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Product DetailsStyle: Nikon Digital SLR Cameras
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Product Description
Style: Nikon Digital SLR Cameras
Sigma's 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM Lens is a large aperture medium telephoto lens optimized for use with digital SLR cameras and is especially ideal for portrait and low light photography. Designed with SLD glass and a glass mold element excellent color correction is achieved for all types of aberrations and superior optical performance is ensured. It is equipped with a rear focus system that minimized fluctuation of aberration caused by focusing and the Super Multi Layer Coating reduces flare and ghosting even in backlight photography. HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor) ensures quiet and high speed autofocus capability and the round 9 blade diaphragm creates pleasant out-of-focus highlights. It comes with a Petal-type hood to block out extraneous light. For digital cameras with an APS-C size image sensor, a dedicated hood adapter, which expands the length of the lens hood is supplied and enables the hood to block out extraneous light more effectively.
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Style: Nikon Digital SLR Cameras
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
85 of 89 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic lens! A comparison to Canon's f1.2 L mk II and f1.8...
November 11, 2010
By C. Tipton
Style Name:Canon Digital SLR Cameras
I've always been hesitant to try sigma lenses because I hear a lot of problems that people have with the focusing on them. I passed up on the widely regarded 50mm f1.4 and 30mm f1.4 even though they got stellar reviews for the most part. When Sigma came out with the 85mm f1.4 for less than half the price of Canon's 85mm f1.2 L II, I had to see if it would save me a bundle in my search for a great 85mm.
I took some time to compare this one to the 85mm f1.8 and the 85mm f1.2 L II by renting all three before making any decisions, and I have to say that this lens really impresses!
The Sigma lens is much lighter than the Canon f1.2 and therefore, much easier to handle. The first thing that comes to mind when putting the canon f1.2 on my camera is how awkward everything feels - it's weight and "top-heaviness" really throw the balance off (I'm using a 7D) and makes the whole set-up feel wrong. With the sigma, I don't get this feel.... it feels right. It feels like almost a rubbery-plastic, and while the canon f1.2 feels more solid, the Sigma feels more modernized to me. The Canon f1.8 is no slouch, but feels lacking compared to the other two in build quality. The Sigma comes with a unique 2-part lens hood to help avoid hood vignetting on full-frame cameras. There is a middle section that you leave off if you are using a full-frame camera, but then add back on if you have a crop camera.
As for image quality, I'm not going to go too much into detail here because other reviews across the web have conducted much more scientific tests than me and provide images to compare. I will just summarize my experiences though: in my opinion, the Canon f1.2 has the sharpest photos, especially in the center of the image. The Sigma bests the other 2 in corner sharpness though. The f1.8 has the fastest autofocus, with the f1.2 far behind and Sigma trailing only slightly behind. For bokeh quality, I actually prefer the Sigma to the f1.2. Color and contrast is a tie between the Sigma and f1.2... the Sigma offers slightly warmer photos. The Sigma handles flares better than the f1.8, but not as well as the f1.2. All three seemed to handle chromatic abrasion well in my tests. Just as an overall picture, I really found that I enjoyed the f1.2 pictures the best, but did I enjoy them $1000 more? Probably not. The Sigma really wasn't far behind the f1.2 in image quality.
If I were a professional photographer, I would probably go with the canon f1.2 over the Sigma just because that slight edge in image quality and extra light from the f1.2 would probably pay for itself over time. As a hobbyist though, I can't see myself paying over twice as much for the only slightly better lens. The Sigma really provides an excellent option for a midpoint between the Canon f1.8 and f1.2. In addition, it opens up a new way for indoor sports photographers to capture fast action. Because of its slower autofocus, I constantly found that the f1.2 had less keepers when I did indoor fast action photography. The Sigma and f1.8 handled these situations fine. I shoot a lot of indoor dog shows and competitions, so the Sigma is now going to be my go-to lens for those. The f1.8 would have been a great option and still is probably one of the best quality/value ratios out there in my opinion, but the better image quality of the Sigma is apparent. Plus, the extra light from the wider aperture really does help in many situations. I also like the bokeh quality much better than the f1.8.
I took some time to compare this one to the 85mm f1.8 and the 85mm f1.2 L II by renting all three before making any decisions, and I have to say that this lens really impresses!
