Sigma is a third-party camera lens manufacturer. It offers the Art series, competing with top-tier lenses. Learn about the best Sigma Art lenses.
A high-resolution camera and quality lens work together to capture stunning photos.
A lens determines the sharpness, field of view, and depth of field.
Each camera brand has a top-tier lens line. For example, Canon has the L series, and Sony has G Master lenses.
Sigma offers the Art series, rivaling each brands top lenses.
The following covers information about Sigma Art lenses and the best options.
What are Sigma Art lenses?
Sigma is a Japanese manufacturer of cameras, lenses, flashes, and photography accessories. The company is best known for its lenses.
Out of several lines, the professional-level Sigma Art lenses make the brand stand out.
They work with many brands, such as Canon, Sony, Nikon, Pentax, Leica, Panasonic, and Olympus.
Sigma Art lenses are cheaper and comparable to top-tier lenses.
The Art lenses have maximum apertures ranging from f/1.4 to f/2.8. They produce exceptional sharpness and beautiful colors.
With a wide-open aperture, the rounded aperture blades result in incredible bokeh.
Sigma also applies low-dispersion elements and lens coatings to reduce aberration.
The main drawback to Art lenses is that they can miss the focus.
If you use manual focus, it’s not a problem. With autofocus, you may need to refocus.
Sigma Art lenses offer superb optical performance at a lower price.
The best Sigma Art lenses
Regardless of your camera or type of photography, there’s a Sigma Art lens for you.
You’ll find high-performing prime and zoom lenses with various focal lengths.
The following are the best Sigma Art lenses to take your photos to the next level.
Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens
Key features:
- Aperture range: f/1.4 to f/16.
- Nine rounded diaphragm blades.
- Minimum focusing distance: 11.8 inches (30 cm).
- One FLD element and four SLD elements.
- Two aspherical elements.
The following are the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens prices for different lens mounts and stores:
| Lens mount | Price | Link to purchase |
|---|---|---|
| Canon EF | $849 | Buy from B&H Buy from Adorama Buy from Amazon |
| Nikon F | $849 | Buy from B&H Buy from Adorama Buy from Amazon |
| Leica L | $849 | Buy from B&H Buy from Adorama |
| Pentax K | $849 | Buy from B&H Buy from Amazon |
| Sigma SA | $849 | Buy from B&H Buy from KEH Camera |
| Sony A | $849 | Buy from B&H Buy from Amazon |
| Sony E | $849 | Buy from B&H Buy from Amazon |
The Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens is outstanding and works with crop-sensor and full-frame cameras.
35mm lenses are versatile and excellent as general-purpose lenses.
It’s wide enough to capture landscapes, full-body portraits, groups, weddings, and you can get closer to your subject for intimate and close-up photos.
Its large maximum aperture of f/1.4 offers a shallow depth of field that beautifully blurs backgrounds. Plus, it’s excellent for low-light photography.
Sigma also offers an f/1.2 version of the 35mm Art lens. While it’s spectacular, the lens is larger and heavier.
Overall, the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens features superb optical performance for almost half the price of a 35mm f/1.4 lens from a camera manufacturer.
Related article: What do STM and USM mean on Canon lenses?
Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens
Key features:
- Aperture range: f/1.4 to f/16.
- Nine rounded diaphragm blades.
- Minimum focusing distance: 1.31 feet (40 cm).
- Three SLD elements and one molded glass aspherical element.
The following are the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens prices for different lens mounts and stores:
| Lens mount | Price | Link to purchase |
|---|---|---|
| Canon EF | $949 | Buy from B&H Buy from Adorama Buy from Amazon |
| Nikon F | $949 | Buy from B&H Buy from Adorama Buy from Amazon |
| Leica L | $949 | Buy from B&H Buy from Adorama Buy from Amazon |
| Sigma SA | $949 | Buy from B&H Buy from Amazon |
| Sony A | $949 | Buy from B&H Buy from Amazon |
| Sony E | $949 | Buy from B&H Buy from Adorama Buy from Amazon |
Sigma’s 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens is a high-quality standard lens with autofocus.
At 50mm, it offers a natural perspective. It’s versatile and works well for portrait, wedding, event, family, and travel photography.
The Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art lens features top-notch performance, build quality, handling, and low-light performance.
However, it’s larger and heavier than other 50mm lenses. Despite the size and weight, it’s an optically superb lens.
At a fraction of the price, it outperforms the Canon 50mm f/1.2L and Nikon 50mm f/1.4G.
Compared to the Zeiss Otus, Sigma’s 50mm isn’t as good, but it costs less. Also, the Otus doesn’t offer autofocus.
So, the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens is the most valuable 50mm lens on the market.
Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN or HSM Art Lens
Key features:
- Aperture range: f/1.4 to f/16.
- Number of rounded diaphragm blades: 9 (HSM) and 11 (DN).
- Minimum focusing distance: 2.79 feet (85 cm).
- One aspherical element.
- Five SLD elements and four HR elements (DN).
