Lens ReviewMorten Byskov - 5050 TravelogAugust 26, 2026Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG II Art Review, Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG II Art sample images, Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG II Art sample photos, Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG II Art samples, Sigma 35mm f1.4 review, Sigma 35mm review, Sigma 35mm 1.4 review, Sigma 35mm 1.4 sample images, Sigma 35mm 1.4 art reviewComment

Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG II Art Review (Sony E-Mount)

Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG II Art and Sony A7V — Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG II Art (Sony E-Mount) on a Sony A7V

Please note, this is my second review of the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG II Art lens. In May of 2026 I also reviewed it for L-Mount. Parts of the text in this review is the same as in the L-Mount review, some parts differ slightly, and I found it made sense to share a post with sample images from Sony E-Mount version as well.

Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG II Art - Finally a 35mm Lens I Feel Good About

My quest for a great 35mm lens has been ongoing for a while now. I have been lucky to try a few, and I believe I have finally found a lens I can use with confidence—one that performs in a variety of conditions.

My journey along this 35mm lens path includes the Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM, Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG DN Art, Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary, and the Panasonic Lumix S 35mm f/1.8. I have also reviewed the Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.4 (links go to my reviews).

While all of these have been okay, I either sold them again or didn’t feel a strong urge to keep them, except perhaps for the Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM, which is a stellar lens.

Let’s see why the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG II Art ticks boxes where the other options have come a tad short, but first, an introduction.

Introduction

The Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG II Art was announced in February 2026, and I got my copy as soon as it was available here in Canada, about two months later. As mentioned above, I’ve had it for Sony E-Mount and L-Mount.

I tested the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG DN Art a couple of years ago when I first got my SL2-S, and was generally quite happy with it, though not blown away.

When the Sigma 35mm f/1.2 DG DN Art II ($1,549.00) was released in September 2025, I was very tempted to get one, but despite considerable weight loss compared to the first version of this lens, I hesitated because I still found it bulky, too heavy, and a significant out-of-pocket expense.

The Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM is, of course, tempting, but at a higher price of $1,498.00.

The new Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG II Art seems to have struck a good middle ground and was met with widespread enthusiasm from reviewers.

When this review was posted, the retail price of the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG II Art was $1,059.00.

1967 Cadillac Eldorado front grill — Cadillac., Vancouver, Sony A7V, Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG II Art @ f/6.3

Specs, Handling, and Build Quality

Size, weight, bulk, and optical quality are all important features in a lens, but I find it very easy to get lured into lenses that promise the world, only to find they're too heavy or bulky, and the end result is that you won’t bother to bring them along on photo walks or for travel.

At 1.2 lb (530 g), the 35mm f/1.4 DG II weighs 83% of the former f/1.4 DG DN version and only 70% of the latest f/1.2 DG DN II version. It is also smaller than both of them. Especially when comparing to the f/1.2 version, the difference is significant.

If you favor a smaller, lighter option, you have the Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN version at only 11.5 oz (325 g), but I found it to trail the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG II Art optically.

August morning at Burrard Bridge. Sample image from a Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG II Art and Sony A7V. — Burrard Bridge, Vancouver, Sony A7V, Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG II Art @ f/1.4

The handling and build quality of the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG II Art is top-notch—as good as any Art lens I have tried from Sigma. The aperture ring is de-clickable for video users, and it feels great.

You have function buttons on the lens barrel that you can customize in your camera settings. I don’t mind this. With other lenses I’ve tried, I tend to hit these buttons inadvertently, resulting in unwanted changes.

The included lens hood has a rubber ring that feels good to the touch, but is a bit of a dust magnet.

Here are some of the key specs of the Sigma 35mm f/1.4:

Available for Sony E-Mount or L-Mount
15 elements in 12 groups
Rounded 11-blade diaphragm
Aperture ring that can be de-clicked
Dual HLA-driven high-speed AF motor
Splash-resistant design
Filter size: 67mm

Sony 35mm f/1.4 DG II Art and Sony A7V — Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG II Art (Sony E-Mount) on a Sony A7V

In Action

I have been pleased with autofocus speed and accuracy, and the lens even performed admirably for tracking crowds on the last day of FIFA World Cup action in Vancouver. You can see the results here:

Last Day of World Cup Action in Vancouver

I find the Sigma Art lenses to be a good match for the Sony A7V, and compared to my L-Mount setup, the A7V and Sigma 35mm f/1.4 are 236 g lighter due to the A7V’s lower weight.

The fact that they reduced the size of this higher-end 35mm lens is probably the single most important feature for me. They now have the balance right with the camera.

I have used it for photo walks and for cycling, and while the combination with the A7V is a solid piece of kit, it is manageable.

Window display along Kingsway in Vancouver. Sample image from a Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG II Art and Sony A7V. — Kingsway, Vancouver, Sony A7V, Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG II Art @ f/1.4

Image Quality

When it comes to sheer image quality, color rendition, sharpness, and bokeh, the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG II Art is probably the best autofocus lens I have tried on the L-Mount so far, and I find that it rivals GM lenses in Sony E-Mount.

There is a wonderful vibrancy to images, and the sharpness seems unrivaled. You do see a bit of vignetting at f/1.4, but it is nowhere near a problem. Stop it down a bit, and it’s gone.

The lens has a bit of pincushioning, and so far, I do not see a lens profile in Lightroom that should correct it.

The sample images in this review can be viewed at up to 2500 pixels wide, depending on your monitor's resolution. Please click to view larger photos if you're viewing on your PC or laptop, or pinch to zoom if you’re viewing on your phone.

A black-and-white photo from the Vancouver Canadians playing baseball at Nat Bailey Stadium. Sample image from a Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG II Art and Sony A7V. — Nat Bailey Stadium, Vancouver, Sony A7V, Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG II Art @ f/6.3

Conclusion

I tested the Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM with an A7R IV, but it was more than five years ago now. I also tried it with a Nikon Z6 III, and by all means, the FE 35mm f/1.4 GM is a terrific lens.

It’s a tough choice between the Sony and Sigma in this case, but the 41% higher cost should have you seriously considering the Sigma if pure image quality is what you are after. Sony will cap the frame rate at 15 fps for the Sigma lens, so keep this in mind if high-frame-rate action is your game.

The Sigma 35mm f/1.2 DG DN II is another lens I haven’t tried yet, but its higher cost, increased bulk, and weight have made it a non-starter for me. If the utmost narrow depth of field in your images is important to you, you should keep this option in mind.

The Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG II Art Sony E-Mount — Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG II Art (Sony E-Mount) on a Sony A7V

At $1,059.00, this new Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG II Art looks like a winner as it strikes so many chords. It’s not too big, it’s not too heavy, and optically, it’s a great performer.

If you appreciate any of these attributes, favor a lens that lets you shoot in low light at lower ISO values, and want to create images with a shallow depth of field, I recommend adding the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG II Art to your shortlist.

Please see more sample images below

Pros

Build quality
Fast autofocus and bright f/1.4 f-stop
Image quality

Cons

The lens hood is a bit of a dust magnet

Price / Availability

Thank you for reading my review. If you are planning a purchase and would like to support us, you can do so, at no additional cost, by using the affiliate link below. A small commission goes to us and helps us keep the wheels turning at 5050 Travelog.

Check the current price at B&H Photo

Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG II Art at B&H Photo

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