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Back in the day, Sigma was just a cheap alternative for SLR lenses. They made mid-range, affordable stuff that appealed to college students. The pros, however, stuck with brands like Canon and Nikon.
How times have changed. If it wasn't clear already, two of Sigma's latest DSLR lenses prove the company is legitimate player in the photo world.
Pieces like their 35mm F1.4 DG HSM "Art" (read high-end) lens helped put them on the map again, but what sealed the deal for me (and many other photographers out) there is their new 50mm F1.4 DG HSM Art lens. It's hands down the best piece of glass I’ve gotten my hands on lately.
What won me over is just how sharp the damn thing is. All the images I took were crisp, clean, and begging to be printed big. Even getting a sharp focus with the aperture wide open at 1.4, which can be tricky, was a breeze thanks to a spot-on focusing system.
To get all that sharpness, Sigma had to include a lot of optics, which add bulk and weight, but that's fine. I actually like a heavier lens because it feels sturdier in my hand. I didn't drop the lens, but you can tell it's well-made and will likely stand up to years of abuse.
At $950, the 50mm F1.4 DG HSM Art lens is more expensive than other DSLR 50mm 1.4 lenses out there, but you're getting an undeniably better piece of glass. Third party tests back this up. In some ways, Sigma even seems to be chasing super high-end lenses like Canon's 50mm F1.2L USM and the granddaddy of them all: the $4,000 Zeiss Otus 55mm F1.4.
Here's my ultimate seal of approval. Just a couple years ago I would have scoffed at the thought of shelling out my own hard earned cash for a Sigma product. Today, I'm more than ready to do it. In fact, I'm just waiting for my wife's final approval on the transaction.
