Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM | A ("Art") - Full Format Review / Lens Test Report - Sample Images & Verdict
Lens Reviews - Canon EOS (Full Format)
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Introduction
Analysis
Sample Images & Verdict

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Sample Images

Click on a thumbnail to view the original file (opens in a separate window). Please note that the originals are FULL SIZE samples (=several megabytes) thus requiring a significant amount of bandwidth so please take care of the limited resources here.

Make Canon
Model Canon EOS 5D Mark II
ISO Speed 200
Focal Length 50.0mm
Aperture: f/9.0
Exposure 1/400s
Make Canon
Model Canon EOS 5D Mark II
ISO Speed 200
Focal Length 50.0mm
Aperture: f/2.2
Exposure 1/8000s
Make Canon
Model Canon EOS 5D Mark II
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 50.0mm
Aperture: f/1.4
Exposure 1/4000s
Make Canon
Model Canon EOS 5D Mark II
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 50.0mm
Aperture: f/9.0
Exposure 1/200s
Make Canon
Model Canon EOS 5D Mark II
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 50.0mm
Aperture: f/9.0
Exposure 1/320s
Make Canon
Model Canon EOS 5D Mark II
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 50.0mm
Aperture: f/9.0
Exposure 1/200s
Make Canon
Model Canon EOS 5D Mark II
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 50.0mm
Aperture: f/2.8
Exposure 1/500s
Make Canon
Model Canon EOS 5D Mark II
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 50.0mm
Aperture: f/8.0
Exposure 1/200s
Make Canon
Model Canon EOS 5D Mark II
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 50.0mm
Aperture: f/4.0
Exposure 1/1000s
Make Canon
Model Canon EOS 5D Mark II
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 50.0mm
Aperture: f/1.8
Exposure 1/5000s
Make Canon
Model Canon EOS 5D Mark II
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 50.0mm
Aperture: f/1.4
Exposure 1/4000s
Make Canon
Model Canon EOS 5D Mark II
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 50.0mm
Aperture: f/1.4
Exposure 1/3200s
Make Canon
Model Canon EOS 5D Mark II
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 50.0mm
Aperture: f/1.4
Exposure 1/6400s
Make Canon
Model Canon EOS 5D Mark II
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 50.0mm
Aperture: f/1.4
Exposure 1/3200s

Verdict

Surprisingly our full format findings don't really differ all that much compared to what we have seen already in our APS-C format review. The Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM | A (Art series) remains very sharp at f/1.4, especially in the image center but even the corners are very decent. The quality is excellent across the entire image frame between f/4 and f/8. The lens is also comparatively punchy (high contrast) at large apertures. Lateral CA are basically absent. The full format distortions are a bit higher but remain on a quite low level. Unsurprisingly there is some noticeable vignetting at f/1.4 but it's mostly gone by f/2 already. The quality of the bokeh is excellent as far as out-of-focus highlights are concerned. The generally background blur is also smooth, less so the foreground blur. The amount of bokeh fringing is typical for a lens in this class. There's a very slight focus shift when stopping down. However, the focus point mostly kept within the increasing depth-of-field except at really close focus distances.

It's no news anymore that Sigma's Art series lenses are both beautifully crafted as well as tough and it's really a joy to handle Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM | A. The AF is very fast and near silent. Don't expect speed wonders in live-view mode though.

So, in summary, "Highly Recommended" - again - and better than all the other 50mm lenses that we have tested to date. The new (untested) Zeiss Otus 55mm f/1.4 may still be better, especially regarding bokeh fringing, but it's a manual focus lens and in terms of size, weight and astronomical price tag it just cannot be everybody's darling anyway.

Optical Quality:    
Mechanical Quality:
Price/Performance:
      
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