The Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art DG HSM (B&H, Amazon) 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 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art 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.
Click to what you want quickly:
- TLDR;
- What does DG HSM mean?
- Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 G vs Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art DG HSM vs Canon EF 35mm f/1.4 II USM
- Features:
- Control:
- Basics:
- Alternatives to the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art DG HSM
TLDR;
What you need to know for video work about the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art DG HSM (B&H, Amazon):
- The Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art DG HSM is a great third party normal focal length lens.
- The f/1.4 aperture is amazing for low light work.
- It’s heavier and bigger compared to its competitors.
- 9 blade aperture for theoretically better bokeh.
- Has a 27cm 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 is one of the most popular focal lengths, used for almost every type of filmmaking.
This lens can be used to gain the following shots:
- Establishing Shot
- Wide Shot
- Long Shot
- Mid Shot
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 35mm f/1.8 vs Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art vs Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM
| Lens | Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 | Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art | Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM |
| Filter Thread | 55mm | 67mm | 72mm |
| Size | 65.6mm x 73mm | 77mm × 120mm | 80.4mm x 105.5mm |
| Weight | 280g | 735g | 760g |
| Closest focusing distance | 0.22m / 0.73ft | 0.3m / 0.98ft | 0.28m / 0.91ft |
| Manual focus response | Fly by wire | Focus by wire | Focus by wire |
| Customizable button | Present | Absent | Absent |
| Max. Aperture | f/1.8 | f/1.4 | f/1.4 |
| Min. Aperture | f/22 | f/16 | f/22 |
| Aperture Blades | 9 blades | 9 blades | 9 blades |
| Angle of View (Diagonally) | 63 | 63 | 63 |
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 35mm f/1.4 Art DG HSM (B&H, Amazon) is quite heavier and bigger the Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 (Amazon, B&H). This makes the Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 the preferred lens for gimbal or handheld use.
Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 also has linear manual focus response which makes it useful for manual focus. The Sony FE 35mm also has closer minimum focusing distance by 10cm.
The Sigma does give you some additional light by opening up to f/1.4. Out in the field, one third of a stop can be easily managed so this is not a huge advantage for Sigma.
If we compare it with the Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM (Amazon, B&H), we observe that the EF 35mm has a larger aperture range from f/1.4- f/22. The EF 35mm f/1.4 also has a closer minimum focusing distance than the Sigma 35mm f/1.4. However, the Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM is almost twice the cost of the Sigma 35mm f/1.4.
Upon comparing the official MTF charts of both the lenses you can infer that the Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 and Sigma Art 35mm f/1.4 are on par. They are really close. At f/1.8, though, I expect the Art to be better.
If we compare Canon EF 35mm f/1.4 to Sigma 35mm f/1.4, we observe that EF 35mm is much better when it comes to corner to corner performance.
Features
Coverage
The Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art DG HSM (B&H, Amazon) 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:
Focal Length
The focal length is 35mm. This is considered normal on a full frame 35mm sensor.
This focal range is very useful for mid shots and 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 35mm f/1.4 Art DG HSM (B&H, Amazon) 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:
Resolution
From Sigma’s official MTF charts:
The Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art DG HSM (B&H, Amazon) is sharp in the center and falls off pretty quickly and gradually at the edges.
With the variance in the Sagittal and Tangential lines, you can infer (somewhat) that the bokeh won’t be as smooth as the best cine primes.
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.
Close Focus
The closest focusing distance of this lens is 30cm or 0.98 feet. That’s great for this focal length because you can also use it for close ups.
Image Stabilization
The Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art DG HSM (B&H, Amazon) lens doesn’t have OS. This is not a huge disappointment for a normal focal length lens. Still, 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 35mm f/1.4 Art DG HSM (B&H, Amazon) 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 35mm 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 35mm f/1.4 Art DG HSM (B&H, Amazon) has a filter diameter of 67mm. This is a common filter diameter.
Build Quality
The majority of the lens exterior is plastic, though the lens doesn’t feel cheap.
The optical design consists of 13 elements in 11 groups, including aspherical lens, FLD glass and SLD glass.
Size and Weight
The Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art DG HSM (B&H, Amazon) has a diameter of 77mm and a length of 120mm for the E-mount. It weighs around 735 grams for the E-mount. The E-mount variant of this lens is the biggest of all mount variants. The L-mount variant is the heaviest of all the variants.
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.
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 (LH730-03) included
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.
Alternatives to the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art DG HSM Lens
For the E-mount, if budget is not an issue then the Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM (Amazon, B&H) is definitely the better lens. It is going to tear a hole in your pocket but its performance is unmatched. Otherwise, the Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 (Amazon, B&H) is also a good alternative, mainly because of the fly by wire manual focus.
On the other hand for the EF-Mount, the Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM (Amazon, B&H) is expensive when compared to the Sigma 35mnm f/1.4 DG HSM Art.
I hope you found this overview of the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art DG HSM (B&H, Amazon) useful. If we have missed out on something, please let us know in the comments below.
