Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG DN Art Review (L-Mount)
Reviewing the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG DN Art Just as the f/1.2 Version Was Announced
It was exciting and at the same time a bit anti-climatic that Sigma announced the 50mm f/1.2 DG DN Art the day before the Purolator guy delivered a Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG DN Art for a review.
The questions popped up right away. Would the f/1.4 version be a viable option after the f/1.2 introduction? How do they differ? Should you feel bad about your f/1.4 version now that a new kid is on the block?
We probably won’t see the f/1.2 version until the end of April and unfortunately, I did not have access to it for comparison. Instead, this review will focus on handling, specs, and sample images from the f/1.4 version but I also will point out potential reasons why you may pick one over the other, or maybe something entirely different.
Thanks to Camtec Photo who kindly sent me the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG DN Art to test for this review. I do not get to keep the lens and have already shipped it back. I haven’t received directions or a narrative from Sigma or Camtec Photo and I aim to give you an unbiased opinion.
Introduction
The Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG DN Art was introduced in February of 2023. It is part of a long list of DG DN Art top-tier series prime lenses from Sigma.
The Art Series lenses are known for fast maximum apertures giving photographers a more affordable alternative to native lenses, especially Sony GM and Leica SL lenses. Here is a list of current Sigma DG DN Art prime lenses.
14mm f/1.4 DG DN Art
20mm f/1.4 DG DN Art
24mm f/1.4 DG DN Art
35mm f/1.2 DG DN Art
35mm f/1.4 DG DN Art
50mm f/1.2 DG DN Art
50mm f/1.4 DG DN Art
85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art
When this review was posted the the retail price of the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG DN Art was USD 849.00 or CAD 1,189.95 at Camtec Photo.
Handling
After reviewing the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG DN Art a few weeks ago there were no real surprises when handling or looking at the 50mm f/1.4. They are almost identical but at 23.6 oz / 670 g compared to 22.6 oz / 640 g for the 35mm lens the 50mm lens is a tad heavier but not enough that you would notice it.
It would have been nice if the filter size had been the same but the 50mm f/1.4 takes 72 mm filters whereas the 35mm f/1.4 takes 67mm filters.
The 50mm f/1.4 DG DN Art has the same wonderful aperture ring, clickable in thirds of a stop, or you can de-click it for video use. I mostly used both lenses without the hood. However, I cannot complain about the included plastic hood, which clicks into place without a wobble.
Both lenses have a focus mode switch, an AFL button, an aperture ring click switch, and an aperture ring lock. As for weather sealing, Sigma lists them as being dust and splash-proof.
On my outings, the 50mm f/1.4 felt like a solid piece of kit. I did not find it too large for the few sessions I did but I would perhaps be worried that it would be too large for a travel lens where you carry your gear for days, weeks, or months.
Focus mode switch, AFL button, and aperture ring click switch on the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG DN Art
Specs
50mm focal length
HLA Linear Focusing Motor
Metal construction
Aperture range: f/1.4 - f/16, clickable in third stops
14 elements in 11 groups
Aspherical & SLD glass elements
Super multi-layer and resistance coating
11 aperture blades
Filter size: 67mm
Minimum focusing distance: 17.7" / 45 cm
Dimensions: 3.1 x 4.3" / 78.2 x 109.5 mm
Weight: 23.6 oz / 670 g
Price: $849.00
In Action
The 50mm focal length has been my go-to option for travel and street photography ever since I started with a Canon AV-1 and FD 50mm f/1.8 (yes, a long time ago). For years I have been using various Fujifilm X-Pro cameras and the XF 35mm f/1.4 R lens, which gives you a 53mm full-frame equivalent field of view.
If you plan for long-term travel you should consider bulk and weight and with the Leica SL2-S and 50mm f/1.4 DG DN Art that you see pictured in this review, you are looking at more than twice the weight of my X-Pro2 and XF 35mm f/1.4 R combo.
The grip on the SL2-S somewhat alleviates the extra weight but there is no beating around the bush, it’s a heavier and bulkier setup. There are of course other options for an SL2-S at the 50mm focal length and I will get into this later in this review.
f/1.4 on a full-frame camera will give you a more shallow depth of field than f/1.4 on an APS-C camera so that is another feature to consider.
The Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG DN Art was a pleasure to use in the field. Autofocus was fast and silent and it was very nice to handle.
Image Quality
I was happy with the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG DN Art images I was able to produce for this review but perhaps never blown away by the overall image quality. As mentioned above, I reviewed the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG DN Art a few weeks ago and while these two lenses appear similar in performance I would give a slight edge to the 35mm lens.
f/1.4 on a 50mm lens gives you plenty of opportunity to blur backgrounds and while the photos are plenty sharp. I do, however, miss a bit of character in some of the images.
While the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG DN Art delivers very usable images at its price point, I may have been looking for a wow factor which we may see in the newly announced 50mm f/1.2 DG DN Art. It is important to mention that this potential wow factor will come at a roughly 65% higher cost of $1,399.00.
Please make sure to click on the sample images to view sizes up to 2500 pixels depending on your monitor size or pinch zoom if on your mobile phone.
Conclusion
Before I had even tried the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG DN Art, I pre-ordered the new f/1.2 version the day it was announced. I did this based on my experience with the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG DN Art and a brief test of the 35mm f/1.2 Art version.
I believe these f/1.2 lenses have an extra bit of magic that can set your images apart in a vast sea of photos. Yes, the cost is higher and in the case of the 35mm f/1.2 Art lens, it is considerably bigger and bulkier.
The new Sigma 50mm f/1.2 DG DN Art lens, however, is almost identical in size to that of the f/1.4 version and has 13 rounded aperture blades (11 on the 1.4 version), and four aspherical elements, which likely will improve the image quality.
As it played out, I ended up canceling my Sigma 50mm f/1.2 pre-order a few days later when I spotted a used Voigtländer Nokton 50mm f/1.2 at Camtec Photo.
I had been looking for the Nokton 50mm for a while and at almost half the weight, considerably less bulk, and about half the cost of a new Sigma 50mm f/1.2 DG DN Art, it will be a better fit for my travel kit. With that said I hope I will get a chance to review the Sigma at some point. I would love to do a side-by-side test.
Before the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG DN Art gets lost in my decision process it is important to stress that this lens still represents good value at its price point, especially if you can find a used copy. On my local buy and sell I found one for $690.00 at this price point it may be hard to justify the new f/1.2 version at $1.399.00.
Either way, you cannot go wrong with the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG DN Art, the new f/1.2 version, of the Voigtländer Nokton 50mm f/1.2 for that matter. Your priorities for size, weight, desire for overall image quality, feature set, and cost should dictate which direction to go in.
Pros
Affordable fast f-stop prime lens
Good weight-to-performance ratio
Fast and quiet autofocus
Excellent build quality
Cons
Debatable image quality compared to the newer f/1.2 version
Price / Availability
Thank you for reading my review. I hope you found it helpful. If you are planning a purchase and would like to support our site you can do so, at no additional cost, by using the link below.
Check availability and current price at Camtec Photo
Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG DN Art - Camtec Photo
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Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG DN Art Sample Images
Please see the sample images below. Editing was done in Lightroom. Some photos are slightly cropped.
Please click to view larger images.
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