A large-aperture wide-angle F1.4 lens with truly impressive image quality. A true flagship of artistic expression\n\nSigma has always leveraged the most advanced optical technologies to offer photographers the highest level of lens performance. Now, Sigma is proud to offer the first lens in an all-new product line: the Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM. This wide-angle F1.4 lens delivers the highest level of brightness and beautiful bokeh effects. It offers the unique characteristics that only a large-aperture F1.4 lens can offer: shallow depth of field along with superior low-light and hand-held performance.\n\nThe full realization of the Art product concept for you to hold in your own hands and appreciate with your own eyes\n\nDesigned with a focus on sophisticated optical performance and tremendous expressive power, our new Art line of lenses delivers top-level image quality. With unsurpassed expressive performance, these lenses reach the high standards demanded by photographers with an artistic, creative inclination. Along with landscapes, portraits, still-life, close-up and casual snaps, they're perfect for the kind of photography that unleashes the inner artist. Ideal for studio photography, they offer just as much expressive scope when capturing architecture, starry skies, underwater shots and many other scenes. The full realization of the Art concept, the Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM is the perfect flagship. Hold it in your own hands and appreciate it with your own eyes.\n\nSeveral types of optical aberration can affect the image quality of a lens. Chromatic aberration is among the most important, and minimizing it is essential. There are two types of chromatic aberration: transverse, which can be corrected for with digital processing; and axial, which is difficult to minimize after a shot is taken. In the Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM, FLD (“F” Low Dispersion) glass, which is equivalent to fluorite in its characteristics, and SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass help optimize the power distribution of the lens. This optimization minimizes axial chromatic aberration by causing the different wavelengths of light to strike the same focus position while also minimizing transverse chromatic aberration. In addition, aspheric lenses help minimize astigmatism and field curvature. Thanks to these features, resolution is extremely high from the center to the edges of the photograph.\n\nAxial chromatic aberration becomes a bigger issue with large-aperture lenses. As compared to conventional 35mm F1.4 lenses, this new lens is designed to produce images with extremely low chromatic aberration. As a result, it is possible to achieve a bokeh effect that is cleaner and more aesthetically pleasing than ever before.\n\nPutting a large-aperture aspheric lens first in the series of lenses makes possible a slim barrel. A single FLD glass lens, which boasts the same performance as a fluorite lens, is combined with four SLD glass lenses to minimize chromatic aberration. And optimized power distribution helps correct various types of optical aberration. These features give this F1.4 large-aperture lens truly optimal image quality.\n\nExclusive low-dispersion glass\n\nThe degree to which light is refracted by glass depends on the light's wavelength. This fact causes different colors of light to focus at slightly different points. The result is chromatic aberration, the color fringing that is particularly noticeable in telephoto lenses. Most chromatic aberration can be removed by combining a high-refractivity convex lens element with a low-refractivity concave element. Yet residual chromatic aberration known as “secondary spectrum” may still remain. To minimize this secondary spectrum, which can be a serious issue with conventional lenses, Sigma lenses feature up to three types of exclusive low-dispersion glass offering superior performance: ELD (Extraordinary Low Dispersion), SLD (Special Low Dispersion) and FLD (“F” Low Dispersion). In particular, FLD glass offers ultra-low dispersion in combination with high transmittance and the anomalous dispersion characteristics of fluorite. Meticulous deployment of these types of exclusive low-dispersion glass and optimization of power distribution gives Sigma lenses superlative image rendition undiminished by residual chromatic aberration.\n\nThe aspheric lens at the front of the lens series helps minimize both distortion and vignetting. The rounded diaphragm produces an attractive round bokeh effect at large-aperture settings. Optimized power distribution minimizes sagittal coma flare. Coma of point light sources near the edge of the image and axial chromatic aberration are both minimized, making the lens an excellent choice for photographing nighttime landscapes and heavenly bodies.\n\nThe x-axis represents image height (distance from center of image in mm), and the y-axis represents the relative illumination at the edge of the image (with illumination at the center of the image defined as 100%). When relative illumination is low, the corners of the image appear dark, resulting in vignetting.\n\nRounded diaphragm\n\nWhen photographing with point light sources such as electric lights or reflections on a body of water in the background, the rounded 9-blade diaphragm helps produce an attractive bokeh effect—even at large-aperture settings.\n\nThere are three requirements for outstanding lenses: fine design, precise manufacturing and inspection that ensures compliance with all specifications. Sigma lenses are born of well-thought-out design concepts and sophisticated, advanced Japanese manufacturing technology; the final clincher is our lens performance evaluation. We used to measure lens performance using conventional sensors. However, we've now developed our own A1 proprietary MTF (modulation transfer function) measuring system using 46-megapixel Foveon direct image sensors. Applying this system, we check each lens in our new lines at our Aizu factory, our sole production site. Even previously undetectable high-frequency details are now within the scope of our quality control inspections, allowing us to deliver consistently high lens performance. Our MTF system has the capability to test lenses for full-size 20+ megapixel 35mm digital SLR cameras.\n\n46-megapixel Foveon direct image sensor\n\nThe 46 effective megapixel (4,800 × 3,200 × 3 layers) and 44 recording megapixel (4,704 × 3,136 × 3 layers) 23.5 × 15.7mm APS-C X3 direct image sensor captures all primary RGB colors at each and every pixel location, ensuring the capture of full and complete color. Using three silicon-embedded layers of photo detectors, stacked vertically to take advantage of silicon's ability to absorb red, green and blue light at different respective depths, it efficiently reproduces color more accurately, and offers sharper resolution, pixel for pixel, than any conventional image sensor. Since color moiré is not generated, the use of a low-pass filter is not required, meaning light and color, generated by the 46-megapixel APS-C X3 direct image sensor is captured with a three-dimensional feel.\n\nUltra-high precision and quality—all made in Japan\n\nAll Sigma's manufacturing–right down to molds and parts–is carried out under an integrated production system, entirely in Japan. We are now one of the very few manufacturers whose products are solely "made in Japan." We like to think our products are somehow imbued with the essence of our homeland, blessed as it is with clean air and water, and focused, hard-working people. We pride ourselves on the authentic quality of Sigma products, born of a marriage between highly attuned expertise and intelligent, advanced technology. Our sophisticated products have satisfied professionals and lovers of photography all over the world, because our manufacturing is based on genuine craftsmanship, underpinned by the passion and pride of our experts.\n\nAll lenses in Sigma's new Art line come with a hood with a high-quality rubberized connector and feature a newly designed lens cap and AF/MF switch, and are designed for intuitive use and superior functionality. Inside, HSM (hypersonic motor) delivers high AF speed and extremely quiet performance. An enhanced algorithm offers even smoother automatic focusing. Full-time manual focus override is another key feature that leaves the artistic touches in the photographer's hands. The brass mount combines high precision with rugged construction. Its treated surfaces and enhanced strength contribute to the exceptional durability of the lens. In both the external and internal parts, the optimized use of TSC(Thermally Stable Composite), an excellent match for metal parts, further contributes to the high-precision construction of the lens.\n\nHSM (hypersonic motor)\n\nHSM (hypersonic motor) delivers high AF speed and extremely quiet performance.\n\nFloating system\n\nThis system adjusts the distance between lens groups during focusing, thereby reducing the amount of lens movement required. The result is less aberration at different shooting distances. Benefits are particularly great in macro lenses because they cover a wide range of shooting distances, and in wide-angle lenses, which employ asymmetric configurations of lens elements.\n\nTSC (Thermally Stable Composite)\n\nA first for the industry, the barrel of the lens features a new TSC (Thermally Stable Composite) that offers minimal thermal shrinkage combined with exceptional hardness. It also offers 25% greater elasticity than polycarbonate. Since its thermal shrinkage is low, TSC matches well with metal parts, further contributing to the high-precision construction of the lens. TSC also makes possible slimmer forms for parts like zoom rings and scaling rings.\n\nHigh-precision, rugged brass bayonet mount\n\nThe brass mount combines high precision with rugged construction. Its treated surfaces and enhanced strength contribute to the exceptional durability of the lens.\n\nFlare and ghosting reduction\n\nFrom an early stage in the lens design process, flare and ghosting have been measured to establish an optical design resistant to strong incident light sources such as backlighting. Sigma's Super Multi-Layer Coating reduces flare and ghosting to help photographers produce sharp and high contrast images even in backlit conditions. The included lens hood can be attached to block out extraneous light, which can have a negative effect on rendering performance.\n\nFor our new product lines, we have developed exclusive SIGMA Optimization Pro software that allows the user to update the lens firmware and adjust focus position and other parameters. The user will be able to connect the lens to a computer with a special USB DOCK and use easy-to-operate on-screen controls to create personal lens specifications. For Sports lenses, the focus limiter will also be customizable.
