Is Sigma 85mm F1.4 in the market yet?

[kentwong81]

I have a Nikon 85mm f1.4G and if someone wants to do a side-by-side comparison with Sigma 85mm f1.4 HSM and Canon 85mm f1.2L, please PM me. Thanks.
These side-by-side comparisons are not seen in the google yet. Will be very useful for people who want to invest in a 85mm prime lens.

 

[gundamseed84]

If i remember correctly, digirev tv compares to nikon 85 f1.4G, 1.4D, 1.8 and canon's 1.8 and 1.2L with sigma's 1.4.

 

[ray_stinger]

I just bought the Sigma 85mm for Canon...
Previously I have been using the Canon 85L II and has nothing but good things to say about it. However, the Sigma 85mm really gives the 85L a good run for its money! Optically I would say that they are comparable to the naked eyes, with perhaps the 85L having a slightly better contrast out of the camera (something that can be easily tweaked during PP). Focusing wise, the Sigma 85mm beats the 85L hands down. This is a major draw to me as I often find myself yearning for a faster auto focus performance on the 85L. At less than half the price of a 85L, the Sigma 85mm is certainly a bargain and would certainly make Canon think hard on whether to come out with a Mk3 soon!

In summary the pros and cons of the Sigma 85mm relative to the 85L are as follows:

Pros:
1. Faster focusing speed
2. Lighter (~300g less)
3. Half the price

Cons:
1. Slightly less contrast
2. More obvious CA
3. Some people may be adverse towards 3rd party lens

Having been using the 85L for close to 4 years, this Sigma 85mm is certainly a no slouch worthy competitor and I'm glad I've made the switch.

 

[kentwong81]

Faster focusing speed usually doesn't come with more accurate focusing. You have to check the keeper rate you get when using the Sigma at wide open f1.4. This is the case for Nikon new G prime lenses where Nikon chooses focusing accuracy over speed, which I think is good because I don't like to reshoot again to get the subject in focus.
I saw some photos taken by the Sigma are out of focus. Maybe due to the focusing accuracy, calibration issue or user error.

 

[ray_stinger]

Faster focusing speed usually doesn't come with more accurate focusing. You have to check the keeper rate you get when using the Sigma at wide open f1.4. This is the case for Nikon new G prime lenses where Nikon chooses focusing accuracy over speed, which I think is good because I don't like to reshoot again to get the subject in focus.
I saw some photos taken by the Sigma are out of focus. Maybe due to the focusing accuracy, calibration issue or user error.

Indeed very true. But I am able to get my hit rate with the Sigma 85mm to be close to what I'm getting with the 85L wide open. That was one of my major consideration when I was deciding on whether to make the switch or not.

 

[gundamseed84]

Hi ray, mind sharing where and what price did you get it from? I am considering getting one too but I am worried of not able to find a good copy. Did you test several lens or you got a good copy right at the start?

 

[Goldfishub]

Here's a site where they compare the photo side by side sigma vs. Canon
http://blog.photoframd.com/2010/11/08/review-sigma-85mm-f14-ex-dg-hsm/

 

[chengpenguin]

I bought this lens recently. I found that the focusing towards the MFD tends to be inconsistent. Sometimes it nails it, sometimes it doesn't.

Not sure if you guys have the same problem?

 

[Ricardo Ong]

Just wack the Sigma 85mm F1.4. on a Canon 60D, over the IT show weekend, really power...
no regrets, all my frds say super nice, not to talk down, the canon lens, but the colour really diff....more "alive" bright'...vivid /...

 

[Kenneth67C]

Just wack the Sigma 85mm F1.4. on a Canon 60D, over the IT show weekend, really power...
no regrets, all my frds say super nice, not to talk down, the canon lens, but the colour really diff....more "alive" bright'...vivid /...

Sigmas have been known to have their own color "signature".
While it may be more "alive", this could be interpreted as being more biased, while the Canon is more neutral.

Personally, whichever lens I'm using, I would prefer to get the white balance corrected first - then shoot.
You will get more true to life colors and a better palette.

 

[ManWearPants]

Just out of curiosity, anyone done a comparison with Sigma 50 on APS-C and Sigma 85 on FF?

 

[daredevil123]

Just out of curiosity, anyone done a comparison with Sigma 50 on APS-C and Sigma 85 on FF?

Very hard to compare since depth of field will be very different. 50mm on fx will already give you thinner dof compared to apsc. The increase in focal length from 50mm to 85mm will give you an even thinner dof. So a double whammy.

Plus 50mm on apsc is around 75mm, so it is still 10mm off. Canon apsc is closer in fov since it is 1.6x instead of 1.5x.

 

[Kenneth67C]

Very hard to compare since depth of field will be very different. 50mm on fx will already give you thinner dof compared to apsc. The increase in focal length from 50mm to 85mm will give you an even thinner dof. So a double whammy.

Plus 50mm on apsc is around 75mm, so it is still 10mm off. Canon apsc is closer in fov since it is 1.6x instead of 1.5x.

50x1.6 = 80mm no?

To me its a no contest, 85 on FF winner.
I know some clowns will come in and say APSC is this and that. Fine and good, you live with your APSC, but I've not seen APSC produce the color palette of the 5DII.

 

[daredevil123]

50x1.6 = 80mm no?

True only for Canon APS-C. Rest of the world APSC is x1.5.

 

[Shahlan]

[video=youtube;NMotYf2Z29w]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMotYf2Z29w[/video]

Sigma Canada has 10 years warranty on all EX lenses??anyone canadian can confirm this?

 

[Kenneth67C]

I bought this lens recently. I found that the focusing towards the MFD tends to be inconsistent. Sometimes it nails it, sometimes it doesn't.

Not sure if you guys have the same problem?

Got this lens too and yes it does hunt near the MFD, nevertheless it is such a good lens.

 

[macbart]

Sigma Canada has 10 years warranty on all EX lenses??anyone canadian can confirm this?

He mentions the 10-year warranty more than once, so I'm guessing Sigma does offer a 10-year warranty for EX lenses in Canada. In the US, it's a 4-year warranty for EX lenses. Makes you wonder why it's only 2.5 years here in Singapore, doesn't it?

 

[daredevil123]

He mentions the 10-year warranty more than once, so I'm guessing Sigma does offer a 10-year warranty for EX lenses in Canada. In the US, it's a 4-year warranty for EX lenses. Makes you wonder why it's only 2.5 years here in Singapore, doesn't it?

In USA, Nikon lenses gets 5 years, tamron gets 6 years. :cry:

 

[trd2970]

In USA, Nikon lenses gets 5 years, tamron gets 6 years. :cry:

If sigma or tamron can give 5/6 years warranty, it really gives me confidence to buy their product.

 

[khsay]

lol... mayb singaporean very kiasu and kiasi... and sml little problem keep going back to calibrate... untill thery fed up and reduce the warrenty period!:bsmilie: