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40mm F1.4 DG HSM

Class-leading optics with a fast F1.4 aperture.

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40mm F1.4 DG HSM | A
FF
coverage
F1.4
aperture
1:6.5
magnification
1,295g
in weight
82mm
filter
131mm
in length
82mm
filter size
HSM
motor
Made
in Aizu

from

£0
inc. VAT
Features
Specifications
Accessories
Mounts:  Canon EF | Nikon F | Sigma SA | L-Mount | Sony E
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FF
coverage
F1.4
aperture
1:6.5
magnification
1,295g
in weight
82mm
filter
131mm
in length
82mm
filter size
HSM
motor
Made
in Aizu

from

£0
inc. VAT
Features
Specifications
Accessories
Mount:  Canon EF | Nikon F | Sigma SA | L-Mount | Sony E
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Optical perfection in a standard prime /

Originally designed for the cine lens market and later adapted for stills, the 40mm F1.4 is often touted as the most optically perfect lens in the entire SIGMA Art range. With incredible sharpness right across the frame at all apertures, and exceptional resolving power, this outstanding wide-standard prime is a popular choice for professional photographers who need the very best image quality money can buy. It is ideal for portraits, street, product, advertising and lifestyle photography, and also perfect for landscapes and weddings.

The optical design of the 40mm incorporates 16 elements that include 3 FLD, 3 SLD and one aspherical element. There is virtually no corner softness at any aperture, almost zero chromatic aberration or coma flare and distortion is 1% or below at infinity.

With near-perfect optics and a high-end build, this wide-standard prime is the best quality lens of its kind on the market.

Build and features /

The superb build quality of the 40mm F1.4 DG HSM is exactly as you’d expect from an Art-line lens, both in its intuitive ergonomics and in the quality of craftsmanship. 

The exterior barrel is made of a polycarbonate called Thermally Stable Composite (TSC). Not only is this very strong and light, but it has a similar thermal expansion rate to aluminium. This ensures that the interior aluminium parts and the exterior TSC parts behave in a uniform way as temperatures change.

The focus ring is rubberised for easier operation, and focusing is internal, meaning the lens never changes length..

To reduce flare and ghosting in bright sunlight, and to help protect the front element from damage if dropped, the lens has a robust petal-type lens hood. 

The durable brass mount is surrounded by a rubber seal to help keep out dust and moisture. 

Learn more
1

Precision brass mount with seal
Protects against dust and moisture.

2

Focus Mode switch
For changing between AF and MF.

3

TSC construction
Made from a strong and light polycarbonate that behaves in a similar way to aluminium.

4

Focus ring
A large, rubberised ring with a smooth action. Focusing is internal.

5

Petal-type lens hood
Cuts down on flare while limiting vignetting.

WHEN SHOOTING WITH A WIDE APERTURE, THE 40MM PRODUCES SMOOTH, ATTRACTIVE OUT OF FOCUS AREAS.

High-performance optics /

The 40mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art for DSLRs boasts outstanding optical quality, with excellent rendering of detail right into the corners even wide open at F1.4.

The lens has an advanced optical design made up of 16 elements in 12 groups, including 1 aspherical element, 3 SLD elements and 3 FLD elements. This ensures razor-sharp results with very minimal chromatic aberration, flare, distortion and vignetting.

Advanced optical coatings reduce flare and ghosting when working in bright direct sunlight, creating high-contrast images with rich colours and strong blacks.

Superb low-light performance /

Owing to its ultra-wide aperture of F1.4, the 40mm is at home in low-light conditions, letting in four times the amount of light as an F2.8 lens. This makes it easier to hand-hold the lens without the risk of camera shake and unwanted blur.

Two wide-standard primes /

With the same maximum apertures, the same Art line optics and build quality and the same HSM focusing motors, the SIGMA 35mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art and the 40mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art are both superb wide-standard prime options. The 40mm is considerably heavier and larger, but many believe it to be the most optically perfect lens in the Art range of DSLR lenses.

1,200g

in weight

131mm

in length

665g

in weight

94mm

in length

Made in Aizu /

All Sigma cameras and lenses are designed, manufactured and assembled at our sole factory at Aizu in Japan. This domestic production model is unusual in today’s industry, with most imaging companies opting to outsource to other countries to reduce costs. But SIGMA believes that keeping virtually all manufacturing, processing and assembly in Aizu is essential for creating innovative, carefully thought-out and impeccably constructed products that meet the high standards demanded by professional photographers and film-makers around the world.

