Sigma 40mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art

Testers found it exceptionally sharp from f/1.4, with corner performance at full aperture that very few standard primes match, and near-zero longitudinal and lateral chromatic aberration. Distortion is minimal and flare resistance is good for a 16-element design.

The objections are almost entirely about bulk and weight, which make it awkward on smaller Sony bodies. AF on the native E version is accurate and supports AF-C and Eye AF, but the HSM drive is not as fast or quiet as Sony's linear motors, and the lens was rated less suited to video than newer DG DN designs.

Owners who bought it for studio, product and commercial work are very happy with the resolution and the lack of fringing, and several say it out-resolves anything else in their bag. The 40mm field of view grows on people who found 35mm too wide and 50mm too tight.

The most common complaint is the weight on a gimbal or a long day of handheld shooting, followed by the large 82mm filter and front-heavy balance. With the newer, much lighter DG DN primes available, many describe it as a specialist tool rather than an everyday lens.