Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens for Video

The Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art (Amazon, B&H) is primarily a photography lens, though it will be used for video.

In this article let’s take a comprehensive look at the important features and specifications of the Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art (Amazon, B&H) and see how good it will perform specifically for video, cinematography and filmmaking.

I think it is important to mention that Sigma is a third party lens manufacturer and its performance cannot be justly compared to the native lenses.

The aim of this article is to provide you with enough information and perspective so you can decide for yourself whether this lens is right for your film or video.

Important: This article is a comprehensive overview of the lens with available information; and an analysis based on our experience shooting for almost two decades. It is not a hands-on review. If and when we get hold of the lens we’ll be sure to publish a detailed review. If this is not your cup of tea you can stop reading.

Here is an official release by Sigma showcasing the potential of their 28mm, 40mm and 105mm:

Click to what you want quickly:

TLDR;

What you need to know for video work about the Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art (Amazon, B&H):

The Sigma 105mm f/1.4 Art DG HSM is a great third party medium telephoto focal length lens.
The f/1.4 aperture is amazing for low light work.
It’s much heavier and bigger compared to its competitors.
9 blade aperture for a theoretically better bokeh.
It comes with a tripod socket to ensure stability.
Has a 1m minimum close focusing distance.
The lens doesn’t have OS, but you will get some stabilization with a camera that has in built stabilization.
It exhibits breathing.

This lens will be useful for following types of filmmaking:

Wedding filmmaking
Short filmmaking
Low budget music videos
Interviews
Documentary filmmaking
Advertisements
Product Shoots

This lens can be used to gain the following shots:

Extreme close up
Close Up
Telephoto Shot
Glamour Shot
Product Shots

What does DG HSM mean?

According to Sigma, DG refers to the lenses that are designed specifically for full frame DSLR cameras. Sigma claims that their DG DN lenses are designed specifically and exclusively for full frame mirrorless cameras.

So while the DG HSM will work with a full frame mirrorless camera, but, according to Sigma, a DG DN lens will communicate better with the camera than the DG HSM lens.

HSM refers to their ring-type hypersonic autofocus motor in that lens.

Sony FE 100mm f/2.8 STF GM OSS vs Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art vs Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro Lens

Lens	Sony FE 100mm f/2.8 STF GM OSS	Sigma Art 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art	Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro
Filter Thread	72mm	86mm	67mm
Size	85.2mm x 118.1mm	E-mount: 115.9mm × 157.5mm EF-mount: 115.9mm x 131.5 mm	77mm x 123mm
Weight	700g	E-mount: 1,720g EF-mount: 1,640g	625g
Closest focusing distance	0.57m / 1.87ft	1m / 3.28ft	0.3m / 0.98ft
Aperture Ring	Present, De-Clickable	Absent	Absent
Customizable Button	Present	Absent	Absent
Image Stabilization	Present	Absent	Present
Max. Aperture	f/2.8	f/1.4	f/2.8
Min. Aperture	f/20	f/16	f/32
Aperture Blades	11 blades	9 blades	9 blades
Angle of View (Diagonal)	24°	23.3°	24°

Sigma is a third party lens manufacturer, so this is not an apples to apples comparison. Native lenses will always have an edge over third party lens manufacturers, when it comes to the communication with the camera system. While being a third party lens manufacturer, Sigma has become a tough competitor to many major lens manufacturers.

The Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art (Amazon, B&H) is heavier and bigger the Sony FE 100mm f/2.8 STF GM OSS (Amazon, B&H). This would make the Sony 100mm the preferred lens for gimbal or handheld use. The Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM also has a much farther minimum focusing distance.

The aperture ring puts Sony 100mm f/2.8 GM at a major advantage over the Sigma 100mm. The Sony 100mm also has a customizable button on the lens body.

If we compare the Sigma 105mm f/1.4 to the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM (Amazon, B&H), we observe that the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM is lighter and smaller than the Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art. The EF 100mm also has a better aperture range from f/2.8-f/32. It is also a Macro lens making it more suitable for product shots. The Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art is missing internal stabilization in the lens.

The Sigma 105mm f/1.4 has the advantage of opening up to f/1.4. That is almost a whole stop of light more than both its competitors.

Upon comparing the official MTF charts of the lenses you can infer that Sony FE 100mm f/2.8 is as sharp as a katana but it is that sharp at f/2.8, while Sigma is pretty sharp with a slight fall off towards the edges at f/1.4! So with Sigma you would get a much shallower depth of field with a comparable amount of sharpness.

Even though the Sony has inherent advantages being a native lens, you might really want to test both to know what works for you.

Same goes for the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 L IS USM Macro. Sharp as hell but you have to consider the fact that the Sigma is comparable at f/1.4. If you need that f/1.4 and that shallow depth of field, you only have one option.

However, if image stabilization and macro capabilities are more important then you should go for the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro.

You will have to test the lenses out for yourself to get a proper understanding.

Features

Coverage

The Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art (Amazon, B&H) is a full frame lens. It is designed to completely cover a sensor the size of 36mm x 24mm.

If you are considering this lens for an APS-C sensor or other cinema camera, check out this article:

What is the 35mm Equivalent and Why is it Confusing?

Focal Length

The focal length is 105mm. This is considered as a telephoto focal length on a full frame 35mm sensor.

This focal range is most used for close ups, beauty shots and will be also used for extreme close ups.

Aperture

The maximum aperture is f/1.4 and the minimum aperture is f/16.

Having f/1.4 is great for low light. Most people will use it at f/2 or f/2.8 for the purpose of getting optimum sharpness, and to get soft out of focus backgrounds.

The Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art (Amazon, B&H) has 9 diaphragm blades. One expects a smooth bokeh, considering the number of blades, but it’s not always a given. To know more about bokeh:

What is Bokeh?

Resolution

From Sigma’s official MTF charts:

The Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art (Amazon, B&H) is sharp in the center and has a steep falloff towards the edges of the frame.

With the variance in the Sagittal and Tangential lines, you can infer (somewhat) that the bokeh will not be as good as the best primes in the world.

If you really want this lens at its sharpest you’re better off stopping down to f/2 or even f/2.8 for best results.

If you are curious and want to read the MTF chart for yourself. Here’s a guide on how to read them easily.

How to Read Modulation Transfer Function or MTF Charts Easily

Close Focus

The closest focusing distance of this lens is 1 meter or 3.28 feet. You won’t be able to get as close as you wish for with this lens, but being a telephoto lens, it should not be much of a problem.

Image Stabilization

The Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art (Amazon, B&H) lens doesn’t have OS. At this focal length, you need some stability in the lenses. Not having image stabilization makes this lens a hard choice for run and gun shoots. Using it cameras that have IBIS can provide it with some image stabilization.

Control

Manual focus system

The Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art (Amazon, B&H) has an infinite turn ring for its focus ring and can turn infinitely one way or the other. Unfortunately for videographers and cinematographers, the Sigma 105mm f/1.4 Art DG HSM is set to focus by wire by default and has no option to switch it to fly by wire.

What is the meaning of focus by wire and fly by wire?

Focus by wire: Let’s say you turn the focus ring to change focus from point A to B. You’d expect the focus to shift accordingly. When you stop point B will be in focus. Now bring the focus point back to A and try again, but at a different speed. Slower or faster, doesn’t matter. Now, even if you precisely rotate to the exact same degree, the focus will not be on point B! The speed of rotation determines which point it is focused on. That’s just completely useless for follow focus work. If an actor or person moves at a different speed, even slightly, you’ll never get the same focus. Avoid focus by wire lenses like the plague (for video work).

Fly by wire: The distance of focus shifted is directly proportional to the speed at which the ring is turned. This is how a manual focus ring is supposed to operate for video and cinematography.

This decision to exclude fly by wire or linear MF by Sigma will make this lens unsuitable for professional cinematographers and videographers.

Autofocus system

Sigma’s autofocus is improving day by day, but it is nowhere near the precision and reliability of Canon or Sony’s autofocus system. Keep in mind, that Sigma is a third party lens manufacturer, i.e. they do not make native lenses. Native lenses, such as Sony’s FE series and Canon’s EF and RF series, have always been better than third party lenses at communicating with their respective cameras.

I do not think anyone will purchase a Sigma lens for its autofocus performance.

Basics

Filter Thread

The Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art (Amazon, B&H) has a filter diameter of 105mm. This is a uncommonly large filter diameter. Finding the right filters can be a bit problematic.

Build Quality

The majority of the lens exterior is plastic, though the lens doesn’t feel cheap.

The optical design consists of 17 elements in 12 groups, including aspherical lens, FLD glass and SLD glass.

Size and Weight

The Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art (Amazon, B&H) has a diameter of 115.9mm and a length of 157.5mm for the E-mount. It weighs around 1,720 grams for the E-mount. The E-mount variant of this lens is the biggest and heaviest of all mount variants. This is a bulky lens and it does not have image stabilization making this lens not ideal for run and gun shoots.

Weather resistance

Sigma claims that all their Art lenses are weather resistant. But again this only holds true if the camera body you will be using is also weather sealed. No camera is truly and officially weather sealed, so the best you can hope for is reliable weather resistance. Sigma claims to coat their lenses with dust and moisture repellent.

This is an Art series lens and we can expect it to perform as such.

What’s in the box

This is what you get in the box (other than the lens):

Case
Hood (LH1113-01)
Tripod socket (TS-111)
Protective Cover (PT-21)

The hood might be useful for photography, but the shape and design makes it mostly vestigial for video work. Some people like to put it on to protect the front element in case of a fall. The hood takes the impact and shatters, but saves the lens. I’d keep it on unless you have good reason not to.

The tripod socket is necessary addition as this is a pretty hefty lens.

Alternatives to the Sigma 105mm f/1.4 Art DG HSM Lens

For the E-mount, Sony FE 100mm f/2.8 STF GM OSS (Amazon, B&H) can be a good substitute but for a hefty price. It has more blades and is lighter, more compact.

For the EF mount, Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM (Amazon, B&H) is a good substitute to the Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art due to its lightweight, compact design, Macro capabilities and internal image stabilization.

I hope you found this overview of the Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art (Amazon, B&H) useful. If we have missed out on something, please let us know in the comments below.