I just picked up the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM for use with my 1D X. I had heard a lot of positive things about this lens, both from review sites and more importantly from my friend Rick, who swears by it apart from AF performance. The biggest negative thing about this lens from the review sites was that many copies had front focus AF issues – so bad that they couldn’t be corrected by the lens micro adjust function that many DSLRs have these days. So obviously that was the first thing I checked in the shop when I picked the lens up – just a quick “do you mind?” to the sales girl after I’d set the 1D X to single shot, one-frame, spot AF point and taken a shot focused on her eye! I zoomed into 100% on the 1D X rear LCD and saw that the focus seemed spot on. So with that out of the way, I stopped quickly at a shrine on the way home to give it a basic test. All these shots were hand held, and no sharpening or noise reduction was applied. First I shot at f/2, but then I took a few at f/1.4. All in all, a pretty positive start! I should also add that AF performance on the 1D X was excellent, so it should be good on a 5D MkIII as well. I should also add that the bokeh at f/1.4 is superb!
No problems with the AF on this copy – focused on the eye and the eye was what I got!
Another shishi, another good performance by the new lens!
Here we are at f/1.4 – very acceptable!
As you can see, the bokeh is impressive at f/1.4!
Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM – but you need to lose the hood if you want to use a CPL!
We then tried a few other locations near Kanemi-dake and turned up a few more new species. Finally, we drove back to Kumamoto port and spent a hour searching the mudflats, finding several species of waders. In total we were able to see and identify 77 species of birds, with a few others heard. We also saw Sika Deer, Japanese Hare, Racoon Dog and Yellow Martin (although the latter two were DOR). Several species of reptiles and amphibians were also observed.