Sigma 340306 35mm Nikon Black
This lens is, hands down, one of the most phenomenal lenses I've used. I mainly do convention photography taking photographs of cosplayers so this lens falls in to my sweet spot for a few different reasons.
Wide open at f/1.4, this lens is SHARP. Nail the focus and the subject will really stand out from the background. Combined with the pleasing bokeh, excellent color, and very useful focal length, there is absolutely no reason to pick the Nikon 35mm over this, especially considering the price, unless you want/need weather sealing. This lens has none but, for my usage, I'm OK with it.
The look is subtle so you won't be SCREAMING attention and the feel is very professional. The focus ring has a very assuring firmness when turning. I did have to use AF tune of -6 but this does not detract from the shine of the lens. Because this is an Art series lens, it is compatible with the USB dock Sigma will be releasing. This should future-proof the lens to be compatible with new camera bodies. Time will tell.
I highly recommend this lens. If you're still on the fence, rent it, then come back and buy it! I am very excited to see what Sigma has in store for future Art, Contemporary, and Sport series lenses. This lens has restored my faith in Sigma and has put other lens makers on notice to really step up their game to compete.
I own the Canon L 24 1.4, 50 1.2, the 100 2.8 Macro and now, the Sigma 35mm 1.4. I have rented the Canon 35 1.4 extensively for events, and as next year's calendar is filling out with more, I needed to pull the trigger and add this focal length to my main kit.
BalasHapusI don't know if Sigma is losing money on this lens as a loss leader to promote their new art line, or Canon's lenses are just overly premium priced without real competition but this lens is a steal at $900. It is underpriced for it's build and construction, it's optical qualities at 1.4 and 2 are as good if not better than it's brand named counterpart.
I have owned many lenses the last 20 years, and I think the only better constructed lens I have owned was one of my Hasselblad CFE lenses for film.
I would like to add that I use Classic 5Ds and that I feel the AF focus on the Sigma is as fast (if not slightly faster) than the Canon version. This is quite a boon because it breathes new life into my older camera bodies. AF is silent.
I shoot mainly low light events with fill flash at mid to high ISOs and this puppy lights up the rooms and makes my subjects look almost too sharp. What a great problem I have!
I EAGERLY await a redesign of the 85mm 1.4 into this lens style, along with the 24mm 1.4 and would love to see what Sigma can do with a new 50 in this art line (although you will have to be prying my Canon 50 1.2 from my cold dead hands- and even then I may come back and go zombie walker on you!).
Wow! I love this lens!
BalasHapusMarc R. feldesman
BalasHapusOwned the Nikon 35 mm f 1.4 (part of the prime trinity) but returned it after 30 days underwhelmed by the performance and the price. Held off purchasing another 35 until I started reading reviews of this new sigma. I've been astonished by its performance, both on a Nikon D600 and Nikon D800. Sharp at all apertures, creamy bokeh, and quick to lock on focus. I've been very pleased with this purchase.
While Sigma has not had the best offerings in the past, this lens (like the recent 85mm 1.4) is a top-notch performer. It's sharp, quick to focus, and has great bokeh. At nearly half the price of the Nikon offering for near the same quality, I couldn't be happier.
BalasHapusI'm using the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 with a Nikon D600. Prior comparison lenses I have used include Zeiss ZF 35/2, Samyang 35/1.4, Canon 35/1.4L, and others. I haven't owned the Nikon 35/1.4G so cannot comment on that.
BalasHapusSigma Pros (compared to lenses I have used):
-Sharpest
-Least color fringing
-Fast, accurate, quiet AF
-Solid build
-Flare resistant
-Beautiful
-Pleasing bokeh (in contrast to some claims)
Sigma Cons:
-Feels less rugged than Nikon 35G, which is probably less likely to blemish given the "pebbly" finish
-Not weather sealed
-No image stabilization (none of the competition has this either, but they should!)
-Significant light falloff (vignetting) at f/1.4
Better than the Zeiss version, plus you get autofocus. Some other reviewers have mentioned the amount of vignetting--I have seen minimal vignetting on my D600. I haven't gotten a single picture where I thought the picture was unusable because of vignetting at f/1.4. And the ones that I have noted slight--and I mean very slight--vignetting, it has added an interesting effect to the message I was hoping to convey.
BalasHapusIf you are on the fence about buying this focal length, just do it. If you already have the Nikkor, I'd suggest selling it, because this thing is a beast, and the optical tests show it.
Sigma has really stepped up its game. The lens is not only elegant in presentation but renders superbly. Thus far, everything about the lens is truly exceptional. The IQ is equal to, if not superior to, any Nikon prime that I have experienced (including the landmark 24/1.4). My prime setup is good to go with my Sigmas 35, 50 and 85. If in doubt, you might check the plethora of favorable reviews that are being posted quite frequently from the most reputable of sources. If one becomes available and you want it, don't hesitate in pulling the trigger (assuming of course your finances permit you to do so).
BalasHapusI was very excited for this lens to come out, and had one on pre-order as soon as I was able.
BalasHapusI was lucky enough to already own the Canon 35L, so I was able to do some side by side comparisons. Just as every review site on the web has said, this lens is flat out amazing. The color rendition and contrast was easily on-par with my 35L, and sharpness was much better than the 35L.
Build quality is amazing, and really more on par with the Zeiss type lenses than any of the Canon L series. It feels good in the hand. Solid and smooth. The focus ring is large and easy to turn, while still providing a comfortable level of tension to keep the adjustments from being jumpy.
I did have to dial in +2 Micro Adjustment on my 5D3 in order to get the best results, but once that was done, the sharpness far surpassed the sharpness of my 35L.
Long story short, after a week with the Sigma 35, my 35L was up for sale.
Cons:
Sigma used this new lines of lenses to try to reinvent themselves as lens makers, and show their dedication to a superior product. With all of that build-up, I was disappointed to have to add +2 MA to make the lens right when it was fresh out of the box. However, I haven't noticed any focus shift issues like previous Sigma lenses I've had.
Filter size - The nice thing about Canon L's is that for the most part, everything is 77mm or 72mm threads. Sure, I could get a reducing ring to make my 77mm filters work on the Sigma, but that would be at a cost of not being able to use the hood. I do like the smaller form factor of this lens though, and don't find myself needing to use a CPL on a regular basis like with some other lenses.
In short, if you already have a 35L, by buying this lens, you'd gain a good bit of sharpness wide open. If you don't have a 35mm f/1.4 already, I'd highly recommend this one above the Canon, and above the Zeiss.