The Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG was introduced in 2012 and was the first lens in the then fresh ART series. This lens was designed for DSLRs that required a correspondingly long flange focal length. The lens quickly became an insider tip for many users, as it combined impressive optical properties with a relatively low price at the time. In addition, Sigma lenses at that time still had to contend with the reputation of being cheap. In the meantime, however, the Sigma Art series undisputedly stands for the highest optical quality.
Due to the small flange focal length of modern DSLMs, there are now extended possibilities in lens design, which Sigma has now used to develop the SIGMA 35mm F1.4 DG DN for L- and FE-mount from scratch.
With a length of 109.5mm, a diameter of 75.5mm and a weight of 645g, the new 35mm F1.4 is now even smaller and lighter than the original 35mm f/1.4 Art lens (755g, 118mm, 77mm).
Nevertheless, it is said to have improved in sharpness up to the edges of the image at all aperture values. This is supported by the MTF charts published by Sigma:
According to Sigma, it should internally represent the new gold standard for 35 mm lenses with a large aperture. Also in terms of the exceptionally soft bokeh and the well-controlled optical aberrations.
Inside the weatherproof body are 15 optical elements in 11 groups, including two SLD (Special Low Dispersion) elements, one ELD (Extraordinary Low Dispersion) element, one FLD (F Low Dispersion) element and two aspherical elements.
A water and oil repellent coating on the front element is designed to help work regardless of the weather.
Sigma uses a stepper motor for the AutoFocus system, which only needs to move a single, lightweight optical element, which helps to make autofocusing particularly fast and quiet. A short demo with a Sony Alpha camera showed how well the lens can attach to a model&s eye in motion.
In addition, there are a lot of external controls on the SIGMA 35mm F1.4 DG DN, which can best be summarised by the following illustration:
The AFL button can also be assigned individually and, if we have understood correctly, the aperture ring can be unclicked. The Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG DN will go on sale on 14 May for 849 euros (including VAT) as an L-mount and Sony E-mount version.
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