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First Look: Sigma 40mm f/1.4 DG Art

Posted by Sara Marjorie Strick on 22nd Nov 2019

First Look: The Sigma 40mm f/1.4 DG Art

Last week, Sigma sent over a new toy for us to play with: the 40mm f/1.4 DG Art lens. This particular lens came with a bit of a "hmmm?" reaction in the photography world, with many questioning "why a 40mm?"

But that right there is your answer - this lens isn't really for the photography world, but more so the cinema world. Sigma claims this is the " first lens developed originally to live up to the sought-after angle of view and performance standard for a cine lens".

40mm on full-frame (or 28mm on Super 35) is known as the standard in cinematography.  This focal length is seen as the perfect interview focal length, and is also a favorite of many filmmakers. The perspective is versatile and flexible - it's not wide enough to have distortion, but it's not so tight that you lose context in your scene.

Size + Build

There is no denying it: this is a very. big.  lens. It comes in at a solid 2.65 lbs and is one of the biggest Sigma Art primes to date. However, this should be no surprise to fans of Sigma Art glass. Optics over everything is what defines a Sigma Art lens.

In order to make this lens capable of properly and effectively resolving 8k-resolution for filmmakers across full-frame sensors, the size was necessary. Sigma also claims this lens can accommodate 50mp and above while still maintaining consistent 8k quality.

 

This lens is fully sealed and labeled as dust-proof and splash-proof - but we didn't test that part out. The front element takes an 82mm filter, which means you can easily obtain an ND filter or polarizing filter to allow you to shoot wide open in bright situations.

The lens' aperture range goes from f/1.4 to f/16. As with most all Art lenses, you don't need to fear shooting this lens wide open. Even at f/1.4 it was sharp as a tack in our testing.

One thing is for sure - this lens shines from edge to edge and corner to corner when it comes to image quality and sharpness. Technically this lens even tests better than the highly-regarded 50mm f/1.4 Art, which is definitely saying something.

This lens consists of:

  • Three FLD Elements ("F" Low Dispersion)
  • Three SLD Elements (Super Low Dispersion)
  • One Aspherical Elements
  • Super Multi-Layer Coating
  • 9-Blade Diaphragm

Yellow = FLD
Blue = SLD
White = Aspherical Lens

(Source: https://sigma-global.com)

Image Quality + Usabilty

We used this lens with the MC-11 adapter on a Sony A7Riii. This lens will be available in Sony E mount although at this time, the date is not yet available.

My first reaction? I really feel like this lens could do everything. It was never "too much" of something - wide or tight. It was a very friendly perspective that allowed me to always get the shot I wanted. Now, I am no stranger to prime lenses - moving to get my shot is how I feel most comfortable when composing my images. That being said, someone who is use to zoom lenses, such as a 24-70mm, might find this lens more approachable than other primes, seeing that it satisfies the perfect balance of "wide, but not too wide".

I was also rather surprised at how close the lens was able to focus. It is by no means a macro, but the close-focus capabilities paired with the shallow depth-of-field made for a fantastic combination for detail shots. And my, the bokeh is just lovely.

Below is a mix of test images, full size and 100% crop - all color corrected in Lightroom. Scroll all the way to the bottom for a link to high-resolution images for you to download yourself.

Full Image

100% Crop

Full Image

100% Crop

I experienced basically no distortion with this lens. I also noticed virtually no chromatic abberation in shooting, which I was pleasantly surprised about. We were shooting on a bright, sunny fall day and I definitely expected to see a bit of discoloration in my high-contrast points against the sky, but there was virtually none.

This may go without saying, but shooting at f/1.4 definitely has its risks if you are trying to nail down focus - that goes for any wide aperture lens. If you want to make sure you nail your focus, stopping down to f/2.2-3.5 might be a safer way to go to ensure the depth of field is not too narrow, but you still retain that shallow, bokeh-licious look you are going for.

Last two images: full image / 100% crop

This lens did feel a bit extra heavy on a small mirrorless body, but still felt secure with the MC-11. I think those using this on an full-frame SLR or a larger footprint of a camera, such as a Black Magic Ursa Mini Pro would find the size perfectly complimenting.

Overall, if you haven't tried a 40mm on your full-frame camera in the past, now might be the time to do it. Sigma is one of the first manufacturers to make a professional-level 40mm autofocus lens. With Sigma's track record and proven report in terms of their Art glass, this definitely is something to add to your G.A.S. list. Even if filmmaking isn't your thing, this focal length may be the perfect match for you.

Want to see these images up close? We have all of the files in their full-res glory for you to download below. Please note these are color and exposure corrected JPGS.

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