Sigma’s 50mm f/1.4 DG DN Art lens is the first in their ‘Art’ line of lenses to feature its own HLA motor (High-response Linear Actuator), improving focus speed and tracking while being quieter than traditional stepping motors used in such lenses.
Splash and dust resistance is ensured with a rubber seal around the mount as well as water-repellent coating on the front element. The outer barrel is made of Thermally Stable Composite (TSC), which behaves similarly to metal for consistent performance in all conditions.
Optical Design
Sigma’s 50mm f/1.4 DG DN Art lens is one of the company’s most ambitious standard primes yet. It boasts a fast f/1.4 maximum aperture as well as three Special Low Dispersion (SLD) elements and one molded glass aspherical element designed to reduce chromatic aberrations, sagittal coma flare and field curvature.
It also features a large diameter to help correct vignetting, or darkening of corners when taken at an angle from the center of the frame. The outcome is an amazingly sharp and clear image ideal for working in low light conditions.
Sigma Art lenses now feature a new focusing motor powered by an ultra-responsive linear actuator system, the first use of this technology in an Art lens. According to Sigma, this improves autofocus speed and quietness significantly.
Image Quality
The Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG DN Art lens offers superior image quality and ruggedness at a mid-budget price point. It boasts an impressive build with dust and splash resistant front element.
Sharpness is superb when viewed wide open, and even better when zoomed in a bit. Corners also shine with no lateral chromatic aberration (‘bokeh fringing’) present.
There is some vignetting towards the corners, which is to be expected with a fast f/1.4 prime lens. However, you can use in-camera correction to reduce this and it’s a very minor issue.
The Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG Art Lens is an impressive lens, suitable for both amateur and professional photographers alike. It also captures higher-quality images at f/1.4 without needing to increase ISO settings. Furthermore, this prime comes equipped with a removable petal shaped lens hood which helps reduce flare and glare.
Weather Resistant
Sigma’s 50mm f/1.4 DG DN Art lens is perfect for outdoor photography, offering weather resistance with its gasket at the lens mount, internal seals and water-repellent coating on the front element. No matter if you’re working in bright sunlight or rainy conditions – its weather resistant design ensures complete protection from moisture damage.
The optical performance of this 14-element/11-group lens is truly outstanding, boasting three aspherical lenses and one SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass element for impressive sharpness, clarity, contrast and color rendition. Furthermore, it includes an aperture ring that can be de-clicked for silent switching between aperture modes as well as a dedicated lock switch to quickly switch between linear and nonlinear focusing modes.
The new lens also boasts a High-Response Linear Actuator (HLA) motor for fast and quiet autofocus in both stills and video applications. Beyond its dust and splash-resistant build, it also includes an aperture ring with click and lock switches, an AFL button, and eleven rounded aperture blades for beautiful bokeh rendering.
Performance
Sigma’s 50mm f/1.4 DG DN Art lens is the latest addition to their premium ‘Art’ line of lenses, designed with creative photographers in mind and equipped with sophisticated optical performance and extraordinary expressive power.
Mirrorless camera users will love the new ‘Art’ lens, designed with advanced optical design and autofocus technology to produce exceptional image quality. Powered by an HLD (High Response Linear Actuator) Linear Motor that drives just one double aspheric element, the AF system is fast, precise and virtually silent – perfect for outdoor activities!
The Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG ART lens is designed to take advantage of the compact flange distance and high resolution offered by Sony E-mount and L-mount mirrorless cameras. Unfortunately, its maximum frame rate is limited to 15 frames per second (versus 30fps for native glass), in order to guarantee optimal performance. Nonetheless, most target customers will find this minor compromise worth it for the superior optical quality provided by this new lens.
