photoxels
Photographers, spruce up your kit this spring with Sigma’s new 50mm F1.4 DG HSM from the Sigma Art line.
- “Incorporating the same advanced optical technology as the award winning 35mm F1.4 DG HSM lens, this large aperture lens will offer photographers superb image quality in a classic 50mm focal length.“
The suggested retail price of Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM lens is $1049.95 and available in June for Sigma (A50DGHAS), Canon (A50DGHC) and Nikon (A50DGHN). The Sony A50DGHS is yet to be announced.
For additional information, please visit the Sigma brand page.
NEWS RELEASE
SIGMA DELIVERS UNCOMPROMISED PERFORMANCE WITH NEW, LARGE APERTURE 50MM F1.4 DG HSM LENS
TORONTO, ON., April 11, 2014 – Gentec International, the exclusive Canadian distributor of Sigma lenses, announces the addition of the updated 50mm F1.4 DG HSM to Sigma’s new Art line of lenses. Incorporating the same advanced optical technology as Sigma’s award-winning 35mm F1.4 DG HSM lens, this high-performance, large aperture lens offers superb image quality in a classic 50mm focal length.
SPECIAL FEATURES
Art line lenses provide the highest level of artistic expression
Sigma is organizing its interchangeable lenses into three product lines: Art, Contemporary, and Sports. The Art line has been designed with an emphasis on artistic expression to meet the expectations of users who value a creative, dramatic outcome above compactness and multifunction. Offering sophisticated optical performance for landscapes, portraits, still-life, close-up and casual snaps, these lenses are perfect for the kind of photography that unleashes the inner artist. While ideal for studio photography, they offer just as much expressive scope when capturing architecture, starry skies, underwater shots, and many other scenes.
High-performance design, high-quality images
Incorporating the latest technology, this lens thoroughly corrects aberration and achieves the highest image quality, even near the edge of the image.
- High resolution and beautiful bokeh
The lens delivers high resolution on the focused point, while creating a soft, natural bokeh in front of and behind the point of focus. Aberrations and colour distortion that affect the image quality are thoroughly corrected. Even at the largest aperture, high-definition rendering without blur is achieved.
- Excellent correction of sagittal coma flare
Molded glass aspherical lens elements provide excellent correction of sagittal coma flare, making this lens perfect for astronomical photography and shooting bright objects because of the reduced blur of point light sources near the edge of the image. It also creates an attractive bokeh in portraits.
- Correction of axial chromatic aberration
Special Low Dispersion (SLD)) glass elements are incorporated to correct axial chromatic aberration and ensure sharp, high-contrast images throughout the entire focusing range.
- Minimized distortion
Each glass element has been positioned to optimize the optical configuration at all apertures to effectively minimize distortion.
- Improved peripheral brightness
By using wide elements in the front group, efficiency has been improved at large apertures. This design minimizes vignetting to ensure consistent brightness across the image area.
- Designed to minimize flare and ghosting
Advanced optical design and Sigma’s Super Multi-Layer Coating reduces flare and ghosting and provides sharp, high-contrast images, even in backlit conditions. Attaching the supplied petal-type lens hood provides extra protection from flare and ghosting.
- Minimum focusing distance of 40 cm
The lens incorporates a floating system that adjusts the distance between lens groups while focusing, thereby reducing the amount of lens movement required. This achieves a minimum focusing distance of 40 cm and maximum magnification ratio of 1:5.6. As there is less variation in aberration at different shooting distances, the lens delivers high performance throughout the entire focusing range.
Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM)
The Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) ensures quiet, high-speed autofocusing, as well as full-time manual focus override by rotation of the focus ring. With the enhanced AF algorithm, smoother autofocusing is achieved. Full-time manual focus is also possible.
Newly developed “USB Dock” (optional) exclusively for new Sigma lenses
Designed for the newest Sigma lenses, proprietary Optimization Pro software allows photographers to update lens firmware and adjust parameters such as focus.
ADDITIONAL FEATURES
Rounded diaphragm
The 9-blade rounded diaphragm creates an attractive blur to the out-of-focus areas of the image at large apertures.
Enhanced Design
The new ergonomic design offers comfortable grips and unobtrusive yet easy-to-use controls. For improved handling, the design of the lens hood, lens cap, and AF/MF changeover switch have been updated. To ensure the highest quality of the lens construction, Thermally Stable Composite (TSC) compound material has been incorporated to offer greater durability of the parts, plus smaller zoom and scale rings.
Brass bayonet mount
A specially treated brass bayonet mount ensures maximum precision, greater strength, and superior durability for long-term use.
Evaluation with Sigma’s “A1” MTF measuring system
Replacing an MTF measuring system using conventional sensors, Sigma now employs a proprietary MTF (modulation transfer function) measuring system (A1) using 46-megapixel Foveon direct image sensors. Previously undetectable high-frequency details are now within the scope of Sigma’s quality control inspections.
Made in Japan
All Sigma’s manufacturing, including molds and parts, is carried out under an integrated production system entirely in Japan. Sigma is now one of the very few manufacturers whose products are solely “made in Japan”, with each product reflecting a combination of expertise, advanced technology, and genuine craftsmanship.
About Gentec International
Founded in 1990, Gentec International is Canada’s leading consumer accessory products company, supplying a complete range of photo, video, digital, sport optics, home theatre, electronics, wireless, and mobile audio products to the Canadian retail marketplace. Gentec offers a variety of prominent brands, including Optex, Sigma, SanDisk, Manfrotto, Gitzo, National Geographic, Kata, Avenger, Roots, Gary Fong, Black Rapid, Mobifoto, iQ, Sunpak, Energizer, Bushnell, Tasco, and Zeiss. Gentec operates out of a high-cube, state-of-the-art, fully computerized 100,000-square-foot warehouse and distribution centre that offers efficient, seamless service to our customers. With over 90 employees, Gentec covers the needs of its retailers coast to coast using the latest technology systems, streamlined efficiencies, and customer service that is second to none.
Learn more – visit www.gentec-intl.com.
Mount Conversion Service
This lens is eligible for Sigma’s Mount Conversion Service, a paid service that lets you change the mount to use the lens on a different camera body. For program details, visit www.SigmaCanada.ca.
Canadian Warranty
Like all Sigma lenses, this lens is backed by a comprehensive seven-year Canadian warranty. The Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM lens has a suggested retail price of $1049.95 and will be available for Sigma (A50DGHAS), Canon (A50DGHC) and Nikon (A50DGHN) in June, 2014. Sony (A50DGHS) to be determined.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Focal Length . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50mm
Minimum Aperture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F16
Lens Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Elements in 8 Groups
Angle-of-View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46.8°
Number of Diaphragm Blades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 (rounded diaphragm)
Minimum Focusing Distance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 cm / 15.7”
Maximum Magnification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1:5.6
Filter Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 mm
Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Diameter: 85.4 mm / 3.4” x Length: 99.9 mm / 3.9”
Weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TBA
Mounts (AF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Canon, Nikon, Sony, Sigma
Includes: Case, Lens Hood (LH830-02)
Appearance and specifications are subject to change for improvement without notice.
