At Photokina 2012, Sigma announced a reorganization of its lens lineup into iii categories - 'Contemporary' covering lightweight, flexible zooms, 'Sports' for larger telephoto lenses, and 'Fine art' for a wide range of optics aimed at serious photographers, including ultra-wideangles, macros and fast primes. At the same time the company announced 3 new lenses, i in each class, with the 35mm F1.4 DG HSM as the first release in the Art category. It's designed every bit a loftier-quality culling to the camera manufacturers' equivalents at a essentially lower cost; fifty-fifty at its ca. £800 / $900 launch price, information technology'south a tempting proposition compared to Canon, Nikon and Sony's offerings, which all sell for upwards of £1000 / $1300.

Despite this, the Sigma gives up aught in terms of ambition when information technology comes to optical pattern. Its thirteen element, xi grouping structure is the most complex in its course, and includes no fewer than four elements made from Super-Low Dispersion (SLD) glass, along with 1 formed from fluorite-like 'F' Depression Dispersion (FLD) glass, and two aspheric elements. According to Sigma this allows the minimization of an array of aberrations including both longitudinal and lateral chromatic aberration, astigmatism, and field curvature.

The lens also incorporates an ultrasonic-type HyperSonic Motor for fast, placidity autofocus with full-time manual override. This drives a floating inner focus system, that's designed to maintain loftier prototype quality at all subject distances. The aperture diaphragm uses nine curved blades for the attractive rendition of background blur, and Super-Multi-Layer Coating is employed to minimise flare and ghosting. As the icing on the cake, Sigma says each lens volition exist individually inspected before leaving the manufactory, using a measuring arrangement based on its ain high-resolution Foveon sensor.

This clearly all adds up to an impressive-sounding parcel. But make no mistake the Sigma is up against very strong competition, with the Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM, Nikon AF-S Nikkor 35mm f/i.4G, and Sony 35mm F1.4 G all very highly regarded within their respective lineups. This type of lens is a pregnant investment too, and mainly bought by professionals or serious amateurs demanding excellent image quality and flawless operation. Allow's meet if the Sigma tin deliver on these requirements.

Headline features

  • 35mm focal length
  • Fast F1.4 maximum aperture; F16 minimum
  • Hypersonic Motor (HSM) focusing with full-time manual override
  • 0.3m closest focus, offering 0.19x magnification
  • Bachelor for Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Sigma and Sony mounts

Angle of view

The pictures below illustrate the angle of view on full frame and APS-C. On full frame the 35mm offers a moderate wideangle; on APS-C it behaves as a slightly long 'normal' lens.

Full frame 1.6x APS-C (56mm equivalent)

Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM specifications

 Price  • $900 (Usa)
• £800 (United kingdom)
 Date introduced  September 2012
 Maximum format size  35mm full frame
 Focal length  35mm
 35mm equivalent focal length
 • 52.5mm (i.5x APS-C / DX)
• 56mm (ane.6x Canon APS-C)
Diagonal Bending of view  • 63º (full frame)
• 44º (APS-C)
 Maximum discontinuity  F1.4
 Minimum aperture  F16
 Lens Structure  • 13 elements / 11 groups
• four SLD glass element
• 1 FLD glass element
• two aspherical elements
 Number of diaphragm blades  9, rounded
 Minimum focus  0.3m
 Maximum magnification  0.19x
 AF motor type  • Ring-type Hypersonic Motor
• Full-time transmission focus
 Focus method  Internal
 Prototype stabilization  • No
 Filter thread  • 67mm
• Does not rotate on focus
 Supplied accessories*  • Front and rear caps
• Petal-type Hood LH730-03
• Soft lens instance
 Weight  665 grand (23.5 oz)
 Dimensions 77 mm bore ten 94 mm length
(three.0 x iii.7 in)
 Lens Mount Canon, Nikon, Pentax (KAF3), Sigma, Sony

* Supplied accessories may differ in each country or area