Sigma has produced some really fine lenses over the past few years, including the 50mm F1.4 EX DG HSM (which we liked a lot when we reviewed it in 2008 ) and the 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM . But the 35mm F1.4 DG HSM may possibly be its best yet.

Superb optics that beat anything else in its class; Impressive flare resistance; Fast; silent; and accurate autofocus; Excellent build quality; Very competitive price

Slightly fussy rendition of out-of-focus backgrounds under some conditions; No weather sealing

Handling and features Performance Verdict Specification This lens is the first of Sigma's new 'Art' line of lenses that promise excellent optical quality and increased creative options thanks to a fast f/1.4 maximum aperture.

Excellent sharpness; Very low CA; Well built; Fast focusing; Keenly priced

Falloff at maximum aperture (although typical for the type of lens; No weather sealing

The Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens is the first result coming out of Sigma's recently announced lens lineup restructuring. This lens represents a completely new look and feel for Sigma - a very positive upgrade from a physical perspective and a big hit from an image quality perspective.

If the new 35mm F1.4 DG HSM lens is anything to go by, Sigma are definitely raising their game with the recent introduction of their three new lens ranges (Art, Sports and Contemporary).

Overall, not a bad thing can be said about Sigma ‘ s 35mm f1.4 EX. The company surely put a lot of time and effort into the design and it ‘ s worth every penny. The lens is sharp as a razor, a relative speed-demon when it comes to focusing, and has some beautiful image quality.

Cost of Sigma lens vs; cost of Canon, Nikon or Zeiss lens, Great image quality, Optional USB dock to update firmware, Fast autofocus speed

Lack of weather sealing

From the fast primes that Sigma has introduced so far, this is probably the best one, yet. The resolution is impressive, CAs and distortion are well under control. Vignetting is quite pronounced at large apertures, but that's not really a surprising result for such a fast lens.

The 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM is Sigma's first large aperture 35mm full-frame lens. It was announced November 2012 and goes head-to-head against the equivalent offerings from Nikon, Canon and Sony.

Outstanding performance in the corners of a high-resolution full-frame sensor even wide open; Good build quality; Quiet and fast AF operation; Relatively low price compared to the big names

Performance at the borders/corners of the DX/APS-C image circle could be better; No weather sealing

this lens is better than the canon's 35mm 1.4L, period. it's sharper across the aperture range, focuses just as fast (if not a tiny bit faster), the build quality feels great. i've owned the canon 35L and had both at the same time before letting the L glass go.

very fast aperture; great build quality

none

I wouldn't buy a Sigma lens because I don't trust their lens' long-term viability (I demand that any lens I buy serve me for about 20 years), but if you can get over my personal problems, this consumer-grade Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM has the same superb optics as Nikon or Canon's professional lenses.

Sigma's determined climb from an independent supplier of low-cost lenses to an optics luxury brand enters a new phase with the company's "Global Vision" initiative. More than just a marketing campaign, the program introduces quality-control innovations such as confining all manufacturing to highly...