Hire Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art (Sony E Mount)

Our thoughts

'Users of Sony’s full-frame a7-series are fairly limited when it comes to choosing a fast 35mm prime. This example from Sigma is a first-class example that can be used for a wide variety of genres and its stunning optical quality won’t leave those who shoot weddings, portraits or documentary images disappointed. It’s incredibly sharp in the centre between f/2 and f/11. Full-time manual focus override is great to have for fine-tuning focus and is aided by a delightfully smooth manual focus ring. Regrettably it’s not weather sealed, but this is a minor criticism on what is otherwise a sublime prime that produces striking results with whatever Sony E-mount camera it’s coupled to.'  

The Details:

A large-aperture wide-angle F1.4 lens with truly impressive image quality – a true flagship of artistic expression

SIGMA has always leveraged the most advanced optical technologies to offer photographers the highest level of lens performance. Now, SIGMA is offers the first lens in an all-new product line: the 35mm F1.4 DG HSM Art. This wide-angle F1.4 lens delivers the highest level of brightness and beautiful bokeh effects. It offers the unique characteristics that only a large-aperture F1.4 lens can offer: shallow depth of field along with superior low-light and hand-held performance.

A large-aperture lens with minimal axial chromatic aberration and superb peripheral resolution

Several types of optical aberration can affect the image quality of a lens. Chromatic aberration is among the most prominent, and minimising it is essential. There are two types of chromatic aberration: transverse, which can be corrected with digital processing, and axial, which is difficult to minimise after a shot is taken. In the 35mm F1.4 DG HSM, FLD (“F” Low Dispersion) glass, which is equivalent to fluorite in its characteristics, and SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass help optimise the power distribution of the lens. This optimisation minimises axial chromatic aberration by causing the different wavelengths of light to strike the same focus position while also minimising transverse chromatic aberration. In addition, aspheric lenses help minimise astigmatism and field curvature. Thanks to these features, resolution is extremely high from the center to the edges of the photograph.

Axial chromatic aberration

Axial chromatic aberration becomes a bigger issue with large-aperture lenses. As compared to some other 35mm F1.4 lenses, this new lens is designed to produce images with extremely low chromatic aberration. As a result, it is possible to achieve a bokeh effect that is cleaner and more aesthetically pleasing than ever before.

Lens construction

A single FLD glass lens, which boasts the same performance as a fluorite lens, is combined with four SLD glass lenses to minimise chromatic aberration. Optimised power distribution helps correct various types of optical aberration. These features give this F1.4 large-aperture lens truly optimal image quality.

Exclusive low-dispersion glass

The degree to which light is refracted by glass depends on the light's wavelength. This fact causes different colours of light to focus at slightly different points. The result is chromatic aberration. Most chromatic aberration can be removed by combining a high-refractivity convex lens element with a low-refractivity concave element. Yet residual chromatic aberration known as “secondary spectrum” may still remain. To minimise this secondary spectrum, SIGMA lenses feature up to three types of exclusive low-dispersion glass – offering superior performance: ELD (Extraordinary Low Dispersion), SLD (Special Low Dispersion) and FLD (“F” Low Dispersion). Meticulous deployment of these types of exclusive low-dispersion glass and optimisation of power distribution gives SIGMA lenses superlative image rendition undiminished by residual chromatic aberration.

High resolution with beautiful bokeh effects

The aspheric element at the front of the lens helps minimise both distortion and vignetting. The rounded diaphragm produces an attractive round bokeh effect at large-aperture settings. Optimised power distribution minimises sagittal coma flare. Coma of point light sources near the edge of the image and axial chromatic aberration are both minimised, making the lens an excellent choice for photographing nighttime landscapes.

Rounded diaphragm

When photographing with point light sources such as electric lights or reflections on a body of water in the background, the rounded 9-blade diaphragm helps produce an attractive, rounded bokeh effect – even at large-aperture settings.