(P)review Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG DN Art

The Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG DN Art is a further evolution of the original Sigma 35mm F1.4 Art and is even finer and smaller.

IntroductiON

The original Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM Art was the lens with which Sigma launched the Art series in 2012 and distinguished itself as a manufacturer of high-quality lenses. For years, this was one of the best-performing 35mm lenses you could buy, until it was recently struck off the throne by Sigma’s new 35mm F1.2 DG DN Art. The image quality of the 35mm F1.2 is excellent, but that lens also has a disadvantage that can literally weigh heavily for many photographers: the weight. It weighs more than a kilo and it is quite large, despite the fact that it has been specially developed for mirrorless cameras. The price is also quite hefty. No wonder Sigma saw room for another 35mm, this 35mm F1.4 DG DN Art.

COMPETITIVELY PRICED

The 35mm F1.4 DG DN Art has a weight of only 645 grams, more compact dimensions and a price that is less than half that of the Sigma 35mm F1.2 DG DN. That last point alone will probably make this lens a bit more attractive for many photographers. In fact, it’s a very competitive price. In terms of specifications, this lens can compete with the new Sony FE 35mm F1.4 GM. The Sony is slightly lighter and shorter than the 35mm F1.4 DG DN Art, but comes closer to the more expensive Sigma 35mm F1.2. So double the new Sigma. The 35mm F1.4 DG DN Art is available in L mount for Panasonic, Leica and Sigma cameras and in E mount for Sony.

BUILD: Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG DN Art

The 35mm F1.4 DG DN Art has the same modern design and features that we find on the other new Art lenses. This is quite a difference from the older Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM Art. That is a design for SLR cameras and is slightly shorter than the new lens, but if you use the old 35mm on a mirrorless camera, you will need an adapter and the whole thing will be longer again. The 35mm F1.4 DG DN Art is therefore fairly compact and, like the F1.2 version, has an aperture ring that can click in at 1/3 stops. There is also a slider on it to make it clickless for video work, and it can be locked in the A position when you want to leave the control to the camera.

ComplEX DESIGN 

The optical design consists of 15 elements in 11 groups and contains no less than two SLD elements, an ELD element, an FLD element (so all lens elements made of glass with a special refractive index) and two aspherical lens elements. The diaphragm consists of 11 blades for a round aperture opening and optimal bokeh. Of course, the lens is also weatherproof and equipped with a gasket on the back to exclude moisture and dust. It has a wide focus ring and a programmable AFL button. The lens has a popular 67mm filter size and comes with a tulip-shaped lens hood.

FOCUSING: Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG DN Art

The 35mm F1.4 DG DN Art uses a stepper motor for focusing. Whether this is as fast as the linear motors that Sony uses in its latest lenses is something that we will of course test. Stepper motors are at least quite quiet. The focus is completely internal. The motor therefore does not have to move the entire lens system, but only one or a few lens elements. Of course, that will improve the speed.

The shortest setting distance of the 35mm F1.4 DG DN Art is 30 centimeters, and that provides a magnification of 0.19x. For a 35mm wide angle, that’s nice, and it allows good close-ups.

IMAGE QUALITY

The MTF curves of the 35mm F1.4 DG DN Art show that the center sharpness is high and the gradient to the corners is small. What is also a good sign is that there is little difference between the sagittal and meridional measurements. This generally indicates a well-corrected lens and is often also a positive indication of the quality of the background blur. Of course we will test the lens as soon as we have a copy in our test lab and then we will publish a full review.

ConclusiON: REVIEW Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG DN Art oN Sony A7R III