Sigma 50mm F1.4 EX DG HSM Lens Review

Handling
The review lens was supplied with a Canon mount and we tested it on our EOS 5D and EOS 40D camera bodies. On both cameras it was a snug fit - but nonetheless quite easy to mount and remove. Its balance was equally good with both camera bodies but it may be a tad weighty with lighter cameras.

The HSM drive was smooth and quiet and autofocusing was fast and accurate, only slowing slightly at low light levels and with subjects where contrast was very low. Manual focusing was almost as smooth, although we found a slight resistance as the focus approached infinity. You can switch from auto to manual focusing without having to move the slider on the lens, thanks to full-time manual focus override.

Performance
With each of the camera bodies we used for our tests, the review lens turned in an excellent performance, producing sharp images with accurate colours and no evidence of colour bias or coloured fringing. Backlit subjects were handled very well and shots showed little evidence of flare or ghosting.

Imatest showed the lens to be capable of high resolution, although it revealed some edge softening, particularly around the middle of the aperture range. We obtained the highest resolution figures with the EOS 5D at apertures between f/4.5 and f/11 and with the EOS 40D between f/2.8 and f/9. The graphs below show the results of our tests on each camera.

Margaret Brown


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