The Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art Lens is a stellar addition to any photographer’s arsenal, offering exceptional image quality, stunning bokeh, and unparalleled versatility. As a proud owner of this lens, I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing its capabilities firsthand, and I’m excited to share my thoughts in this review.
First and foremost, let’s talk about image quality. The Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art Lens delivers tack-sharp images with remarkable clarity and detail. Whether shooting portraits, landscapes, or street photography, the lens consistently produces stunning results, capturing every nuance with precision and accuracy.
One of the standout features of this lens is its wide aperture of f/1.4, which allows for beautiful background blur and exceptional low-light performance. Whether shooting in dimly lit environments or aiming to achieve that dreamy bokeh effect, the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art Lens excels, delivering breathtaking results every time.
The build quality of the lens is also top-notch, with a sturdy construction that inspires confidence in its durability. The smooth, responsive focus ring and customizable AF-L button add to the overall user experience, allowing for precise control and quick access to essential functions.
Another highlight of the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art Lens is its versatility. While it excels at portrait photography, thanks to its flattering focal length and beautiful bokeh, it’s also well-suited for a variety of other genres, including street photography, weddings, and events. Whether capturing intimate moments or sweeping landscapes, this lens delivers consistently outstanding results.
In terms of compatibility, the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art Lens is designed for full-frame mirrorless cameras, making it an ideal choice for photographers looking to maximize the potential of their mirrorless systems. With its native L-mount and Sony E-mount options, it seamlessly integrates with a wide range of camera bodies, ensuring optimal performance and compatibility.
Overall, the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art Lens is a masterpiece of optical engineering, combining exceptional image quality, stunning bokeh, and superb build quality in a single package. Whether you’re a portrait photographer, a landscape enthusiast, or anything in between, this lens is sure to exceed your expectations and elevate your photography to new heights. Highly recommended.
Pictures taken with the SIGMA 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art
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How I use the L-Mount Lens SIGMA 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art after 1 year
The following paragraph is a summary after owning this lens for around 1 year. I started out with the SIGMA 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art lens as the first “professional” lens that I purchased as I felt limited by the kit lenses for the results I was looking for. I was hesitant to spend so much money on a lens but decided to embrace the process of trying and learning. At that point I didn’t know a lot about photography but I was enticed to make the purchase by all the reviews I watched and read online. It is a great lens but I am not using it as often as I imagined I would use it. Initially, I never thought about shooting sports photography. I was inspired was to become a portrait photographer on the street and the lens is excellent for this type of photography. I was shooting basically everything with this lens when I first got my hand on it and this is also where I learned a lot and developed a deeper passion for photography. The portrait results were mostly stunning and I wouldn’t have been able to achieve this with the more versatile zoom kit lens. Unfortunately, for my current workflow and the feel I prefer the Panasonic S Pro 50mm f/1.4 which is mostly glued to one of my cameras unless I am doing sports photography.
Would I recommend the SIGMA 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art today?
If you are looking for an L-Mount portrait lens the SIGMA 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art is probably your bang for the buck choice. Even more so now after SIGMA introduced the Sigma 50mm F1.2 DG DN Art. I paid in summer 2023 roughly 1.100€ for a brand new Lens at Foto K a photography store in the city center of Barcelona.
If you have the spare cash and a Panasonic L-mount camera I think the Panasonic S Pro 50mm f/1.4 is more versatile and delivers a slightly better experience due to being a native lense. It has been a smoother and more versatile experience for me.
An alternative with a very low price tag of ~450€ (new) is the Panasonic Lumix S 50 mm F/1.8. I haven’t used it myself a lot though for various weird reasons. One of them was my lack of understanding and lack of knowledge or in other words my stupidity. Shit happens. Maybe one day I pick myself up to test it properly with my developed knowledge.
Furthermore, Sigma just announced a few days ago the Sigma 50mm F1.2 DG DN Art which could give the Panasonic S Pro 50mm f/1.4 a run for their money but I am currently not in the market for this one.
