Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art Review | Gear Talk Episode 2

Pye Jirsa

SLRLounge Official 50mm f/1.4 Sigma Art Lens Review

We’ve been using the new Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art Lens for some time now, and if you’re looking for a professional 50mm lens, this may be the lens for you. If you already own a professional grade 50mm lens there are some good reasons why you should or shouldn’t sell your lens to buy this one. Watch the video or read the article below to see our complete review!

50mm f/1.4 Sigma Art Review | Gear Talk Episode 2

Performance: Great For Photos, Not So Great For Video

The Sigma 50mm f/1.4 lens is incredibly sharp, has nice bokeh, and overall, has good contrast and saturation. For photos, it’s a solid 5 out of 5 stars, but for video, it’s a different story. This lens has an immense amount of focus breathing, where you see the composition change depending on the area that’s in focus, and you can see an example of that in the video above (at the 6 minute mark).

If you’re planning on shooting videos with this lens, that’s something to keep in mind. Another area that was sub par was the focus throw. The focus throw is very short and that makes it difficult to hit critical focus, especially when shooting at wide apertures. For video performance, we’re giving this lens 3 out of 5 stars.

Sigma 50mm Beach Portrait

Features: Look Closer

This is pretty much your standard 50mm lens, but it does have one feature that stands out, the minimum focusing distance (MFD). The MFD on the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art lens is 15.7 inches, the Canon 50mm f/1.2 is 18 inches. Having that extra 2.3 inches opens up new composition opportunities, can give you better bokeh, and makes this lens more versatile when shooting. For features, we give this lens 4 out of 5 stars.

Sigma 50mm F/1.4 DG HSM Art

Design: Feels as Good as it Looks

When you first pick up the Sigma 50mm f/1.4, you know you’re holding a quality piece of glass. The lens has a nice matte finish, the construction is mostly metal and feels smooth, and overall it’s a solid lens. The one area that most people complain about is the weight. It weights nearly 2 lbs (1.8 to be exact) and you’ll definitely notice it if this is your first professional prime lens. We love the design and we’re giving the Sigma 50mm 5 out of 5 stars.

sk-orange-county-family-portraits-0183-2

Quality and Value

We have nothing bad to say about the quality of this lens. From the image quality to the construction of the lens, everything is top notch. We have no choice but to give this lens a 5 out of 5 stars. It’s surprising how well built this lens is, especially when you consider the price. This lens comes in at just under $1,000.00 (US Dollars). For that price, you’re getting a lens that competes with other lenses that cost $1500 – $2000.  You are getting an incredible value and with that being said we’re giving it a 5 out of 5 stars in quality and value.

Overall

This lens gets a 4.8 out of 5 stars for photo and 4.4 out of 5 stars for video. It’s an all around all-star caliber lens that will leave no one disappointed in their purchase.

We hope you enjoyed this Gear Talk and Review. Be sure to subscribe to our youtube channel to get all the updates!

If you want more Sigma 50mm f/1.4 goodness be sure to check out:

Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art unboxing

Head 2 Head Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art VS Canon 50mm f/1.2 L

Head 2 Head Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art VS Sigma 50mm f/1.4

Head 2 Head Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art VS Canon 50mm f/1.8

Anthony Thurstons Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art Review

RELATED POSTS

Nikon Z DX 12-28mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ Vr Review | The Best Vlogging Lens?

May 20, 2025

Power Zoom (PZ) lenses are growing in popularity these days, and for...

flash bracket

What is the Best Cold Shoe Flash Bracket? | Never Break A Speedlight Again

May 18, 2025

We've all heard that devastating thud of a speedlight falling, taking down...

How To Recover A Corrupt Or Damaged Memory Card

May 17, 2025

What is your biggest fear as a photographer? Probably losing your images,...

photo apps for photographers on the go lr edit feature 16x9

Best Photography Apps for Android and iPhone

May 13, 2025

When asked what gear photographers might need to do their job, most...