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Many Full Frame cinema lenses started their lives as still photography lenses, but few start with specs as impressive as SIGMA's FF High Speed lenses. Based on SIGMA's Art series of photography lenses, from 20mm to 105mm they are all f1.4 (T1.5) and the 14mm and 135mm are f1.8 (T2). It's as if they built their still lenses knowing they would eventually put them in cinema housings.
They are sharp, with a slightly warm tone. They are well corrected for aberrations. Bokeh is very smooth. They are small and light weight lenses, with weather-sealed robust housings.
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Minor SA, CA throughout. Cleans up around T2.8.
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The SIGMA FF High Speed lenses might get the trophy for most performance per dollar of any set we tested. Despite their affordable price point, The SIGMAs are quite impressive. From 20mm to 105mm, they are all T1.5, and perform exceptionally even wide open. Chromatic aberration is very well controlled. The lenses are extremely sharp, and have very smooth, soft bokeh.
The lenses are a bit warmer than most of the modern lenses we tested and tend to shift a bit toward red/magenta. I believe this is due to their greenish/yellow coatings, which are reflecting more green light, and letting though a bit more of the red spectrum. Those coatings also result in very modern looking, green lens flares/ghosts. Veiling flare is well controlled, and they do well in high-contrast lighting situations.
I am personally not a fan of the way these lenses flare, but that's me. others may love it. If you need a sharp, clean, modern look, these lenses can keep up with lenses costing significantly more. They are also small, light, and have very robust, weather-sealed housings that feel like they will be reliable for years of use.
I've always loved the SIGMA FF High Speeds. Before these lenses came out, I've only known of SIGMA as strictly a still lens manufacturer. Well, not anymore. The SIGMA High Speeds don't disappoint. They're sharp, accurate, consistent throughout their huge lineup of ten lenses! from 14mm to 135mm with 8 of the 10 at a T1.5! They were a must-have in our test and I'm so glad we were able to showcase them!
I think it’s fair to say that the SIGMA Cine Primes have set the bar across the cinema lens market as far as price to performance goes. It’s hard to find a lens with equal image quality, build quality, speed, size and weight, at the price of the Sigma Cine Primes.
The most common observation with these is that they’re too clinical and that they don’t have enough character to which SIGMA replied with the Classic Primes. The two gems that really stick out are the newer 40mm for it’s stunning image quality. The 14mm and 135mm are also technical achievements to me considering their size, weight, image quality, and unique T2 aperture.
In my opinion, Sigma was the first modern company to develop a FF cine lens with all the right characteristics. Definitely my go to set when I want a clean modern look, but not a clinically perfect image. They are all fast and sharp and I even like the flare (rare for modern glass). These Sigma Primes check all the right boxes for me and I expect them to be around for the long haul. Also, a wonderful set for an owner/operator.
