Lens Guides

SIGMA 40mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art Lens: First Impressions

With the release of the brand new SIGMA 40mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art lens, we asked for first impressions of the lens from our SIGMA Ambassadors and fans. Come and see their images and read what they have to say about this awesome addition to the SIGMA Art line!


Meg Loeks

The SIGMA 40mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art is an incredible lens. One of my favorite things about it is its ability to rock low light. I shot with this lens in both natural and artificial low light and it was sharp and fast. Not to mention the dynamic range of this lens, especially in tough lighting situations, makes it a favorite for me. The lens is durable which is crucial as I tend to not be very gentle with my gear while out hiking with my boys. Most importantly, it lives up to the SIGMA Art name with its sharpness even when photographing fast moving children.


Jack Fusco

Before taking the SIGMA 40mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art lens with me under the stars, I wasn’t totally sure where or if it would fall in to my preferred list of lenses. The 35mm and 50mm Art lenses are two of my favorites, so it had a lot to live up to.

Once the 40mm arrived, I picked out a few spots in the Anza Borrego Desert and knew in the coming days we’d have a great opportunity to see and photograph Comet 46/P. I normally have a bit of a routine for testing a lens at night, but I knew after the first image I took of the stars this lens was something special.

A few days after my first night out and I was just excited to head back out with it as I was to photograph Comet 46/P. Saying this lens is bright and extremely sharp from edge to edge doesn’t do it justice. It’s easily one of the most impressive lenses I’ve used and the quite possibly the quickest to earn a spot in my bag.


Adam Elmakias

My initial reaction was I have a 35mm Art, I have a 50mm Art, so why the heck do I need a 40? But I think the 40mm fits nicely in-between. 5mm may not seem like much, but it does make a difference for me when it comes to stage photography. I only shoot with one body, so I was able to ditch the 35 and 50 and just shoot the 40. Images are sharp, images are in focus, no complaints from me!


Benjamin Ono

After field testing the new SIGMA 40mm 1.4 DG HSM | Art, I’m happy to say I’ve found my new favorite lens. As an ocean and lifestyle photographer based in Hawaii, my style of imagery depends on tough gear that can reliably shoot in a variety of lighting situations.

I’ve been a little long time fan of SIGMA’s prime lenses, specifically the focal lengths of 24mm, 50mm and 85mm. While each of these focal lengths provide their own unique images, Ive come to find they also have their drawbacks. While shooting people, the 24mm tended to be a bit too wide, distorting the subject. And the 50mm and 85mm tended to be a bit too tight, leaving out crucial visual information for the viewer.

As with many photographers, choosing the correct focal length for every situation can get difficult – and can even lead to missed moments. By simply bringing one lens on a shoot, I’ve had more time to enjoy the environment and focus on creating better compositions. For this reason, the 40mm 1.4 Art has become my go-to.

Comments (5)
  1. Troy Phillips says:

    The 28mm and the 40mm arts are what I’d consider “Just right focal lenghts “.
    24 mm many times is just too wide for what I do , 35 just too tight to tell the story.
    35 is a little wide and 50 just a little tight.
    I found for me shooting live music photography 28mm and 40mm told the story better . I was shooting pictures lately in a smallish living room of singer songwriter group. I shot the event with the 50 art . Thought this would give it a classic look and feel. It was just a hair too tight . So the next time I went to shoot I took the 18-35mm art on my Nikon d500 . When going through to footage , I shot video this time …. it was shot at 18mm and under the 35mm mark. So it was like 27mm and 40ish. And I find I shoot this lens almost exclusively at 18mm and under the 35mm mark. When I shoot at the full 35mm or 50mm equivalent I end up cropping those pictures a touch .
    I wish Sigma made a 28-70 or 75 f/2 . I know it would be giant. I know they have the 24-35 f/2. Give me 28-55 f/1.8 lol . We never will have the perfect zoom lens .
    But I’d love to have the 28mm art and the 40mm art . Thanks Sigma !

  2. Robert Wise says:

    I have always liked 40mm focal length as my preferred lens for day to say shooting ever since I discovered the Pentax 40mm pancake lens back in the eighties. Since then I have moved to Panasonic and have the 20mm F1.7 (=40mm) lens only camera most of the time. Therefore the Sigma 40mm would be ideal. Sadly £1100.00 for this lens is beyond my budget at the moment.

  3. SSM says:

    I have recently bought 17-70 lens for day to day photography. I also sometimes use for macro photography and got a decent result.How do you rate this contemporary lens?

  4. Troy Phillips says:

    At the moment this 40mm is out of my affordability. I’m going to have to make the 50art work for now . Combined with the Sigma 18-35 on my apsc. Love that lens . It’s glued to the Nikon d500 as though they were one .

  5. Troy Phillips says:

    Ok I’m posting here again and with excitement!
    I purchased the Sigma 40mm Art . I’ve shot some live music photography with it . Not a ton yet just two venues in one night . So far I’m super impressed with its performance. Its known that it has focus shift between apertures. But I did the autofocus fine tune with it on the usb Dock and it’s not enough to create a problem for me and I’m very picky. I shoot on the Nikon d850 at f/1.4 to f/2.8 for most of my live music photography. The lens was nailing shot after shot better than any of my many Nikon and Sigma lenses. I have one Tamron the 15-30 f/2.8 . It really struggles for iffy lighting like live music photography.
    The 40mm Art I believe is going to live on the d850 as does the Sigma art 18-35 f/1.8 does on my d500.
    I think that lens is legendary for apsc .
    I believe the Sigma 40mm f/1.4 Art will become a legendary lens . I’m so sold on Sigma Art glass it just performs in the adverse conditions I shoot in . And the build quality is second to none .
    Next up Sigma 28mm f/1.4 Art !

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