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Sweet
It doesn't have to be all Canon!
I received an email today saying Sigma would be introducing an 85mm f/1.4 this fall season. The 50 f/1.4 has been a smashing success for Sigma and this such lens would do extremely well.
cr
Sigma 50mm f/1.4 is a successful backfocus/frontfocus lens :-).
Hope Sigma will bother getting them calibrated BEFORE sending them out this time. The 50mm has major problems with focus most of the time (90% needed re-calibration straight out of the box).
IF they get it right, it could be a good lens…IF…
CR1 though…
I don’t really know why Sigma would target this focal length; Canon already offers a stellar pair of 85mm lenses, one of which is very inexpensive (relatively speaking).
Sigma’s 50mm made sense as it was a reasonably priced lens optimised for use wide-open as opposed to the older 50mm designs intended for use when significantly stopped down. Sigma’s 30mm made sense as it allowed crop sensor cameras to have a fast, normal prime at a reasonable price.
I’m all for more choice and competeition in lenses (especially shorter primes) but I don’t really know if there’ll be a compelling advantage to choosing the Sigma over Canon’s 85mm f/1.8 as it’d only be 2/3rds of a stop faster and probably couldn’t be any cheaper.
Futhermore, depth-of-field with an 85mm lens at f/1.4 will typically be significantly shallower than a 50mm lens at f/1.4; Sigma aren’t really giving their reputation of imprecise lens focusing a forgiving outing.
I for one would love it if Sigma made a 85 1.4. The Canon 85 1.2 focuses too slow for the type of photography I do. And the Canon 85 1.8 is a very old lens made in 1992, that does not send distance information to the AF system.
A Sigma 85 1.4 would go well with my Sigma 50 1.4, and Sigma 150 2.8 Macro, neither of which have I had any AF issues.
I’d like one of those assuming it would actually focus on the target once in a while, I love my 85mm f1.8, I’ll never justify forking out so much cash for a f1.2 so a decent, 3rd party f1.4 could just convince me to part with some money.
they better make a 135mm f/1.8 HSM lens where they can have a “faster” lens compare to Canon, Nikon and way cheaper than the one from Sony CZ :)
That would totally make sense.
Would Sigma dare targeting an even wider aperature like f/1.2?
They would be alone with such a lens for Nikon, Pentax and Sony bodies.
It’s not only Sigma vs. Canon, but the same lens also would run against the Nikkor 85/1,4. Maybe cheaper, and with its own lens motor.
Customers from Canonland who want a bit more then the 85/1,8 (just one stop faster then the 70-200/2,8IS :) ) but consider the 85/1,2 over the top are just one of the target audiences.
I’m looking forward to this lens :)
Would be a match made in heaven paired with my 30 1.4. +1 on the “It had better focus” comments, although my 30 1.4 has been fine straight out of the box. Hopefully sigma will realise their QC issues need to be addressed.
“the Canon 85 1.8 is a very old lens made in 1992, that does not send distance information to the AF system” – I’m curious about this comment, I’ve not heard it before? Otherwise the age of the lens isnt relevant as far as I can see. My 85/1.8 is wonderful.
Mine backfocused on my XTi, but when my 5D mk II came in a month later, it had no focus problems on it. If Sigma was having a 90% rate for re-calibration of units sold, they would have all been recalled. I think the focus issues with it are overstated, magnified on the Internet by the fact that only people having focus problems are likely to read and respond in threads about the focus problems, giving a false impression of an epidemic. I would doubt more than 5% of those sold have had to be sent back for calibration.
I’m not surprised you have never heard it before as it is utter BS:
http://photonotes.org/articles/eos-flash/#distancedata
I already predicted Sigma would make a 85mm f/1.4 after I learned its 50mm f/1.4 follwoing its 30mm f/1.5 (for small format only). The 85 mm f/1.4 line is quite crowd. A few of them are not AF among many brands lenses on the line. I don’t expect the price will be significant lower than similar lenses from Canon or Nikon.
Thanks for clarifying that.
I’d be surprised if Sigma sell many 85mm lenses in EOS mount, considering that Canon appear to have this focal length wrapped up.
Regarding Canon 85 1.4 lens sending distance info…well I setting here with my trusty Canon lens brochure and it states that the 85 1.8 “does not incorporate distance information with E-TTL II flash system”
Now you have to be careful in reading the Canon EF Lens Specifications & Accessories Table…..If you look at the bottom of the table you will see where it says “**incorporates distance information with E-TTL II” and if you look at the row for the 85 1.8 you will see that it does NOT have the two little **.
