Bokehlicious – The Sigma 135mm F1.8 DG HSM | Art Series Lens Review by MPEX

[infared]

Actually for what it is worth...the DPReview shots for this lens were above average...the shooter actually understood what we wanted to see. There is a lot of info in those images. Just a part of the puzzle, though.

Who is MPEX? Their photos look amateur just like their blog..

In fairness, it looks like what every first-use / early hands-on gallery looks like at DPR, Phoblographer, SLRL, etc. -- a photographer was given an hour or two to shoot with a lens and then return it to the company. Those shots are always a little underwhelming.

There's a reason why waiting for proper reviews is better. Like... a jillion reasons.

- A

 

[Maiaibing]

5) Who in the hell shoots street with howitzer-sized lenses like this?!

- A

I use a 300mm IS L II. Works great. Currently take around 40.000 street shots/year with this lens. Highly recommended.

 

[FramerMCB]

5) Who in the hell shoots street with howitzer-sized lenses like this?!

- A

I use a 300mm IS L II. Works great. Currently take around 40.000 street shots/year with this lens. Highly recommended.

Not very indiscreet though is it? Unless your shooting from parking garages, recessed dark doorways, etc. ;D ;D ;D (From what I read and understand, that lens, along with it's smaller sibling the 200mm f2.0, is one of Canon's best lenses.)

 

[privatebydesign]

5) Who in the hell shoots street with howitzer-sized lenses like this?!

- A

I use a 300mm IS L II. Works great. Currently take around 40.000 street shots/year with this lens. Highly recommended.

Not very indiscreet though is it? Unless your shooting from parking garages, recessed dark doorways, etc. ;D ;D ;D (From what I read and understand, that lens, along with it's smaller sibling the 200mm f2.0, is one of Canon's best lenses.)

I hate when technique is pigeonholed and would never discourage any equipment choice for any genre if that is the route you feel like going, indeed there used to be a poster here that used a 500mm f4 for 'street' photography, but I'd love to see some compelling street photography shot with a longer than 85mm focal length.

I used to use a 70-200 and found because of my comparative inexperience and long overcome timidity I would use the focal length to try to connect me to the subject. When I look back at those images, whilst some might be nice, none come close to having the impact ones taken with lenses 24-50mm have.

Can anybody point me to some really good street photography shot with >100mm?

 

[ahsanford]

Can anybody point me to some really good street photography shot with >100mm?

Depends on what you call good. If good street for you is 'feeling the bravery of the shooter' as they capture something without permission, then the answer is no. You need to get closer.

But, sure, you can take street shots with anything. Here's a quick smash and grab search from Shutterdial:

135mm: http://www.shutterdial.com/#/search?s=street&f=135&a=0

200mm: http://www.shutterdial.com/#/search?s=street&f=200&a=0

I'm not calling any of it good or bad, but people are shooting street with longer glass.

- A

 

[privatebydesign]

Can anybody point me to some really good street photography shot with >100mm?

Depends on what you call good. If good street for you is 'feeling the bravery of the shooter' as they capture something without permission, then the answer is no. You need to get closer.

But, sure, you can take street shots with anything. Here's a quick smash and grab search from Shutterdial:

135mm: http://www.shutterdial.com/#/search?s=street&f=135&a=0

200mm: http://www.shutterdial.com/#/search?s=street&f=200&a=0

I'm not calling any of it good or bad, but people are shooting street with longer glass.

- A

Yes, lots of examples of the voyeuristic feeling and totally detached thing I'd expect and fine if that is what you are into, but, to me, the whole point of street photography is to not be thought of as a voyeur.

Very little of interest, though I did like 'Crossing the Street' from the 135 gallery, certainly not enough to bother carry a 135mm or above lens anywhere.

But to your point, no I am not into the intrusive in your face style either.

 

[vscd]

I don't understand all the fuzz about the AF-Speed of the 85L. It's a portaitlens. Most people on portraits dont move more than 10 inches and in this range it pretty fast. If you let it hunting to the horizon and back you make something wrong...

I take portraits with manual lenses and the 85L, I never thought about the AF Speed. Most people use the lens wrong if they go to a car-racing event with it...

 

[ahsanford]

I don't understand all the fuzz about the AF-Speed of the 85L. It's a portaitlens. Most people on portraits dont move more than 10 inches and in this range it pretty fast. If you let it hunting to the horizon and back you make something wrong...

I take portraits with manual lenses and the 85L, I never thought about the AF Speed. Most people use the lens wrong if they go to a car-racing event with it...

You don't only shoot dedicated portraiture with an 85 prime. Gymnasium sports and concert photography also make good use of them, and those two applications absolutely need that AF speed.

Both of those types of shooting don't allow a flash and have wretched interior lighting that an f/2.8 zoom would need higher ISO for. But for (I presume ) AF speed reasons, I don't see 85L's on cameras in those environments. For those that don't want to crank the ISO on their f/2.8 zooms, it's interesting what Canon lens actually gets recommended for gymnasiums and concerts:

Uncle Rog at LR:

"Seriously, the [85mm] f/1.8 is the opposite of the f/1.2 in two really important ways: 1) it’s small and lightweight and 2) it focuses as fast as you please, which makes it one of the best indoor sports lenses for those small and not-too-well-lit high school gyms. In those situations, when f/2.8 just isn’t wide enough, this is the lens to grab."

TDP:

"An application where the Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Lens shines is indoor and low light photography. The 85mm focal length and wide aperture make the 85 f/1.8 a great church or stage lens. With its wide aperture and fast focusing, the 85 f/1.8 works well for indoor Sports."

