Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM Art Lens Announced
Sigma has announced the new 50mm F1.4 DG HSM Art lens at CES 2014 show in Las Vegas. Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM is a completely new lens from Sigma added to the Art series this year.
Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM Art lens is a fast normal prime for full frame DSLRs and it also works on APS-C / DX format cameras with a 75mm equivalent short telephoto effect. The lens employs an ultrasonic-type focusing motor, and according to Sigma uses improved autofocus algorithms.
The lens is compatible with Sigma’s USB dock and Sigma’s Mount Conversion service. The Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM will be available in Canon, Nikon, Sigma and Sony mounts. Pricing and availability are yet to be announced.
Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM Art Lens Announced
Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM Art Lens Specs
| Lens type | Prime lens |
|---|---|
| Max Format size | 35mm FF |
| Focal length | 50 mm |
| Image stabilisation | No |
| Lens mount | Canon EF, Nikon F (FX), Sony Alpha, Sigma SA |
| Maximum aperture | F1.4 |
| Minimum aperture | F16.0 |
| Number of diaphragm blades | 9 |
| Aperture notes | Rounded diaphragm |
| Elements | 13 |
| Groups | 8 |
| Special elements / coatings | SLD glass elements, aspheric elements |
| Minimum focus | 0.40 m (15.75″) |
| Maximum magnification | 0.18× |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Motor type | Ring-type ultrasonic |
| Full time manual | Yes |
| Focus method | Internal |
| Focus notes | Floating focus system |
| Distance scale | Yes |
| DoF scale | Yes |
| Weight | 470 g (1.04 lb) |
| Diameter | 85 mm (3.35″) |
| Length | 100 mm (3.94″) |
| Filter thread | 77 mm |
Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM Art Lens Features
1. Art line delivers high-level artistic expression
SIGMA is organizing all its interchangeable lenses into three product lines; Contemporary, Art, and Sports, where each line has a distinctive concept. Designed with a focus on sophisticated optical performance and abundant expressive power, our Art line delivers high-level artistic expression. With the astonishing rendering performance that meets the high standard, along with landscapes, portraits still-life, close-up, and casual snaps, they are perfect for the kind of photography that unleashes the inner artist. Ideal for studio photography, they offer just as much expressive scope when capturing architecture and starry skies and many other scenes.
2. Astonishing rendering performance
Utilizing know-how and the latest design technology accumulated through the past developments, it corrects the aberration thoroughly and achieves high resolution and astonishing rendering performance even near the edge of the image.
• Achieving both high resolution and beautiful bokeh
While pursuing a high level of resolution on the focused point, bokeh in front and behind the point of focus is carefully maintained to have soft rendering. Aberrations including sagittal coma flare and color distortion that affect the image quality are thoroughly corrected. From open aperture, high-definition rendering without blur is achieved. Moreover, by ensuring vignetting at the minimum and preventing color blur around the front and back of the focus point, it also achieves natural bokeh.
• Excellent correction of sagittal coma flare
It is ideal for a wide aperture standard lens to have a high rendering performance from open aperture throughout the entire image. For instance, the molded glass aspherical lens elements provide excellent correction to sagittal coma flare. It is perfect for astronomical photography and shooting of illumination because of the reduced blur on the point light sources near the edge of the image. It also creates an attractive bokeh in portraits and indoor shooting.
• Correction of axial chromatic aberration
For axial chromatic aberration that is hard to correct even during the image processing, SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass elements are incorporated, ensuring high image quality throughout the entire focusing range. The lens achieves sharp and high contrast image rendering.
• Minimized distortion
It is not possible to compensate for distortion just by changing the aperture values. Thus, the lens development stage was vital in ensuring minimized distortion. The “SIGMA 50mm F1.4 DG HSM” has positioned each glass element to optimize the power layout at respective positions, and succeeded in minimizing distortion.
• Rich peripheral brightness
It secures very rich brightness in the peripheral areas, which can be a common problem for a lens with a large diameter. By positioning wide elements in the front group, it has improved the efficiency at large apertures. Since it is capable of minimizing vignetting, very clear depiction across the image is ensured.
• Designed to minimize flare and ghosting
Flare and ghosting were thoroughly measured and monitored from the lens development stage to establish an optical design which is resistant to strong incidental light such as backlight. The Super Multi-Layer Coating reduces flare and ghosting and provides sharp and high contrast images even in backlit conditions.
• Minimum focusing distance of 40cm
The lens incorporates a floating system that adjusts the distance between lens groups while focusing, thereby reducing the amount of lens movement required. This achieves a minimum focusing distance of 40cm and maximum magnification ratio of 1:5.6. As there is less variation in aberration at different shooting distances, the lens delivers high rendering performance throughout the entire focusing range.
3. Hyper Sonic Motor ensures High AF Speed
The HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor) ensures a silent, high-speed AF function. Optimizing AF algorithm, smoother AF is achieved. It also enables full-time manual focusing capability which allows sensible focus adjustment by simply rotating the focus ring.
4. New Customizing Option added to “SIGMA USB DOCK”
With the optional SIGMA USB DOCK and the dedicated special software “SIGMA Optimization Pro”, you can update your lens firmware, or adjust focus points by attaching this lens to a SIGMA USB DOCK connected to a computer.