Sigma chose Aizu as its main production base in the early 1970s. Situated at the base of Mount Bandai in the Fukushima Prefecture, about four hours’ drive north of Tokyo, Aizu has an abundance of very clean water from mountain streams, which is essential for grinding and polishing lenses. Sigma’s founder, Michihiro Yamaki, was also drawn to this area for its workforce, who have a reputation for their craftsmanship, work ethic and attention to detail. Mr Yamaki’s son, Kazuto Yamaki, now the owner and CEO of SIGMA Corporation, has the same unwavering commitment to keeping production in Japan.

Today Sigma’s factory is more than 50,000 square feet in size, and packed full of some of the most advanced optical manufacturing technology in existence. So when you buy a Sigma camera or lens you can be sure that virtually every single component part has been manufactured and assembled by SIGMA, in Japan, with the greatest level of care and attention. We hope you enjoy using our products.

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SIGMA SELECT

Try before you buy

If you want to see how a particular SIGMA lens or camera performs, why not test drive it with our SIGMA Select hire service. Available for selected SIGMA lenses, short-term loans are free of charge (including shipping), with a small fee if you want to test it for longer. Refundable deposit required. Subject to availability.

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Tech specifications /

Lens construction

16 elements in 12 groups

Angle of view

56.8°

Number of diaphragm blades

9 (rounded diaphragm)

Minimum aperture

F16

Minimum focusing distance

40cm

Maximum magnification ratio

1:6.5

Filter thread

82mm

Dimensions (diameter x length)

ø87.8mm × 131mm

Weight

1,200g

Corresponding AF mounts

Canon EF | Nikon F | Sigma SA | L-Mount | Sony E

Canon EF barcode

00-85126-332549

Nikon F barcode

00-85126-332556

Sigma SA barcode

00-85126-332563

L-Mount barcode

00-85126-332693

Sony E barcode

00-85126-332655

Specifications are for SIGMA SA mount

Technical glossary
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Downloads /

SIGMA lens
catalogue 2024

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Download
manual

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Download latest
firmware

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Camera
compatibility

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Compatible accessories /

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UD-01 USB Lens Dock

Update firmware and customise functions on compatible S...
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UD-11 USB Lens Dock

Update firmware and customise functions on compatible S...
i

Protector Filter

Regular protection filter designed for daily use. Prote...
i

WR Protector Filter

Regular protection filter with a weather resistant coat...
i

WR Ceramic Protector F...

Heat strengthened, Clear Glass Ceramic filter with weat...
i

WR UV Filter

UV absorbing filter with a weather resistant coating th...
i

WR Circular PL Filter

Circular polarising filter with with a weather resistan...
i

MC-11 Mount Converter

Convert SIGMA EF and SIGMA SA mount lenses for use on S...
i

MC-21 Mount Converter

Convert SIGMA EF and SIGMA SA lenses for use on L-Mount...

Front Lens Cap

Protects the front lens optic from dust, damage and moi...
i

Rear Lens Cap

Protects the rear optics and contacts from damage, dust...

LS-321SEL Padded Case

Protective padded case for multiple SIGMA lenses. SKU: ...
£32.00

LS-332EOL Padded Case

Protective padded case for SIGMA lenses. SKU: 332X01 C...
£32.00

LH878-01 Lens Hood for...

LH878-01 Lens Hood for use with the SIGMA 40mm F1.4 DG ...
£43.00

SIGMA Microfibre Clean...

The cloth has excellent water absorbing power and clean...
£7.00

Choose your mount /

Interest-free payment plan available on this product

20% deposit required. Remaining amount paid over 6 months.

SIGMA Imaging UK Ltd is not a lender. Credit is subject to status and affordability and is provided by Novuna Finance Ltd. 18+ years. Please note discount codes are not valid for purchases made with Novuna finance. Application at checkout. T&Cs apply.

Dealer locator /

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Water and oil repellent

A special coating applied to the front element to help repel water and oil.

Super multi-layer coating

This suppresses flare and ghosting by minimising reflections within the lens, ensuring punchy, high-contrast results. All lenses in the current Sigma range feature this technology.

Internal focus

Internal focus or an inner focus system means the lens configuration uses movable internal lens elements that adjust focus without changing the length of the lens barrel. This helps keep the centre of gravity of the lens more constant when changing focus.

