Sigma 56mm 1.4 for Fuji X Mount - Real World Review

Long term review of the Sigma 56mm 1.4 lens for Fujifilm x mount cameras.
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Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
01:29 Features & Build
03:43 Image Quality & Samples
05:40 Autofocus Performance
08:41 Pros
09:47 Cons
11:32 Conclusion

[@user-fs5yp8mm6x]

I have 7 x mount lens. Inclunding the 18mm 1.4. the sigma 56mm is still the one that impresses me the most when it comes to sharpness

[@destin-danser]

Agreed! It’s right up there with my 33mm 1.4. The only lens I’ve used for Fuji that was sharper is the 90 f/2.

[@ruff1draft]

Great review. I have recently bought the Nikon 50mm F 1.4 lens for my Nikon D5500 DSLR camera

[@destin-danser]

Thanks! Good luck, 50mm is a great focal length!

[@AndrasMenyo]

Great all rounded review, thanks for sharing. I just bought this lens and the initial photos are very promising. For me spending an additional 500 dollars for a Fuji lens just to get an aperture ring is not worth it.

[@thebitterfig9903]

My issue with the lack of aperture ring is that if I want to use the front dial (which is tiny and fiddly on an X-Pro), it clicks from A to minimum aperture (here f/16) and I have to keep scrolling through all the apertures in 1/3rd stops. And while that's true on a physical aperture dial, it's faster to turn the dial the whole way. A bigger hand movement can cover the distance on a large ring, in a way that the small control dial doesn't allow. If Fuji set it up the other way, and A and the maximum aperture where next to each other, and it only took one click to get from A to f/1.4, I'd buy this lens in a heartbeat. Alternately, if the focus ring was an aperture ring while in AF mode. The fact that the small profile of this lens doesn't block the OVF of the X-Pro is a big selling point. But I know I'd find it frustrating to have to use the front dial for aperture. I don't mind on my Tamron 18-300, since superzoom apertures aren't bright enough that I really feel like I need to control them most of the time--I'm fine leaving it on A. Controlling the shutter is much more important to me with that lens. With the 56, I know I'll want f/1.4 a lot, but not the hassle to switch it back and forth from there and A.

[@destin-danser]

Hey, thanks for pointing out this issue! Definitely not something I've run into as I control my aperture manually 100% of the time - even before Fuji I was an Aperture Priority shooter. These days, I'm shooting manual aperture and shutter speed - if I want AE, I use auto iso. You actually made me pick up my cameras and test this out - the issue you report exists on my X-T3 also, and I can see how that would be annoying if you have to switch in and out of auto aperture frequently. Obviously, on my X-H2 I have a PASM dial so this issue ceases to exist. Interesting note here though, is that while I'm comfortable with the controls on both my X-T3 and X-H2, switching back and forth between the two layouts messes me up big time. I'll probably end up with a second X-H2 eventually for dual camera event work as a result.

[@thebitterfig9903]

@@destin-danser I guess it demonstrates something I feel about physical dials. The way I use my Fuji, I like the ease at switching between various auto and semi auto modes. I can trust the camera to adapt to lighting changes while walking about, and seamlessly switch to a setting if I need a creative effect. I don't have to adjust a separate mode dial on a Fuji. But if I wanted full manual, there isn't really much of a difference between physical dials and PASM control wheels.

[@destin-danser]

Fair enough! Either way, we're spoiled with lots of great equipment these days!

[@FilmSevilla]

I own this lens and it is amazing. Only downside is the lack of aperture ring.

[@destin-danser]

Absolutely! The aperture ring isn’t even important to me, so this lens is virtually perfect.

[@_shreyash_anand]

I want to buy it for my X-T30 but all my muscle memory on this camera is with the aperture ring, so I worry about the lack of aperture ring. I don't care about it when I shoot my friend's cameras without rings, but it's the muscle memory again. I guess I'll have to rent one and find out how much, if any, it bugs me

[@MarchalisVan]

one of my fav go too's on m43... the centre of the lens is pretty nice lol

[@manuelchapa767]

I love this lens, the only shame is the meh weather sealing. I had a case where water found its way to the base of the mount when I got caught by heavy rain. Otherwise its an amazing lens

[@destin-danser]

That is a shame, but I’ve found the weather sealing across the entire Fuji system to have issues at times. It’s stilll very good, but I never even worried about my Nikon D810/D500 - sometimes I second guess the Fuji weather sealing though because I’ve heard of some people having problems with it.

[@manuelchapa767]

@@destin-danser Fujifilm themselves don't state the X-T bodies as weather proof but just weather resistant (whatever that means). With that said, my X-T4 has taken alot of rain (living in Belgium does that) and is perfectly fine so far, and never noticed any issues when using WR Fuji lenses.

[@darkfeign]

I've heard that Sigma lenses are a little poor when it comes to video autofocus, but for photography theyre pretty decent?

[@destin-danser]

Honestly, I haven’t used this lens for very much video so I can’t comment on that. I’m perfectly happy with it for photography though.

[@Kyo-uy9qr]

Nice video as always

[@destin-danser]

Thank you!

[@barbarianslab]

This lens is mostly metal.

[@destin-danser]

As far as I can tell, the only external parts of the lens that are metal are the mount and the darker black area behind the focus ring. The filter rear of the lens body is plastic, as are the filter threads, lens hood mount, and the entire area surrounding the front element. To be clear, I'm not knocking it's build quality, and it feels very solid - but it certainly is not "mostly metal" the way that a Fuji user would be used to from most of the XF primes.