Sigma ART 35mm f/1.4

I recently invested in a 35mm lens, something I'd been looking at for some time. I like the idea of being restricted to that focal length due to the natural need to think more about compositions. We're hoping to visit New York in the not too distant future, and I wanted to be armed with a decent 'urban' lens for that trip too.

After a lot of reading and consideration I settled on the Sigma ART 35mm f/1.4. The first one went back, care of Sigma's usual poor quality control (focus issues as with a number of its lenses) but the second one is a lot better. Not perfect, but I'm willing to accept some inadequacies (minor focus issues, purple fringing at f/1.4 to name a couple) for its strengths.

It's quite a big lens, on camera it feels almost like a telephoto - but with such a wide aperture I guess that's what you'd expect.

Still learning how to use this lens properly, but here are a few recent captures.

I've always liked pylons, not sure why - this particular one taken at Lydiard Park in Swindon. The mono-conversion helps bring out the details and make for a more contrasted photo in my opinion.




Always a fan of macro work, though I've not done much of late - really impressed by the short minimum focus length on this lens.



Some bluebells at West Woods near Marlborough, Wiltshire.




Some more bluebells at West Woods - pretty annoyed I shot this wide open instead of using a smaller aperture to get more of the scene in focus - you live and learn.




My girlfriend Alex isn't the most willing model, so it was nice to get a pretty candid shot of her doing her make-up. The Sigma makes for a pretty good portrait lens too.