Sigma 50mm f1.2 DG DN Art REVIEW vs Sony 50 1.2 GM

[@cameralabs]

My Sigma 50mm f1.2 DG DN Art review: as good as the Sony for ⅔ the price! Order the Sigma 50mm f1.2 DG DN Art from B&H: bhpho.to/43Cbu2i or WEX UK: tidd.ly/43xSQs8 Sell your used gear to MPB at: bit.ly/3ULU9yL Buy used gear from MPB at: prf.hn/l/YLqwRAP Buy Gordon a coffee: www.paypal.me/cameralabs Gordon's In Camera book: amzn.to/2n61PfI / Amazon uk: amzn.to/2mBqRVZ Cameralabs merchandise: redbubble.com/people/cameralabs/shop Gordon’s retro gear channel: kzbin.info Equipment used for producing my videos DJI Osmo Pocket 3: click.dji.com/AIOhqT-LWUFDq-bGk8hD4Q?pm=link Panasonic Lumix S5 II: amzn.to/3Hf5IcI Sony A6400: prf.hn/l/pRO0wp5 Sony e 24mm f1.8: amzn.to/2TqWNzk Rode NT USB mic: amzn.to/3AdHcUp Rode Wireless Go II mic: amzn.to/3xkCvGo Rode Lavalier Go mic: amzn.to/3ygzzKY Godox UL150 light: amzn.to/2VpVbXE Godox QR-P70 softbox: amzn.to/3yQfGdF MacBook Pro 14in (16GB / 1TB): amzn.to/3PrKbPV 00:00 - Sigma 50mm f1.2 DG DN Art introduction and rivals 02:23 - Sigma 50mm f1.2 DG DN Art design, build and accessories 03:10 - Sigma 50mm f1.2 DG DN Art controls 03:48 - Sigma 50mm f1.2 DG DN Art focusing 05:27 - Sigma 50mm f1.2 DG DN Art focus breathing 07:03 - Sigma 50mm f1.2 DG DN Art with IBIS 07:30 - Sigma 50mm f1.2 DG DN Art quality landscape 08:53 - Sigma 50mm f1.2 DG DN Art quality portrait 09:39 - Sigma 50mm f1.2 DG DN Art quality bokeh 11:14 - Sigma 50mm f1.2 DG DN Art quality macro 12:01 - Sigma 50mm f1.2 DG DN Art verdict and sample images Music: www.davidcuttermusic.com / @dcuttermusic As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

[@yohannsphotographyvideogra9542]

sigma 400 less is not worth it ! with what u will lose on sony speed updates

[@minusinfinity6974]

Gordon I can't wait for you to review the Viltrox 50 f/1.2 LAB when it comes out. To me the Sigma seemed to have a bit nicer rendering and focus breathing looked like it was 3x less at least.

[@cre810sion]

My Sony 50 1.2 will live on..... Now if only Sigma can put out an 85 1.2 or, better yet, a 105 1.4 DG DN, then I can complete my lens roster!

[@cameralabs]

Your Sony 50 1.2 is still one of the best around!

[@robertsaca3512]

Sigma already have the 1.4/105 native to Sony E

[@cameralabs]

@@robertsaca3512 kind of, the current 105 f1.4 is a DG HSM, so it's basically a DSLR lens with a built in adapter for, say, Sony E. It's not the same as a truly native mirrorless design which they label DG DN. They do have a 105 DG DN, but it's the 2.8 Macro.

[@Mattrossphoto]

13 blades look great! Nice. I like the sigma blobs more

[@PixelGreis]

Completely agree with you on the topic of focus breathing. I think it’s worth mentioning, especially in comparison, just so everyone knows what’s coming, but ultimately it’s not in the dealbreaker category for most use cases. Thanks once again for working your genuine real life magic on this review, your assessment is super helpful and greatly appreciated!

[@cameralabs]

Thanks, you're very welcome!

[@ashley-paul]

To me, it matters quite a bit on wide angle lenses, but by 50mm, I don't think it's really a problem anymore.

[@daustonian9331]

Thanks Gordon, and as far as Nikon Z mount, I’ve had great luck using the Megadap E-Z adapter for all my Sony glass. It’s a lot cheaper than buying double, I get to pick from both systems, and Nikon actually updates its flagships with firmware updates, unlike my A1!

[@patrickjean-philippe7679]

Sony just pulled out their latest A1 firmware update on day of its release. Good I did not update, I usually wait 2-3 months…

[@Jawad.1]

@daustonian9331 How does the Megadap E-Z adapter copes with barrel distortion. For example, if you use Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN without in-body corrections on Sony cameras, the lens produces horrendous barrel distortions, but when in-body corrections are turned *on* on Sony cameras, the lens produces no barrel distortion at all. Will Nikon camera body be able to do the same when 85mm F1.4 DG DN lens is used on Z mount through Megadap E-Z adapter?

