The Sigma 50mm f1.4 EX DG HSM, a.k.a. Sigmalux .The largest of the fab 50s family, with the diameter of filter thread of 77mm. One of the sharpest lenses of the 50mm lineup , even at f1.4.
For your info ~ "LUX" is the name usually associated with lenses with fast aperture lenses of F1.4 and larger , normally used to name the Leica lenses. Sigma owners had additional names for their Sigma like the "Kegma" is the Sigma 85mm f1.4 EX DG HSM and "Bigma" is the Sigma 50-500mm f4-6.3 EX DG HSM.
The Sigma 50mm f1.4 is a huge lens, with nice exterior finish. A normal 50mm lens's filter size would normally range around 49mm to 58mm but the Sigma 50mm f1.4 has massive 77mm filter size. It's a full frame lens (35mm format) and supports nearly all camera it could mount. The HSM allows silence focussing with much faster AF lock.
HSM - Hyper-Sonic MotorEX - EX LensDG - DG for Digital (35mm fullframe format)D - Distance Information Function
Fortunately for Canon user/fans , they still have the 2 faster lenses the legendary Canon EF 50mm f1.0L USM and Canon EF 50mm f1.2L USM which gives faster fstops. For Nikon users, the Sigmalux fights at the same level to their 50mm with addition of other 3rd party lenses like the Zeiss Planar T* 50mm f1.4. For Sony Alpha user such as me, the Sigmalux is the best 50mm lens.
#3 77mm on Sigmalux VS 49mm on SAL50 f1.8
For the prime lenses (fix focal lenses with huge aperture), the most important for most people is the "out of focus" effect or "Bokeh". After comparing the Sigma 50mm f1.4 to some other 50mm , i'd say the it has the creamiest bokeh of all. The lens renders the out of focus elements in a picture quite beautifully, contrasty and this shots were taken on APS-C based sensor camera , the Sony DSLT A33. On a 35mm/fullframe , the Sigma 50mm f1.4 should produce more bokehlicious shots =)
#4 shot @f1.4
Apart of the Bokeh or shallow Depth of Field (DoF), the big piece of glass with aperture of f1.4 allows user to capture more light, the available light or ambiance.
#5 ambiance
#6
The next important element of a prime lens is it's sharpness. Been playing with few prime lenses and tested few great primes, i would say the Sigma 50mm f1.4 is the best of the 50s for Sony Alpha. I had the Sony 50mm f1.8 and Sony 50mm f1.4 (sold) , both are good lens and few stops down they produce sharp and crisp images. The Sony 50mm f1.4 is tact sharp at f2.0 - f2.2 , with it's small and light body, it's the ideal lens for low light photography. But the Sigma 50mm f1.4, is sharp even at f 1.4. Stopping down anymore is quite useless, as it is made to be shot at f 1.4 =)
Depends on the dslr/dslt body used, AF method and how a person focus a subject. At aperture of f 1.4, the DoF is as thin as paper. Getting more range to the subject gives more DoF at widest aperture , giving the user more chance to get sharper images instead of out of focus.
Some sample below to show the sharpness of Sigma 50mm f1.4 :
#7 black cat @ kuro neko
#8 sample shot at f 1.4
# shot above cropped to magnify
#9 shot at f 1.4
#10 shot at f 1.4
# show above cropped to magnify
#11 street shots
#12 ambience
#13 bokeh
Price wise, the normal 50mm f1.8 should costs around RM300-500. A 50mm f1.4 (Sony, Nikon, Canon) priced around RM11xx to RM 15xx. The Sigma 50mm f1.4 EX DG HSM is retailed for RM2xxx. For it's price, you could get a 50mm f1.8 and a decent 35mm or 85mm f1.8. But for the extra $, you'd get the creamy bokeh and sharpness at widest aperture.
For me, i'd say the Sigma 50mm f1.4 EX DG HSM is not for most people. Few stops down to gain sharpness is just as good, and the size of 77mm filter diameter is just overkill. A decent UV filter for protection would cost around RM150-300. With big glasses comes better performance and pricier. Also a 50mm focal for APS-C is rather tight and odd. I'd prefer a wider prime (28mm, 30mm , 35mm) and probably funding for them next. But for a fullframe, the Sigma 50mm f1.4 would be a delight , a 35mm format gives more bokeh =) . But why i bought it? Simply because i got a good deal =) . I haven't made 1 to 1 comparison to other 50mm lenses but from my old collection shows that the Sigma 50mm f1.4 is the best =)
P.S ~ i'd hope Sony/Carl Zeiss would come out a 50mm with bigger aperture =)
Some links:
0) Sigma 50mm f1.4 EX DG HSM @flickR group
i) my collections @flickR
ii) Sony 50mm f1.8 SAM (some sample shots)
ii) Sony 50mm f1.8 SAM (sample shots)
iii) Sony 50mm f1.4
iv) the old Sigma 28mm f1.8 (non macro) Aspherical II
