Sigma 56mm f1.4 DC DN Contemporary Review Fuji X

Sigma 56mm f1.4 DC DN Contemporary Review Fuji X:

The Fujifilm X Series system is quite popular because of several reasons with one being there is a great selection of lenses to support the cameras. These lenses aren’t just made by Fujifilm but also from other manufacturers as well.  For instance, Sigma has recently started producing lenses with X mount, and one of these is the 56mm f1.4 DC DN Contemporary.  I’ve tested this lens previously in other mounts, so while this review may be a bit more condense, I’ll be focusing more on how it performs with X Series cameras.

Thanks for taking the time to read my review!  If it helped, please consider purchasing from any of the links mentioned in this post, which in turn, helps support this site.  I get a small commission but it will not cost you anything extra.  Thank you!

Sigma 56mm f1.4 DC DN Contemporary Build Quality:

Let’s begin this review by talking about the overall build, which is excellent.  The 56mm f1.4 is made of TSC (Thermally Stable Composite), so it feels very solid in the hands.  There’s a brass bayonet mount with rubber sealing that helps make the lens dust and splash resistant.  The overall design of the lens is also quite nice with it being very clean and understated.  This means it’ll match well with several different cameras, which is good considering it comes in Canon EF-M, Sony E mount, L mount and Micro Four Thirds with the latter two being versions I have reviewed before.

↑ The Sigma 56mm f1.4 DC DN Contemporary attached to the Fujifilm X-T3.

What I particularly love about this lens is how light, and compact it is considering this is an 85mm equivalent with a large f1.4 maximum aperture.  The 56mm f1.4 weighs just 9.9 oz / 280 and the dimensions are 2.6 x 2.4″ / 66.5 x 59.8 mm.  It also uses a 55mm filter. These specs make this lens feel more like a normal lens like a 50mm or even a 35mm equivalent rather than a short tele.  To compare, the Fujifilm version, the 56mm f1.2 R WR lens, weighs 15.7 oz / 445 with dimensions being 3.1 x 3″ / 79.4 x 76 mm.  It used a 67mm filter.  As you can see, there is a big difference in overall size here.

The weight and dimensions make the 56mm f1.4 DC DN Contemporary a perfect fit for the Fujifilm system.  Normally, one would expect to be burdened with some weight, and size issues considering this is an 85mm f1.4 equivalent lens but instead, the 56mm f1.4 feels, and operates like a standard focal length lens.  It’s easy to carry around, it’s discreet, and it balances beautifully not just with the X-T3 I was using to review the lens but also with smaller Fujifilm bodies like the X-E4.  Even if you know on a particular day that you may not need a short tele, it really isn’t a burden at all to just have this lens lying in your bag for a “just in case” situation.

While Fujifilm does have excellent alternatives, I feel the Sigma still is just another great option.  For instance, I previously owned the XF 56mm f1.2 APD, and while I found it to be a fantastic lens, I can definitely see the Sigma version being a nice alternative for many, especially for those who want something that is lighter, and more compact.  In fact, the Sigma 56mm f1.4 might even replace the 50mm f2 for some considering the similarity in size, and weight plus the fact that the prices aren’t really that far apart but in the case of the Sigma, you get a lens that is a stop faster (the XF 56mm f1.2 is $999, the XF 50mm f2 retails for $449 and the 56mm f1.4 retails for $479 but currently $404 with rebate).

So, in terms of build and ergonomics, the 56mm f1.4 DC DN Contemporary scores high in my book, and to top it off, it even comes with a lens hood that matches well in terms of size.  I tried it, and it works quite well with the lens.  It doesn’t get in the way, and it isn’t overly bulky.

↑ Here’s the lens hood.

Sigma 56mm f1.4 DC DN Contemporary Autofocus:

As for the autofocus, the 56mm f1.4 DC DN Contemporary uses a stepping motor to provides fast and near silent focusing.  I tried the focusing in a variety of conditions, and overall, I found the autofocus to be drama free.  It is also very accurate, which is particularly important considering this lens produces a shallow depth of field with its f1.4 aperture.

Face detection also works quite well with the lens.  Eyes are always sharp, and with this lens mounted, the camera doesn’t have any issues finding a face even in poor lighting conditions, which is sometimes important to me, since I shoot a lot of boudoir in darker environments sometimes.

Overall, while I don’t do any scientific testing of the gear I review, in the real world, the focusing capabilities feel very similar to what I have come to expect from my Fujifilm branded lenses.  The 56mm f1.4 DC DN Contemporary just performed well, and didn’t cause any drama for me.

