Beginner’s Guide to Sigma Art Lens With 10 Recommendations

Sigma art lenses are renowned for their exceptional optical quality and versatility, making them a top choice among photographers. With superior sharpness and excellent build quality, these lenses cater to various photography genres, from portraits to landscapes and beyond.

Let’s dive into the ten top recommendations for Sigma Art lenses.

What Are Sigma Art Lens

Sigma art lenses are a line of high-quality camera lenses produced by Sigma Corporation, known for their exceptional optical performance and build quality. These lenses are designed for various camera mounts, catering to photographers and videographers seeking superior image quality.

They’re part of Sigma’s Global Vision series, emphasizing cutting-edge technology and precision engineering to deliver sharpness, clarity, and creative capabilities in photography.  These lenses cater to photographers and videographers delving into diverse genres like portraiture and macro photography, ensuring top-tier image quality.

With a variety of Sigma lens types available today, each presents distinct effects and characteristics. Creators can explore a spectrum of visual possibilities, from stunning portraits to intricate close-ups, shaping their artistic vision with precision.

Types of Sigma Art Lens

Sigma Art lenses come in various types, each catering to specific photographic needs. They include:

1. Ultra-Wide Angle Lenses

Sigma Art ultra-wide angle lenses capture expansive scenes, delivering dramatic perspectives and maximizing the sense of space. They are perfect for landscape, architecture, and interior photography.

2. Wide-Angle Lenses

Art wide-angle lenses strike a balance between breadth and distortion, ideal for landscape photography and capturing dynamic compositions.

3. Large Aperture Lenses

Art lenses with large apertures allow for impressive background blur and low-light performance, enhancing creative possibilities. They are perfect for portrait photography.

4. Fisheye Lenses

Art fisheye lenses provide a unique and distorted perspective, adding a creative touch to images with a pronounced curvature, perfect for creative and artistic imagery.

5. Telephoto Lenses

Sigma Art telephoto lenses provide extended focal lengths, ideal for capturing distant subjects with exceptional clarity and detail, commonly used in sports and wildlife photography.

6. Standard Lenses

Standard Art lenses offer versatile focal lengths, suitable for everyday photography with a balance of field of view.

7. Macro Lenses

Sigma’s Art macro lenses excel in close-up photography, capturing intricate details with sharpness and precision.

Pros of Sigma Art Lens

• Affordable pricing: They are significantly more budget-friendly compared to first-party brands like Canon or Nikon, providing excellent value for money.
• Superior build quality: They have robust metal construction and durable plastics, which ensure a reassuringly rugged feel and excellent built-in quality.
• Reliable weather sealing: Effective weather sealing protects the lens, allowing photographers to shoot in various conditions without worry.
• Unique options: Offers distinctive options like the “bazooka lens,” not commonly found in other manufacturers’ lineups, adding versatility to photography.
• Mount interchangeability: Allows for changing the lens mount, enabling compatibility with different camera systems by sending it to Sigma for mount conversion.
• Exceptional image quality: Art lenses boast sharpness, high contrast, minimal distortion, effective control of spherochromatism, color fringing, and impressive optical image stabilization.
• Par focal capability: Maintains consistent focus throughout zooming, ensuring clarity and stability while adjusting focal lengths.

10 Best Sigma Art Lens to Buy In 2024

Best Overall: Sigma 24-70mm F/2.8 EX DG Macro for Canon EF

Specifications

• Maximum aperture: F/ 2.8
• Focal range: 24-70 mm
• Image stabilization: Not specified
• Tops selling points: A flexible focal range appealing to a wide spectrum of photographers. Outstanding optical quality complemented by stabilization and rapid autofocus capabilities.

Pros

• Full-frame sensor coverage
• Swift autofocus
• Rapid aperture at wide angle
• Swift aperture at telephoto
• Convenient distance scale
• Nine diaphragm blades for silky bokeh
• Consistent f/2.8 aperture across range

Cons

• Lack of weather sealing
• Extends lens length during zooming

Price

$1,159.00

Best Standard Prime Lens: Sigma 50mm F/1.4 DG HSM | A for Canon EF

Specifications

• Maximum aperture: F/ 1.4
• Focal range: 50 mm
• Image stabilization: Not specified
• Tops selling points: Precise and silent autofocus motors. Fast f/1.4 maximum aperture with exceptional optical excellence

Pros

• Superior build quality
• Exceptional sharpness and contrast
• Excellent low-light capabilities
• Outstanding image quality with creamy bokeh
• Swift and accurate autofocus
• Versatile focal length

Cons

• Its price can be considered high for a 50mm f/1.4
• Minor vignetting at f/1.4 (usually fixable)
• Some chromatic aberrations are easily manageable
• Lacks weather sealing and image stabilization

Price

$779

Best Wide Prime Lens:

Specifications

• Maximum aperture: F/1.4
• Focal range: 105mm
• Image stabilization: Not specified
• Tops selling points: Incredible bokeh, exceptional for portrait photography

Pros

• Exceptional sharpness and contrast from wide apertures
• Consistently precise autofocus, even when using outer points
• Minimal vignetting and almost no chromatic aberrations
• Presents pleasing color rendition and overall image aesthetics
• Robust construction with professional-grade weather sealing
• Renders smooth and soft bokeh, complementing image quality

