Sigma 35mm f1.4

SquamishPhoto

Mine is on order for $100 off MSRP and free shipping. Anyone else pull the trigger on this one after all the glowing reviews?

Golf007sd

Nice purchase....looking forward in seeing some of your work. 

SquamishPhoto

Found this: http://lcap.tistory.com/entry/Sigma-35mm-f14-vs-Canon-35mm-f14-L

Lots of photos and a good range of tests that show a lot. Put my concerns over the "nervous" bokeh to rest. Pretty psyched to have an AF lens in this range and will promptly sell my AI 28mm f2

Golf007sd

I like what I see.  =D>

Msmoto

I am waiting until after the first of the year.  Still in love with my 24mm f/1.4  And have been using the 135mm f/2 a lot lately.  So, where is the sale?

TaoTeJared

I'm really tempted but I have to make a couple of purchases first.  Maybe later in the year depending on the work that comes my way.  

It will be interesting to see what you think.  

Comparison

I've tried to post photos for 1 hour - not working at all

http://www.flickr.com/photos/taotejared/8311942668/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/taotejared/8310883653/in/photostream/

Something that DXo that has always bothered me is that their scores A)
change with each body/MP of the sensor, Somehow understate the sharpness
difference between lenses, & C) Write-ups consistently over exaggerate the
real gap (more the lack there of) between lenses.

From what I have seen, the difference of the Nikkor 35/2 and 35/1.4 is
larger than they state, as is the difference between any Zeiss glass with Nikon
(Zeiss being better.) That tells me DXo's scores come close, but miss where the
true differences are. 

 Where this leaves the Sigma is what I'm curious about - hopefully you can answer that!

Either way, I think it is fair to say it will preform very well.  

PB_PM

The test results look very good for the Sigma. If I was in the market for a 35mm F1.4, I would most likely get this one for the cost savings alone.

shawnino

I don't need a new 35mm but let's hope this works out and is an indication of things to come for Sigma. I'm also told the new 120-300 is completely amazing (well, new-ish: they've updated often, not exactly sure which one the guy has) and if Sigma can run with Nikkor on quality while offering different distances and lower price points, look out. 

Really looking forward to your thoughts/images SP.

TaoTeJared

Stopped by the local shop today and they said the Sigma rep came by last week showing off the 35mm.  All of the photogs/workers (they get big discounts so many pros work part time there) there were amazed by it.  They said it was the best Sigma lens they have seen them ever produce - bokeh was amazing.  Much better than their Canon glass for sure.  A couple of them do use the 85mm Sigma and they said it was at least 2x better in build quality.  They said the Rep was talking about the new Sigma CEO deciding to make a new move into the Pro market, massively upgrading quality assurance and pricing lenses much lower than OEM counterparts.  

This may be the first of many to come from Sigma.  

birdman

I want a 35mm, and coming from the 5d2 and 35L, the only thing I lost was an excellent 35/1.4. Meaning, my fastest glass is the 50/1.8G....although it may actually be AS SHARP as the 35L. I just love that FL though. Love it. The Nikon equivalent was not in my budget after the D800 purchase, 24-120/4.0, 16-35VR, and several other lenses.

If the price difference between the 1.4G and Sigma's offering were less than $300, I would not go Sigma. I know how sharp it is, how flare-resistant and etc. praise it's getting. But, and this is a big one, if I find a used one for under $800 it's all mine. It looks like a fabulous piece of glass, and the bokeh talk floors me. The 35L had "busy bokeh"...hell that's not the intended purpose of using a semi-wide prime. Happy trails

InTheMist

I have this lens and it is great. I've shot it almost exclusively for a couple of weeks.

With macro tube:


SOOC:


I've only found two issues:
At medium-long ranges the bokeh isn't that great, but I think it looks like the other fast 35s I've seen.
I'm troubleshooting a problem that with an SB-900 (on a D800) it consistently back focuses, but only with the flash!

JJ_SO

I would like to see a side-to-side comparison of Sigma's and Nikon's 35/1.4. Just because I wanted to see similar situations, shot with the same body. I still like my 24/1.4 which also can produce a less soft, harmonic bokeh in some situations but since I got the Sigma it has become my new Standard lens Maybe Nikon will lower their price.

Does anybody else observed a slight over-exposure when used the lens on a D800? On a D7000 or 5100 it isn't over-exposing.