HSM

Sigma’s Hypersonic Motor (HSM) uses ultrasonic waves to drive the autofocus mechanism. It is extremely quiet, fast and accurate, so is well suited to a wide range of photo and video applications.

Full-frame lens

The lens has an image circle large enough to be used on a full-frame camera. It can also be used on cameras with a smaller ‘crop’ sensor, provided the mount is compatible.

Front filter thread

The lens has a filter thread around the front element onto which filters and filter holders can be attached.

Brass mount

The mount is the part of the lens that attaches to the camera body. A coated brass mount is used for strength, and is surrounded by a rubber seal to keep out dust and moisture.

AF MF switch

This switch toggles between autofocus and manual focus.

9 rounded blades

The diaphragm is constructed of nine rounded blades for a circular aperture opening and round out-of-focus highlights.

Glossary

Found on the barrel of some Sigma lenses, this button can be assigned to various functions to widen the range of operations available on the lens (available functions depend on the camera model).
Allows users to change aperture using the lens rather than the camera. The ‘Auto’ button on the ring switches aperture control to the camera.
Some lenses with an aperture ring have a click switch, which allows users to remove the ring’s clicking action. This means the aperture can be changed completely seamlessly rather than in stepped 1/3-stop increments. The function is ideal for film-makers.
This switch locks the aperture ring in either manual or auto, ensuring it can’t get knocked out of position when shooting.
One of the three lines of Global Vision lenses. The Art range includes a mixture of primes and zooms, which boast fast apertures, superb optics and exceptional build quality.
A type of lens element found in most Sigma lenses. Aspherical elements compensate for spherical aberration and distortion, which cannot be completely eliminated using conventional spherical lens elements alone. They are also key to reducing the size and weight of high-power zooms and other large lenses while improving image quality. Hybrid aspherical elements are made by bonding two elements together, one of which is glass and one of which is a polymer. Precision-molded glass aspherical elements are made by direct forming.
All Sigma lenses have a brass mount. It combines high precision with rugged construction and its treated surfaces and enhanced strength contribute to the long-term durability of the lens.
A light but strong material used on some Sigma lenses. It is also used in the interior and exterior fittings of aircraft, among many other applications.
Designed with size and weight in mind, these highly portable primes and zooms are designed for photographers who need to travel light, but without sacrificing image quality. Contemporary lenses typically don’t have such wide maximum apertures as Art lenses in order to keep their weight down, but do not compromise on optical performance. The I series range is part of the Contemporary line-up, sporting have an all-metal build and a manual aperture ring.
Designed for crop-sensor cameras. They can also be used on full-frame bodies, but only in crop mode.
Designed specifically for mirrorless cameras. Some non-DN lenses also fit mirrorless cameras, but these were designed originally for DSLRs and later adapted. DN lenses tend to be smaller and lighter.
This is found on some longer Sigma lenses, such as the 60-600mm F4.5-6.3 DG DN OS | Sports. It allows the user to zoom either by turning the zoom ring, which is very accurate, or by pushing and pulling the end of the lens, which is very fast. This makes the lens very adaptable to different types of fast-action subject.
A series of weather seals around the mount connection, manual focus ring, zoom ring and cover connection to keep out dust and water. 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.
The three-digit code printed on the surface of the lens is to indicate the year the lens was first released. 019, for example, denotes 2019.
A now near-defunct designation used to denote Sigma’s higher-end lenses. The only remaining current EX lens is the 105mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM MACRO.
The degree to which light is refracted by glass depends on the light’s wavelength. This fact causes different colours of light to focus at slightly different points. The result is chromatic aberration, the colour fringing that is particularly noticeable in telephoto lenses. ELD glass is a type of glass used in Sigma lenses with low dispersion qualities, which helps to keep chromatic aberration to a minimum.
The degree to which light is refracted by glass depends on the light’s wavelength. This fact causes different colours of light to focus at slightly different points. The result is chromatic aberration, the colour fringing that is particularly noticeable in telephoto lenses. FLD glass is ultra-low-dispersion glass that offers performance of the highest level. Highly transparent, its refractive index and dispersion are extremely low as compared to conventional types of glass. It offers characteristics very similar to those of fluorite, which is valued for its anomalous dispersion. These characteristics minimise residual chromatic aberration (secondary spectrum), which cannot be corrected by ordinary optical glass, while helping to produce sharp, high-contrast images.
