Has the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Production Come to an End?

[Canon Rumors]

A <a href="https://twitter.com/fujiyacamera" target="_blank">Tokyo based camera store</a> seems to be reporting that production of the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM has ended.</p>
<p>Might we finally see the lens everyone has been waiting for, an 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art?</p>
<p>We haven’t been told this directly by anyone, but we’re definitely hoping that it turns out to be true.</p>
<p><em>More to come we hope…</em></p>
<span id="pty_trigger"></span>

 

[Chaitanya]

Dont care, I am still waiting for replacement of the 50mm/70mm Macros that were discontinued few years back.

 

[ahsanford]

Dont care, I am still waiting for replacement of the 50mm/70mm Macros that were discontinued few years back.

You are in a minority, then. A lot of people want this lens.

A non-'focus-by-wire' 85mm f/1.4 portrait lens with speedier AF and better resolution than the 85L at $899-999 will sell like hotcakes. That's a hammerlock certainty.

The question is if the (occasionally) flaky Sigma AF at f/1.4 will haunt this lens as well. The 50 Art and 35 Art both have exhibited a nutty AF inconsistency issue that you can't correct with a dock / AFMA. It's a non-issue for manual focusing portraiture or for studio work that you can proof / chimp, but for field work, the 35 and 50 Art AF issue leads to missed shots you may not be able to retake. That's Sigma's #1 challenge with an 85 Art, IMHO, as we know the lens will be sharp.

- A

 

[cellomaster27]

I hope they could incorporate some weather sealing into it. or IS. But an update to the current 85 is going to be really awesome! time to sell my 85 1.8.

 

[jebrady03]

used EF 85/1.8 don't fetch much. If you use it, I'd hold on to it for a while because it's unlikely that a Sigma 85 Art will come any time in the next 6 months.

 

[MrFotoFool]

I own this lens and it produces very nice images. When I first got it, it would not autofocus at close range. I sent it in for factory warranty repair (CRIS Camera in Phoenix, an authorized Sigma service center) and since then it works fine.

 

[[email protected]]

If it had both weather sealing and OS, then I might consider switching from my Tamron F/1.8 VC (the one thing that could be improved is a moderate amount of CA). But without both of those, the Tamron will be more useful for me, even given the third of a stop advantage of the Sigma.

Was shooting it in the rain yesterday and thinking to myself "Glad the Tammy came out before the Sigma."

 

[j-nord]

I assume the new one will be around $1k. The 50 Art didn't have have OS or weather sealing so I doubt this lens will.

 

[ahsanford]

I assume the new one will be around $1k. The 50 Art didn't have have OS or weather sealing so I doubt this lens will.

Agree on all fronts.

It would make little sense to add something to the line that it never had before, and (I believe) these Art lenses were selling quite well based on each and every one (20/24/35/50) are all sitting at their original asking price right now (according to CPW).

This of course may change as Sigma leaves the 'typical' Art wheelhouse of standard primes. I was a little surprised a 20mm f/1.4 lens was not sealed as a special case for (clearly) the astro camp, but I guess the less than stellar coma performance made that an academic distinction. I also could see Sigma climbing up into non-standard territory and go after some sacred Canon jewels, like the 135 f/2 and 200 f/2L IS -- the first really calls out for IS and the second is a different ballgame price-wise. Perhaps those two offerings might get special treatment with IS, sealing, etc.

- A

 

[CanonGuy]

I never pre ordered any lens. But if it's true, I'll be pre ordering in a hear beat. I got excited for 35L ii and the price was ridiculous. Not giving my money again to canon that easy. Go Sigma.

 

[d]

I never pre ordered any lens. But if it's true, I'll be pre ordering in a hear beat. I got excited for 35L ii and the price was ridiculous. Not giving my money again to canon that easy. Go Sigma.

Will you be changing you name to 'SigmaGuy'?

 

[dlee13]

I own the current Sigma 85mm and for me to sell it for an Art version, it would have to be a substantial upgrade.

The AF on my copy is spot on without any adjustment and it's tack sharp wide open already so I may stick with my copy.

 

[IglooEater]

Dont care, I am still waiting for replacement of the 50mm/70mm Macros that were discontinued few years back.

You are in a minority, then. A lot of people want this lens.

A non-'focus-by-wire' 85mm f/1.4 portrait lens with speedier AF and better resolution than the 85L at $899-999 will sell like hotcakes. That's a hammerlock certainty.

The question is if the (occasionally) flaky Sigma AF at f/1.4 will haunt this lens as well. The 50 Art and 35 Art both have exhibited a nutty AF inconsistency issue that you can't correct with a dock / AFMA. It's a non-issue for manual focusing portraiture or for studio work that you can proof / chimp, but for field work, the 35 and 50 Art AF issue leads to missed shots you may not be able to retake. That's Sigma's #1 challenge with an 85 Art, IMHO, as we know the lens will be sharp.

- A

My thoughts exactly. I wonder if spotty AF is the reason they haven't released one yet. At 1.4 AF discrepancies are a major issue as the focal length gets longer and longer. The 35A was received with much more applause than the 50A, despite the 50A being optically as good. I suspect AF was to blame.

 

[CanonGuy]

I never pre ordered any lens. But if it's true, I'll be pre ordering in a hear beat. I got excited for 35L ii and the price was ridiculous. Not giving my money again to canon that easy. Go Sigma.

Will you be changing you name to 'SigmaGuy'?

I might. I already sold my 35L i and 50L then bought 35 art and 50 art. Couldn't be happier with the switch. Both art have Much better optics than both L lenses. Though I had to return first copy of 35 art because of AF issue. But the 2 copies I have now has spot on AF. If sigma keeps on releasing art series, I'll replace all my L glasses (except prolly the 70-200 2.8 IS mk ii as I love that lens and don't think sigma can beat that). Nice to see the competition and I welcome it. And i totally understand some fan boys/paid posters don't appreciate competition and will buy any overpriced lens canon releases lol.

 

[jd7]

I own the current Sigma 85mm and for me to sell it for an Art version, it would have to be a substantial upgrade.

Agree!

The lens I'd really like to see next from Sigma is a 135 f/2 Art - or ideally, a 135 f/2 Art OS.

 

[Maximilian]

Might we finally see the lens everyone has been waiting for, an 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art?

Yeah! Bring it on!

I'd love to see how this beast will perform.
And I'd like to see if Canon finally feels compelled to also act at this focal length.

 

[dlee13]

I own the current Sigma 85mm and for me to sell it for an Art version, it would have to be a substantial upgrade.

Agree!

The lens I'd really like to see next from Sigma is a 135 f/2 Art - or ideally, a 135 f/2 Art OS.

That seems like the more reasonable choice to me too. If they added OS to the 135 it would definitely sell like crazy.

It's even more surprising since that patent for a 70-200 was released not long ago.

 

[AshtonNekolah]

Top reason I dumped sigma on these version of lenses long before this was going to happen, saw it was coming from a long shot. Thank goodness this is over.

 

[drs]

I look forward to the 85 Art. Nothing more to add here. )

 

[LSXPhotog]

Half the Canon world is waiting on the 85 Art lens. I personally don't like the 85mm f/1.2 for my personal style. Right now, no 85 has the color fringing performance to warrant its price tag, in my opinion. I'm sure the Art will tackle this as well as the previous lenses in the lineup have.

Also, the next 135mm to come out with rounded blades and/or image stabilization gets my moolah. I love my 135L aside from the aperture blades creating the occasionally distracting bokeh.