the sample pics. they look very close...

But
Different camera body used
Different WB
Different angle
How to even start comparing?

Anyway, I prefer the Sigma's version of the pic

 

[Blur Shadow]

Interesting comparison. I know Sigma announced its ambition to take on the Otus, but personally, I am never going to compare the Sigma against the Otus.

Rather, I would be comparing it against the various 50mm f/1.4 lenses currently available to see if the new Sigma Art lens justifies it's price. And maybe against the Nikon 58mm f/1.4.

 

[ricleo]

here is an fairly comprehensive review from Korea which pits the Sigma art against the EF 50 1.4. not that the EF 50 1.4 can put up much of a fight.

there is also a section where the reviewer makes comparisons to the sony ZA 50 1.4 in terms of CA performance.

would be more interesting if this reviewer compared the art vs the canon L or the zeiss otus directly haha.

http://lcap.tistory.com/entry/Sigma-50mm-f14-dg-hsm-Art-Review

 

[ricleo]

another review now available from the phoblographer with quite a number of portraits demonstrating the sharpness and bokeh, but be warned that the shots from this phoblographer are usually highly compressed for web although full resolution.

review - http://www.thephoblographer.com/2014/04/12/review-sigma-50mm-f1-4-dg-usm-art/

comparision to old sigma 50 1.4 hsm - http://www.thephoblographer.com/2014/04/13/one-sigma-50mm-f1-4-vs-sigma-50mm-f1-4-ii-art/

comparison to sigma 35 1.4 art - http://www.thephoblographer.com/2014/04/14/one-sigma-50mm-f1-4-dg-hsm-art-35mm-f1-4-dg-hsm-art/

 

[bowiesalvatore]

Is it in sale in Singapore already? What's the price in SGD?

 

[Thoth]

another review now available from the phoblographer with quite a number of portraits demonstrating the sharpness and bokeh, but be warned that the shots from this phoblographer are usually highly compressed for web although full resolution.

review - http://www.thephoblographer.com/2014/04/12/review-sigma-50mm-f1-4-dg-usm-art/

comparision to old sigma 50 1.4 hsm - http://www.thephoblographer.com/2014/04/13/one-sigma-50mm-f1-4-vs-sigma-50mm-f1-4-ii-art/

comparison to sigma 35 1.4 art - http://www.thephoblographer.com/2014/04/14/one-sigma-50mm-f1-4-dg-hsm-art-35mm-f1-4-dg-hsm-art/

This may be just the reason I will buy the LA-EA4 back from Errz... Haha...

 

[Hacker]

From Pop Photo:

"In terms of our SQF test, the new Sigma beat out the 50mm f/1.4 offerings from Canon, Nikon, Sony and the Sony Zeiss. However the original Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX lens and the monstrous Zeiss 55mm Otus lens did edge it out, ever so slightly. Oddly enough, the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX still holds the title of being our benchmark for 50mm f/1.4's in this test."

http://www.popphoto.com/gear/2014/04/lens-test-sigma-50mm-f14-dg-hsm-art-lens

 

[ricleo]

wa one more terminology to learn. first time i hear of SQF.

what is surprising is that SQF rating seems to go against the general reviews that point the sigma 35 1.4 to have have better IQ vs the art 50 1.4. Too bad popphoto.com didn't have available the SQF charts for the old EX Sigma 50 1.4 and the Otus 55 1.4.

sigma 50 art

sigma 35 art

 

[Hacker]

Pop uses an optical bench for testing. No body sensor measurement.