This system adjusts the distance between lens groups during focusing, thereby reducing the amount of lens movement required. The result is less aberration at different shooting distances.
This switch, found on selected Sigma telephoto lenses, allows users to limit the focusing range to either near distance or far distance. This helps speed up AF, and also ensures the camera won’t attempt to focus on an unwanted area of the frame. For example, when photographing zoo animals through a wire fence a photographer could set the focus limiter to, say, 10m–infinity, to stop the camera continually trying to focus on the fence, which is nearer to the camera than the subject. On some Sigma L-Mount lenses, the distances on the limiter can be customised via the USB Dock.
Allows user to toggle between focusing modes. On most Sigma lenses the options are AF and MF, but some lenses also have a Manual Override (MO) button, which allows manual focus by rotating the focus ring even during continuous AF.
HLA is SIGMA’s proprietary linear motor. It drives the focus lens directly without going through gears or other mechanical parts, resulting in quiet, high-precision and fast autofocus. The first lens to have an HLA motor was the 60-600mm F4.5-6.3 DG DN OS | Sports in early 2023.
Some Sigma lenses have a lockable lens hood to ensure they aren’t accidentally removed during use. Some work with a simple release button, while others have a screw action.
The Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) is an original Sigma development that uses ultrasonic waves to drive the autofocus mechanism. It’s extremely quiet operation helps avoid disturbing photographic subjects. High torque and speed assure rapid autofocus response. Sigma uses two types of HSM: ring HSM and micro HSM. The Ring HSM configuration permits manual fine tuning of focus (Manual Override) by turning the focusing ring after autofocus is complete.
This sensor can detect the position of the focus lens with a high degree of precision by using a magnetic signal. This is done in real time to improve AF accuracy.
To increase stability, this lens configuration uses movable internal lens elements that adjust focus without changing the length of the lens barrel.
Some Sigma lenses incorporate an Inner Zoom mechanism, meaning the barrel of the lens doesn’t change length when zooming in or out. This ensures the lens remains balanced, and since the front of the lens does not rotate, polarising filters can be used with extra convenience.
This is a stabilisation algorithm that enables photographers to pan more effectively. It uses information collected by an acceleration sensor to detect a panning movement (horizontal, vertical or diagonal) and deliver effective stabilization. This feature is available on all Sigma telephoto lenses that have OS switches 1 and 2 (with the exception of the SIGMA 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM | Sports).
Based on the optical characteristics of the lens, this function performs in-camera corrections of peripheral illumination, chromatic aberrations, distortion, and more, to further enhance image quality. It is recommended to leave all corrections turned in the camera’s menu. Not available on all camera models.
This is a protruding lip built into the front of the lens to help keep a lens heater firmly in position. Lens heaters are used by astro photographers to prevent condensation forming on the front element.
Linear focusing simply means that the movement of the focus ring is consistent with the change to the focusing distance, regardless of how quickly the ring is rotated. This is common to all mechanical focusing systems. Non-linear focusing, which is found on Sigma’s mirrorless DN line of lenses, is an electronically controlled focus system where the sensitivity of the ring changes depending on how fast it is rotated. On some of Sigma’s DN lenses, users can switch between linear and non-linear focusing using the USB Dock, and also change the focus throw of the lens.
The magnification ratio of a lens describes the maximum size at which an object can be reproduced on the camera’s sensor. For example, if an object is 1cm long, and a lens can photograph it so that the impression on the sensor is also 1cm long, the magnification ratio is said to be 1:1. If the impression on the sensor were 0.5cm, the magnification ratio would be 1:2. Sigma’s macro lenses are true macro because they have a 1:1 magnification ratio.
The MFL switch disengages the focus ring on the lens. After manually focusing the lens to the desired position, users can set the MFL switch to ‘LOCK’ in order make the focus ring completely inactive. This prevents the focus of the lens from being moved by accident (such as when attaching a lens heater or changing the composition). The focus ring can still be rotated but will have no effect.
When Focus Mode switch is set to the MO position, the lens may be switched to manual focus simply by rotating the focus ring, even during continuous AF. The MO function is only available on some Sigma lenses.
