Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN ART Lens Review (Sony E-Mount)
In the past, I have discussed my reasons for using the Sigma lenses as my go-to brand for prime lenses coupled with the Sony A7R III body. In fact, I have an entire photography gallery dedicated to the Sigma prime lenses in my camera bag. For the past year, a Sigma lens has been pretty much always attached to the Sony camera body for all of my photography projects.
But I’d like to delve deeper into my experience with each lens to better highlight a few of their capabilities and my personal opinion on their overall quality. In the past few months, I have been doing a lot more portrait and lifestyle work with models and have naturally turned to the 85mm lens for almost an entire photoshoot.
In short, I have been very fortunate to carry this lens for different styles of photography, and with this 85mm being one of my first prime lenses ever, I have been able to use it to challenge myself as a photographer and try to utilize the lens in more creative ways.
This review is solely based on my experience using this lens and what I prioritize when I go out to photograph on-location.
SPECIFICATIONS
The technical specifications of this E-mount lens are listed on Sigma Photo’s website. But to list a few of the specifications that I always consider when buying the lens, this Sigma lens has a maximum aperture of f/1.4, minimum aperture of f/16, weighs 625g (or 22oz), with dimensions at 82.8 x 96.1mm / 3.3 x 3.8 in. (diameter x length), and a 77mm filter size.
APERTURE
My biggest reason for first purchasing this lens was because of its wide aperture of f/1.4. As a photographer with origins in night street photography, I was keen on having a lens that would allow enough light into the frame without having to sacrifice shutter speed or ISO. While I don’t find myself often going to f/1.4 as much, the ability to do so has been very useful in capturing both incredible street photography and portraits.
Given the fact that this is an 85mm lens, if you have less than stable hands any don’t have a tripod or any sort of surface to keep your camera steady, you’ll likely want to have a higher shutter speed than you would with a wider-angle lens (especially if you’re trying to capture a faster-moving subject). Of course everyone is different, but as someone who likes to shoot handheld from different angles, I’ll always prioritize a high shutter speed over anything else. That’s where having a wide aperture has come in handy for me.
WEIGHT
The dimensions and size of this lens are incredibly compact, and it is the smallest lens that I have in my current camera bag. The lens is able to fit in my camera bag while attached to my Sony camera body, which is very useful for someone like me who consistently goes back and forth between taking out his camera, and then putting it back in. However, I have been able to carry this camera and lens together in hand without much strain despite not having a lot of arm strength.
IMAGE QUALITY
The Sigma 85mm lens has been able to deliver sharp photos in a variety of different photography settings. When it comes to portraits especially, I hold high expectations for sharp focus on the eyes of the subject. The Sigma lens paired with the Sony A7R III delivers quick and accurate autofocus and I’m able to leave a session with more than enough shots to choose from.
I’ve seen a slight pincushion distortion and vignetting with this lens straight out of camera, but simply checkmarking “Enable Profile Corrections” In Adobe Lightroom Classic handles most of the issue as well (you can also push down the distortion manually to get a similar result).
If you’re looking for a high-quality 85mm prime lens, I would definitely recommend any photographer to try out this lens. The price of the lens is definitely on the high-end as far as prime lenses go, but if you have the budget, I would say it’s definitely worth purchasing given how much you’ll be able to get out of the lens.
I have talked about why an 85mm lens is a great focal length to have for any kind of photographer, but if you’re someone who specializes in portraits, or who would like to get creative with street and travel photography, I think this lens will be a great addition to your camera bag.
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