- A

 

[Diko]

I love the way SIGMA get's in the way of every major player on the lens market. That should make every one competitor rethink its price policy currently primed at max profits mostly.

I do hope that anytime soon the consumers will stop act like fools, understand to react accordingly and redirect towards SIGMA ART purchases. The other day I saw Adidas clothing (almost identical models and same materials) next to unknown brand - the only difference - the price (ten folds).

I am currently awaiting the SIGMA 24-70 ART to come out and observe its reviews and tests. And most probably will buy it (2.8 with stabilization - CHECKED!). The only No-GO would be too slow focus, which according to this 135 ART review-article might be (still have my doubts, 135 is no ZOOM) quite OK.

Does anyone have a least amount of clue when it should come out? I am stopping the purchase of CANON 24-70 II, because of SIGMA.

 

[OutOfFocus]

It may be a great lens but $1400 seems a little pricey for a niche lens...

 

[sanj]

1) Anyone who is impressed with something that beats the 85L for focusing speed has pretty low standards. (That's not a quick focusing lens at all.)

2) Zero comment on AF consistency, which is Sigma's #1 problem with a bullet.

3) Pre-market access to a lens + statements like "So strong in fact, my order has been placed" = the reviewer has failed. You had one job, dude: tell me how it performs. The minute you become a schill for a manufacturer, I lose respect for you. If this review ends up in a Sigma publication / advert / website, I will consider this review a commissioned affair and I'll promptly disregard future work from them.

4) The beard 100% crop doesn't show the sharp focal plane he was referring to -- at all. Either the lens is soft (really doubt it), the AF whiffed (possible) or he shot wide open and the beard wasn't in the working DOF (my guess).

5) Who in the hell shoots street with howitzer-sized lenses like this?!

I welcome this lens coming to market and I welcome this guy's perspective (I really do), but I'll wait for the usual suspects (Carnathan, Dustin Abbott, Roger Cicala, LT, PZ, etc.) to do their thing.

- A

I do.

 

[SecureGSM]

__blog.samys.com/perfection-sigma-135mm-f1-8-art-lens-review/


article written by a photographer that actually knows his photography.

 

[ahsanford]

__blog.samys.com/perfection-sigma-135mm-f1-8-art-lens-review/


article written by a photographer that actually knows his photography.

'Article' is a kind way of putting it -- it's more like fan fiction. I counted more exclamation points than actual insights in that write-up.

- A

 

[infared]

Well...Mine arrives tomorrow...Can't wait!!!!!
Roger gives it a big thumbs up at LensRental....so I think I made the right choice.
8)
https://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2017/04/sigma-135mm-f1-8-art-mtf-charts-and-a-look-behind-the-curtain/

 

[AlanF]

Lenstip this morning published their review. Their copy is the sharpest lens ever tested on a 5DIII
http://www.lenstip.com/501.1-Lens_review-Sigma_A_135_mm_f_1.8_DG_HSM_Introduction.html

It's sharper at the edge at f/1.8 than the Canon 135 is at the centre at f/2. Seems sensational.

 

[Eldar]

Lenstip this morning published their review. Their copy is the sharpest lens ever tested on a 5DIII
http://www.lenstip.com/501.1-Lens_review-Sigma_A_135_mm_f_1.8_DG_HSM_Introduction.html

It's sharper at the edge at f/1.8 than the Canon 135 is at the centre at f/2. Seems sensational.

I have promised myself to stay away from Sigma, given all the AF problems I´ve had, but this might be the one to flip my mind ... :

 

[infared]

OK...I have a 2-Day-Old 5DIV...and my Sigma 135mm just arrived this afternoon....All I can say is WOW!
Its a monster of a lens...CHUNKY....but what a combo.
For those worrying about focus... I now have 4 ART lenses that I have personally experienced.. Here are my impressions:
1. 35mm ART was the wackiest...but after calibrating on the Sigma Dock..It was MUCH better. I had read that the AF motor was undersized ect..don't know..but I think that that may be the weakest one....but after calibration it was very good...but not perfect. I finally sold mine and picked up the new Canon 35mm L and it is more consistent...but damn....did I pay for it. It was the first ART Lens...and perhaps they have worked some bugs out....dunno.....
2. 20MM ART ..Calibrated on Dock. The lens is incredible and unique...I have had none of the focusing issues.
3. 50mm ART...sent my 1st copy back. Was very inconsistent. My second copy, after calibrating on the Dock CAREFULLY is very spot on now. What an image maker. I do not sit around and measurebate. I take photos...and it is very, very consistent. Just love the look of what it delivers..and there is no CAnon lens that can compete with it at 50mm, as far as I am concerned.
4. This new 135mm lens has hit every thing I aim it at. I have not really checked it out do see if I need to put it on the dock yet...but it is spot on in my apt. shooting anything around. It also has a LOT of glass to move...So if you are shooting in a close relative range it is FAST...but if you focus on something very close and then very far...it is slower...but not horrible. Again...considering the weight and amount of glass...it does a really good job.
Think I am going to have a fun weekend!!!!! 8)
This should compliment my slower focusing dreamier Canon 85mm f/1.2 II. Love the look of that lens, not interested in replacing it...and it holds up great on the larger new sensor of my 5DIV... but it is a specialty lens...and slow to focus...this is a modern lens, uber sharp and faster to focus...I think they are a very nice set to have in a quiver in a similar focal range....gives a nice choice how to handle a situation.
Great stuff. \

 

[Chaitanya]

Imaging resource also has posted their review and with basically similar wordings to lenstip one.
http://www.imaging-resource.com/news/2017/04/14/sigma-135mm-f-1.8-art-lens-review-the-sharpest-lens-weve-ever-tested