The Nikon F mount Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens for Nikonis a fast standard-length prime designed to achieve high optical performance through the incorporation of both three Special Low Dispersion glass elements and one molded glass aspherical element. These elements, coupled with an advanced optical design, work to minimize sagittal coma flare and chromatic aberrations in order to provide high image sharpness and clarity. The lens' large diameter and floating system also help to correct for vignetting to ensure maintained peripheral brightness. A Super Multi Coating has been applied to lens elements, too, to reduce flare and ghosting for higher contrast and color fidelity.

A Hyper Sonic AF Motor, along with an optimized AF algorithm, produces quiet, smooth, and fast autofocus performance that benefits this lens' use in a wide variety of situations. This AF motor also permits full-time manual focusing control for refined precision by simply turning the focus ring at any time.

Aperture Range: f/1.4 to f/16    One Molded Glass Aspherical Element    Three Special Low Dispersion Elements    Super Multi-Layer Coating    Floating System & Large Diameter Design    Hyper Sonic AF Motor    Rounded Nine-Blade Diaphragm    Thermally Stable Composite Material    Brass Bayonet Mount    Compatible with Sigma USB Dock

As part of the Art line within Sigma's Global Vision series, this lens' is designed to achieve truly notable optical performance and is ideally suited for creative and artistic applications.

This lens has been designed using an advanced optical structure to achieve both high resolution and sharpness along with an aesthetic out-of-focus quality for greater subject separation. A molded glass aspherical element corrects for sagittal coma flare and enables full use of the fast f/1.4 maximum aperture with maintained sharpness and clarity. This design also works to minimize vignetting, color blur, and other distortions help to produce natural and pleasing bokeh for selective focus and shallow depth of field techniques. By reducing these aberrations, this lens is also well-suited to astrophotography or other situations with point-light sources due to its ability to suppress blur near the edges of the frame.

Three SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass elements have been incorporated within the lens design to correct for axial chromatic aberration throughout the entire focusing range. This helps to ensure maintained image sharpness, clarity, and contrast regardless of focus point or aperture setting.

In designing the lens with a large 85.4mm diameter, and placing the widest elements within the front group, greater peripheral brightness is more easily attained when working with larger apertures. This design also lends itself to minimizing vignetting throughout the aperture range for greater clarity and detail across the image frame.

A Super Multi-Layer Coating has been applied to lens elements in order to minimize lens flare and ghosting and contribute to producing contrast-rich and color-neutral imagery, even in backlit conditions.

By employing a floating system, the distance between glass elements is adjusted during focusing in order to limit the amount of lens movement required when shooting. This floating system helps to realize a minimum focusing distance of 1.3' with a maximum magnification of 1:5.6. Additionally, this design also contributes to high detail rendering capabilities throughout the entire focusing range.

The integrated HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor) realizes quick and quiet autofocusing, which is further complemented by an optimized AF algorithm to produce smoother focusing performance. The HSM also permits full-time manual focus control simply by rotating the focus ring at any time.

• A rounded nine-blade diaphragm helps to produce an attractive out-of-focus quality.
• The lens is constructed using a Thermally Stable Composite (TSC) material, along with traditional metals, for greater precision and use in wide temperature variations. The outside of the lens barrel is also engraved with the year of production.
• The bayonet mount is constructed from brass for ensured accuracy and durability.
• The included lens hood is fitted with a rubber connection for a secure fit.
• This lens is compatible with the optional Sigma USB Dock for fine-tuning different lens characteristics and updating its firmware.

Related Questions and Answers

Q: 1. How does this compare to the Canon 50 mm f/1.8 STM lens? I've noticed there's a huge price difference so I'm wondering about the quality of the Sigma over the Canon.

A: The Sigma 50mm Art competes with the Canon 50mm f1.2L. It's quality is significantly higher than the f1.8 STM.

Q: 2. Are the hood between the Canon and E-mount 50mm Art Lens the same?

A: Yes, the hoods are the same.

Q: 3. i have lens 85 mm and lens 35. can i use for both?

A: No, the Sigma Lens Hood for the 50mm f/1.4 Art Digital HSM Lens is made for the 50mm f/1.4 Art Digital HSM lens. It is not compatible or recommended for use with any other lenses.

Q: 4. Is it compatible with a Canon 50mm f/1.4 USM lens?

A: Unfortunately, this hood would not be compatible with a Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM lens. A compatible hood would be the Vello ES-71II Dedicated Lens Hood B&H # VELHCES71II. Please see the image below for reference.

Q: 5. I am really torn between getting this great lens or the Nikon 50 f/1.4G. For those of you who really like the Sigma 50, what can you tell me about it specifically that will make me want to buy it over the Nikon 50 1.4G?

A: There are pros and cons. The Nikon 50 is not as sharp and slow focusing, but it can AF in low light. The Sigma is sharper, focus fast but can't AF as well in low light. Maybe 50% hit and miss. Doesn't work will with Nikon flash system too. Also may have issues in movie mode. Maybe the bokeh is better on the Nikon too. I'll get the Sigma for landscape where you manual focus and need sharp images, but I would not use it on important assignments where you have low light situations. The Nikon maybe a better all round lens but i find it out dated.

Q: 6. will this work ok with the Canon 7d ii?

A: Works beautifully on 7Dii. Great color rendition with quick and accurate focusing. I can't say the same for the original Canon 7D as I've had focus problems with the original Canon 7D. It works great with my 7DMii, however,

Q: 7. Will tihs fit sigma 30 mm 1.4 DC DN lens which is for Sony E?

A: This hood is specifically for the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art Digital HSM.

Q: 8. Is the calibration dock necessary? Shouldn't the lens be sharp out of the box?

A: Yes, in my experience it has been necessary to fine tune the focus on all three of my Sigma lenses. You can do in camera adjustments for each lens but it wont be a good as when using the usb dock because the dock allows lenses to be calibrated at different focal lengths. Plus when I bought my Sigma 50mm from B&H the dock came with it. Good luck!

Q: 9. Will this fit the sigma 50mm 1.4 EX, as that one is discontinued?

A: This hood id designed to to be a perfect mate to the Sigma Lens Hood for 50mm f/1.4 Art Digital HSM Lens. If your discontinued lens accepts 77mm screw in filters and has a bayonet mount for the hood, it will most probably fit.

Q: 10. Does this lens hood fit the 50mm non-Art lens for Sony Alpha also?

A: No, it does not fit the 50mm F1.4 DG HSM.