Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG Art Coming to Photokina [CR3]

[Canon Rumors]

<p>We’re told that Sigma will be introducing the 85mm f/1.4 DG Art series lens for Photokina in September of this year. Availability may not be right away, but should ship before the end of 2016.</p>
<p>Specifications of the lens are unknown at this time, but the lens is currently being tested by select photographers.</p>
<p>The Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM has been <a href="http://www.canonrumors.com/has-the-sigma-85mm-f1-4-dg-hsm-production-come-to-an-end/">unofficially discontinued</a>.</p>
<span id="pty_trigger"></span>

 

[Jopa]

Must have the precioussss

 

[ahsanford]

Must have the precioussss

Nicely done.

 

[ahsanford]

CR3 means it's fresh. Nice.

- A

 

[Maui5150]

About freaking time, especially if under $1K

As much as I love the Canon Baseball, I would be happy with 1.4, decent AF and beautiful BOKEH

 

[slclick]

I knew I was waiting for something

 

[Talley]

Hi. I just wanted to post on the first page so I feel somewhat special next to this special lens announcement.

Thanks

 

[pwp]

This will be welcome, though hardly unexpected news right across the planet. Even the outgoing 85 f/1.4 was a very decent thing especially for the price, expectations for the 85 ART are high. We'll just have to wait for Dustin to put it through its paces!

-pw

 

[chmteacher]

insert obligatory comment how the autofocus won't be as good as first party

There, it's been said. No need for repetition.

 

[ahsanford]

insert obligatory comment how the autofocus won't be as good as first party

There, it's been said. No need for repetition.

On that topic -- in general, not just for Sigma -- I want to see hit rate studies! Put a camera on a tripod, have a clear as day target, randomly spin the focus ring and shoot at f/1.4.

LensTip does it and most lenses test as 'fine', great, etc. but we don't get numbers. Bryan Carnathan has dabbled at it but also does not report numbers. CR's reviewer Dustin Abbott started reporting hit rate numbers with the various 35 f/1.4 options, and I'd love to see more.

- A

 

[mclaren777]

Hopefully this prompts Canon to announce an 85mm f/1.4 with BR optics at Photokina as well.

As tempting as this new Sigma might be (I own their current 85mm), I will gladly hold out for such a Canon lens.

 

[FECHariot]

I was just about to bite on the Tamron 85 VC to upgrade my EF 85/1.8. I think I'll keep using the Canon and wait for this to pan out more.

 

[Sabaki]

I hope Sigma hits this clear out the park, especially AF.

It'll give us a chance to understand what's possible in a Canon option as well.

 

[9VIII]

It's actually going to be really tempting to get the 85A instead of the 50-100A for a portrait lens on crop.

The 50-100A has way more distortion than an 85mm prime, and less DOF, less light gathering, and the 50-100A is weakest at 100mm. If the 85A is stellar in the center wide open then it's going to be the better portrait lens for crop shooters.
Part of what makes the 18-35A so incredibly special is it offers very nearly the best IQ (on Crop) that you can get in that focal range regardless of whether you're talking Prime or Zoom, but fast wide Primes always have some glaring weaknesses. Not so much with longer lenses, the 50-100A has much stiffer competition.
The 85A is certainly much, much less versatile than the 50-100A, but if you can be somewhat certain of what you want to do with it then you might be better off chosing the worlds best 85mm Prime over the worlds best telephoto Zoom lens.

 

[Bennymiata]

I'll be very interested to see how it compares to the Tamron.
I want a good 85mm mainly for event photography, and I looked at the Canon f1.2 but found the af to be too slow for me.

I'll wait for the Sigma and then try them both and make up my mind.

 

[PeterAlex7]

Hope this will give canon more pressure to replace the 85L II.

 

[photojoern.de]

To make it being considerable, it will need Image Stabilization. And should be crisp sharp at f 1.4. Otherwise it will have an extremely hard time, given the great lenses from Canon. Of course, a spot-on Autofocus is essential for a 1.4 mild tele lens.

 

[Maximilian]

Oh, yeah! I'm already impatiently awaiting the reviews.

Although f1.8 is quite enough for me, f1.4 is tempting.
But I also like the form factor of the EF85/1.8.

As I stated before, I hope that Canon now feels forced to do something on this FL as well...

 

[Maiaibing]

looked at the Canon f1.2 but found the af to be too slow for me.

This. Lets have a fast focussing 85mm. I am sure we will get an optically better lens with less CA etc. etc. Fast focus would really set it apart while we wait for the 85LIII.

 

[MintChocs]

It's probably safe to predict that optically this lens will be good but most primes are, the question is whether it can auto focus accurately at F1.4. Until this is tested I'm going to wait and see. I'm not into micro adjusting and all that malarkey, I just want to put it on and shoot.