Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM | A

£699/$799 A relatively lightweight Sigma ‘artwork’

Smaller and lighter than the competing Samyang f/1.4, this lens is relatively compact compared with most Sigma Art-series primes. Even so, it’s still about twice the weight of the slower-aperture Nikon lenses on test. Typical of Sigma’s Art primes, it features a fast and whisper-quiet ring-type ultrasonic AF system.

For manual focusing, the generous rotational travel of the focus ring enables fine and precise adjustments, although depth of field markers are only available for f/16, which makes zone focusing impractical.

The high-tech optical path includes two aspherical elements, one FLD (Fluorite-grade Low Dispersion) element, and four SLD (Special Low Dispersion) elements. Build quality is ace, but the lens isn’t weather-sealed.

Performance

Image quality is epic and the Sigma retains fabulous sharpness for an f/1.4 lens when shooting wide-open. As you’d expect, things get better when stopping down a bit, and the lens is a star performer in terms of minimizing colour fringing and barrel distortion.

N-photo verdict

This Sigma is our favourite wideaperture 35mm prime lens for DSLR cameras, with top performance.

Sharpness

It loses out slightly to the Nikon Z 35mm for centresharpness, but beats it in the corners.

Fringing

There’s marginal colour fringing wide-open but it all but disappears when you stop down a little.

Distortion

There’s less distortion than in any of the other F-mount lenses specifically designed for DSLRS on test.