With over 200 weddings under my belt, I know my wedding photography routine inside and out. I use a dual holster that holds both of my Canon R6 camera bodies, usually with my SIGMA 35mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art, and my 50mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art or 85mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art depending on how large the ceremony and “getting ready” spaces are. I use my SIGMA lenses with my RF mount bodies using the OEM mount adapter, and they work beautifully.
However, toward the end of 2021, I purchased the 24-70mm F2.8 DG OS HSM | Art, which is extremely versatile. While this lens is incredibly convenient, I noticed myself getting a little too comfortable shooting the majority of the time with just one camera and never switching lenses to really change up my composition. To challenge myself, I made the decision to go back to shooting with primes. To really shake things up, this time I decided to compliment my other Art lenses with the SIGMA 28mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art and SIGMA 40mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art, two focal lengths that may be a bit overlooked in the Art lineup.
Putting the 28mm & 40mm F1.4 Art lenses to the test
While unboxing these lenses, I naturally compared them to my tried and true lenses I’ve used for years. Unlike my older 20mm, 35mm, 50mm and 85mm lenses, the 28mm and 40mm are both newer designs, and are dust-and-splash resistant throughout the entire body! Just holding them in your hand will give you an idea of their outstanding quality. I couldn’t wait to try them at my next wedding!
As I first picked up the 40mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art, I was a bit stunned by the size since it is larger than both my 50mm and 28mm, but after shooting with it for a few minutes, the size didn’t matter anymore. The quick focusing ability of my mirrorless cameras paired with the incredible HSM motor made these new additions the absolute sharpest lenses in my arsenal! During the reception of my first wedding with these lenses, I had my second photographer use them on her Canon DSLR, and the outcome was beautifully sharp as well!
Now let’s dive into the details of the 28mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art. In my wedding day portraits, I tend to shoot horizontally more than vertically, and I love to feature plenty of the surrounding landscape. This lens helped me to do so with little to no distortion whatsoever! I was super impressed because I do have that issue every once in a while with wide-angle shots, so this made my editing process even quicker!
One of my highly-requested wedding day portraits are “under the veil” shots. I typically use my 35mm F1.4 for these, but I found that the 28mm made the bokeh in these shots more dreamy than ever before! The wide angle view made room for more of the veil to be in the foreground, while still allowing me to shoot sharply at F2. Having shot with this lens for several weddings now, I can recommend using this lens for getting ready, family portraits, wide couple portraits, and exits.
My go-to lens during ceremonies for shooting the bride coming down the aisle, then turning to get the groom’s reaction, was my 50mm F1.4. That was until the 40mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art changed the game for me! I found that the 40mm was not only amazingly sharp — sharper than my 50mm, in fact — but it also gives me a little more room to work with. The 40mm has the perfect angle of view to capture a wide shot of the bride coming down the aisle, and just enough length to capture the groom’s reaction without cropping him too much. The 40mm focuses extremely fast, so it’s perfect in this fast paced situation. I recommend using this lens for ceremonies, couple portraits and reception dancing photos.
Should you consider SIGMA’s 28mm & 40mm Art lenses?
To put it simply, I am totally hooked after trying out these lenses! The sharpness of the images while using the 28mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art and 40mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art is unbeatable! You rarely find any other lenses on my camera these days because these two lenses provide such exceptional results. Make sure you give one or both of these a shot at your next wedding, and you’ll be hooked too!
I got rid of my Sigma Art 50mm f/1.4 dg hsm shortly after the Sigma 40mm Art came out . Odd thing I wasn’t a 50mm focal length shooter and was just starting to like the focal length when I switched. I was always wanting just a touch wider so I went for the 40. After getting the 40 I was missing the 50 that I disliked .
Now back with the 40 I use it as my “Normal “ fov lens that can tell a story.
I’d had the Sigma Art 18-35 f/1.8 for my Nikon d500 apsc camera and was in love with the 18mm fov or 27mm ff equivalent. I got a ff camera and wanted that 27 or 28mm fov and was going to get the Nikon 28mm f/1.4 . Then Sigma comes out with the 28mm Art f/1.4 and I fell in love with the pictures and their rendering I was seeing. Well I grabbed me on up and it became my main lens on my d850 for live music video gimbal work for several years. Then I got a Sony a7siii for gimbal work. I got the Sony 24mm GM lens that was just raved about .
It’s a super nice lens for sure and I like it . It just wasn’t the best for live music and didn’t render the background lighting very pleasing. The Sigma has some internal light reflections that I dig in my videos like a classic lens does. I went an purchased me the Sigma Art 28mm for e mount to get back that beautiful rendering and some creative “Art Lens” character. Now we’re digging where there’s taters.
I like the 28 over a 35 most of the time to tell a little more of what I call backstory. Well the 40mm fov can be used just the same vs a 50.
Now Sigma comes up with a 65mm f/2 , i series lens ! Dude another tweener. It can be used like an 85mm with that extra width for some room for a story behind it too.
I hope Sigma comes out with an stills Art lens of the new 65mm Cinema t1.5 . I’ll definitely buy one as soon as it comes out .
Thanks Sigma for the quality, rendering and character of your lenses. What a renewal of a company!
I use the 40 and 105. I use the 40mm.for video as well. I have the SA 24mm and the SA 24-35 f2. Can’t justify the 28mm just yet but maybe in the future.