Sigma 85mm f/1.4 ART lens review with samples (Full-frame & APS-C) 

I check your reviews anytime I'm looking at a lens. Thank you so much for all you do. Much appreciated

I've been shooting one of these magnificent creations for months now. I have yet to miss a shot. AF is blazing fast and always spot on with my a7r ii. It has the lowest vignetting of any 85mm I've ever used, very bright, and pristinely sharp from 1.4 upwards. It's a gem of a lens.

Wow, thanks Chris, just saw this lens on DXO today it tops their lens chart. Now I am watching you reviewing it, what a treat.

I have bought this lens its very sharp, the results in RAW are stunning. wow !! thanks for the initial review.

Mr.chris! I wait this lens and your review. Thank you! and Happy new year!

Great review! I've bought this lens recently to pair with my Nikon DSLRs. Although its AF performance isn't perfect, hit rate is far better than what you revealed. Anyway I'm more than happy with this lens and the image quality it offers considering its price.

My favorite lens by far, I use it on my 90D and RP, and it's performs exceptionally on both, no calibration needed. Mine is razor sharp at 1.4, and rarely shoot stopped down from that.

Great review as always thanks for posting

Great review as always Chris, I love the sigma 85mm art I was slightly worried about the weight but you really do get used to. I've had no AF issues with this lens on my D810. Infact all my lenses are now sigma

I was longing for your review! It surely is a beast of a lens, in any field. Although the price is steep I do plan to get this lens for awesome portraiture. I would like that Sigma would also bring us a new 17-50 f/2.8 with optical stabilization and the 70-200 f/2.8 optically stabilized. OS is crucial for video work on the go. About the autofocus let's not forget that is still backward engineered to work with Canon or Nikon cameras, but hopefully it's just software issues that might be overcome in the future! Great review as always!

thank you very much for this review. i have been waiting to hear about this lens review from you and then decide if i should buy this lens or not. thanks for making this review. i have made up my mind now :) i love your videos. i am watching your channel since 2014 and i love your channel. you have the best photography channel on youtube about lenses :)

Thanks for your review. Your videos are always helpful.

Thanks for the review - and the one of the Samy XP. I decided to go for the XP for my Sony a6000 & a6300. I also own the Samy 1.4/35, FE 1.4/50 AF, 1.4/85 and 2.0/135 and love them all.

Nice images good review -thanks for your efforts.. Best wishes!

One of the best lenses' reviewers. Keep it up, Chris.

I used this lens on the Canon 6D Mark II. Although it is a bit of hit and miss with the AF when it got it right it was sharp with amazing bokeh. Now I changed to Sony A7 III with the MC-11 Sigma adapter and all I can say is I'm sooooo glad I did. It's sharp and beautiful 100% of the time. What a combination made in photographers' heaven! Shame it's so heavy...but hey!

Nice review as usual Chris, thanks !

Wooow Finally thank you Christopher 😊😊

I miss some of your weird lenses reviews. I have a suggestion for you about vintage lenses, pentacon 29mm f/2.8 or even zeiss Jena 50mm 2.8

AF issue is mainly because A. Canon. B. old 6D body. Sigma art series never had a focusing issue on any recent nikon body. This lens is tested in DXOMARK to be the NEW #1 of any lens, beating the former king Otus 85mm

Everyone complaining about the autofocus lol yes the focus is horrible out of the box, this thing needs to be calibrated with the dock, it doesn't take no more than an hour to calibrate it perfectly, once calibrated this thing is brutal, can't beat this lens for the price and the sheer amount of quality, you can easily buy a new one for around $1050 now and the dock is 60 bucks so make it an even 11hundred, calibrate it your self and your done, if you can't calibrate a lens then go buy an original canon or nikon one and spend close to double. You guys hating to much 😑

By the way excellent review super presentation congratulations , keep it up

i like that you get it straight to the point :)

I went with the Tamron 85 1.8 and I must say I woulnd't wish for anything sharper wide open. My copy was front focusing, but this was easily solved with a simple AF fine tune. You guys considering the Signa should definatly give the Tamron a look.

I just got this lens AND WOW! its absolutely fantastic !!

Great review as always. Looks like it would make a great portrait lens. I have never seen a lens with such a big focus ring though. Maybe that is Sigma telling you that its auto focus sucks and you should stick to manual? haha. Seriously though, they should really fix those auto focus issues as that can be a deal breaker for some when looking for a lens with auto focus.