[@daustonian9331]

@@Jawad.1 I don't have that lens specifically, or I'd try it for you. I do have Sony and Tamron lenses and Lightroom picks up on the odd combination and adds adjustments. When I try to manually pick lenses in Lightroom, it doesn't always let me pick the mismatch, so it can be peculiar. I do own some native Nikon Z glass too, along with Sony cameras and if I'm headed to a wedding or similar, I'll still make sure I have native to native on my person. I did pass on the Nikon 180-600 because my Sony 200-600 does just fine on the Z8. For the low cost, it made me dip my toe into Nikon and I've liked the experience.

[@Jawad.1]

@@daustonian9331 Thanks 👍

[@mchlhth]

Thanks for the review! In responding to your comment on focus breathing, I feel the only camera lens that I've ever owned where it was an issue was the Sigma 50-100mm f/1.8 DC DN Art. I generally expect some breathing between near and far distances and frame accordingly, but the 50-100mm showed frustrating amounts of breathing when making even minor changes in distance, so much that I struggled to get decent framing in environmental portrait shots without having to constantly move the camera around. I'm usually not super fussy about lenses, but that was the one that sticks out in my mind as being a disappointment, all because of focus breathing.

[@cameralabs]

Yes, that sounds like it's pretty bad if it's actually affecting the composition

[@zollieuncle9647]

Thanks for the review! Although I have the 50/1.2GM, but glad to see the push from Sigma which hopefully keeps Sony's ego within tolerance.

[@cameralabs]

You still have one of the best lenses around!

[@mikaelnilsson5912]

Beautiful pictures Gordon!

[@cameralabs]

Thankyou!

[@Stellar-Nucleosynthesis]

Really interesting. I'd pick one up if I didn't already own the 50 1.2 GM. I hope to see a macro lens from Sigma on the E mount, Sony seemingly won't make a new updated one.

[@cameralabs]

Yep, if you already have the Sony 50 1.2 GM, staick with it, and it's still an amazing lens which also supports all their body features. PS - Sigma does have a macro lens in the e-mount: 105mm F2.8 DG DN MACRO | Art

[@Stellar-Nucleosynthesis]

@@cameralabs Oh? I was not aware of this, thank you for the information! Will look into it for sure.

[@vacuumandgaspressurecoexisting]

This lens is disruptive. Very cool.

[@mallib]

Great review as always, thanks Gordon. I wish they would have sent you E-mount version!

[@cameralabs]

It's the luck of the draw, but my results equally apply to both versions.

[@classic.cameras]

Wondering Gordon if you could do a lens comparison between this new lens, the f1.4 and the original 1.4 ART lens from 2014.

[@cameralabs]

Hmmm, I know that's a favourite of yours! It would be interesting, but I suspect it wouldn't get enough views to make it worth the time, but you could get some idea by comparing tests from both models. I think Thomas reviewed the original on my website.

[@rendermanpro]

2 portraits with 3 years difference - no way, like you didn't get any older

[@cameralabs]

BEST COMMENT!

[@cyvidal10]

@0:29 - does the 50mm F1.4 version suffer from bad focusing like the 35mm F1.4? thanks

[@cameralabs]

Sorry I can't remember individual results, but everything I know about them are in my reviews. I've tested most of them.

[@stkuj]

It would be interesting to see a comparison of the Sigma 1.4 vs 1.2 versions as there is a $500 difference - especially if you end up stopping down to (say) F2 ...

[@cameralabs]

Yes, I'd be interested in that too, but I try to do similar tests so if you look at my Sony 59 1.4 GM video, you'll be able to do some comparisons. That one includes the Sigma 50 1.4

[@nat-lj8kt]

I feel that Sigma 1.2 is the value proposition even though it's moee expensive. Besides the faster aperture, it has many other better optical features for the keen eye to see. Would someone no obsessed like us notice? Maybe not :)

[@Keilikeramen]

I save money for 50 1.2gm but I also have s5ii 😢very tough choice sigma 50 1.2 with lumix stabilize must be lowlight beast

[@aiseurnae5976]

You should try the S Pro 50, it is not f1.2 but the rendering is fantastic.

[@kennethcheong4498]

You said it, if only there was an RF mount for this lens, but now that I already own the L lens, its a little late.

[@nat-lj8kt]

Specular highlights in the corners of the Sigma are not round and also not exactly cats eye shape until stopped down a lot. Other than that it seems excellent. 2/3 price and 100% the value. We can nitpick things like absolute sharpness, vignetting, LOCA or nitpick on focus speed, fps etc but regardless these are two excellent lenses worth owning. Well done Sigma!

[@mikelyon5595]

I wonder how this new Sigma lens will work on the SL3?

[@cameralabs]

I assume like any other L mount?

