I’m definitely looking forward to Sigma’s 50mm f/1.4 HSM. At $499, it is going to be a fantastic seller assuming it is as sharp as the current 50 1.4′s from Canon and Nikon.

Both Nikon AND Canon have never cared to make a pro-quality 50 1.4. Canon insists on making their only 50mm “L” lens an f/1.2, leaving their 50 1.4 with plastic construction and the cheapo “fake” style of USM autofocus. For Nikon, well, the 50 1.4 is all we have; seeing as the Nikon 50 1.2 is still manual focus. The Nikon 50 1.4 is plastic, and often very soft unless you get a good copy. Some of the 50 1.4′s out there are indeed very sharp, but the overal quality of the lens is nothing like a Canon L lens.

That is why I look forward to Sigma’s pro (EX) quality 50 1.4 at just $499. That’s only $200 more than the Nikon, and a whopping $900 LESS than Canon’s 50 1.2. Hopefully the Sigma will be at least as sharp as the Nikon, if not sharper, and almost as fast-focusing as the Canon, if not equally as fast. It would make a perfect portrait lens on DX.

There is of course the possibility that the Sigma will just not be sharp. It has metal construction and HSM autofocus going for it, that’s a given, but sharpness is the one thing that you can’t possibly assess until the lens hits the shelves and actual images are captured. If the Sigma just isn’t sharp, I guess I’ll wait a little more and see if Nikon decides to make some new, pro-quality SWM f/1.4 primes. I have a hunch however that I’ll end up with the Sigma… I just don’t know if I should be buying a new lens this year!

=Matt=