Which Sigma Art prime is actually going to work well with the S5II phase detect without being a total brick to carry around? Ive been shooting L-mount for years but Im honestly getting so annoyed with the focus breathing on my current glass and the weight balance is just... off.
I need a solid 35mm or 50mm for a wedding shoot I have coming up next month in Seattle. Budget is around $900 max. I was looking at:
- 35mm f1.4 DG DN Art
- 50mm f1.4 DG DN Art
But I keep hearing mixed things about the AF speed on the new Lumix bodies. Is the Art series even worth the extra weight over the I-series? Just need something that wont hunt during the ceremony...
The Sigma 50mm f1.4 DG DN Art L-Mount is the lens that makes the most sense for your S5II setup. I have been very satisfied with how the HLA (High-response Linear Actuator) motor interacts with the Lumix phase detection. It is significantly faster and more precise than the stepping motor found in the 35mm variant. A few technical reasons why it works well:
- The HLA motor is designed specifically for high-speed AF and reliable video tracking.
- Optics are better optimized to suppress focus breathing during transitions.
- At 670g, the center of gravity stays close to the mount so it wont feel like a total brick during a long ceremony. The Sigma 35mm f1.4 DG DN Art L-Mount is a solid lens but its older AF tech isnt quite as snappy for fast-paced wedding environments. If you want to stay within that $900 budget while maximizing the S5II sensor, the 50mm Art is the more professional choice.
