Sigma 50mm f1,4 Art Nikon Mount – Test and Review of the 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art

23
mag, 2014

I seriously started thinking to replace my 50mm lens from January of this year, when the new Sigma 50mm f1,4 Art Nikon mount lens was announced. Unfortunately the first lot was only equipped with Canon mounts; so who use Nikon like me had to wait one month more but finally today my brand new Sigma 50mm f1,4 Art Nikon Mount arrived at my home.

50mm is my favourite focal lenght, I usually shoot 60/70% of all my photos at this focal. I evaluated all the possibilities the market is offering at the moment; currently I’m using the “old” Sigma 50mm f1,4 and I’m pretty satisfied with it. The AF performs fast and is quite accurate, also if you’re using large aperture, and also in low light. Before of it I was using the Nikon 50mm f1,4 AFS  but I found its AF terribly slow, and in some wedding, especially in low lights condition, sometimes I preferred to focus manual. I evaluated a lot to sell my sigma for the new Nikon 58 f1,4/G but I never be persuaded it’s the best choice for me. Mainly for one reason: the 58mm field angle is not the same of 50mm. Then, the price: too high to spend all these money for a focal lenght is not what I’m searching for. The only real advantage that make me think a lot about to chose the Nikon 58mm instead of the  new Sigma is the weight. We are speaking about 350g vs. more than 800g.  Not a problem if you take the camera for some shots, a bit annoyng if you have to work 12/14 hours continuosly.

Ok, we chatted a bit. Come to see how this new lens performs on my D800E! It’s big, and heavy, and beautifull.  I am a fan of new Sigma’s lenses. The build quality is very solid, exactly what you have come to expect from Sigma’s recent products.

Sigma 50 Art 1,4 Nikon Mount

Sigma 50 Art 1,4 Nikon Mount

Sigma 50 Art 1,4 Nikon Mount

Sigma 50 Art 1,4 Nikon Mount

Sigma 50 Art 1,4 Nikon Mount

Sigma 50 Art 1,4 Nikon Mount

Sigma 50 Art 1,4 Nikon Mount

Sigma 50 Art 1,4 Nikon Mount

Sigma 50 Art 1,4 Nikon Mount

Sigma 50 Art 1,4 Nikon Mount

Compared to the old version it is bigger, havier and longer. I’ve tested it for a few, but I’m very impressed about the performances of the AF system. I like to work in AF-C and this glass is incredibly fast, accurate and rensponsive.

 

Sigma 50 Art 1,4 Nikon Mount

Waiting to test it on the field, I post here some test shots I toke to my two children.

Sigma 50 Art 1,4 Nikon Mount Sigma 50 Art 1,4 Nikon Mount Sigma 50 Art 1,4 Nikon Mount Sigma 50 Art 1,4 Nikon Mount Sigma-50-art-nikon-mount-31 (1)

Here following the really first test shot, on my Nikn D800E. You can also check the full resution file on my Nikon D800E.  I’m impressend, and you?

Sigma 50 Art 1,4 Nikon Mount Sigma 50 Art 1,4 Nikon Mount

 

And here, the bokeh difference between the two Sigma (old vs new); this difference in my opinion can justify to change the old with the newest!

Sigma 50 Art 1,4 Nikon Mount sample on D800/E Sigma 50 Art 1,4 Nikon Mount sample on D800/E

[note: this post about Sigma 50mm f1,4 Art Nikon Mount is a part of an ongoing reviw at the moment. As soon as I’ll have some new material I’ll update the post. If you like to come back here to chelk , please press “like” on my FB page, where I’ll post about the updatings. In the coming days on-fiels impressions and shots.]

Francesco

There are 6 comments on this post

  1. 9 giugno 2014

    Thanks for the review, enjoyed it, and the pictures of your kids make me look forward to the day I receive my lens in the mail. I was a little worried about how the out-of-focus areas might look with this lens, but, judging from your photos, I think I will like it just fine. Thank you for sharing.

  2. 28 giugno 2014

    The pics are color corrected, aren’t they?

  3. 13 luglio 2014

    focus problem with flash focus assit ? Sigma 35mm f/1.4 suffer from this with D800.

  4. 11 agosto 2014

    Interesting review, would you be able to post some unedited full sized comparisons between the 50mm Art and the old HSM lens, shot at the same shutter speed, aperture and iso. This would be extremely helpful, thank you !

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