Sigma 135mm f/1.8 DG ART review (best lens tested so far by photozone.de)

Sigma 135mm F1.8
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Sigma 135mm f/1.8 Art: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

At a glance:

  • EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/1.8 to f/16
  • Two FLD Elements, Two SLD Elements
  • Super Multi-Layer Coating
  • Hyper Sonic AF Motor, Manual Override
  • Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm
  • TSC Material, Brass Bayonet Mount
  • Compatible with Sigma USB Dock

Lens testing authority photozone.de reviewed the Sigma 135mm f/1.8 DG ART, a new Sigma lens that gets a lot of positive feedback. The Sigma was tested on a Canon EOS 5Ds R.

In the conclusion the reviewer writes:

Those who have followed us [i.e. photozone.de, editors note] over the years know that we don’t easily come up with superlatives but this time it’s hard to avoid them really. The Sigma lens is the best lens that we have tested so far. The resolution figures are outlandishly good -plus low CAs, very low distortions and comparatively low vignetting. The quality of the bokeh is very close to perfection (for a conventional lens) except for the inevitable cat eye highlights in the image corners. If there is a real weakness it is bokeh fringing at large aperture settings. However, we’ve rarely seen lenses that can correct them and they were not as fast anyway.

The build quality is top notch and, honestly, we can’t really find any downsides here. The used materials are of great quality and weather-sealing helps in situations when the going gets tough. The AF is very fast and near silent. Read the full review…

Well, that’s a hell of a positive feedback for the Sigma 135mm f/1.8 DG ART. The Sigma sells for $1,399, which seems to be a fair price for a lens such as this. If you want to learn more about the Sigma 135mm f/1.8 Art lens have a look at the MTF figures, Imaging Resource’s review, Dustin Abbott’s review,

 

Sigma service notice for Auto-Focus issue with Sigma MC-11 mount adapter on Sony a9

 

Sigma MC-11
Sigma MC-11

Sigma MC-11 at a glance:

  • Adapt SA/EF-Mount Lens to Sony E Body
  • Integrated LED Displays Compatibility
  • Maintains Autofocus and Auto-Exposure
  • Supports In-Camera Correction Features
  • Flocked Interior Reduces Reflections
  • Retains EXIF Data

Sigma released a service notice for the Sigma MC-11 mount adapter (Canon EF or Sigma SA lenses to Sony E camera bodies) on Auto-Focus issues that may occur when using AF-S mode with telephoto lenses on a Sony a9.

Thank you for purchasing and using our products.

We have found that the combination of SIGMA MOUNT CONVERTER MC-11 (SA-E and EF-E) and some of SIGMA’s interchangeable zoom lenses may not focus precisely, if it is attached to SONY a9 (ILCE-9), released by SONY in May in 2017.

When using AF-S mode and shooting in telephoto range, it could occasionally display the shot is in focus, although it may not be spotted properly on the subject.

We are afraid of this inconvenience caused to the customers who use these products.

We are now investigating the phenomenon and will make a further announcement on the website shortly.

We appreciate your continued support for our company.

For further information, please contact your nearest authorized SIGMA subsidiary / distributor.
http://www.sigma-global.com/en/about/world-network/

Using big white Canon telephoto lenses with the MC-11 adapter on a Sony a9 may lead to such AF issues. You may want to have a look here.

Sigma 135mm f/1.8 ART review (D. Abbott)

Sigma 135mm F/1.8
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Sigma 135mm f/1.8 Art: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

Sigma 135mm f/1.8 Art at a glance:

  • EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/1.8 to f/16
  • Two FLD Elements, Two SLD Elements
  • Super Multi-Layer Coating
  • Hyper Sonic AF Motor, Manual Override
  • Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm
  • TSC Material, Brass Bayonet Mount
  • Compatible with Sigma USB Dock

The Sigma 135mm f/1.8 ART must be an amazing lens, at least according to what reviewers say. It’s clearly another great lens by Sigma.

Canada based photographer and reviewer Dustin Abbott published an exhaustive review of the Sigma 135mm f/1.8 ART lens.

From the conclusion:

While the Sigma 135mm f/1.8 ART may not win any awards for being Sigma’s sharpest, brightest, or cheapest lens, I do think that in many ways it is Sigma’s most complete prime lens. Unlike some of the ART series, I didn’t find it clinical but instead appreciated the quality rendering from the lens. It does tend to skew white balances a little cool, and it doesn’t deliver the most deeply saturated colors out of the box, but the images process well. I have seen several excellent 135mm lenses for Canon/Nikon mounts in the past two years, including the Samyang/Rokinon 135mm f/2 and the outstanding Zeiss Milvus 135mm f/2, but both of these options are manual focus only. The Sigma 135 ART is the first 135mm lens to bring the excellence of modern lens design coupled with useful autofocus.

You can watch the 18 minutes video below for the final review, or you can head over to Dustin Abbott’s site if you prefer reading the review, and checking the many sample pictures.

If you want to learn more about the Sigma 135mm f/1.8 Art lens have a look at the MTF figures and this review.

Sigma firmware updates for 4 Canon mount lenses

 

sigma

Please read the Sigma press release before applying the update.

Thank you for purchasing and using our products.

We would like to announce the availability of a new firmware update for the following Canon mount lenses.The lens firmware updates improve the AF accuracy when it is mounted on the SIGMA MOUNT CONVERTER MC-11 EF-E, and offers the improved usability for video shooting.For customers who own the following applicable products and the SIGMA USB DOCK, please update the lens firmware using SIGMA Optimization Pro.

【Applicable products】
・SIGMA 24-105mm F4 DG OS HSM | Art CANON
・SIGMA 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC MACRO OS HSM | Contemporary CANON
・SIGMA 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DC MACRO OS HSM | Contemporary CANON
・SIGMA 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 DC MACRO OS HSM | Contemporary CANON

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Sigma 135mm f/1.8 Art is an incredible lens, fast and sharp, Imaging Resource reports

Sigma 135mm F1.8
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Sigma 135mm f/1.8 Art at a glance:

  • EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/1.8 to f/16
  • Two FLD Elements, Two SLD Elements
  • Super Multi-Layer Coating
  • Hyper Sonic AF Motor, Manual Override
  • Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm
  • TSC Material, Brass Bayonet Mount
  • Compatible with Sigma USB Dock

It appears Sigma build another engineering masterpiece with the Sigma 135mm f/1.8 Art.

Imaging Resource posted a full technical review and a real world sample gallery. They are definitely enthusiastic about this lens, calling the Sigma an “incredible lens” and saying “this is one of the sharpest, if not *the* sharpest, lens [they have] ever tested”. From the conclusion:

The Sigma 135mm ƒ/1.8 DG HSM “Art” is one of the sharpest lenses we’ve ever tested. It’s not an inexpensive lens, but for what you get — great build quality, outstanding sharpness, little to no chromatic aberration, and almost zero distortion — the lens is worth every penny, and destined to become a modern classic.

The Sigma sells for $1,399, which I think is a more than fair price for such an outstanding lens.

Sigma 135mm f/1.8 Art: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

World-wide order and pre-order links after the break.

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