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

December 14, 2019

Jordan Steele

Conclusion

Pros

Very good sharpness from f/1.4 and excellent across the frame stopped down
Generally pleasing bokeh in most situations
Good color and contrast
Low chromatic aberration
Low distortion
Accurate autofocus that works great with Eye AF
Very solidly constructed
Affordable

Cons

High vignetting wide open
Some ghosting and flare when stopped down
Bokeh can get a bit busy at further focus distances

I’m going to cut to the chase: I love this lens. I like the way the lens renders; the sharpness is very good right from f/1.4; the autofocus works very well and best of all, it’s extremely affordable. The lens retails for $899, but recently has regularly been on sale for as low as $649, with even some deals available to even further reduce that price. Despite being regularly less than half the price of the Sony 35mm f/1.4, it’s actually the better lens optically, and about on par with it in autofocus. Sigma’s new 35mm f/1.2 appears to be a bit better and a lot bigger and more expensive, but I think the older f/1.4 Art still makes a strong argument for a place in your bag. It’s got great optics, very nice autofocus, is built very well and doesn’t break the bank.

Because the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 has been around a while, it often gets overlooked. When it was released, it was praised as perhaps the best 35mm lens on the market. While progress has marched on, and a few other optics may now be worthy of that crown, the 35mm f/1.4 is still a very good lens that competes very well with lenses twice its price. It’s quickly become one of my favorite lenses, and I’ve used it a lot over the past several months. Highly recommended.

Image Samples

Click on an image to enlarge.

Wild Flower – Sony A7 III with Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art @ f/2.5, 1/2500s, ISO 100

Blustery Evening – Sony A7R IV with Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art @ f/11, 8s, ISO 100

Reading – Sony A7R IV with Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art @ f/1.8, 1/125s, ISO 1250

Cedar Falls – Sony A7 III with Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art @ f/16, 8s, ISO 100

VIP – Sony A7 III with Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art @ f/1.4, 1/2500s, ISO 100

Jet Enginer – Sony A7 III with Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art @ f/1.4, 1/40s, ISO 200

Jogger – Sony A7 III with Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art @ f/11, 1/80s, ISO 100

Reading – Sony A7R IV with Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art @ f/1.4, 1/125s, ISO 500

Nyx – Sony A7 III with Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art @ f/1.4, 1/80s, ISO 1000

Daisy in the City – Sony A7 III with Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art @ f/2.5, 1/500s, ISO 100

Jogging – Sony A7 III with Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art @ f/8, 1/250s, ISO 100

Watching TV – Sony A7 III with Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art @ f/1.4, 1/80s, ISO 800

If you enjoyed this review, please take a look at my other reviews in the Review Index.

Tags:

35mm, art, lens, review, sigma, Sony

Comments

9 responses to “Review: Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art (Sony E-Mount)”

Manfred

December 15, 2019

Hi Jordan,
Enjoying your review as always. Very nice pictures. I agree that this lens is overlooked. Esp. in the closed focus areas and landscape I am using this lens on 7rii . Compared with the Zeiss 1.4/35 mm the Sigma is very competitive in regard to natural colors and 3 d. After the firmware upgrade the autofocus improved a lot.
Manfred

Reply
Eugene

December 15, 2019

Hi Jordan, thank you for this thoughtful review. I wanted to ask your opinion on the weather sealing on this lens? Based on some quick internet research, it seems like there is partial weather sealing, but the lens is not completely weather sealed — but I was wondering if you have any thoughts on the adequacy of weather sealing based on your real world user experience?

Sigma’s website says the lens is sealed at the mount: “Making the mount native to the lens makes possible a more rigid and stable feel to the lens. Featuring a special surface treatment to enhance strength, the brass bayonet mount offers a high-precision fit and exceptional durability. The mount connection area incorporates rubber sealing for dust- and splash-proof construction.” (https://www.sigma-global.com/en/lenses/cas/service/se_mount)

Officially, there is no sealing in the barrel, but the Lens Rentals blog said this in 2015 (presumably about the EF version): “Despite the fact that Sigma clearly states this is not weather resistant lens, there’s still some foamed gasket material around the filter barrel.” (https://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2015/12/sigma-35mm-f1-4-dg-hsm-art-lens-teardown)

Reply
David

December 17, 2019

Nice to see a review of this sometimes a bit (for FE) neglected lens. Stellar shots as usual. Regarding the camera strap, are you comfortable holding the camera by its strap, or putting it on a tripod, with a lens like this? Genuine query, I have no superfast 35s (I love the EF 35/2 IS USM and with MC11 fw 1.27 it can even af in relative gloom).

Reply
1. Jordan Steele
  
  December 19, 2019
  
  I don’t have any issues with this lens on a tripod or holding it by the grip (I use a wrist strap, so I’m holding the camera.) It’s really not that heavy of a lens. Now, I was wary when using something like the Sigma 100-400mm, which doesn’t have a tripod collar, and is fairly big and cantilevered out. Never had an issue, but still made me nervous.
  
  Reply
Scott

December 18, 2019

I really enjoy a sharp lens. My Sony 90MM f2.8 rarly leaves my A7R III and makes my 55 1.8 look soft wide open. I wonder if I should spend the extra money and just get the new Sigma 35 f1.2? Any thoughts on the matter Jordan. Excellent review btw 😉

Reply
1. Jordan Steele
  
  December 19, 2019
  
  If you want the absolute best, the 35/1.2 appears to be about as good as one can get. Also, I’ve heard amazing things about Tamron’s new 35/1.4 as well, though you’d need to adapt that from Canon EF mount. Still, I find the 35mm f/1.4 more than good enough for my needs.
  
  Reply
  1. Scott
    
    January 10, 2020
    
    **UPDATE** Hi Jordan: When your right, your right and YOU WERE RIGHT. Ended up returning the 1.2 and keeping the Siggy 35 f/1.4. Turns out the sharpness difference is only negligible wide open and while the 1.2 may be a tad sharper, it’s the 1.4’s rendering that is superior to my eye … looks more artistic to me. The 1/2 stop of light, de-clickable aperture ring and focus hold button , at the end of the day, simply did not justify the nearly $900 price difference in the two lenses. As a bonus, the 1.4 is almost a pound lighter! 😉
    
    Reply
Scott

January 5, 2020

I ended up going with the 1.2. As an early adopter of the original Siggy 1.4 back in ’13, I’ve always been a fan of this lens however the aperture ring, de-click feature and programmable AF button on this latest version are most desirable to me. That said, the sharpness at f1.2 is intoxicating … wow just wow.

Reply
Torbjörn

August 23, 2020

Hi Jordan,
Thanks for an excellent review. I just bought the lens in a cash back campaign and intend to use it with my A7iii. How would you compare the result with XF 23mm f/1.4 R / XT20 combo? I have the XT20 as well but have never got the 1.4/23 due to the rather high price.

Reply