Hi all,
I am in need of a 50mm prime lens and after extensive read through forum discussions, magazine reviews, I still cannot make up my mind about which one to go for between the Nikon 50mm f1.4 AF-S G and the Sigma 50mm f1.4 EX DG HSM.
I am aware of main pros and cons : Sigma much smoother bokeh at max aperture whereas Nikon shows quite wiry rings (how true is that?)
Sigma's build sturdier...and quite heavier (fine with pro bodies but with my light-ish D5000 body, the half weight Nikon prime might prove to be a better handling)
Apart from those, I haven't read any major differences between the two : the slight difference in price is no issue. I'm ready to pay more for the Sigma if I am sure it's the better choice.
Having never before owned third party equipment for my Nikon bodies, I'm wondering : what's your verdict guys, for those of you who own either or those who have field tested both??
Hi blue,
If no one has already, let me be the first to welcome you to these forums. I do not own either of these lens. If you can, I would get each of these lens to try with your D5000 and shoot as much as you can with each. Try to get as much of the type images you plan to use the lens for (low light, portraits, etc.). Also try to make identical images with each lens. That way you can compare the actual images for your final decision. By the way, I have read, that Sigma quality can vary from one lens to another of the same model. I hope this is of some help to you.
vw
I've got the 50 f1.8 and I absolutely love it.
Thought I'd share . . .
Hhmm... sorry, I haven't compared the both of them. But I would say, do play with them both as AF is a very important factor. Hope this helps.
Hi Blue, welcome to the forum!
I was in the same position like you choosing between the Nikon 50mm f/1.4G and Sigma 50mm f/1.4 HSM. After doing lots of research, i believe the Sigma is the one that gives better overall picture quality, it is slightly sharper overall, has more creamy bokeh and the super large front element means there is less vignetting and faster Autofocus as well (nikon's autofocus is SLOW) . So i ordered the Sigma from my local shop but when the shop called me and tell me my sigma has arrived, i end up bought the Nikon 50mm f/1.4G (which they also have in stock)
Reason? i got a few really bad autofocus pics when i was doing the test shots in the shop. I've repeated shooting a few pictures and still got really bad AF result for some of the shots. The Nikon on the other hand, even though the autofocus is a lot slower, but it's accurate everyt single shot. As you've said, the price difference is very small, the sigma has better picture quality but for a large aperture lens, i consider the AF accuracy one of the most important thing so i end up picking up the Nikon and took it home. My friend told me he bought the sigma for his canon 5D Mk2 and end up having similar AF problem so he returned it as well. It doesn't mean every sigma 50mm f/1.4 HSM would have AF problem, but if you really want it, i highly recommend you take your camera to the shop, test it thoroughly and make sure the AF is accurate when you are shooting nearby, medium distance and far away objects.
I've posted up my comments here:
http://www.nikonjin.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=53
and here is my thread that i took 30 photos (1 per day) with my 50mm f/1.4G ... most of the photo are straight JPG out of camera with no postprocessing
http://www.nikonjin.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=208
(04-14-2010 10:06 PM)yellow15 Wrote: [ -> ]Hi Blue, welcome to the forum!
I was in the same position like you choosing between the Nikon 50mm f/1.4G and Sigma 50mm f/1.4 HSM. After doing lots of research, i believe the Sigma is the one that gives better overall picture quality, it is slightly sharper overall, has more creamy bokeh and the super large front element means there is less vignetting and faster Autofocus as well (nikon's autofocus is SLOW) . So i ordered the Sigma from my local shop but when the shop called me and tell me my sigma has arrived, i end up bought the Nikon 50mm f/1.4G (which they also have in stock)
Reason? i got a few really bad autofocus pics when i was doing the test shots in the shop. I've repeated shooting a few pictures and still got really bad AF result for some of the shots. The Nikon on the other hand, even though the autofocus is a lot slower, but it's accurate everyt single shot. As you've said, the price difference is very small, the sigma has better picture quality but for a large aperture lens, i consider the AF accuracy one of the most important thing so i end up picking up the Nikon and took it home. My friend told me he bought the sigma for his canon 5D Mk2 and end up having similar AF problem so he returned it as well. It doesn't mean every sigma 50mm f/1.4 HSM would have AF problem, but if you really want it, i highly recommend you take your camera to the shop, test it thoroughly and make sure the AF is accurate when you are shooting nearby, medium distance and far away objects.
I've posted up my comments here: http://www.nikonjin.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=53
and here is my thread that i took 30 photos (1 per day) with my 50mm f/1.4G ... most of the photo are straight JPG out of camera with no postprocessing
http://www.nikonjin.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=208
So very kind of you to take the time to help out. I was leaning in the Nikon direction, overall. Just leaning. Now I'll get my D5000 and head to Grays of Westminster in London and try out the lens.
Judging by your shots... the lens has a very fine crisp fill to it that I already like very much.
cheers