The Sigma lens is much lighter than the Canon f1.2 and therefore, much easier to handle. The first thing that comes to mind when putting the canon f1.2 on my camera is how awkward everything feels - it's weight and "top-heaviness" really throw the balance off (I'm using a 7D) and makes the whole set-up feel wrong. With the sigma, I don't get this feel.... it feels right. It feels like almost a rubbery-plastic, and while the canon f1.2 feels more solid, the Sigma feels more modernized to me. The Canon f1.8 is no slouch, but feels lacking compared to the other two in build quality. The Sigma comes with a unique 2-part lens hood to help avoid hood vignetting on full-frame cameras. There is a middle section that you leave off if you are using a full-frame camera, but then add back on if you have a crop camera.
As for image quality, I'm not going to go too much into detail here because other reviews across the web have conducted much more scientific tests than me and provide images to compare. I will just summarize my experiences though: in my opinion, the Canon f1.2 has the sharpest photos, especially in the center of the image. The Sigma bests the other 2 in corner sharpness though. The f1.8 has the fastest autofocus, with the f1.2 far behind and Sigma trailing only slightly behind. For bokeh quality, I actually prefer the Sigma to the f1.2. Color and contrast is a tie between the Sigma and f1.2... the Sigma offers slightly warmer photos. The Sigma handles flares better than the f1.8, but not as well as the f1.2. All three seemed to handle chromatic abrasion well in my tests. Just as an overall picture, I really found that I enjoyed the f1.2 pictures the best, but did I enjoy them $1000 more? Probably not. The Sigma really wasn't far behind the f1.2 in image quality.
If I were a professional photographer, I would probably go with the canon f1.2 over the Sigma just because that slight edge in image quality and extra light from the f1.2 would probably pay for itself over time. As a hobbyist though, I can't see myself paying over twice as much for the only slightly better lens. The Sigma really provides an excellent option for a midpoint between the Canon f1.8 and f1.2. In addition, it opens up a new way for indoor sports photographers to capture fast action. Because of its slower autofocus, I constantly found that the f1.2 had less keepers when I did indoor fast action photography. The Sigma and f1.8 handled these situations fine. I shoot a lot of indoor dog shows and competitions, so the Sigma is now going to be my go-to lens for those. The f1.8 would have been a great option and still is probably one of the best quality/value ratios out there in my opinion, but the better image quality of the Sigma is apparent. Plus, the extra light from the wider aperture really does help in many situations. I also like the bokeh quality much better than the f1.8.
26 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Style Name:Canon Digital SLR Cameras|Amazon Verified Purchase
I am a pro wedding photographer who shoots primarily with zooms. I use prime lenses more as specialty lenses when I want to narrow depth of field or in extreme darkness. I own the Canon 85 1.8, itself an excellent lens, and rented a Canon 85 1.2L, a fabled Canon staple. The Sigma is actually better than the 85 1.8 at large apertures and rivals the Canon 85L in almost all respects. Compared to the Canon 85L, the Sigma is slightly more compact and lightweight. It's build is similar to my Canon 35 1.4L. More importantly, the Sigma focuses faster on all of my cameras--5D, 5DII, and the 50D. The Canon L has the advantage of being weather sealed and accepted by Canon Professional Services for pros who are members. The Canon 85L is also unique in that it opens to 1.2 rather than just 1.4.
The Sigma autofocuses faster than the Canon L and almost as fast as the Canon 85 1.8. There have been reports of this lens hunting, having seizures, and making squeaking noises. If your copy of the Sigma does any of these things, return it immediately as you definitely have a dud copy. Mine rarely ever hunts, the autofocus is smooth, quiet, and accurate. The lens is tack sharp even at 1.4--as sharp as the Canon 85L at wide apertures and with similar color and contrast. Like with 85 1.2L, the depth of field wide open is razor thin and requires precise precision in where to put the point of sharpest focus. The faster focus of the Sigma does help in attaining accurate focus quickly.
In summary, I feel Sigma got it right with this lens. It is truly an alternative to the 85L at half the cost with similar image quality and actually faster focus. The Sigma does have a different bokeh than the Canon L. Not necessarily better or worse, just different. The Canon 85L may be slightly better to tame restless backgrounds with smooth bokeh than the Sigma but the difference is small. The Sigma then offers a more compact and faster focusing alternative to the pricey 85 1.2L for both the pro and advanced amateur photographer.