Sigma 56mm f1.4 DC DN Contemporary Image Quality:

The 56mm f1.4 also scored highly in term sod optical performance.  The images it produces are superb, and in every way, I feel this lens compares very favorably with what Fujifilm offers.

↑ This was taken with the lens set at f8, and the camera set at 200 ISO.

↑ Here’s a photo taken using f11 and 320 ISO.

↑ I shot this wide open with 160 ISO.

For instance, I found this lens produces images with excellent sharpness.  The photos are always super crisp with plenty of detail.  They have nice depth to them as well.  At f1.4 the 56mm f1.4 is tack sharp in the center with even the corners doing well.  Stopping down, sharpens up the overall image a bit but the quality is good enough here that, in my opinion, the difference isn’t hugely noticeable in the real world.  In other words, you do not have to worry about using this lens at f1.4 or at any of the larger aperture settings.  This is a lens that can be used throughout its aperture range, and still produce great results.

↑ Here’s another photo taken with wide open aperture and 160 ISO.

↑ Here’s a 100% crop of the photo above.

↑ This photo was taken using 160 ISO and f8.

↑ Here’s a 100% crop of the photo above.

↑ Here’s a photo taken using f11 and 160 ISO.

↑ Here’s a 100% crop of the photo above.

In addition, other great features include nice color and contrast.  Flare is also well m-controlled during normal usage.  The 56mm f1.4 DC DN Contemporary does vignette wide open but that isn’t out of the ordinary.  Stopping down one stop reduces vignetting significantly, and by f4, it’s pretty much gone.

↑ This photo was taken using f10 and 320 ISO.

↑ This was taken using f5.6 and 200 ISO.

↑ Here’s a photo taken at wide open aperture.  I used 160 ISO.

Sigma 56mm f1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens Bokeh:

To top it off, the bokeh from the 56mm f1.4 DC DN Contemporary is beautifully smooth and inviting, so you can really get the most out of that f1.4 aperture.  Its 9-blade rounded diaphragm produces images with backgrounds that simply melt away.  While we may all have different preferences, I didn’t find the 56mm f1.4 to produce anything that looked weird or harsh in its backgrounds.  Overall, this lens produces bokeh that I feel is very comparable to top lenses in its class.

↑ Here’s an close up example of a photo taken wide open with 160 ISO.

↑ Here’s another photo taken with f1.4 and 160 ISO.

↑ This was also taken with the same settings as above.

Pros And Cons:

Pros:

• Well-built.
• Compact and light.
• Balances beautifully on the Fujifilm cameras.
• Fast and accurate autofocus.
• Excellent image quality.
• Sharp.
• Great Bokeh.
• Reasonably priced.

Cons:

• No image stabilization, so depending on the conditions, it may be difficult to hold an 84mm equivalent steady.

Sigma 56mm f1.4 DC DN Contemporary Verdict:

If you’re looking in the market for a fantastic short tele lens for your Fujifilm camera, the 56mm f1.4 DC DN Contemporary is an excellent option to consider.  It has the build and ergonomics to back it up.  The autofocus is great and, of course, it performs remarkably well in the areas of image quality.

↑ This was taken with f1.4 and 160 ISO.

↑ This was taken with f11 and 200 ISO.

What sweetens the deal even more is the price.  It retails for $479 but currently, there is a rebate on it knocking the price down to just $404.  While this still isn’t cheap, I believe it is quite reasonable considering what you are getting in this package.  It also means the 56mm f1.4 is significantly cheaper than the new XF 56mm f1.2 R WR lens, which retails for $999, and it puts the 56mm f1.4 in the ballpark of the XF 50mm f2 R WR lens, which retails for $449.  With the case of the 56mm f1.4, you’re a stop faster while also having a similar feel in terms of size and ergonomics.

↑ Here’s is one more photo of the Sigma 56mm f1.4 DC DN Contemporary mounted on the Fujifilm X-T3.

In my opinion, the Sigma 56mm f1.4 is a superb option for Fujifilm X Series users.  It compares quite favorably with Fujifilm branded lenses in terms of build, and performance all while priced very nicely.  I highly recommend you take a closer look at it, if you’re currently in the market for a short telephoto.

Thanks for taking the time to read my review!  If it helped, please consider purchasing from any of the links mentioned in this post, which in turn, helps support this site.  I get a small commission but it will not cost you anything extra.  Thank you!

56mm f1.4 DC DN Contemporary at B&H Photo