I know I’m a little late to the party with my review of the Sigma 85mm 1.4 Art, but here it is anyway!
I hope it helps answer any questions you may have.
Disclosure: This page contains some affiliate links. If you purchase a service through one of these links I may earn a small commission, this is at no extra cost to you.
Contents
Sigma and the Art of a lens
SIGMA is renowned for image quality and affordability, especially when it comes to their award-winning Art Series lens lineup.
The Japanese company best describes it’s Art series product line as “designed with a focus on sophisticated optical performance and abundant expressive power, our Art line lenses deliver high-level artistic expression”.
The company implies the SIGMA 85mm F1.4 Art will live up to this statement and will allow photographers to “unleash the inner artist”.
Introducing the ultimate lens for portraits and more. – Sigma
These quotes sound like they are straight out of a marketing department, which is why I decided to put the SIGMA 85mm F1.4 Art lens to the test to see if it could live up to the hype.
The Tests
When I first tested the lens on my Canon 5D Mark IV DSLR camera, there were undoubtedly many notable features.
The first would have to be the construction of the SIGMA 85mm F1.4 Art lens. With a brass rear mount, a wide 86mm filter size, an excellent grip and a 9-blade rounded diaphragm, the lens offered a high rate of anomalous partial dispersion resulting in minimized chromatic aberrations and color fringing.
The overall feel of the lens across all focus modes was comfortable and evenly weighted when mounted on the Canon with a battery grip.
The second notable takeaway from testing occurred when half-pressing the shutter button. At this point, the SIGMA 85mm F1.4 had already locked focus and was ready to shoot.
Internal focus speed was exceptionally fast while sounding quiet to the ear at the same time. The fast silent focus was even the case when photographing subjects using a continuous focus mode or even when filming video.
The Specs
Maximum aperture: ƒ/1.4
Minimum aperture: ƒ/16
Minimum focusing distance: 33.5in
Lens construction: 14 elements in 12 groups
diaphragm (aperture) blades: 9 (Rounded diaphragm)
Filter size: 86㎜
Length: 5.0in.
Weight: 39.9oz.
From a technical standpoint, the 39.9 oz, 85mm focal length was made possible due to the number of precision glass elements.
A total of 14 glass elements formed into 12 groups make up the construction and the inner-workings of this excellent lens.
Adding to these lens elements, photographers may notice the SLD (Special Low Dispersion Glass) coating that is included and recommended by SIGMA as it minimizes residual chromatic aberration while offering the highest image rendition.
I would have to say; if you haven’t already used the SIGMA 85mm F1.4 Art, it is one of the ultimate portrait focused lenses you will most likely ever use. Compatible with SIGMA and selected Nikon, Canon and Sony E-Mount bodies, this beautiful lens indeed offers high-grade Japanese construction which excels in delivering superior results that are sharp all the way to the edges of the photo.
My Recommendation
The overall feel of the lens is excellent. A lens like this should definitely not be overlooked. Many photographers in the portrait field constantly compare Canon’s flagship EF 85mm F/1.2 or Nikon’s equivalent, but now with the SIGMA 85mm unleashed, it’s a mighty contender.
I highly encourage you to try it out at you local camera store or rental center, do your research and compare prices because a lens like this doesn’t come around all that often. In my opinion, it is undoubtedly a must add to your photography kit.
To learn about other lenses I use, check out My Gear Bag!
Disclosure: This page contains some affiliate links. If you purchase a service through one of these links I may earn a small commission, this is at no extra cost to you.
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