An MTF chart helps show the optical performance of a lens. On the horizontal axis (x-axis) the figure represents the distance in mm from the centre of the lens. On the vertical axis (y-axis) the figure represents the transmission of light that travels through the lens, with 1 being 100% of the light (which is not possible on any lens). The higher this number, the better. At the centre of the lens (0 on the bottom axis), the transmission of light should be highest, and then it falls off slowly towards the edge. There are two types of MTF chart. One considers the diffraction quality of light, which is called ‘Diffraction MTF’. The other, ‘Geometrical MTF’, does not.
Sigma’s Nano Porous Coating is a lens coating that is designed to make a lens less susceptible to strong incident light, such as backlight. It uses porous silica, which has nano-sized holes containing air, as the coating material. Having holes of this size enables a large reduction in the refractive index, allowing the reflectance to be lowered more than conventional anti-reflective coatings. As a result, reflected light causing flares and ghosting is sharply reduced, yielding clearer, higher contrast images.
SIGMA’s OS (Optical Stabilizer) function uses sensors inside the lens to detect motion, then moves specific lens elements in order to effectively minimise blur. Owing to the stabilised image in the viewfinder, it is possible to fine-tune composition and ensure accurate focusing.
A small number of Sigma wide angle lenses have a rear filter holder. This allows sheet-type filters, which are about the size of an SD card, to be inserted behind the rear element. Rear glass filters can be purchased, or filters can be cut from a special sheet using a guide plate as a template.
The polygonal shape of a conventional iris diaphragm causes out-of-focus points of light to appear polygonal. Rounded diaphragm blades are designed to make the aperture opening circular, producing circular out-of-focus highlights at wider apertures.
The degree to which light is refracted by glass depends on the light’s wavelength. This fact causes different colours of light to focus at slightly different points. The result is chromatic aberration, the colour fringing that is particularly noticeable in telephoto lenses. SLD glass is a type of glass used in Sigma lenses with low dispersion qualities, which helps to keep chromatic aberration to a minimum.
Sigma’s Sports line of lenses is made up of telephoto primes and zooms designed for fast-action photography, such as wildlife, sports, motorsport and aviation. Sports lenses tend to have a wide range of features, superb image quality, weather sealing and very fast autofocus.
Lenses with a stepping motor are capable of smooth, quiet and high-speed AF, and are compatible with Face/Eye Detection AF and video AF.
SIGMA’s Super Multi-Layer Coating suppresses flare and ghosting by minimising reflections within the lens. All lenses in the current Sigma range feature this technology. On digital cameras, flare and ghosting may also be caused by reflections between the image sensor and lens surfaces. Here too, the coating is highly effective, ensuring images with outstanding contrast.
An F stop, which is how the aperture value is expressed on a still lens, is measure by the size of the opening that lets through the light. On cine lenses, a T stop value is used instead, which also takes into account how much light is lost as it travels through the lens. This is why Sigma cine lenses have slightly different T stop values to the F stops values on the equivalent stills lenses.
Often called an extender, a teleconverter is a device that can be fitted to the rear of a lens to effectively increase its focal length. 1.4x converters increase focal length by 1.4 times, but at the cost of roughly one stop of light, and 2x converters increase focal length by 2 times but at the cost of roughly two stops of light.
Tripod socket Some longer Sigma lenses have a tripod socket attachment. Usually the socket is included with the lens, except on the 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS | C, on which it can be purchased separately. Some tripod feet have an Arca Swiss type shape, so can be attached straight on to a compatible tripod. The purpose of a tripod foot is to ensure the lens is properly balanced on a tripod. Without one, a tripod plate would need to be attached to the camera, which when used with a long, heavy lens, would place a great deal of strain on the lens and camera mount.
TSC is a type of polycarbonate with a thermal expansion rate similar to that of aluminium. This means that all parts that make up the lens barrel behave in a similar way as temperatures change, which ensures consistent results in all environments.
A special lens coating that allows water to be wiped away easily and prevents oils from sticking to the surface, even in challenging shooting conditions.
The Zoom Lock switch fixes the zoom ring at a specific focal length to help stop lens creep. Some lenses can only be locked at the widest focal length to keep the zoom locked during transportation, while others can be locked at two or more different focal lengths in the zoom range.
Introduced with the SIGMA 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS | Sports, the Zoom Torque switch changes the resistance of the zoom ring. At the ‘S’ setting, the ring has lower resistance and is easiest to turn. At the ‘T’ setting, the ring has greater resistance. At this setting lens creep is less likely. At the ‘L’ setting, the ring is locked in position.

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L-Mount
Sony E

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