Canon 85mm f1.2 or Sigma 50mm f1.4 Art?

[Ripley]

I haven't been able to find a decent comparison of these two. On the surface it appears they have nothing in common, but I wonder what the real world reality is when shooting portraiture. Thought the topic might make for an interesting thread.

I've rented the 50mm Art and it's amazing. I've never shot with the Canon 85mm f1.2.

 

[Dylan777]

85L II if budget is not an issue

 

[rs]

If you're thinking of buying either of these lenses to shoot wide open for a narrow DoF, the two really don't compare.

From purely a numbers point of view, the Sigma has a 36mm aperture, while the Canon has a 71mm aperture.

 

[infared]

Both! :

 

[Bennymiata]

If you can, wait for the Sigma 85 1.4 Art, which I'm sure will be out sooner rather than later.

 

[justaCanonuser]

On the surface it appears they have nothing in common, but I wonder what the real world reality is when shooting portraiture. Thought the topic might make for an interesting thread.

I've rented the 50mm Art and it's amazing. I've never shot with the Canon 85mm f1.2.

You said it. They do have nothing in common besides the fact that they are very fast lenses. 50mm and 85mm are different prime worlds. I have the EF 85/1.2 II and an EF 50/1.4 (of course optically inferior to Sigma's new 50/1.4), and I only use them for similar purposes (portrait, people) when I change with the 50mm also the camera from full frame to crop sensor (in fact, I really stopped doing that).

Besides those basic facts, there is something magic especially about Canon's 85/1.2, it's all about a hot cocktail of decent sharpness in the center and extremely creamy bokeh (no 85/1.4 can match it). You really have to play with this extreme lens by yourself to understand what I mean: it is like a magic wand that turns the scenery you see and shoot into a painting made with light. You'll either love or hate it. If you consider to test it, make sure you use it with a FF camera that has Canon's latest pro sensor system (5D3 or 1DX). Otherwise you will get into trouble to nail the focus wide open with this paper thin DoF (use one selected AF field only). I think such (AF not MF!) lenses now really come to life with better and better AF systems. You can start using them for non-static settings and get well-controlled results, not just accidental in-focus shots.

I love my 85/1.2, I even use it sometimes for street. If people don't move fast it works nicely - it focuses slowly but very precisely with my 5D3's AF system. Here's an example I shot with it wide open:

http://www.dpreview.com/galleries/6385346624/photos/2464553/frankfurt-hopper-style

 

[tayassu]

Check out TDP's review of the two:

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-85mm-f-1.2-L-II-USM-Lens-Review.aspx
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Sigma-50mm-f-1.4-DG-HSM-Art-Lens.aspx

Might help...

 

[OscarPiechowski]

Hi there here you go 85 1.2 with 5D III my last 2 years with this lens - http://hallor.digart.pl/digarty/
Check my photo of Joe Satriani shooted by 85 - http://hallor.digart.pl/galerie/15975/Joe_Satriani.html

 

[jdramirez]

As with all things, depends on what you are shooting.

I have the 85 mkii and I'm quite fond of it, but it is so slow to focus on moving objects.

And when you shoot at f1.2, it is a challenge getting your subject in focus...

The 50 will have issues focusing using peripheral points.... But it will have more depth of field.

If you believe in the transitive property, the art's bokeh< the 50mm f1.2<the 85 f1.2 mkii.

I was looking for a comparison as well, but then I got a really good deal on the 85 and that was game over for me.

 

[jdramirez]

And for what it's worth, I shot a hockey high school game with the 85mm with mixed results, but I liked the images more than the 70-200 mkii... just had a different feel... even if the shots weren't technically perfect...

 

[distant.star]

Both! :

Love your ALL IN attitude!!

 

[Besisika]

Both! :

Love your ALL IN attitude!!

It is not that "ALL IN attitude" though.
As someone said, these are two different lenses.
From the moment you stepped into the prime world, your are doomed to choose, unless ready to buy both.
I don't own the ART but I rented the Canon version to see what is it all about. Now, since I discovered the art of 35mm I will have to find the budget for it; it was a big miss in my arsenal.

I use the 35mm when making a portrait more environmental. It allows you to go inside the event you are shooting like you are part of them. Example: dancing party, street manifestation, vacation portrait, life style, selfie, ...
The 85 is the beginning of telephoto. I use it when going close to my subject in order to focus on her/his feature (eyes, mouth, ...). Compression is the key word. The 35mm will exaggerate the distance between face features.
Using the 35mm for feature portrait becomes more like an art than portraiture.

I tried to use 50mm before but I hate it, it is in a no man's land. I like emphasizing what I am doing and as a result, I am fully aware of which lens I should use for what purpose; feature-based or environmental.
It is quite ok to use only one of them (I only discovered the 35mm a couple of months ago), but no one will help you choose your taste. Rent both and compare.

 

[ecka]

Apple vs tomato
85L has more oomph.
Next question.

 

[jdramirez]

Apple vs tomato
85L has more oomph.
Next question.

It fits depend.. the 50 has no distortion, so if he's stitching panoramics...

Also... in design.. the 50 is less scary when putting the lens on the body because the rear element is flush with the metal mount.

 

[CanonNerdy]

Don't compare both! If you have the money get the 85 F1.2L II
you'll have a difficult time trying to switch over lenses, because it's more than awesome <3

 

[Ripley]

85L II if budget is not an issue

I can afford the Canon 85mm 1.2, but it would definitely put a significant dent in my photography budget. I rented the 50mm Art and if it weren't for the autofocus inconsistencies I experienced I would have bought it already. If the end result is similar, I'll probably pay extra for slow autofocus over inconsistent autofocus. :-\

 

[Ripley]

So... who here owns both and can testify? ;D

 

[jdramirez]

So... who here owns both and can testify? ;D

I'd guess not many. The 85L mkii is a siren. She makes you want to use her... even when it isn't ideal... like me shooting sports with it.

 

[justaCanonuser]

Hi there here you go 85 1.2 with 5D III my last 2 years with this lens - http://hallor.digart.pl/digarty/
Check my photo of Joe Satriani shooted by 85 - http://hallor.digart.pl/galerie/15975/Joe_Satriani.html

Nice images Oscar, I can see you are a real 85/1.2 addict, just like me...

 

[justaCanonuser]

Apple vs tomato
85L has more oomph.
Next question.

It fits depend.. the 50 has no distortion, so if he's stitching panoramics...

Also... in design.. the 50 is less scary when putting the lens on the body because the rear element is flush with the metal mount.

I never had the idea that anyone could use an 85/1.2 for stitching panoramics - but it might be worth a trial, might be a crazy funny experience.