[@artmaltman]

Why did the Sigma portrait look so cool, Sony so yellow? Usually Sigmas are a little more yellow than Sony.

[@cameralabs]

Well they were taken at very different times under different conditions.

[@duvalpenny100]

Wow, the side by side showing the focus breathing was pretty astonishing. The Sony has some pretty serious breathing. Awesome video!

[@cameralabs]

Thanks, yes, their breathing was quite pronounced, but it will work with their compensation

[@MichaelDrips]

I’m always impressed with the quality of your work. I’m acquiring a 6700 soon, but not going with either of these 50mm lenses. My requirements don’t need that size. Keep up your excellent work !

[@cameralabs]

Thanks! Hope you enjoy your 6700...

[@MichaelDrips]

@@cameralabs I’m jumping past the ZV E10, due to weather resistance (I do mostly street photography nowadays) and your influential reviews.

[@tapptom]

Good see ya Gordon Best reviews!!

[@cameralabs]

Thanks!

[@lackoliver55]

Gordon! I'm now watching this wonderful review while enjoying my morning coffee. But what am I to do at lunch time? My schedule is all backwards now...

[@cameralabs]

Sorry about that! You could watch it twice...! Or check out my new channel, Gordon's Travel Tips! kzbin.info/door/AYM5JlNSd0PvFGT5gz4ZRA

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Great very detailed review as usual Gordan!

[@cameralabs]

Thanks Richard!

[@KurtisPape]

I don't think any typical youtube viewer would ever notice moderately strong focus breathing, they wouldn't even know what focus breathing is. So for sure wouldn't notice the low focus breathing of this sigma lens.

[@Hawaiipaul]

You are right, but someone might want to use it for some more serious film work

[@Dewabarasunderan]

A 1.2 lens is generally not aimed at the general KZbin viewer.

[@KurtisPape]

@@Dewabarasunderan F1.2 if perfect for talking head youtube videos where the backdrop is messy. There are youtubers that upgraded from F1.4 to F1.2 for just that reason

[@KurtisPape]

@@Hawaiipaul For sure, but I just like to remind that us photographers or film makers sometimes obsess about things that only fellow filmmakers would care about. I still obsess about perfection in my photography though, I can't have any sloppy masks or slightly out of focus images etc.

[@TheSnoringGamer]

Under normal usage I agree, but where there is a transition between very close and far it really can be distracting, it doesn't matter if you know what it is. I remember seeing it in feature films long before I had a clue what focus breathing even was, but it always jumped out at me as I thought it looked weird. But people obsess over it a bit too much, I doubt most people are making content where you would encounter it.

[@larryzapata2614]

This sigma breathing I can't even notice. I've seen worst of some Netflix shows. The Sony uncorrected is horrendous and with the in camera correction ends up being a 58mm 1.4

[@cameralabs]

I hate spotting lens aberrations on TV! I always see coloured fringing!

[@dreammachine86]

Hmm...it never crossed my mind before that the breathing compensation feature actually ends up giving you a smaller equivalent aperture. Of course it does as it's cropping! So with the compensation turned on you're not really getting the full wide aperture look you're paying for. Personally I'm intending to get an E Mount camera soon and it's actually a lot of the third party lenses that are tempting.

[@ПётрБ-с2ц]

09:48 am I supposed to be ignoring that harsh decoration beneath the star? That looks properly terrible.

[@sofiaPenxa]

hi Gordon can u please recommend to me i looking for camera for traveling for video shooting my kids ,sharpnes photos as well Ibis and i looking for around 2000eur if u dont mind please Thanks regards Sofia

[@cameralabs]

Does the body need IBIS or would you be ok with a lens that was stabilised instead?

[@sofiaPenxa]

@@cameralabs body ibis Thanks

[@cameralabs]

@@sofiaPenxa you could try the Lumix S5 II, or the Sony A7 III, or Canon R7, each with their respective kit lenses.

[@sofiaPenxa]

@@cameralabs probably Canon r7 but not so many lenses Whitch one is good ? Tks

[@cameralabs]

@@sofiaPenxa get the kit lens that they do in a bundle as it'll be more affordable. Maybe the RFS 18-150 as a do-it-all zoom? I'd also consider the R8+24-105 STM, even though the body doesn't have IBIS, the lens is stabilized and it's a good option.

[@maZec31]

Thank you for your videos Gordon. Great review just like always!!

[@cameralabs]

Thankyou!

[@peoplevrobot]

At 10.50 the colors look nicer (punchier) on the Sony vs the Sigma

[@brugj03]

I think the typical hard and bluish signature of sigma is visible. The sony has nicer and more natural color, the sigma seems sharper because the bluish hue accentuates sharpness. I never bought a sigma lens because of their color. They`re not bad, i only hate the bluish hue and hard rendering. Just my opinion.

