Sigma Imaging (UK) Ltd

	Practical Photography - September 2008 ‘This lens could easily find its way into a professional kit bag and wouldn’t be out of place, thanks to its impressive performance. The large aperture of f/1.4 means that you get a clear bright viewfinder image, making it a good choice for dim interiors and other low light photography.’ ‘As you’d expect from a prime lens and especially a fast aperture model like this one, the overall image quality is excellent. It’s up there with the best in this category and you certainly won’t be disappointed with your results. Those who like big lenses that ooze prestige will find the Sigma lens right up there street.’

	Digital Photographer - Issue 75 ‘…on an APS-C sized sensor it’s equivalent to around 80mm. This has long been considered an ideal ‘portrait’ focal length because it produces a more flattering perspective than shorter focal lengths, yet still lets you work in the average-sized room. The build quality and handling of this lens are really good - easily as good, in fact, as camera makers’ own brand optics.

	British Journal of Photography - 4th February 2009 ‘Radical new designs for lenses don’t arrive very often. This lens is the first major redesign of its genre for half a century, and it looks like no other 50mm f/1.4 ever made. At f/1.4 the centre of the image is not only focused perfectly at any distance, it’s critically sharp, resembling the best results at f/8 from high-end zooms. At full aperture it’s better than any other previous lens I’ve used. In return for living with the weight, you get the first 50mm f/1.4 that is as sharp centrally at f/1.4 on full-frame 24 million pixels as at any other aperture. Sigma set out to build a lens that would, in turn, build it a new reputation. The company appears to have succeeded.’

	Master Digital Photo - February 2009 ‘The Sigma is a radical design… all the glass in front of the iris has been enlarged in a funnel-like shape which grabs light over its 46.8 degree angle of view on full frame, and delivers it efficiently to the corners of the frame even at full aperture. Vignetting from the new Sigma is the lowest I’ve ever seen, with an area of bright, even illumination covering a larger circle than any other 50mm f/1.4. The image at f/1.4, is, quite simply, perfectly sharp in the centre. There is barley any detectable trace of spherical aberration, the usual curse of a fast standard lens. It does not need stopping down at all to secure a high contrast, crisp image as good as many lenses yield at f/5.6.’

	Amateur Photographer - 28th February 2009 ‘The main point of interest is how the big the 60mm front glass effects vignetting. As the figures show, the improvement over the Nikkor lens is dramatic and immediately visible in full aperture shots. Autofocus is fast at 405ms from infinity to closest. The HSM motor kept AF noise very low at 23dB over 35dB background. Sigma have made its point and provided an important tool for poor light imaging, even if it does entail a considerable weight over more traditional designs. While admiring the classic qualities of the Nikkor lens, the unusual tonal richness given across the frame by the Sigma optic at full aperture has an undeniable appeal.’

	Digital Photo - April 2009 ‘Your certainly get a lot of glass for your money, with a huge front element, making it the largest and heaviest lens in our test. The construction matches its size – it’s very solid with a metal lens mount so should take some serious use. The focus ring is excellent, providing a sure grip and a firm action throughout. Sigma’s f/1.4 is top dog when it comes to pic quality – especially on full frame D-SLRs. It’s built like a tank, and though it’s expensive and twice the weight of others you certainly get your money’s worth.’

	RPS Journal - May 2009 As you’d expect from a fast aperture prime lens, the image quality it produces is excellent. Who would have imagined a few years ago that the 50mm lens would be back, reinterpreted as a cutting edge piece of kit?