Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG DN Art Lens for Leica L

The existing 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art was SIGMA’s first GLOBAL VISION lens. Released in 2012, it set the standard for all of Sigma's subsequent Art-line lenses, and thanks to its exceptional image quality it is still the 35mm prime lens of choice for many professional photographers.

Nine years on, the 35mm f/1.4 has been redesigned from the ground up specifically for mirrorless cameras and is the culmination of much of the optical design expertise and advanced production techniques gained over the past decade of GLOBAL VISION lens development.

As with all of SIGMA’s lenses, the 35mm f/1.4 DG DN | Art is built entirely at its sole factory in Aizu in Japan, where the standard of craftsmanship is of the highest level. As is true with all SIGMA lenses, class-leading optics are right at the heart of the design concept of this new 35mm F1.4 DG DN |Art.

Despite being significantly smaller and lighter than the existing 35mm f/1.4, it displays an outstanding level of sharpness right to the edges of the frame at all apertures, as well as exceptionally smooth and attractive bokeh and remarkably well-controlled optical aberrations.

Designed exclusively for use with mirrorless cameras, the 35mm f/1.4 DG DN Art is light enough to feel perfectly balanced on a compact mirrorless camera, yet is packed with an array of professional features including ultra-fast AF, a de-clickable and lockable aperture ring and a customisable AFL button. This gives the lens operability and portability without compromise, making it as ideal for professional projects as it is for casual outings, and as well-suited to video as it is stills. This is the new gold standard in wide-aperture 35mm prime lenses.

Exceptional optical performance

Central to the design of the 35mm f/1.4 DG DN Art is its sophisticated optical performance, which is consistent with the development of all Art line lenses. The lens incorporates 15 elements in 11 groups. With two Special Low Dispersion (SLD) elements, an Extraordinary Low Dispersion (ELD) element, an ‘F’ Low Dispersion (FLD) element and two aspherical elements, and as well as other high-performance glass, the lens’ advanced optical construction utilises SIGMA’s state-of-the-art optical design technology, minimising all types of aberration including axial chromatic aberration, which cannot be corrected in-camera. In spite of having a very wide aperture of F1.4, the lens is able to control sagittal coma flare extremely well even wide open, stopping bright points of light from flaring out near the edges of the frame. This will be particularly appealing to night sky photographers. Owing to its 11 rounded diaphragm blades, the lens displays smooth, round bokeh so that out-of-focus areas are not distracting. This makes the 35mm f/1.4 DG DN Art well-suited to portraits, supported by its ultra-sharp image quality and minimal colour bleeding. It also performs very well in backlit conditions thanks to Sigma's anti-ghosting and anti-flare technology that it has cultivated through countless simulations and real-life testing in our many years of lens development. This keeps shots high contrast and free of excessive flare even when working in difficult light.

Fast & quiet AF in a compact body

The focusing mechanism in the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG DN Art features a stepping motor. This motor controls a focusing lens group composed of a single, lightweight element, which means AF is responsive and quiet, and is able to keep track of moving objects very effectively. Manual focusing is smooth and precise, but with the right amount of resistance for filmmakers. Certainly, this lens has a focus mode switch on the body. The Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG DN Art wholly embraces the Art line concept, which is “designed with a focus on sophisticated optical performance”. This—paired with its advanced autofocus performance and the convenience of a compact size—makes for a lens that raises the standards.

Professional feature set

On the body of the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG DN Art is an aperture ring that allows the aperture to be controlled via the lens, or when set to Auto, using the camera. An aperture lock switch on the lens body allows the aperture ring to be locked in Auto so that it is not accidentally knocked during shooting. A big plus for filmmakers, the aperture ring can be de-clicked, allowing users to seamlessly adjust exposure. Also on the lens barrel is a focus mode switch and an AFL button, which can be customised to the desired function from within the camera menu (depending on the model). The switch is ergonomically positioned to be controlled by the thumb during use. A petal-type lens hood is included in the box, which helps reduce flare and offers the lens added protection if dropped. The hood has a lock mechanism that keeps it attached securely to the lens, and its rubberised grip makes it quick and easy to attach and remove. On top of this impressive array of features and elegant exterior, the body of the 35mm f/1.4 DG DN Art offers an exceptional level of durability that helps it withstand long-term professional use as well as individual operating parts that give a good fit to the hand. The dust and splash-proof structure provide sealing on buttons and along joins between constituent parts, and there is a rubber gasket around the mount. There is also a water and oil repellent coating applied to the front element ensures that photographers can rely on it in any conditions.