The following are the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN and HSM Art Lens prices for different lens mounts and stores:
| Lens mount | Price | Link to purchase |
|---|---|---|
| Canon EF (HSM) | $1,099 | Buy from B&H Buy from Adorama Buy from Amazon |
| Nikon F (HSM) | $1,099 | Buy from B&H Buy from Adorama Buy from Amazon |
| Leica L (DN) | $1,199 | Buy from B&H Buy from Adorama Buy from Amazon |
| Sigma SA (HSM) | $1,099 | Buy from B&H Buy from Adorama Buy from Amazon |
| Sony E (DN) | $1,199 | Buy from B&H Buy from Adorama Buy from Amazon |
85mm is an excellent focal length for portraits and landscapes. Sigma offers an incredible 85mm Art lens that opens to f/1.4 for DSLR and mirrorless cameras.
There are two versions, HSM and DN. While the HSM lens is the original, Sigma introduced a refreshed DN version for Sony E and Leica L mounts. It’s smaller and lighter than the HSM lens.
Regardless of the version, the Sigma 85mm Art lens offers exceptional performance for being less than $1,200.
The Sigma 85mm Art lens is impressive. However, it has a few drawbacks, including size, lack of image stabilization, and spherical aberration.
Aside from that, it’s a high-performing lens with stunning image quality.
Sigma 135mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art Lens
Key features:
- Aperture range: f/1.8 to f/16.
- Nine rounded diaphragm blades.
- Minimum focusing distance: 2.87 feet. (87.5 cm).
- Two FLD and two SLD elements.
The following are the Sigma 135mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art Lens prices for different lens mounts and stores:
| Lens mount | Price | Link to purchase |
|---|---|---|
| Canon EF | $1,399 | Buy from B&H Buy from Adorama Buy from Amazon |
| Nikon F | $1,399 | Buy from B&H Buy from Adorama Buy from Amazon |
| Leica L | $1,399 | Buy from B&H Buy from Adorama Buy from Amazon |
| Sigma SA | $1,399 | Buy from B&H Buy from Adorama |
| Sony E | $1,399 | Buy from B&H Buy from Adorama Buy from Amazon |
Many high-quality 135mm lenses have a maximum aperture of f/2 or f/2.8. Sigma’s 135mm Art lens opens wider, as its maximum aperture is f/1.8.
The 135mm mid-telephoto prime lens is ideal for portraits, weddings, sports, and landscapes.
It brings the background closer and produces a beautiful blur when shooting with a wide aperture.
The Sigma 135mm Art lens is near-perfect. It captures sharp images, is fast, weather-sealed, and good-looking.
The only downside is that it’s missing image stabilization. Otherwise, it’s a superb lens.
Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM Art Lens
Key features:
- Aperture range: f/1.8 to f/16.
- Nine rounded diaphragm blades.
- Minimum focusing distance: 11.02 inches (28 cm).
- Five SLD elements.
- Four aspherical elements.
The following are the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM Art Lens prices for different lens mounts and stores:
| Lens mount | Price | Link to purchase |
|---|---|---|
| Canon EF | $749 | Buy from B&H Buy from Adorama Buy from Amazon |
| Nikon F | $749 | Buy from B&H Buy from Adorama Buy from Amazon |
| Sigma SA | $749 | Buy from B&H Buy from Adorama Buy from Amazon |
The Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM Art Lens is an excellent wide-angle zoom lens. It was also the first f/1.8 zoom lens ever made.
Sigma made the lens for crop-sensor Nikon, Canon, and Sigma cameras, as it’s APS-C format only.
While it’s larger and heavier than similar lenses, the 18-35mm Art lens is optically amazing.
If you have a crop-sensor camera and want an everyday zoom lens, the 18-35mm is ideal.
Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM Art Lens
Key features:
- Aperture range: f/2.8 to f/22.
- Nine rounded diaphragm blades.
- Minimum focusing distance: 1.21 feet (37 cm).
- Three SLD elements.
- Four aspherical elements.
The following are the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM Art Lens prices for different lens mounts and stores:
| Lens mount | Price | Link to purchase |
|---|---|---|
| Canon EF | $1,299 | Buy from B&H Buy from Adorama Buy from Amazon |
| Nikon F | $1,299 | Buy from B&H Buy from Adorama Buy from Amazon |
| Leica L (DN and no OS) | $1,099 | Buy from B&H Buy from Adorama Buy from Amazon |
| Sigma SA | $1,299 | Buy from B&H |
| Sony E (DN and no OS) | $1,099 | Buy from B&H Buy from Adorama Buy from Amazon |
A 24 to 70mm lens is the most versatile lens because it zooms from a wide-angle to a short telephoto focal length. It’s excellent for landscapes, portraits, events, and architecture.
The Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM Art Lens is impressive because of its superb image quality and build.
Plus, the HSM version has image stabilization. Unfortunately, the DN version for mirrorless cameras doesn’t.
When the aperture is wide open, there’s a bit of vignetting and barrel distortion.
Despite the few drawbacks, the Sigma 24-70mm Art lens is a must-have because of its performance, versatility, and quality.
Conclusion
Sigma Art lenses capture stunning and sharp photos. The lenses compete with the top lenses from different brands.
Sigma’s edge is you’ll find the same quality at a lower price.
If you want to save money on lenses, the Sigma Art line ensures you don’t sacrifice quality.
They have excellent build quality, optics, and performance.
Related: 35mm vs. 50mm: Which Focal Length is Better?
Featured image courtesy of Unsplash.