Sigma 35mm f1.4 Art Series or Sigma 50mm f1.4? It'll be going on full frame Canon 5D M III.

It depends on what you're shooting. 35mm gives you a 37% wider viewing angle, so it's nice for group shots or getting more of the scene in. It's a great all-around, walk-around, street lens too. The 50mm will give you slightly more compression so it'll be slightly more flattering for portraiture. It'll also have a slightly shallower depth of field up close giving you slightly better blur (bokeh) for portrait type shots as well. So the question is, what are you going to shoot more of?

Why should I buy this and not Nikkor 50mm 1.4? Please help me understand the reason.

The sigma is superior in distortion control, vignetting, chromatic aberration, and sharpness or iq...although both lenses show very little distortion or vignetting, the Nikon 50mm does have quite a bit more vignetting, especially on a full frame body. Chromatic aberration at large apatures is difficult to control and isn't well controlled on the Nikon. The Sigma really exceeds at its ability to control chromatic aberration. And lastly the lenses sharpness is more important as you increase a cameras megapixel... For example, if you have a 24 megapixel sensor and the sharpness of the lens can only resolve 14 megapixels, you will have in essence a 14 megapixel camera because if you enlarge or crop beyond 14 megapixel you will start noticing blurred pixels, as opposed to a lens that can resolve 20 megapixels. I think especially for cameras with very high megapixel count ie. D800 (the camera body I own) with a 36 megapixel sensor the sigma really shines. I have owned both lenses and have used the Nikon 50mm 1.4 on a d7000, d7100, and my current d800 and I liked the results...but the images I have captured with the sigma 50mm art and d800 combo are blowing me away... With all that said, I don't think you can go wrong with either.

How does the Sony mount version fare? Should I get the Zeiss branded one (not the Otus) instead?

I do own a mirrorless Sony aps-c cam with e mount and a zeiss 32mm to match it. There are several Zeiss E and A mounts for Sony now, Otus included. I could not afford Otus and it is not practical IMO. Btw, I am extremely satisfied with the Zeiss Touit 32mm for my Sony. Sigma 50mm art is also a great lens, the sharpest I have. It depends on your style as a photographer. My budget is always the deciding factor when I crave for a lens.

So is this the "art" version or not? legal disclaimer states otherwise

Mine was the art version. I had to buy it new. Originally I bought used from a seller called Michigan Camera on Amazon and it is NOT the ART series so beware if this seller. They will sell you a lens for 700.00 that retails for 200.00

ASIN	B00JPL7CK6
Batteries	1 12V batteries required.
Best Sellers Rank	#699 in SLR Camera Lenses
Customer Reviews	4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars (1,660)
Date First Available	April 11, 2014
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer	No
Item Weight	1.8 pounds
Item model number	311954
Language	English
Manufacturer	Sigma Corporation of America
Product Dimensions	3.94 x 3.35 x 3.35 inches

Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM Art Lens for Canon

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