[@cameralabs]

It's an interesting observation.

[@AjaySingh-228]

image quality is amazing,good option for someone looking for a fast autofocus prime lens Sir

[@cameralabs]

Glad you like it!

[@AjaySingh-228]

@@cameralabs 😀✌

[@mvp_kryptonite]

Sigma doing well with this one

[@slothsarecool]

feel like we are so far beyond the point that any of this stuff matters anymore

[@cameralabs]

You may enjoy my Dino Bytes channel

[@jeffrydemeyer5433]

I wonder if it really costs that much more to make one of these vs a 1.4. or if they are just charging twice because they can.

[@nukert658]

someone tell sigma to ramp up x mount lenses! sony an nikon got enough lol

[@yohannsphotographyvideogra9542]

i stick to my sony 50 1.2 i was thinking that the two extra blads will make a difference on sigma vs sony but i did not see it therfore sony it is

[@cameralabs]

Definitely if you have the Sony, keep it. There's only minor differences with those blades.

[@georgescanvas]

Respect and then some to anyone with an Olive tree in their back yard.

[@cameralabs]

Thanks, it's a bit optimistic for the UK, but it looks nice...

[@SinaFarhat]

Nice! :)

[@enxo_m]

I don’t think you should compare the MSRP, market price of GM is similar to the Sigma one lol

[@cameralabs]

I always quote the current prices from B&H and WEX in the USA and UK for my reviews.

[@JEmmertz]

My experience with Sigma is that they can produce marvelous images when manually focused, but as soon as they pretend to "autofocus" they will fail and be non-consistent. On Canon bodies you won't even be able to microadjust enough much to compensate. And if you do, it will still not be valid the next time you press the shutter and try to focus. It will be pure luck if it nails the focus. Maybe that Sony owners will have more luck... (I've done the tests on a Sigma 50mm f/1.4 on APS-C [2 bodies] and on full frame [2 bodies], and a 1.2 should be even harder to get right)

[@cameralabs]

Were they on DSLRs or mirrorless cameras? Mirrorless should be able to focus with the main imaging sensor, which reduces back-focus issues seen on DSLRs. But they're still not immune.

[@JEmmertz]

@@cameralabs Pure DSLR's (50D, 7D, 5D [mark something something], and latest on my 1DX Mark III) Sigma "offered" to adjust them if I just sent in the lens and the body. But it would only adjust it to one specific body and they would leave no guarantee what so ever on any other body. It would take them a month and I would be forced to send in both lens and camera. I would have to pay for the shipment and the job, and they refused to say anything was wrong with their lens in the first place. So, the lens is good in general, but do not expect it to perform in a consistent way. By the way: Do you know anyone that would like an extremely expensive door stop??

[@JEmmertz]

Also: I own that Sigma lens, so I don't have to blow sunshine up anyones behind to make it look like it is a good lens.

[@cameralabs]

@@JEmmertz yeah, DSLRs can have back or front focusing problems with some lenses. It's the luck of the draw. Some need adjustment, some don't. I've had it on first and third party, expensive and cheap. Live view focusing mostly resolves this, which is what mirrorless cameras use all the time. If live view resolves the focusing accuracy on a DSLR then the problem is front or back focusing with that particular combo. But I agree even on mirrorless cameras that first party lenses tend to focus more consistently and faster than third party ones, especially on Sony bodies.

[@tom_nuyts]

thx for your efforts.... why so late, a super-nifty-nifty ....

[@hikertrashfilms]

This proves without question that the 50mm F1.4 from Sony is not a "GM", it's a "LM". It's insulting to our intelligence to have two "50GM" models. It's a 50G and nothing more. I would never put the 50LM on my A1

[@tdc_2021]

Depends what you use them for but I'd take the Sony 50mm 1.4 over these lenses just because of the compact size.

[@cameralabs]

Did you see my review of the Sony 50 1.4 GM? It's a REALLY good lens.

[@hikertrashfilms]

yeah.. & I own the A1 & the real 50GM. The 1.4 should of never been called a 50GM, its a "G" glass for videographers while the GM is for photographers. It confuses customers, and I am so happy Sigma came out with this 1.2, because it just further exposes the marketing manipulation Sony engaged in last year. Rumor sites said the 85mm F1.2 GM was dropping in March of 2023 and when the 50 1.4 dropped it was an insult to all photographers who use E-Mount @@cameralabs

[@hikertrashfilms]

@@tdc_2021 it sounds like you are weak if you cant deploy the 50mm F1.2, because I always carry the 50mm F1.2 on the A1 & 20mm F1.8 on the R4 while backpacking up and down mountains and trainhopping across the Continent. You sound weak, "mentally" & FF isn't for you

[@tdc_2021]

@@hikertrashfilms lol, how strange. Wishing you a cheerful day nonetheless.