Msmoto

@ ;InTheMist

When the image is resized, the bokeh get oblong.  You may wish to repost at the 640 px size to avoid this.  

The lens...I will order after the first of the year.

InTheMist

@ ;InTheMist
When the image is resized, the bokeh get oblong.  You may wish to repost at the 640 px size to avoid this.  
The lens...I will order after the first of the year.

Hehe, I refuse to post my images at 640 just for this forum. If they want to scale, ok, but do it both length and width.

TaoTeJared

Hehe, I refuse to post my images at 640 just for this forum. If they want to scale, ok, but do it both length and width.

It is a selection on Flickr - you don't actually have to do anything but select the correct parameter.

LouieC

Seems like a great lens, my track record with Sigma's QC is not good, hopefully they have improved.

JJ_SO

Don't worry about quality with this Sigma (with the others, feel free to worry in each possible aspect  ) The lens itself is heavier than the Nikon, they did a great design job, too. The focus ring is not moving so easily as the Nikkor's are which I consider as a plus, it helps to focus more precisely.

LouieC

Don't worry about quality with this Sigma (with the others, feel free to worry in each possible aspect  ) The lens itself is heavier than the Nikon, they did a great design job, too. The focus ring is not moving so easily as the Nikkor's are which I consider as a plus, it helps to focus more precisely.

Does the new "Artiste" series get it's own QC division at Sigma?  /:)

JJ_SO

At least, it gets an individual testing with a new testing device. To me, it seems Sigma has made a lot of efforts to improve the whole package and as far as I see it was worth it. I had some quite okay Sigmas when I shot with Pentax, also the 17-50/2.8 for the D7000 was a proper lens. I can't complain - but the new lens is a different story. No cheap "alternative", just playing on the same or higher level as the originals.

Although the color renderings are a bit sharper, clearer I sometimes miss the warmer, maybe a tiny bit less good resolving characteristics of the Nikkor. There is a difference but a good one.

tourmalet06

To InTheMist - I had the same back focus issue with sb900's when using a Sigm 50-150. If I turned the AF assist off on the flash the problem was fixed.

LouieC

At least, it gets an individual testing with a new testing device. To me, it seems Sigma has made a lot of efforts to improve the whole package and as far as I see it was worth it. I had some quite okay Sigmas when I shot with Pentax, also the 17-50/2.8 for the D7000 was a proper lens. I can't complain - but the new lens is a different story. No cheap "alternative", just playing on the same or higher level as the originals.

Although the color renderings are a bit sharper, clearer I sometimes miss the warmer, maybe a tiny bit less good resolving characteristics of the Nikkor. There is a difference but a good one.

Yeah, I was reading about the new testing QC at Sigma, seems like they're going in the right direction. I had a 10-22 for my old D60, image was ok but not always usable, ended up selling it. But the real disappointment was the 85 1.4. I couldn't have been more excited to get the lens, image was great, even on the old DX sensor. It began to have a weird grinding sound happen when autofocusing and manual focusing ceased after only a 1/4 turn. After 2 copies I exchanged it for other stuff. This new 35 is exciting and maybe it won't be too sharp on the D700's 12mp 'warm' sensor anyway 

Peter

A reader sent me some samples from the new Sigma 35mm 1.4 Nikon mount lens:

Lens:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8514/8386255168_e7ea73c713_b.jpg

Shot
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8073/8385175797_1f1ea56ece_b.jpg

Full size
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8073/8385175797_ebda6a47d0_o.jpg

100%Crop
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8052/8386260352_57d18c6a3d_o.jpg

Peter

Here is another link from a reader with sample images from the new 35mm f/1.4 lens:

https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/100735698368094543356/albums/5830432433460059713

JJ_SO

After all that tripod collar testing that was a welcome invitation to make some closeups at f/1.4
>:D<


The funny thing was, I misunderstood there's somebody comparing both lenses and I was just about to write "whoowaa, fantastic bokeh that Nikkor has" @-)

Msmoto

Will post some photos when I finally get back to North Carolina and can order the 35mm f/1.4 Sigma....the examples have convinced me this is a great "normal" full frame lens.

SquamishPhoto

I've been having issues with mine arriving at the store I ordered it from because of some address glitch, but as soon as its here Ill have some sample photos to post here.