Link to table
http://www.usa.canon.com/app/pdf/lens/EFLensChart.pdf
Which are you going to believe Canon’s own Table or a third party web page.
My Sigma 50mm had to be calibrated, as did everyone I know that owns one. They definitely have some QC issues, but the lens, when working properly, is absolutely fantastic.
I have the canon 85 f/1.8, and while I have no problems what so ever with the lens, I wouldn’t be the least bit opposed to trying out a Sigma 85 f/1.4 if it comes out.
«The 50 f/1.4 has been a smashing success for Sigma»
Really? Also for the Canon-EF-Mount?
Prices in Germany:
Sigma 50 mm F1.4 EX DG HSM = 400 EUR
Canon EF 50 1/1.4 USM = 350 EUR
In the most reviews the Sigma is not better then the Canon, so why should anybody choose the more expensive Third-party-lens from Sigma???
dpreview scores for Canon / Sigma EF on dpreview
Build quality 8.0 / 8.5
Ergonomics & handling 8.5 / 8.5
Features 8.0 / 8.0
Image quality 8.0 /8.5
photozone gives the same scores for both
Optical quality 4 / 4
Mechanical quality 4 / 4
From other dpreview tests on Pentax, Sony, the Sigma appears as the reference of this category. For Sigma, it is a success because they appear as a maker of quality lenses and not only as a maker of cheap lenses with good quality/price ratio.
I have a pretty wide lineup of Sigma lenses and I love them for their value, but I really want to shoot somebody (with a gun not a camera) sometimes when the AF starts hunting … over and over again.
that being said, the 70-300mm APO is a freakishly sharp lens for its price. I find that it focuses better in low light than my 10-20mm HSM… go figure
“This list was published by Canon USA’s Chuck Westfall”, and I choose to believe a third party web page which is based on the first hand info.
Did you even look at my link to Canon’s own chart, the link is below,
http://www.usa.canon.com/app/pdf/lens/EFLensChart.pdf
You will see for yourself the truth. You can do all the “he said she said” stuff you want, I prefer to go to original documents and do some research.
No one with the Canon 135mm F2 would move to Sigma just to get 1.8. The Canon 135mm F2 is one of the best of the best anywhere.
it would be awesome to see a bit of competition for the 85L too and maybe a little cheaper :]
I’ve been wavering on the Canon 85mm 1.8. Based on sigma’s track record with other Sigma lenses I’ve owned, I’d be really careful to read hands on reviews before I bought it. I like to use MF, and disregarded reviews and bought the 17-70. The reviews remarked on how stiff the foucs ring was, and I found out that manual focus was very difficult with a stiff focus ring.
My 105mm Macro would not work on a 40D and had to go in for a new chip which cost $85.00.
Then, my Sigma 400mm also would not AF or adjust aperture on my 40D, but it could not be updated.
Well, you get the drift, the reverse engineering of their Canon compatible lenses is not gauranteed to work on the next new Canon model, and may not be upgradable either.
The sigma, once working correctly focus wise, is a great lens apparently. From what i heard is that it holds its own against canons 50L
Your right, I’m wrong, Canon has updated to a new chart.
I want to smash 70-300 APO into somebodies head. They could make a better lens of a beer bottle. AS for 10-20mm, wideangles are very difficult to focus with due to their wide DOF (try MF if you don’t believe me).
I tried 50mm and it backfocused. Maybe in non-Canon mount it works better.
Costs less for them to fix 90% than do a recall.
I’m just going on what camera store owners have told me (customer feedback). 90% is pretty high, but it would be a fair percentage.
Probably because Sigma wouldn’t be able to do it right. LOL
I would like it if it would be a 80 mm f1.4. 5 mm shorter focal length though, but clearly different from other portrait lenses and very useable on crop. Also, the 5 mm would allow it to be a little lighter compared to 85 mm design.
I hope, this new lens is also optimized for use wide open. If I have a lot of sunshine, I would take my zoom lens instead.
The 85 F/1.2 unfortunetly seems to be optimized for use stopped down instead of a zoom lens. Same optimization for 135 F/2 ?
in regards to your feelings about the 70-300mm … sounds like Sigma quality control as usual then
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.
I thin 1.4 is more perfeckt for a 85 mm at the moment
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).
Because the bokeh of the Sigma is far superior to that of the Canon.
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).
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.
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. ;)
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. ;)
Yes, but it would be cheaper, a 135mm f/2 or f/1.8 by Sigma. And they could equip it with OS!
why some of you guys compare sigma with canon 85 F1.4 when non actually exist ? o_O
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.
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!
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.