As part of Sigma’s Contemporary line of lenses, 56mm f/1.4 DCDN Designed to deliver outstanding image quality and performance, all in a small, convenient package. With a 35mm-equivalent focal length of 84mm, this lens is well-suited for portraiture, street photography, pet photography, travel work, and any low-light photography situation.
specifications
- 10 elements in 6 groups
- Viewing Angle 28.5° (Sony E, L Mount, Fujifilm X), 26.9° (Canon EF-M), 21.9° (Micro 4/3)
- Number of blades: 9 (rounded)
- Maximum aperture: f/1.4
- Minimum aperture f/16
- Minimum focusing distance: 50 cm / 19.7 inches.
- Filter size: 55 mm
- Maximum Magnification: 1:7.4
- Weight: 280 g / 9.9 oz. (Sony E, Canon EF-M, Fujifilm X), 285g / 10.1 oz. (L Mount), 256 g / 9.0 oz. (Vi 4/3)
- Dimensions: 66.5 x 59.5mm / 2.6 x 2.3 inches (Sony E, Canon EF-M), 66.5 x 59.8mm / 2.6 x 2.4 inches (Fujifilm X), 66.5 x 57.5mm / 2.6 x 2.3 inches (L-mount), 66.5 x 58.1mm / 2.6 x 2.3 inches (Micro 4/3)
Quality build
The 56mm f/1.4 lens is very well built, fitted and premium finish. This lens features a large rubber focus ring and a weather-resistant brass mount that fits snugly into the camera body. When fitted to the Fujifilm X-T4, it has the same build quality as the camera and makes for a great combination. The lens is made of TSC (Heat Stabilized Composite), which is less prone to distortion than aluminum and offers precise texture.
Ergonomics and handling
One of the best things about this lens is how compact it is. The 56mm is a small but fast option that will suit street photographers or those taking day-to-day portraits. The large focus ring is appreciated and makes manual focusing easy. Even with the lens hood attached, the lens retains its rather compact form. The size and shape of the lens make it a perfect balance for a camera like the Fujifilm X-T4, and it’s fun to carry around all day for shooting that this combo doesn’t. never feels heavy or heavy. My only criticism regarding the handling is that the lens lacks a physical aperture ring. This is not a dealbreaker for me at all, but I prefer the physical aperture ring to using the rear command dial on the camera to change aperture. If you’re using a camera that doesn’t have an analog dial, this is clearly not a concern.
Performance
Focusing on the 56mm was quick and smooth, and I found it to have the same speed and accuracy as the Fujifilm 16-55mm f/2.8 lens I’ve used a lot. In video as well as stills, the lens focuses smoothly without much hunting. However, I had problems with brightly backlit subjects, especially when taking photos with the bright sun in the background. Since the X-T4 struggles in this situation no matter what lens is attached, it’s more likely a limitation of the camera than any limitation in the lens I’ve encountered.
Image quality
The 56mm’s image quality is excellent. I took various photos over the course of a few days and was impressed with the sharpness, color saturation, and overall quality. I carried this lens with me for a day to shoot portraits and landscapes in a beautiful Long Island town called Northport, as well as to a local nature trail. Although I used a few Fujifilm original film simulations, most of the photos I took were in standard Provia simulations and edited in post-production. As expected, this lens is great for portraiture and offers pleasing bokeh and skin tones. According to Sigma, the 56mm’s Super Multi-Layer Coating makes it resistant to flare and ghosting when shooting in strong backlight. I’ve noticed that in my photos, flare is very well controlled, like in the photo of my daughter above. Overall, I’m quite satisfied with the image quality.
Conclusion
This is the second Sigma Contemporary lens I’ve tested, and as with the 18-50mm f/2.8 I’ve used before, I’m extremely impressed with the 56mm in terms of texture quality, size, and texture. , processing power and image quality. This lens is excellent value for the dollar and is sturdy enough for any use from professional to casual. Photographers who do a lot of outdoor work in a variety of weather conditions will appreciate the rugged construction that is dust and moisture resistant. Ultimately, the small size means that the 56mm f/1.4 will pair perfectly with many compact cameras and even those that aren’t so compact. This lens is available for Canon EF-M, Micro Four Thirds, Sony E, Leica L and Fujifilm X Mount cameras.
What I Like
- Strong build quality
- Weatherproof metal mount
- Fast and silent autofocus
- Great picture quality
- Compact size
What I don’t like
You can select the Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Modern lens by clicking this.
