News Sigma 50mm f/1.4 CL DG I-series lens

[Jonathan-Mac]

It looks like the I-series is being expanded to include faster but smaller optics that sacrifice image quality for size, presumably price (though this hasn't been announced) and sharpness.

As a big fan of the existing I-series lenses I'm honestly not sure how I feel about this. Until now I-series has meant premium build and feel, though not weather sealed, slower maximum aperture but still extremely high image quality. I'm glad to see this kind of lens coming from Sigma to let those with lower funds still get super-fast AF lenses, but I can't help but feel it shouldn't be considered part of the I-series. Oh well, that's just a name I suppose.

From the looks of it, apart from being ugly, I suspect that the small front element that easily fits within the 52mm filter thread, indicates that the lens will not really have what it takes to deliver on that f/1.4 aperture. We'll have to wait and see. The excellent Fujinon 35mm f/1.4 also has a 52mm filter thread and, despite not being designed as an uber-sharp lens, has always been plenty sharp enough for me. If the new Sigma is along those lines then it will be a good thing.

I noticed on the Sigma site that it has fourteen aperture blades! Does any other modern lens have that many?

Sigma's global page: https://www.sigma-global.com/en/lenses/c027_50_14/

DPR: https://www.dpreview.com/news/sigma...e-lenses-focused-on-character-over-sharpness/

 

[Hythloday]

sacrifice image quality for size, presumably price (though this hasn't been announced) and sharpness.

Sigma writes:

"ABERRATIONS INTENTIONALLY CONTROLLED WITH THE LATEST SIMULATION TECHNOLOGY FOR SOFT RENDERING OF TEXTURE THAT HELPS THE SUBJECT STAND OUT"

50mm F1.4 CL DG | LENSES | Sigma

This page is about Sigma's 50mm F1.4 CL DG.

www.sigma-global.com

Perhaps we will see lenses such as the Pentax DA20-40mm Ltd. which gave pictures of a very fine IQ: excellent sharpness and colours.

 

[sergun80]

Yes, it will probably be a compromise. Most likely it will be "sharpened" for portraits, the corners will never be closed. Looking at it, I remember the TTartisan 50/1.4 asph, and even the dimensions and optical scheme are close, only Sigma has as many as three aspherics. Well, the price tag will not be comparable. Sigma will probably be around $500

 

[GeorgeHudetz]

In some ways, it seems like an evolution of their 40/2.8 - character over absolute IQ.

 

[sergun80]

New Sigma 50mm F1.4 CL DG Contemporary
byu/PinComplete8715 inLumixS9

 

[pdk42]

Hmmm - do we really need another 50mm ish lens?

 

[Jonathan-Mac]

Sigma writes:

"ABERRATIONS INTENTIONALLY CONTROLLED WITH THE LATEST SIMULATION TECHNOLOGY FOR SOFT RENDERING OF TEXTURE THAT HELPS THE SUBJECT STAND OUT"

50mm F1.4 CL DG | LENSES | Sigma

This page is about Sigma's 50mm F1.4 CL DG.

www.sigma-global.com

Perhaps we will see lenses such as the Pentax DA20-40mm Ltd. which gave pictures of a very fine IQ: excellent sharpness and colours.

The Pentax 20-40mm Limited is a wonderful little lens. On paper it's not got a great range and f/2.8-4 isn't very fast but in use it's wonderful, with really great image quality, a quality feel and the limited equivalent 30-60mm range makes it feel more like a prime than any other zoom lens I've used. The copy I had suffered from some front or back focusing which my K-3 was capable of reliably countering but a mirrorless version obviously wouldn't have that. If I found a good copy at a reasonable price I might even re-buy it.

Hmmm - do we really need another 50mm ish lens?

I think the L-mount is well covered with high-end 50mms and even lower end ones but the middle ground is missing just this: a lens which is very fast but without being huge and having highly corrected IQ. I have envied the Nikon equivalent since it came out (I think they have a 35 and an 85 too). However, what I've seen of this Sigma so far is that AF is slow and I don't at all like the way the front of it turns during AF in the same way as old film-era lenses from the 1990s - it adds to the already considerable ugliness of the lens and gives the impression it's second-rate even before we see any real output from it.

 

[snaimpally]

The S9 (and to some degree, the Fp) have established a market for smaller lenses that are more suited for a compact body. This is an example of one of those. I know I am willing to sacrifice some image quality for a small size.

 

[GeorgeHudetz]

It will be interesting to see if the photographers who like the character of certain vintage lenses (looking at you, @Travis Butler)) also like this new Sigma. Of course, we'll have to wait a few months to find out.

 

[Travis Butler]

It’s very much the kind of lens I’ve advocated for in the past. But talk to me after I’ve had a chance to play with one. The Sigma Contemporary 45mm was supposed to be that kind of lens, and it left me cold; largely because it didn’t really have the same color and tonality of some of my favorite lenses.