SIGMA 50mm F1.2 DG DN | Art Lens Announced

Image Credit: Sigma

Capture portraits with beautiful depth-of-field effects, moody low-light landscapes and expressive travel shots with the new SIGMA 50mm F1.2 DG DN | Art for L-Mount and Sony E-mount mirrorless systems. The bright F1.2 aperture, reliable auto focus and lightweight construction make it a versatile photographic tool to use in any situation. Designed with 13 rounded diaphragm blades and optics that effectively reduce aberrations, the SIGMA 50mm F1.2 DG DN | Art produces ultra sharp images with outstanding bokeh. Its weight of 745g*, compact size and internal focus system with dual HLA motors allow for rapid and reliable focus for both still and video. Perfect for use on lightweight gimbal setups.

^{*L-Mount specification}

Key features

Bright F1.2 aperture with outstanding optical quality

The SIGMA 50mm F1.2 DG DN | Art features a bright F1.2 aperture with a 13 rounded diaphragm blades that produces beautiful bokeh effects. Utilising the latest optical design techniques, the lens produces sharp images across the whole frame with exceptional contrast and colour. Focus breathing is also heavilysuppressed allowing videographers to capture creative shots with ease.

Impressive optical quality through the entire focusing range

By correcting spherical aberration, sagittal coma flare, axial chromatic aberration, and other aberrations such as double-line bokeh, the lens produces a natural bokeh with a smooth blur and without colour bleeding from the focal plane. The lens also implements a floating focus system that improves its short-range performance. This ensures a high-level of optical quality throughout the entire focusing range.

SIGMA’s first ever 13 diaphragm blade lens

New to the SIGMA 50mm F1.2 DG DN | Art is the implementation of a 13 rounded diaphragm blade design. When shooting subjects at F1.2, the aperture maintains its circular shape. Photographers can effortlessly create portraits and still life shots with impressive background separation and pleasingly round bokeh balls.

Designed to minimise focus breathing, flare and ghosting

The lens has been optimised through its optical construction and focus group arrangements to significantly suppress focus breathing. Focus shift is also minimised, creating a natural focus shift look when recording video. Flare and ghosting are also effectively reduced, even when shooting in heavily backlit environments such as street and event photography.

Image Credit: Sigma

Lightweight design suitable for a wide range of applications

Designed to be used anytime, anywhere, the SIGMA 50mm F1.2 DG DN | Art has been constructed using new design techniques and technology to produce an incredibly lightweight and portable lens. Perfect for photographers who require lightweight kit without compromising on quality.

Dual HLA motor

Effortlessly and reliably focus on your subject thanks to the newly revised focusing system. The lens features a floating focusing system that uses dual HLA (High-response Linear Actuator) motors. The use of these motors reduces the lens’s size without compromising performance. Focusing is fast, quiet and accurate, perfect for every situation.

Unique lens and mechanical design

By utilising state-of-the-art production technology at SIGMA’s manufacturing base in Aizu, Japan, each glass element has been reduced in size whilst retaining elements with a high refractive index. Four aspherical glass elements and a floating focus system are also implemented to further reduce the lens’s overall size and effectively reduce aberrations. These reductions make the SIGMA 50mm F1.2 DG DN | Art the lightest lens in its class, with a weight of 745g*. It is 30% lighter than the SIGMA 35mm F1.2 DG DN | Art which shares the same aperture.

^{*L-Mount specification. As an AF 50mm F1.2 interchangeable lens for full-frame mirrorless cameras.}(As of March 2024 by SIGMA)

A variety of shooting assist functions

The lens is equipped with an AFL button which can be assigned to a range of functions via the camera menu on supported cameras. L-Mount users can customise the button further using the UD-11 USB Dock. Effortlessly control the depth-of-field using the built-in aperture control ring and make your images stand out from the crowd. The aperture ring lock switch prevents the ring from accidental knocks. Use the aperture click switch to turn the click of the aperture ring on or off. Ideal for when shooting video and quiet scenes.

Dust and splash resistant structure

In addition to a dust and splash resistant structure, the front element of the lens features a water and oil repellent coating, allowing photographers to shoot without concern even in harsh outdoor environments.

*The structure is designed to be dust and splash resistant, but not waterproof. Be careful not to bring the lens in contact with a large amount of water. Water inside the lens may cause major damage and even render the lens unrepairable.

Including a petal-type hood with lock

A dedicated petal-shaped hood is supplied. A locking mechanism is provided for secure attachment.

Image Credit: Sigma

Feature summary

• Lens construction: 17 elements in 12 groups (4 aspherical elements)

• Inner focus system

• Compatible with high-speed autofocus

• HLA (High-response Linear Actuator)

• Compatible with Lens Aberration Correction

*Function available on supported cameras only. Available corrections or auto correction functionality may vary depending on the camera model.

*On cameras where lens aberration correction is controlled with‘ON’ or ‘OFF’ in the camera menu, please set all aberration correction functions to ‘ON‘(AUTO).

• Supports DMF and AF+MF

• Compatible with AF assist (for Sony E-mount only)

• Super Multi-Layer Coating

• Water and Oil Repellent Coating (front element)

• Aperture ring

• Aperture ring click switch

• Aperture ring lock switch

• AFL button

^{*Function available on supported cameras only. Available functions may vary depending on the camera used.}

• Focus Mode switch

• Support for switching between linear and non-linear focus ring settings (for L-Mount only)

^{*Function available on supported cameras only.}

• Dust and Splash Resistant Structure

• Petal-type hood with lock LH782-03

• Compatible with SIGMA USB DOCK UD-11 (sold separately / for L-Mount only)

• Designed to minimize flare and ghosting

• Every single lens undergoes SIGMA’s proprietary MTF measuring system

• 13-blade rounded diaphragm

• High-precision, durable brass bayonet mount

• Mount Conversion Service available

• “Made in Aizu, Japan“ craftsmanship

Image Credit: Sigma

Key specifications (The figures below are for L-Mount)

Lens construction: 17 elements in 12groups (4 aspherical elements)

Number of diaphragm blades: 13 (rounded diaphragm)

Minimum aperture: F16

Minimum focusing distance: 40cm

Maximum magnification ratio: 1:6.2

Filter size: 72mm

Dimensions (max diameter x length): 81.0mm x 108.8mm

Weight: 745g

The SIGMA 50mm F1.2 DG DN | Art lens’s on-sale date is on 18 April 2024 with a UK SRP of £1,299.

For more information, please visit the SIGMA website.