The Sigma autofocuses faster than the Canon L and almost as fast as the Canon 85 1.8. There have been reports of this lens hunting, having seizures, and making squeaking noises. If your copy of the Sigma does any of these things, return it immediately as you definitely have a dud copy. Mine rarely ever hunts, the autofocus is smooth, quiet, and accurate. The lens is tack sharp even at 1.4--as sharp as the Canon 85L at wide apertures and with similar color and contrast. Like with 85 1.2L, the depth of field wide open is razor thin and requires precise precision in where to put the point of sharpest focus. The faster focus of the Sigma does help in attaining accurate focus quickly.
In summary, I feel Sigma got it right with this lens. It is truly an alternative to the 85L at half the cost with similar image quality and actually faster focus. The Sigma does have a different bokeh than the Canon L. Not necessarily better or worse, just different. The Canon 85L may be slightly better to tame restless backgrounds with smooth bokeh than the Sigma but the difference is small. The Sigma then offers a more compact and faster focusing alternative to the pricey 85 1.2L for both the pro and advanced amateur photographer.
38 of 43 people found the following review helpful
By Re2st
Style Name:Nikon Digital SLR Cameras
Some of you might have read my reviews on Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras and Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras, both complain about autofocus on live view, on Nikon D7000.
This one, however, is a different story. Autofocus works perfectly. Fast and quiet, better than my old Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D.
I'm not sure why it's different from those other fast primes from Sigma, probably because this lens is really new, so they got the reverse-engineering perfected.
Build quality is top notch, smooth metal finish (not the rubbery/glittery finish). AF and MF switch, with MF overrides AF during AF.
This one, however, is a different story. Autofocus works perfectly. Fast and quiet, better than my old Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D.
I'm not sure why it's different from those other fast primes from Sigma, probably because this lens is really new, so they got the reverse-engineering perfected.
Build quality is top notch, smooth metal finish (not the rubbery/glittery finish). AF and MF switch, with MF overrides AF during AF.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent, but ..., in all cases it worth the price
Over all it's an excellent lens, worth the price, tack sharp already at f/1.4, AF excellent but not with consistency and fringing can be an issue and have a tendency to under... Read more
Published 10 days ago by P. Laborda
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Bokeh
This lens is fun. I say that because it produces some great quality photos with phenomenal bokeh. It's super fast at autofocusing. It has a great, solid, heavy build quality. Read more
Published 10 days ago by Felicia Hayes
4.0 out of 5 stars
Nice lens a bit soft
I've only had it about a month so still getting used to it. I will come back and write more as I use it. Still trying to find the lenses sweet spot as its very soft wide open.
Published 20 days ago by Chris
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Value
This is a subjective non-technical review; I take mostly travel photos and pictures of my children and especially grandchildren. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Linetrim
5.0 out of 5 stars
Low Light Chaser
Wide open, day or night bokeh is divine be it used on my Canon 7D or 5D Mark III.
Like many Sigma prime lenses this one is built like an Abrams Battle tank and could be... Read more
Like many Sigma prime lenses this one is built like an Abrams Battle tank and could be... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Kenneth L.
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of my best purchases...
I had the Nikon 85 1.4D. Loved it. However, this is even better. Just a fantastic, sharp, contrasty lens. Everything I expect from a pro-lens.
Published 2 months ago by Thomas Lester
5.0 out of 5 stars
great lense
This lense is extremely sharp. It also seems to lock on with its auto focus quite well and has excellent bokeh. I didn't want to spend over a thousand more for a canon 85mm f1. Read more
Published 2 months ago by William P. Ahern
3.0 out of 5 stars
If you get a good copy its a great lens!
The used but as new I purchased from Amazon was a bad copy. The lens was as described, pretty much new in box and appeared the box was never opened. Read more
Published 3 months ago by P. Christopher
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pleasantly Surprised
I usually pay the price for Nikon's products, but after the tragic earthquake in Japan, I wasn't able to get Nikon 85mm f/1.4G. Read more
Published 3 months ago by L. Cross
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best Lens I'v ever owned!
This is the best lens I've ever owned! I used it for indoor basketball games and its amazing! Crystal clear pictures of fast motion in low light without flash.
Published 3 months ago by P. Choate
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