Cons

• Heavy and bulky
• Incompatibility with teleconverters
• Limited magnification capability
• Autofocus might not meet the demands of high-speed sports photography

Price

$1,599

Best Wide-Angle Zoom Lens: Sigma 18-35mm F/3.5-4.5 Aspherical ZEN for Canon EF

Specifications

• Maximum aperture: F/3.5-4.5
• Focal range: 18-35mm
• Image stabilization: Not specified
• Tops selling points: Versatile focal range for wide-angle shots, aspherical elements for reduced distortion

Pros

• Variable speed across focal lengths
• Incorporates a floating element setup
• Utilizes aspherical design
• Internal focusing system (IF)
• Exceptionally wide view from 18-23mm
• Internal zoom mechanism

Cons

• Lacks focus mode selector
• Lacks weather sealing
• Lacks fluorine coating

Price

$629.99

Best Tele Zoom Lens: Sigma 50-100mm F/1.8 DC HSM | A for Canon EF

Specifications

• Maximum aperture: F/1.8
• Focal range: 50-100mm
• Image stabilization: Not specified
• Tops selling points: Impressive magnification paired with a rapid maximum aperture. Consistent clarity and sharpness across zoom levels.

Pros

• Exceptional sharpness
• Minimal distortion and controlled chromatic aberration
• Highly resistant to flares
• Appealing bokeh quality
• Swift and silent autofocus
• Ergonomically well-designed

Cons

• Absence of weather sealing
• Limited close-focusing ability
• Lacks vibration reduction
• Considerable weight

Price

$998

Best Tele Prime Lens: Sigma 85mm F/1.4 EX DG HSM for Canon EF

Specifications

• Maximum aperture: F/ 1.4
• Focal range: 85 mm
• Image stabilization: Not specified
• Tops selling points: Excellent lens for high-quality portraits. Splendid bokeh that arises from a swift aperture and flawless optics

Pros

• Remarkable resolution even at f/1.4
• Robust construction
• Includes hood with extender for APS-C cameras
• Rich, warm color reproduction
• Outstanding optical quality
• Sturdy build
• Quick and precise autofocus

Cons

• Hyperfocal markings are too cramped for practical use
• Considerable weight

Price

$999

Best Macro Lens: Sigma 70mm F/2.8 DG Macro | A for Canon EF

Specifications

• Maximum aperture: F/2.8
• Focal range: 70mm
• Image stabilization: Not specified
• Tops selling points: Exceptional macro capabilities for detailed close-up shots.

Pros

• Robust construction with partial weather sealing at the lens mount
• Minimal distortion
• Supports teleconverters, Sigma MC-11, and USB Dock
• Impressive microcontrast
• Exceptional image quality across apertures
• Excellent chromatic aberration control with good flare resistance

Cons

• Bokeh can show slight busyness at certain focus distances
• The focus-by-wire system may not suit macro photographers
• Lacks image stabilization
• Relatively slow focus motor

Price

$569

Best for Mirrorless: Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN Art

Specifications

• Maximum aperture: F/2.8
• Focal range: 14-24mm
• Image stabilization: Not specified
• Tops selling points: Versatile ultra-wide angle, exceptional optical quality for mirrorless systems.

Pros

• Lightweight in comparison to its DSLR counterpart
• Exceptional image quality
• Minimal distortion with almost no vignetting
• Remarkably high brightness
• Sleek and compact construction
• Weather-sealed against dust and splashes
• Includes a programmable AFL button
• Swift and accurate autofocus

Cons

• Lack of image stabilization
• Inability to use screw filters

Price

$1,209

Best for DSLRs: Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSN Art

Specifications

• Maximum aperture: F/1.4
• Focal range: 35mm
• Image stabilization: Not specified
• Tops selling points: A versatile and resilient lens. Exceptional clarity across the entire frame paired with a rapid maximum aperture.

Pros

• Durable and sturdy construction
• Expansive aperture for enhanced light capture
• Adaptable for mount conversions
• Competitively priced
• Remarkably sharp imagery
• Compatible with various camera systems

Cons

• It may not be optimal for ultra-high-resolution cameras
• Lacks image stabilization
• Notable vignetting

Price

$759

Best for Crop Sensors: Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DG DN C

Specifications

• Maximum aperture: 16mm
• Focal range: F/1.4
• Image stabilization: Not specified
• Tops selling points: Ideal for crop sensor cameras, excellent low-light capabilities.

Pros

• Impressive f/1.4 aperture, enabling low-light shooting
• Silent autofocus is beneficial for video recording
• Dust and splash resistance for added durability
• Exceptional sharpness across images
• Minimal chromatic aberration, ensuring high image quality
• Near-zero distortion, maintaining accurate perspectives
• Competitive pricing for its quality and features

Cons

• Lacks depth of field scale
• Lacks a distance scale for precise focusing

Price

$369

Conclusion

Sigma Art lenses stand as a testament to exceptional craftsmanship, delivering unparalleled optical performance across various photography genres.

With an array of options available, these lenses offer a gateway to superior image quality, empowering beginners and seasoned photographers alike to explore their creativity and capture moments with outstanding precision.