Comments on: Sigma 85 f/1.4 HSM [CR1]

By: Ed Avis

Ed Avis — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:17:24 +0000

The build quality of the Canon 50 f/1.4 is pretty poor in my opinion. The lens is constructed mostly in plastic and the front moves back and forward when focusing; that has caused mine to become stuck quite often. (To begin with, it would be unable to autofocus with the motor but you could still turn the focus ring; but now even manual focusing doesn’t work unless you push or pull the front element at the same time.) I believe I am not alone in experiencing this problem, from what I’ve seen online. I don’t own the Sigma 50 f/1.4 but most other Sigma expensive lenses (what they used to call EX series) are pretty tough (their 50 f/2.8 macro in particular is built like a tank).

Anyway, back to 85mm: Canon’s 85mm f/1.8 is much better built than their 50mm f/1.4m, though my copy has also started to get some stickiness in the focus ring which worries me a bit. It will be a hard lens for Sigma to beat, but the extra half a stop of brightness could be useful for photographing indoor events where you can’t use flash.

By: Phil

Phil — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:59:05 +0000

I have been so happy with the output of my 50 1.4 that I will seriously consider looking at this as well! I did have back/front focussing issues and because I bought mine overseas had to pay 80AUD to get it resolved, but once I was I couldn’t be happier .. bokeh is wonderful and once calibrated you can get really sharp images at 1.8!

By: Taryn

Taryn — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 14:28:10 +0000

We had to buy a new camera to replace our beloved Canon PowerShot A95 and I have absolutely no complaints about the PowerShot SD780IS. I’m not a professional, just take pictures for myself and I still haven’t figured out all the features but it’s easy enough for the basics. I would (and have) recommend it.

By: no one

no one — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 05:43:39 +0000

why some of you guys compare sigma with canon 85 F1.4 when non actually exist ? o_O

By: Enrico

Enrico — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 11:33:14 +0000

Yes, but it would be cheaper, a 135mm f/2 or f/1.8 by Sigma. And they could equip it with OS!

By: A New Sigma 70-300 OS Lens? | Canon Rumors

A New Sigma 70-300 OS Lens? | Canon Rumors — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 11:55:17 +0000

[...] 85 f/1.4 The only rumor I have received about Sigma comes in the form of an 85 f/1.4 being announced. It’s an older rumor. [...]

By: Enjott

Enjott — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 20:22:25 +0000

Manual focus is fine with the 50/1.4, and the 85/1.4 will probably have a very similar mechanical design.

I use manual focus *only*, and I can directly compare to my adapted MF lenses. Manual focusing is really quite good for an AF lens.

Actually Canon’s service here used my Sigma to calibrate the viewfinder screen’s focal distance, because the focusing was smoother than on the EF lenses they had. ;)

By: Enjott

Enjott — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 20:17:37 +0000

Just try it out instead of reading reviews.

The Sigma has clearly better image quality at maximum aperture because of its aspherical design, while the EF 50/1.4 has problems with haze from spherical aberration wide open. The EF with its classical design is essentially a 1970s lens with an AF motor glued around.

Also, the Sigma looks very cool with its large front glass. ;)

By: Enjott

Enjott — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 20:09:32 +0000

I don’t understand all this obsession with AF. Use manual focus with the EG-S screen; if you have good eyesight, that’s more accurate than AF anyway. Except when there’s little time to focus, but then a 50mm is hardly a sports lens.

I’m not using the AF on any of my lenses. I don’t even know if it’s accurate on my Sigma 24-60/2.8, though that is my most often used lens on the 5D2 and I travelled with it several times.

By: hk300

hk300 — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 02:28:15 +0000

I think this sigma 85 1.4 is very much possible. Currently there is this manual focus Polar/Samyang/Vivitar 85/1.4, and Sigma could very much use this design as a base for their HSM version.

This will also confirm that Sigma is outsourcing their production to others (hence poor QC).

By: Gerry

Gerry — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 20:28:37 +0000

Because the bokeh of the Sigma is far superior to that of the Canon.

By: Gerry

Gerry — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 20:26:51 +0000

Sigma needs to make a fast 35mm lens. Canon users have the choice between the Canon 35/1.4, which is large and expensive, and the Canon 35/2, which is small, but optically not that good and with poor bokeh. The choices from other camera manufacturers are not that good either.

I have a Sigma 50/1.4 for my 5D and a 30/1.4 for my 20D. I probably would not buy a Sigma 85/1.4 because I love my Canon 85/1.8. But I would buy a fast Sigma 35mm prime in a heartbeat (f/1.4, f/1.8 or f/2, as long as it had similar bokeh characteristics to the 50/1.4).

By: Ronnie

Ronnie — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 22:01:05 +0000

I thin 1.4 is more perfeckt for a 85 mm at the moment

By: Tom

Tom — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 21:58:26 +0000

I think this is a good idea. An 85 1,4 is a very interesting lens Canon don’t have. Plus the one from Zeiss haven’t got any autofocus. The 85 F/1.2 is a bit too heavy and way too slow and the 85 1,8 isn’t that great either.