Sigma 311101 50mm F1.4 DG HSM Art Lens for Canon, Black

Product Information

This Sigma has no flare problems, so the only reason to use the hood is that it can help keep crud and flying food out of your lens. Longitudinal chromatic aberration also seems to be under control, although you might see a bit of it in some situations when shooting at f/1.4. Canon EOS 6D + 50mm @ 50mm, ISO 100, 1/250, f/1.4

The Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art exhibits a very slight amount of barrel distortion at close distances. Imatest measured -0.36% barrel distortion, which is insignificant. In comparison, the Nikon 50mm f/1.4G has much more pronounced barrel distortion at approximately -1.50%, which needs to be corrected in post for lines to appear straight. Even the Nikon 50mm f/1.8G suffers from some barrel distortion at around -1.12%. Canon EOS 6D + 50mm @ 50mm, ISO 100, 1/320, f/4.0 Chromatic AberrationMost prime lenses heavily vignette when shot wide open, especially on a full-frame body. As expected, the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art lens vignettes a bit wide open, with vignetting levels falling sharply when stopped down. Vignetting levels vary by focus distance – at close focus the lens vignettes much less than at infinity, as measured by Imatest: Chromatic aberration is almost irrelevant when using this lens. And this is awe-inspiring, considering the price tag.

The HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor) ensures a silent, high-speed AF function. Optimizing AF algorithm, smoother AF is achieved. Also, this lens can offer full-time MF function by rotating the focus ring of the lens while auto focusing. Without changing the AF/MF Focus Mode Switch, it allows faster focus adjustment. The Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM features Sigma’s HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor) autofocus (AF) technology. This has an internal focus. So it’s pretty quiet. (As one would expect from a higher-end lens like this.) The Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art will go from its minimum focusing distance to infinity in a quarter-turn. This would only be an issue for someone needing precise manual focusing, such as macro photos. The lens does have a distance scale, but it only has depth-of-field markings for f/16. Put the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM | A on a camera with an APS-C-sized sensor and, all of a sudden, it becomes a 75mm f/1.4 lens, which is very nice for portraiture. At f/1.4, the lens obviously isn’t at its sharpest, but for portraits this can be quite flattering, with enough sharp detail in the subject’s eyes, but with the shallow depth of field and the lens not being at its sharpest giving a slightly more flattering look to skin. Late 1980s ~ early 1990s AF cameras like the N90s, N70 and F4 will focus just fine, but you'll lose VR. You'll have Program and Shutter-priority modes, but lose Manual and Aperture-priority since you have no way to set the aperture on the camera or on the lens.Even though the diaphragm is round at large apertures, sunstars are reasonably good at moderate apertures. Bravo! The wide maximum F1.4 aperture means this lens works amazingly will in lowlight conditions like photographing gigs or capturing those unforgettable moments at a wedding reception. But it can also create the most attractive shallow depth of field and blue to your images. This is a quality that a lot of photographers strive to achieve, and with this lens, it's easy. Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) System