Sigma announces 50mm F1.4 CL DG Contemporary

Sigma has announced the 50mm F1.4 DG Contemporary, a compact full-frame prime lens designed to combine a fast maximum aperture with a classic approach to image rendering.

Available in Sony E and Leica L mounts, the new lens joins Sigma’s I Series, which focuses on compact lenses with metal construction and tactile physical controls.

Measuring approximately 5cm long and weighing 374g, the 50mm f/1.4 is designed to be portable enough for everyday photography while offering the shallow depth of field and low-light performance associated with a fast f/1.4 lens.

Sigma says the optical design aims to produce smooth background blur and gentle tonal transitions, drawing on the rendering characteristics of classic lenses. The construction comprises nine elements in six groups, including one FLD element and three aspherical elements. A 14-blade aperture is designed to help produce smooth out-of-focus areas.

The lens features a physical aperture ring, manual focus ring and depth-of-field and distance scales, along with a dust- and splash-resistant design. It accepts 52mm filters and has a minimum focusing distance of 45cm.

Autofocus is driven by Sigma's Rotary Direct Drive system, which uses a circular arrangement of coils and magnets to keep the focusing mechanism compact. The focus ring also allows users to switch to manual focus.

While the lens is intended to deliver responsive autofocus for still photography, its focusing system is slower than Sigma's more video-oriented STM and HLA systems, making it a less obvious choice for filmmakers who rely on continuous autofocus.

The Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG Contemporary is available in black or silver. Pre-orders have opened, although pricing and Australian availability have yet to be confirmed.