Sigma 50mm F1.4 EX DG HSM A-mount lens review by QuietOC
 QuietOC#44223 date: Feb-9-2019 | |
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| sharpness: 4 color: 4 build: 4 distortion: 4 flare control: 3 overall: 3.8 | tested on:
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| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | Minolta Rokkor 40 F1.7 Konica AR 40 F1.8 Canon EF 40 F2.8 STM Pentax-M 40 F2.8 Pentax-DA 40 F2.8 XS Pentax-FA 43 F1.8 Limited Samyang AF 45 F1.8 FE Tamron SP 45 F1.8 USD Minolta MD 45 F2 Sigma 45 F2.8 DG DN C Rokinon 50 F1.2 Yongnuo 50 F1.4 Canon EF 50 F1.4 USM Minolta MD & AF & Sony AF 50 F1.4 Minolta AF 50 F1.7 & RS Sony FE 50 F1.8 Canon EF 50 F1.8 STM Fotasy 50 F1.8 Vivitar 50 F1.8 Sony DT 50 F1.8 SAM Sony E 50 F1.8 OSS Minolta MD 50 F2 Neewer/Meike 50 F2 Minolta MC 55 F1.7 Sony FE 55 F1.8 Sonnar Minolta SR 55 F2 Minolta MC 58 F1.4 |
| price paid: | 188 USD (used) |
| positive: | Quiet focusing Smooth focus throw Nice appearance 9 aperture blades |
| negative: | Size and weight Focus shift Chromatic aberration Soft SA glow wide-open Full-frame corners Unit focus Pink color cast 77 mm filter threads |
| comment: | First copy was like new used purchased on eBay from a large camera retailer with all the original parts and packaging. The second copy came loose. The third copy in best condition came from a lens repair company via eBay. "MADE IN JAPAN" This is built a lot like the earlier EX primes especially the 24 F1.8 and 28 F1.8. It uses a simple unit focus design like most older 50 mm lenses. Unlike those lenses the hood bayonet and filter threads don't move during focusing. This lens has a good deal of under corrected spherical aberration like the older, simpler planar designs, but it doesn't show hard edges to out-of-focus highlights wide-open. Each copy I tried was better aligned than the previous one. The sharpest focus wide-open is somewhat arbitrary. Phase-detect sensors seem to ignore the SA halo. Unfortunately E-mount cameras hold adapted lenses apertures wide-open for focusing. It is almost as bright as the Canon EF 50 F1.4 USM and brighter than the Minolta/Sony 50 F1.4. It has a similar pink color cast as the Canon lens. The corners are slightly brighter than the smaller primes, but not as bright as the Tamron 45 F1.8. This lens has a much wider angle-of-view than the other 50 mm lenses, but it is not quite as wide as the 45's. It has a similar angle-of-view as the long end of the Sigma 17-50 F2.8 HSM. Like Sigmas other EX lenses it is more tuned for portraiture than for landscapes. |
rating summary
- total reviews: 63
- sharpness: 4.75
- color: 4.68
- build: 4.65
- distortion: 4.83
- flare control: 4.57
- overall: 4.70