Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary

Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary
– Posted by AL Lee
Image: Sakura Flower at Gardens by the Bay – shot with Sigma 56mm F1.4 DC DN / Contemporary.

10th March 2019, Singapore – Sigma Singapore sent me the 56mm F1.4 |C| lens somewhere in Jan 2019 and I couldn’t find the right editor to review this lens. Felicia is overseas, Melody is busy, Shiqing is doing part-time courses and Serene is pro-landscape – so ended with no choice, I decided to review this lens myself. The unit that Sigma Singapore sent me was in Micro Four Third mount and I mated it with my Olympus OM-D EM1 MarkII and took it out to Gardens by the Bay where the annual Sakura exhibits are on.

Before I continue, I would like to disclaim (as usual) that we are more interested in how this lens performs rather than the technical part of it. For those information that you might be seeking, you may wish to visit Sigma’ websites to find out more – back here, we just wanna share about our view and user experience of this new lens. If you are cool, read on.

Image: The new Sigma 56mm F1.4 DC DN / Contemporary.

The Sigma 56mm came as a tiny lens to me as I was really expecting something much bigger for a F1.4, measuring just ø66.5mm x 59.5mm – I can slip this little monster into my pocket. Weighing just 280gm, this lens will find its place into any camera bag out there. While the lens barrel is is everything Sigma – from the TSC material to the awesome focusing ring which meets my expectations from a Sigma lens, I would like to share that I am surprised that Sigma didn’t made this an Art lens – because it’s so premium looking and feels expensive when handled.

Image: The new Sigma 56mm F1.4 DC DN / Contemporary.

Inside the lens, there’s 10 elements in 06 groups but wait – Sigma managed to slip in an Aspherical glass and a SLD glass creating sharp and and highly detailed images with near-perfect rendering including the successful elimination of ghosting and distortion. Aperture comes in 09 rounded blades that opens the light gate from F1.4 to F16 and allows the user to focus from 50cm. Not exactly close but with a magnification ratio of 1:7.4, you can always make it up by cropping – if your camera’s resolution is of high resolution/megapixels. The front of the lens takes 55mm screw-on filters and the lens hood + pouch came as part of the retail box.

Image: The new Sigma 56mm F1.4 DC DN / Contemporary.

As we all know – Sigma lenses is still manufactured ONLY in Japan today and QC is guaranteed that every lenses that leaves the production line is of the highest quality that Sigma promises. Lastly, since this unit was meant for Micro Four Third mount – the 56mm is the equivalent of 112mm in 35 full frame format. (Please note for Sony SE mount is 84mm). So I am getting a mid telephoto lens with a high magnification and there’s no macro – I decided to review & test the lens at my favourite haunt – Gardens by the Bay.

Using the lens, I love the company’s Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) focusing in complete silence and focusing speed is fast as expected too. While it is not a macro-designated lens, I am pleased with what this lens had produced at my visit to Gardens by the Bay.
Let’s check out the images! (All images are slightly cropped, adjusted mildly for exposure and we added watermarks – everything else is pretty much as it is from the camera. (You may click on the image and view the image as 100%)

Image: Shot by the new Sigma 56mm F1.4 DC DN / Contemporary.

The Stars at Garden by the Bay currently is Sakura – the cherry blossom flowers! The flowers are small and grow in clusters – so it makes shooting kinda hard – but the Sigma 56mm managed to pull it off – like a pro!

Then, there are other floral & fauna too. Tried shooting some of them. I was holding the camera throughout my hours inside the Flower Dome where the exhibit is ongoing and it was a breeze given the weight of the lens+camera combo. Colors were reproduced nicely and the images captured a lot of details.

Do You like what you are seeing? I love the results! Using the Sigma 56mm had been a joy! We also went indoor to the exhibition area. I forgot to mention, although this lens starts from F1.4, almost all the images on this review were shot between F2 to F4.

As usual, my visit to the Flower Dome will not be complete without visiting the Cactus plots. The Sigma 56mm is indeed a bokeh monster – just too bad its not a macro lens else this lens will be the SUPER LENS for Flowers!

Now let’s see what 56mm (112mm) on an Olympus OM-D EM1 Mark II is capable of.
Below you will see a full size image and a cropped image leaving on 20% of what’s left of the image.

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Quick summary – the New Sigma 56mm F1.4 DC DN | C | is more than just a Contemporary lens – it has the functionality and quality of an Art series lens. Images produced are very sharp with creamy bokeh and the build of the lens is compact and lightweight but built solid. This is a great lens to have in your camera bag as a telephoto, or a street photo lens. Although I used it to shoot flowers for this review – the possibilities with this lens are endless. And you know what? This lens will not burn a hole in your pocket – not at all.

As we publish this review, it’s noted that on this very same day in 2012, we officially started Reviewing Sigma lenses – looking back, its been an exciting 07 years with Sigma!
I will be glad to have this lens from Sigma for/as our long service award! (Hahahahahaha!)

Buy your NEW Sigma 56mm F1.4 DC DN | C | here!

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