Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN Art (1199 USD) is a mirrorless lens that provides full frame coverage and a bright aperture to capture dim lighting and blurred backgrounds. It also has a compact, lightweight build.
Add an aperture control ring, dust and splash protection, and support for the popular E-mount and growing L-mount systems, and you have a lens that's sure to please a lot of photographers—especially portrait specialists. This is enough to win the Editors Choice Award for this lens.
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Fitting and finishing at the First Rate
The 85mm F1.4 DG DN Art lens is one of the most well-made lenses you will find. The barrel is a mix of metal and polycarbonate, and includes internal seals to prevent dust and moisture from getting inside—it pairs perfectly with full-frame mirrorless cameras, most of which include similar protection.
Sigma sells the lens in two versions, one for L-mount cameras from Leica, Panasonic, and Sigma, and the E-mount version for Sony cameras we received for review. Apart from the mount, the two are identical, putting the same optical formula in the same housing. The 85mm Art measures 3.8 by 3.3 inches (HD), weighs 1.4 pounds, and supports 77mm front filters.
The front and rear caps, as well as a reversible lens cover and soft carrying case are all included. It is made of polycarbonate with a push button lock that secures it in its place. This hood is quite large considering the length of the lens.
On-lens controls include an aperture ring, a manual focus ring, a programmable function button, and an AF/MF toggle. The aperture ring has an A position, which moves control to the camera body, and manual settings from f/1.4 through f/16. You can lock it in A if you'd like, or set the aperture for silent, click-free operation.
Getting ride of clicks is good for video—you won't add unwanted noise to the soundtrack, and adjustments in exposure can be made smoothly. Although it's not the best lens for video, you can see the breathing effect. This is a change in view angle that occurs when changing focus.
Autofocus itself is deadly fast and silent. Focus is available to 2.8 feet (85cm), good enough to capture subjects at 1:8.3 life-size when focused close. The lens omits optical stabilization, but it's not a problem—most compatible cameras include in-body stabilization.
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Clear and crystal clear results
I used the Sigma 85mm F1.4 and the Sony 60MP a7R IV to test the lens. The pair produces photos of very high resolution (3,000 lines) with wide open. Detail is better at smaller f-stops.
At f/2 we see excellent results (4,615 lines), and the lens hits outstanding territory at f/2.8 (5,000 lines) through f/8. There's a slight drop in contrast at f/11 (4,500 lines), and a noticeable step back at the smallest f/16 setting (3,800 lines).
For distortion-free photos, the optics will need some correction. Without any sort of correction, there's a visible pincushion effect—lines that are straight in reality bow inward in photos. It is removed from JPG photos automatically by in-camera corrections.
You will need to manage Raw images by yourself. Adobe does not yet have a profile to the lens, however, once it does, distortion and vignette will only be one-click away. The former can be corrected with a simple slider adjustment of -6.
The vignette is more of personal choice—with in-camera corrections enabled, there's a slight dimming of corners visible at f/1.4; if you opt to disable them, you'll be able to see a bit more darkening at the edges, and the effect is evident through f/2.8.
A Beautiful Lens with Few Flaws
The appeal and position of the Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN Art will vary depending on what camera system you are using. The L-mount catalog was still expanding at press time. This means that the 85mm F1.4 art is the only choice for a short, bright telephoto prime without having to spend Leica money. Both the APO Summicron-SL 75mm lens and the 90mm lens are priced above $5,000.
Sony's E-mount system enjoys a longer history and larger market share. There are a lot of other short telephoto prime options to consider, and not just in the 85mm focal length. Our favorite for all-around image quality and value is the FE 85mm F1.8, and it's tough to make an argument against it if you're shopping on price.
If you must have the look an F1.4 lens delivers, the Sony FE 85mm F1.4 GM is the most obvious competitor. It's built to a similar standard and is a stunner in its own right, but now that the Sigma is here, its $1,800 asking price looks a bit steep—for $600 less, the Sigma is a strong value proposition, especially considering just how good of a lens it is. There are many standout 85mm lenses out there—this is another, and worthy of our Editors' Choice award.