In Development - Pricing and Availability TBD
The Sigma 50mm F1.4 CL DG | Contemporary is a premium compact prime lens that delivers a bright F1.4 aperture and rich textural rendering in a small and lightweight metal body. Its authentic optical system, housed in a barrel that is exceptionally small by the standards of today’s mirrorless lenses, was designed by making full use of the latest optical technology. Through exhaustive simulations, aberrations have been intentionally controlled to achieve a gentle softness within the in-focus plane, smooth and attractive bokeh, and characterful background rendering that helps the subject stand out. Conveying warmth and a natural sense of three-dimensionality across the entire frame, the lens is ideally suited to portraits and snapshots in particular. Its body distills the pure enjoyment of shooting with dedicated photographic equipment, while the latest technology perfects its impressive image quality, with supple rendering of texture and rich tonal gradation. Sigma hopes that the CL, the first in a new lineage of I series primes will help you discover and capture more beauty and joy in your everyday life.
To keep the overall length of the lens short, Sigma chose whole-lens extension focusing rather than an inner focus design. To handle the heavier focusing unit this creates, Sigma developed a powerful autofocus actuator in which coils and magnets, as used in the HLA (High-response Linear Actuator), are arranged in a circle to match the shape of the lens barrel. This minimizes any increase in outer diameter, resulting in a slim, high-torque autofocus mechanism.
Beautiful bokeh and three-dimensionality only a large-aperture prime can deliver
The lens features a classic optical construction of 9 elements in 6 groups with a whole-lens extension focusing mechanism. Three aspherical elements and one FLD glass element are effectively arranged to achieve a compact and lightweight design. The optimal placement of the aspherical elements also successfully suppresses ghosting, which is difficult to avoid in small, lightweight lenses. Aberrations are precisely controlled while internal reflections are eliminated. The lens is designed so that its bokeh is at its most beautiful and its three-dimensionality at its richest at the maximum aperture of F1.4, offering superb rendering, especially in the beautiful, gradual transitions of its background bokeh.
New RDD (Rotary Direct Drive) actuator
To keep the overall length of the lens short, Sigma chose whole-lens extension focusing rather than an inner focus design. To handle the heavier focusing unit this creates, Sigma developed a powerful autofocus actuator in which coils and magnets, as used in the HLA (High-response Linear Actuator), are arranged in a circle to match the shape of the lens barrel. This minimizes any increase in outer diameter, resulting in a slim, high-torque autofocus mechanism.
Instant AF/MF switching with the focus ring
Taking advantage of RDD’s ability to drive the focusing optics directly, the lens temporarily switches to manual focus automatically when the focus ring is turned during autofocus operation. This allows photographers to work quickly in fast-changing conditions without needing to adjust AF/MF settings using a switch.
All-metal body with premium quality and a pleasing feel in operation, the hallmark of the I series
As the latest chapter in the I series, the "Premium Compact Primes" that pursue the joy of owning a photographic tool, the CL carries on the series' all-metal body. Not only the knurled hood, focus ring and aperture ring, but also the supplied magnetic metal lens cap have been inherited as signature elements of the I series identity.
Depth-of-field scale
The CL series features a distance scale that runs from the minimum focusing distance to infinity, together with a focus ring that rotates in direct sync with focusing. It is also equipped with a depth-of-field scale, which lets photographers visually check how the depth of field changes with the aperture value. These scales also serve as an icon of the CL, combining the very latest functionality with a classic aesthetic.
Dust- and splash-resistant structure* / water- and oil-repellent coating
In addition to a dust- and splash-resistant structure, the frontmost surface of the lens has a water- and oil-repellent coating applied, allowing photographers to shoot without concern even in harsh outdoor environments.
* The product is designed to be dust- and splash-resistant but is not waterproof. When using the lens near water, etc., take care not to allow large amounts of water to splash on it. If water gets inside the lens, it may cause a major malfunction.
LENS CONSTRUCTION
MTF CHART
DIFFRACTION MTF
GEOMETRICAL MTF
Spatial Frequency
S: Sagittal Line
M: Meridional Line
10lp/mm
30lp/mm
MTF CHART GUIDE
The MTF (Modulation Transfer Function) is one of the measurements for evaluating a lens' performance, and it shows how faithfully the contrast of the subject can be reproduced on the image plane. The horizontal axis shows the image height (distance from the center of the image in mm) and the vertical axis shows the contrast value (maximum value is 1).
The closer the 10 line pairs/mm curve is to 1, the higher the contrast and clarity of the lens is, and similarly, the closer the 30 line pairs/mm curve is to 1, the better the resolution and sharpness of the lens is.
*The MTF chart depicts the result at the wide-open aperture.
*For mirrorless lenses that support distortion correction, the horizontal axis shows the image height equivalent to when an L-Mount lens is attached to a Sigma L-Mount camera with distortion correction applied. (The effect of distortion correction may differ depending on the mount and camera used.)
*The spatial frequency indicates the variation on the image plane before distortion correction is performed.
RDD (Rotary Direct Drive)
The Rotary Direct Drive (RDD) is a newly designed rotary AF actuator combining high power and a compact body. Featuring circularly arranged coils and magnets, it ensures ultra-smooth AF operation even during whole-lens extension.
Dust- and splash-resistant structure
This lens features a highly effective dust and splash resistant structure with special sealing at the mount connection, manual focus ring, zoom ring, and cover connection.
*Although this construction allows the lens to be used in light rain, it is not the same as being waterproof, so please prevent large amounts of water from splashing on the lens. It is often impractical to repair the internal mechanism, lens elements and electric components if they are damaged by water.
Water- and oil-repellent coating
Incorporates a water and oil-repellent coating that allows water to be wiped away easily and prevents oil and fat from sticking to the surface, even in challenging shooting conditions. At the same time, the maintenance of the lens surface becomes easier.
Mount Conversion Service available
Compatible with Sigma USB Dock UD-11 (sold separately / for L-Mount only)
Every single lens undergoes Sigma’s proprietary MTF measuring system
No gallery photos available for this product.
An artist transforms reclaimed eggplant skins into intricate works of art, drawing inspiration from Japanese symbolism and the beauty of everyday materials. Photographed with the Sigma 50mm F1.4 CL DG | Contemporary, this story celebrates craftsmanship, patience, and unexpected beauty.
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The Sigma 50mm F1.4 CL DG | Contemporary lens combines modern autofocus and portability with a softer, more organic rendering. Used for a seaside fashion shoot, it delivers sharp portraits, smooth backgrounds, and a distinctive character that feels less clinical and more natural.
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