Does anyone use the Sigma 35 MM F1.2 DG DN ART L Mount with a Leica SL2 ?

[MrLuckyBoy]

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Dear members of the forum.

I am the recent owner of a SL2  with a Panasonic 50 mm F1.4 S pro.

I am a big fan of shallow DOF an would like to know if any of you own and use the SL2 with Sigma 35 mm f1.2 DG DN Art ?

If so, would you share your experience with portraiture ? Does the Leica AF and portrait mode work properly with this combination?

I am not looking for 100 % hit rate but i want to make sure the combo is somewhat useable wide open in portraiture.

A back up solution would be the 1.4 from sigma as well, which might be more useable.

Unfortunately i can’t afford the Leica 35 at the moment, not to mention that it is not fast enough of a lens for my photography style.

Thanks in advance for all your kind advise.

Chris 

[jaapv]

I hate to break it to you, but the DOF on your 50 mm 1.4 will be considerably more shallow than on the 35 mm 1.2. 

[MrLuckyBoy]

Hi Jaapv,

This is a valid point. I just like the 35 mm when shooting portraits in a tighter space. 

 

[Anakronox]

Yep, I have the lens but will be selling it.  I don’t need the 1.2 aperture and since the lens is an absolute beast, I definitely don’t want to carry it around for low light shooting.  It’s a good lens and the AF performance is good enough.  I haven’t done any portraits with it as I much more prefer the 35/50/90 SL APO set or the 24-90.  I am well past the phase where I want only 1/2 of the iris in focus so these apertures are not useful for me.  I also don’t need it for light gathering since I prefer to use strobes.  Cool if you do, but this lens is a pass for me. 

[FrankX]

vor 15 Stunden schrieb jaapv:

I hate to break it to you, but the DOF on your 50 mm 1.4 will be considerably more shallow than on the 35 mm 1.2. 

That’s only true for the same subject distance, but not for same field of view which is more relevant shooting portraits! 

For the same field of view, depth of field is (almost) only a function of the f-stop used. 

Note: Depth of field defines the sharp zone, not how blurry the background is. 
 

You can try it here: https://dofsimulator.net/en

 

[MrLuckyBoy]

Thanks everyone for your advice;.

[Mick H]

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I use this Sigma 35 f/1.2 with an SL and S1H.  AF works fine for the portraiture that I do.  The extra context is great for environmental portraiture.  The close up focusing is a bonus.  Fringing is minimal.  It reminds me of my Noct 1.0 but at 35mm.  The brightness of the EVF will be dramatically enhanced by the speed of this optic in low light situations.  

[MrLuckyBoy]

14 hours ago, Mick H said:

I use this Sigma 35 f/1.2 with an SL and S1H.  AF works fine for the portraiture that I do.  The extra context is great for environmental portraiture.  The close up focusing is a bonus.  Fringing is minimal.  It reminds me of my Noct 1.0 but at 35mm.  The brightness of the EVF will be dramatically enhanced by the speed of this optic in low light situations.  

Thanks Mick,

I appreciate the time to answer.

Typically, are you shooting often wide open ?

How is the AF behaving with both body ? Any situation where it does hunt ? Is the AF locking with confidence ? 
 

How is face detect performing with the lens ?

Have you found any limitations to your body lens combination in your portraiture work with this setup, except for the weight obviously?

Thanks if you have the time to answer .

 

best regards 

 

[Planetwide]

Here it is on a Panasonic S1r. AF worked well on this camera, and it works the same way on the SL2

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[Stef63]

I also have this lens and only use it very occasionally on the SL2.  It is my only native L lens and by consequence the only AF lens I have.  For my type of photography I do not need AF.  Using this lens in MF mode is not the same as a fully manual R or M lens on an SL2.  Also not being able to preview the effect of DOF makes this unnatural for me.  Some SL user might now say the SL is not for me but I can assure you that my many R lenses (and M) are a joy to use on the SL2

I generally I tend to never sell lenses but this one might be the exception.  Not for the image quality, not for the excellent bokeh wide open.  The size, the weight and operating this lens makes it a strange beast in my large collection of lenses. 

But if the size and weight does not bother you  and AF is what you most of the time rely on to focus… it is a good lens that - considering the price - is a no brainer.

[Mick H]

7 hours ago, MrLuckyBoy said:

Thanks Mick,

I appreciate the time to answer.

Typically, are you shooting often wide open ?

How is the AF behaving with both body ? Any situation where it does hunt ? Is the AF locking with confidence ? 
 

How is face detect performing with the lens ?

Have you found any limitations to your body lens combination in your portraiture work with this setup, except for the weight obviously?

Thanks if you have the time to answer .

 

best regards 

 

Welcome!

I shoot this lens wide open 99% of the time.

AF locks on quickly.  I use AFS single point mostly.  The lens is sharp wide open with ample contrast and this aids AF and MF too.  

Face detect on the SL works.  It's a low tech, first gen implementation on the SL.  The S1H face and eye detect is sticky.  The SL2 should work fine with the Sigma.  Bear in mind, linear focusing and focus throw setting are not options with this lens per Sigma (as of yet).  This is disappointing for video focus pulling and critical manual focus use.

There is one limitation as far as my portraiture work is concerned - off camera flash options.  I would add a Leica HSS flash and remote controller, for HSS up to 1/8000th second, in order to get the most from the SL2 and lens combo.  I have the SF 60 and SF C1.  Note that the Panasonic S cameras will allow use of powerful third party mono-lights with HSS.  I cannot use my AD1200 head and pack light with my SL, unfortunately.  

I am used to the heft my fantastic SL 24-90, and the Sigma 35 f/1.2 Art DG DN is almost the same size and weight.  Note that the aperture ring cannot be locked so it can be bumped accidentally from f/1.2.  It can be set to click or not, but the click detents are not firm.

