Canon 35mm f1.4L II USM vs Sigma 35mm f1.4 Art Lens

Before I start, I have a confession to make. I am 35mm obsessed. Combined with an 85mm lens on a second camera, 35mm is the perfect reportage wedding photographer focal length for me. This is one of the reasons why I was so excited about the launch of the Canon 35mm f1.4L II USM lens. I’ve owned the Sigma 35mm f1.4 Art Lens for a few years. I have loved some of the images that I have shot with it. But there have been a few issues that meant I was really interested in getting my hands on the new Canon. So, firstly, how do I feel about the Canon 35mm f1.4L II? Put simply, I love this lens. It is incredibly sharp with superb performance at f1.4. The Chromatic Aberration is minimal (yes it is still there but is beautifully handled). It has really nice contrast as well. It pretty much sums up all the reason why I love shooting with prime lenses. Which brings me to the Sigma 35mm f1.4 Art Lens. This is not a bad lens. In fact it is a superb lens. But is it a match for the Canon? In my view, no. Firstly, the Canon is sharper, handles Chromatic Aberration better and is sharper edge to edge.The weather sealing on the Canon is a massive bonus as well (I live in the South West of England with it’s temperate, maritime climate – sooner or later you will get wet). The deal breaker for me, however, relates to auto focus performance. When the Sigma hits the mark it is absolutely fantastic. The problem is, especially in low light, it often struggles. For a wedding photographer (or any professional photographer), this makes the Sigma a high risk prospect. It’s for that reason, above any other, that the Canon 35mm f1.4L II USM lens is staying in my camera bag. Check out the video if you want to find out more. Enjoy your photography Toby