GEAR MINI TESTS
SIGMA 135MM F/1.4 DG ART £1649/$1899 sigmauk.com The Sigma 135mm f/1.4 DG Art is a standout lens that offers maximum subject separation, sensational bokeh and a professional build. If your shooting style supports a short telephoto prime with high impact, this could be your dream lens. The £1649/$1899 price, weight and size are the trade-offs, but the optical payoff is substantial. It sets a new benchmark for large-aperture medium telephoto primes. To be fair, there isn’t much competition – especially from high-end brands – as fast f/2.8 zooms have largely taken over. No other manufacturer has made an AF 135mm optic for mirrorless and cinema cameras as fast as this. Built for full-frame Sony E and L-Mount, this optic is ideal for a creative shooter who is looking for low-light performance or is a background-blur addict. Shot at wide apertures the background blur is stunning, with smooth transitions and excellent sharpness even at f/1.4. At this setting there is a hint of minimal onion-ring highlight bokeh in the corners, but close down a tad and it’s gone. Close down even half a stop and the sharpness is staggering right across the frame. Chromatic aberrations are well controlled thanks to four FLD and two aspherical elements in the optical
design, which includes 17 elements in 13 groups. This is a complex, modern optical arrangement. Add 13 rounded aperture blades to the equation and it’s a lens made for optical sharpness and bokeh. A short telephoto built for bokeh and low light might not usually be the sort of lens where AF speed is a priority, but Sigma equips it with a dual HLA (High-response Linear Actuator) system. Each of the two focus groups has its own HLA motor for rapid, precise performance. The floating focus mechanism maintains consistent sharpness throughout the focusing range and AF acquisition is very fast. We only had the chance to try the lens on a Panasonic Lumix S1H – which is not known for its AF – but it was still rapid and sticky. Handling is pro-grade with assignable AFL buttons, an aperture
SPECIFICATIONS
Mount: Leica L, Sony E Image coverage: Full-frame Aperture: f/1.4-16 Aperture blades: 13, rounded Construction: 17 elements in 13 groups with 4 FLD and 2 aspherical elements Image stabilisation: No Minimum focusing: 110cm Filter size: 105mm Dimensions (wxl): 111.7x135.5mm/4.4x5.3in Weight: 1430g/3.15lb (with L-Mount)
BLOOMING WONDERFUL Shoot the lens wide open and distracting backgrounds melt away into smooth bokeh
ring with lock and click options, weather sealing and a magnesium- alloy Arca-Swiss tripod collar that can be removed. Attach the included lens hood and it’s a big unit, but that large lens hood helps reduce flare and ghosting even with strong backlight. The only thing it lacks is image stabilisation, but it’s not a big deal. For video shooting it offers incredibly cinematic images when shot at wide apertures, but rack focus from one end to the other and the viewpoint changes a lot. This focus breathing is our only gripe with the performance of this amazing lens. PRO MOVIEMAKER RATING: 9/10 A stunner that delivers a unique look, but it’s big, heavy and quite pricey Pros: Image quality, fast aperture, gorgeous bokeh Cons: Heavy, not cheap, breathing
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