Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art for Sony E-Mount Review

The Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art lens redefines what’s possible in portrait photography with a fast aperture and a lightweight design tailored for modern mirrorless systems. Released as part of Sigma's Art line, this lens combines exceptional optical quality, advanced features, and remarkable build construction, making it an ideal tool for professionals and enthusiasts alike. With its smaller and lighter profile compared to its DSLR-oriented predecessor, the lens offers excellent handling while delivering uncompromising image quality, rivaling even pricier alternatives in the premium portrait lens market.

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Features / Specifications

The Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art is packed with impressive features, designed to deliver high-end performance in a variety of scenarios:

Focal Length: 85mm, perfect for portraiture, weddings, and creative photography.
Aperture Range: f/1.4 to f/16, offering shallow depth of field and excellent low-light performance.
Lens Construction: 15 elements in 11 groups, including:
- One aspherical element for precise optical correction.
- Five SLD (Special Low Dispersion) elements to minimize chromatic aberrations.
Coatings: Super Multi-Layer Coating to reduce flare and ghosting, ensuring high contrast and vibrant colors.
Aperture Blades: 11 rounded blades for creamy, pleasing bokeh.
Autofocus System: Stepper motor (STM) for quiet, accurate, and fast focusing performance.
Filter Thread: 77mm, compatible with most professional-grade filters.
Mount Compatibility: Sony E-mount, specifically designed for full-frame mirrorless systems.
Weather Sealing: Dust- and splash-resistant construction for use in challenging environments.
Weight: Approximately 630g (1.39 lbs), significantly lighter than comparable alternatives.
Minimum Focus Distance: 85cm (2.79 ft), with a maximum magnification of 0.12x.

Build Quality

Sigma's Art line is renowned for its robust construction, and the 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art is no exception:

Materials: The lens barrel is constructed from a combination of durable polycarbonate and aluminum alloy, ensuring both durability and a lightweight build.
Weather Sealing: The lens features a comprehensive sealing system around critical points, including the mount and control rings, making it resistant to dust and moisture.
Controls: The lens is equipped with tactile and well-placed controls:
- Aperture Ring: Offers a smooth and precise adjustment, with an optional "de-click" switch for silent operation during video shooting.
- Focus Lock Button: Customizable for quick access to specific camera functions.
- AF/MF Switch: Easily toggles between autofocus and manual focus modes.

The overall build exudes quality and attention to detail, making it a reliable tool for professionals.

Size, Weight, and Dimensions

The Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art is a triumph of engineering, balancing performance and portability:

Dimensions: 82.8mm (3.26 inches) in diameter and 94.1mm (3.7 inches) in length.
Weight: At just 630g (1.39 lbs), it’s significantly lighter than many competitors in the same category, including the Sony 85mm f/1.4 GM.
Portability: The compact and lightweight design ensures comfort during prolonged handheld shooting sessions, making it ideal for on-location work.

The size and weight of this lens are well-suited for mirrorless systems, offering a seamless integration with Sony’s compact full-frame cameras.

Image Quality

The Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art sets a new standard for portrait lenses, offering exceptional image quality across all parameters.

Sharpness

Center Sharpness: The lens delivers outstanding sharpness, even at its maximum aperture of f/1.4. Fine details are captured with precision, making it ideal for high-resolution sensors.
Edge Sharpness: Edge performance is also excellent, with minimal drop-off, even in demanding scenes like group portraits or environmental shots.
Stopped-Down Performance: Sharpness improves slightly when stopped down to f/2 or f/2.8, providing a razor-sharp image across the entire frame.

Color Rendering and Contrast

Color Fidelity: The lens produces vibrant, accurate colors that retain natural skin tones—essential for portrait photography.
Contrast: Thanks to the Super Multi-Layer Coating, the lens excels in high-contrast scenes, ensuring depth and dimensionality even in backlit conditions.

Bokeh

Background Blur: The 11-blade aperture creates smooth, creamy bokeh with natural fall-off, free of onion rings or harsh edges.
Highlight Rendering: Highlights are rendered as soft, circular shapes, adding to the aesthetic appeal of portraits and close-ups.
Subject Separation: At f/1.4, the shallow depth of field provides stunning subject isolation, with a pleasing transition between in-focus and out-of-focus areas.

Optical Aberrations

Chromatic Aberration: Virtually eliminated, even in high-contrast scenes like backlit hair or reflective surfaces.
Distortion: Barrel distortion is negligible, making the lens suitable for architectural and commercial work as well as portraits.
Flare and Ghosting: The advanced coatings effectively suppress flare and ghosting, ensuring clarity and contrast in challenging lighting conditions.
Vignetting: Noticeable at f/1.4, particularly in the corners, but it diminishes significantly by f/2 and is easily corrected in post-processing.

Autofocus

The lens’s autofocus system is driven by a stepping motor (STM):

Speed: Focus acquisition is swift, locking onto subjects with ease even in challenging lighting conditions.
Accuracy: Focus is precise, ensuring critical sharpness in every frame.
Noise: The motor operates silently, making it ideal for both stills and video work.

Performance in Photography and Videography

Photography

Portraits: Stunning subject isolation and flawless rendering make it perfect for portraits.
Low-Light Shooting: The f/1.4 aperture allows for excellent low-light performance, making it ideal for weddings, events, and indoor photography.
Creative Work: The shallow depth of field enables creative compositions, with the background melting away into a creamy blur.

Videography

Focus Breathing: Minimal focus breathing ensures smooth focus transitions, making it suitable for professional video production.
Autofocus Performance: Quiet and accurate, the STM motor delivers seamless focusing during video capture.
Manual Focus: The focus ring is smooth and responsive, offering precise control for cinematic pulls.

Use Cases

The Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art excels in various scenarios:

Portrait Photography: Ideal for headshots, full-body portraits, and environmental portraits.
Wedding and Event Photography: Reliable in low light and capable of delivering stunning images with natural bokeh.
Studio Work: Exceptional sharpness and accurate color rendering make it a favorite for professional studio shoots.
Videography: Smooth focus and minimal breathing cater to cinematic applications.

Price

The Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art is priced at approximately $1,199 USD, making it a competitive option in the premium portrait lens market. While it is more affordable than its Sony counterpart, it delivers comparable performance, offering excellent value for money.

The Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art for Sony E-Mount is a stellar portrait lens that combines professional-grade optics with a compact, lightweight design. It delivers exceptional sharpness, beautiful bokeh, and precise autofocus performance, all at a price that undercuts many competitors. Whether you’re a portrait photographer, wedding shooter, or videographer, this lens is a worthy addition to your kit.

Conclusion

Rating

Our overall rating: 9.4/10

The Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art strikes an excellent balance between price, performance, and portability, earning its place as a top-tier portrait lens for Sony mirrorless systems.