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Sigma

50mm F1.2 DG DN Art

Sony E Mount

50mm F1.2 DG DN Art — 50mm f/1.2 for Sony E, a popular choice in the sigma lineup.

$1,499

Launch price

Released May 2021

vs

Sigma

56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary

Sony E Mount

56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary — 56mm f/1.4 for Sony E, a popular choice in the sigma lineup.

$429

Launch price

Released Nov 2018

50mm F1.2 DG DN Art is 2.4 years newer.

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Wins

2categories

50mm F1.2 DG DN Art

PortraitSports & Action

Wins

3categories

56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary

PortraitSports & Action

3 categories tied

TL;DR — Key differences

50mm F1.2 DG DN Art wins 2 categories·56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary wins 3 categories
  • B56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary has lower Weight (280 g vs 946 g)
  • B56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary has lower Length (89 mm vs 182 mm)
  • A50mm F1.2 DG DN Art has lower Max aperture (Wide) (f/1.2 vs f/1.4)
  • A50mm F1.2 DG DN Art has lower Max aperture (Tele) (f/1.2 vs f/1.4)
  • B56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary has lower Diameter (70 mm vs 81 mm)

Key specs at a glance

50mm F1.2 DG DN Art56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary
Focal Length50 mm56 mm
Max Aperturef/1.2f/1.4
MountSony ESony E
CoverageFull FrameAPS-C
StabilizationNoNo
Weight946 g280 g
Min Focus30 cm30 cm
Filter Size77 mm67 mm

Use-case scoring

Which one for what?

Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class

Use case50mm F1.2 DG DN Art56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary
Portrait
9.0Excellent
8.5Excellent
Sports & Action
6.5Good
6.5Good
Video & Hybrid
4.5Fair
3.5Limited
Landscape
4.0Fair
2.0Limited
Travel
2.0Limited
5.0Fair
Wildlife
3.0Limited
1.0Limited
Macro & Close-up
1.5Limited
1.5Limited

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose the 50mm F1.2 DG DN Art

  • Weather sealing

    Only 50mm F1.2 DG DN Art supports it

  • Control ring

    Only 50mm F1.2 DG DN Art supports it

  • Custom function button

    Only 50mm F1.2 DG DN Art supports it

  • Max aperture (Wide)

    f/1.2 vs f/1.4 — lower is better

  • Max aperture (Tele)

    f/1.2 vs f/1.4 — lower is better

Reasons to choose the 56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary

  • Weight

    280 g vs 946 g — lower is better

  • Length

    89 mm vs 182 mm — lower is better

  • Diameter

    70 mm vs 81 mm — lower is better

Shared specifications

Min focus distance

Both 30 cm

Max magnification

Both 0.15 ×

Internal focus

Both support internal focus

Pros & cons at a glance

Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.

50mm F1.2 DG DN Art

Pros

  • Bright f/1.2 aperture for low light and subject separation
  • Prime design typically delivers strong sharpness and lighter weight
  • Weather-sealed construction for outdoor shooting

Cons

  • Relatively heavy for extended handheld use
  • Third-party or older alternatives may offer better value

56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary

Pros

  • Bright f/1.4 aperture for low light and subject separation
  • Prime design typically delivers strong sharpness and lighter weight
  • Lightweight design easy to carry all day

Cons

  • Third-party or older alternatives may offer better value

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the 50mm F1.2 DG DN Art and 56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary at major authorized retailers.

Sigma 56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary

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Full specifications

= category winner

50mm F1.2 DG DN Art
56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary
Focal length (Min)
50 mm
56 mm
Focal length (Max)
50 mm
56 mm
Max aperture (Wide)
f/1.2+0.4 stops wider
f/1.4
Max aperture (Tele)
f/1.2+0.4 stops wider
f/1.4
Elements
14
14
Groups
11
11
Special elements
Aspherical, ED
Aspherical, ED
50mm F1.2 DG DN Art
56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary
Min focus distance
30 cm
30 cm
Max magnification
0.15 ×
0.15 ×
Autofocus motor
Linear / Stepping Motor
Linear / Stepping Motor
Internal focus
Yes
Yes
50mm F1.2 DG DN Art
56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary
Optical stabilization
No
No
OIS effectiveness
0 stops
0 stops
50mm F1.2 DG DN Art
56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary
Weight
946 g
280 g−666 g less
Length
182 mm
89 mm−93 mm less
Diameter
81 mm
70 mm−11 mm less
Filter thread size
77 mm
67 mm
Weather sealing
Yes
No
Diaphragm blades
11
11
50mm F1.2 DG DN Art
56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary
Lens mount
Sony E
Sony E
Format coverage
Full Frame
APS-C

Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.