I hope this helps.  

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[MrLuckyBoy]

5 hours ago, Stef63 said:

I also have this lens and only use it very occasionally on the SL2.  It is my only native L lens and by consequence the only AF lens I have.  For my type of photography I do not need AF.  Using this lens in MF mode is not the same as a fully manual R or M lens on an SL2.  Also not being able to preview the effect of DOF makes this unnatural for me.  Some SL user might now say the SL is not for me but I can assure you that my many R lenses (and M) are a joy to use on the SL2

I generally I tend to never sell lenses but this one might be the exception.  Not for the image quality, not for the excellent bokeh wide open.  The size, the weight and operating this lens makes it a strange beast in my large collection of lenses. 

But if the size and weight does not bother you  and AF is what you most of the time rely on to focus… it is a good lens that - considering the price - is a no brainer.

Thanks Stef63,

I have never tried MF except with my AF lenses, in reality more to check the peaking in the VF or just for fun. Never tried with the real intent to shoot photos. Except with one of my friend’s old Leica couple of years ago. I feel I would miss pictures there as I shoot people on the go who never tend to pause. Snappy and relatable AF makes me feel safer.

 

not claiming for Sony like precision but at least being sure I would bring back a few good prortrait.

when I want to travel light I use my Q’s.

 

once again thanks this is very useful helping me making up my mind .

 

Best regards 

[MrLuckyBoy]

1 hour ago, Mick H said:

Welcome!

I shoot this lens wide open 99% of the time.

AF locks on quickly.  I use AFS single point mostly.  The lens is sharp wide open with ample contrast and this aids AF and MF too.  

Face detect on the SL works.  It's a low tech, first gen implementation on the SL.  The S1H face and eye detect is sticky.  The SL2 should work fine with the Sigma.  Bear in mind, linear focusing and focus throw setting are not options with this lens per Sigma (as of yet).  This is disappointing for video focus pulling and critical manual focus use.

There is one limitation as far as my portraiture work is concerned - off camera flash options.  I would add a Leica HSS flash and remote controller, for HSS up to 1/8000th second, in order to get the most from the SL2 and lens combo.  I have the SF 60 and SF C1.  Note that the Panasonic S cameras will allow use of powerful third party mono-lights with HSS.  I cannot use my AD1200 head and pack light with my SL, unfortunately.  

I am used to the heft my fantastic SL 24-90, and the Sigma 35 f/1.2 Art DG DN is almost the same size and weight.  Note that the aperture ring cannot be locked so it can be bumped accidentally from f/1.2.  It can be set to click or not, but the click detents are not firm.

I hope this helps.  

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Hi Mick H,

 

thanks for the kind post and the pictures. This is definitely the type of situation and subjects I would shoot.

I mostly use AFS single point and face detect with my Panasonic 50 mm f 1.4 with overall good results.

if have have the same results when I need wider angle, then I would be happy.

Very nice shots, it gives me confidence in this lens.

 

thanks 

[MrLuckyBoy]

10 hours ago, Planetwide said:

Here it is on a Panasonic S1r. AF worked well on this camera, and it works the same way on the SL2

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Thanks Planetwide,

 

this is a great shot. Did the AF lock with confidence ?

 

this is very dim light .

 

thanks once again 

[Mick H]

2 hours ago, MrLuckyBoy said:

Hi Mick H,

 

thanks for the kind post and the pictures. This is definitely the type of situation and subjects I would shoot.

I mostly use AFS single point and face detect with my Panasonic 50 mm f 1.4 with overall good results.

if have have the same results when I need wider angle, then I would be happy.

Very nice shots, it gives me confidence in this lens.

 

thanks 

Welcome and good luck.  The lens is underrated and often dismissed due to size.  My images should give you a sense of the subject isolation capability wide open.  It's on another level.  Additionally, flares are smooth and well controlled, so you can shoot into the sun for stylish effects.  Ghosting is minimal (Sigma engineers work on these qualities).  As you may know, a fast telephoto prime would compliment the 35 for low distortion, tighter headshots.  

[MrLuckyBoy]

8 minutes ago, Mick H said:

Welcome and good luck.  The lens is underrated and often dismissed due to size.  My images should give you a sense of the subject isolation capability wide open.  It's on another level.  Additionally, flares are smooth and well controlled, so you can shoot into the sun for stylish effects.  Ghosting is minimal (Sigma engineers work on these qualities).  As you may know, a fast telephoto prime would compliment the 35 for low distortion, tighter headshots.  

Thanks Mick 

 

Actually i own  a 50 mm on a Fuji APSC as well as their 90 mm f2.0 for telephoto. This covers the 85 to 135 mm range for now full frame equivalent  for now.

but these days I tend to get closer to my subjects.

i have read a lot of comments regarding the weight of the lens, but at the end I use my SL 2 in a more private environment for weight and safety reasons. For my usual portraiture stuff it should be a great.

best regards 

 

 

[Planetwide]

23 hours ago, MrLuckyBoy said:

Thanks Planetwide,

 

this is a great shot. Did the AF lock with confidence ?

 

this is very dim light .

 

thanks once again 

It locked on to the graffiti, hand held with no issues.

[MrLuckyBoy]

24 minutes ago, Planetwide said:

It locked on to the graffiti, hand held with no issues.

Thank you very much .

[Planetwide]

It's a beast of a lens, but totally worth carrying. I go out with it and my SL 75mm Summicron, they make a great low light combo.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica L-Mount

[profus]

Great lens. Love it. Use it on my SL2
I use only AFS single. AF locks on quickly, no issues with that.

Big and heavy but worth it.