Hope you will do a review of the new 135mm Sigma Art lens in the future. This review like your others was very good. I have the Canon 85mm f1.2 already and am happy with it. But the 135 interests me as well as the soon to be released 14mm ART. Thanks again Christopher!

im gonna save for this lens, big time love my Sigma 35mm f1.4 Art (canon) no backfocus or AF issues

can u pls post some comparison portrait shots against canon 85 f1.2

great review (as always). any chance you could review the samyang 24mm tilt-shift lens sometime?

Interessting would be the side-by-side to the new samyang. But great Review, as always - love your channel!

Is there any 85mm 1.8 good and sharp lens for apsc cameras only? Like sigma 18-35..

Great video! Are you reviewing the Tamron 85mm F/1.8 VC as well?

Hi Chris, I've recently bought Sigma Art 24 and there were serious AF problems - very similar to these in review (I need to return). I also work on 6D. Isn't it a wider problem with all Art lenses? Or maybe there's something wrong with 6D? By the way - great review - as always! :)

Hi Christopher, could you please make a review for the 'new' Tamron 90 mm f2.8 macro? That'd be great!

please review the Tamron 70-200 f/2.8

I was considering this lens over canon 85mm 1.4 but you just changed my mind. Thank you so much.

Hey Christopher! Do you know if this lens works well with R5C in video mode? I had issues with the tamrons of this world in the past so wonder if this one works OK. The 160-600 EF seems to work fine, I assume this one as well?

I very rarely have issues with focus with this lens on my Nikon D750. When I do its usually my fault, Focus is fast and very accurate. This is a very sharp lens that renders beautifully, I have no buyers remorse with this lens

Hey Chris, can you make a 6D review in 2017, like what do you think of a body that old, i'm planning to change from APS-C to FF in the next 5 months. and i can get a used 6D in my country for about 1070$ and below 20 000k shutter count. Thanks!

any info on the bokeh ball quality and micro-contrast specifications?

Hey, great channels for lenses :made me get my sigma 17-50 2.8. But what about your bodys? 70D/6D /M3? Could be a good video idea!

For Wedding Cinematography Which one will be better.. 6D Vs 80D... Do I should Go for 6D cuz its Full frame...

Hi Christopher, thank you very much for your amazing channel. I would like to ask you for some advices, maybe a video on how to do manual focus appropriately. Cheers!

Hello Christ, Could you please comparison video between this Sigma Art 85 1.4 and Canon RF 85 1.2 ??

I'm thinking about getting an 85mm lens should I go with the sigma or samyang???

It would be nice to see review of tamron 85mm 1.8 vc...

Try shooting with this lens on a Sony @ Series with internal image stabilization in the camera and multiple focus points. IM sure it will improve your opinion of the lens.

Nice review. Please make a video comparing this lens with the new Sigma 135mm f1.8 , whenever it is available. Looking forward to see full body shots in landscape mode with this kind of special lenses. Thanks Chris.!

Dear Mr.Frost, I was watched big part of Your great lens reviews during previous months. I have one specific question for You. Does new offical firmwares for Canon DSLR cameras contain previous firmware versions as computer hardware or You must add step by step, firmware by firmware to settle detected errors and bugs ?! I have EOS 5D MkI and EOS ES 650D which still contain original factory softwares 1.00. Canon offers on main website more than 5 newer firmware versions for both models. Same questions applies for offical firmwares for Sigma Art lenses. Thanks in advance for answer !! :-) Best Regards !! Sincerely, Bronislav Radulović journalist

Excellent review as always Chris. Really like you testing the AF performance. I spent a couple of thousand dollars on Sigma lenses. Regret it now and have been moving all my kit over to just Canon lenses. Will not make this mistake again..

Which is sharper samyang xp 85mm or sigma Art 85mm

Dustin Abbot had similar AF issues with 5D Mark IV, so it would seem it's not just the 6D some commentary has suggested.

Thanks for the excellent review Chris. I always learn from and enjoy your videos

how about Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM?

Hai chris. Which one the sharp one?? Sigma 85mm or Samyang 85mm??

Hi Chris: I had to send my Sigma "18-35mm F1.8 DC ART" for warranty because, you guessed it; autofocus problems. It was very poor, and undependable. The folks at Sigma U.S.A. in New York had it back in my hands in 11 days. I like the lens, its build quality as-well-as the terrific shots I can get. I'm pleased with Sigma service but if something happens again to the focus, I'll just use it manually. I've done some video with it and it seems well suited in spite of not having IS. I don't think Sigma lenses are over-priced, but I believe the Canon "L" series to be a bit dear for the quality. Anyway, that's my "thruppence."

I have noticed that Sigma lenses do need to be calibrated, I use Reikan and that's always fixed any issues. Although my sigma lenses have in the past had focusing issues, after calibration they've never had a problem. Also on my Sony camera the Sigma lenses have never missed focus, although mirrorless cameras are more accurate (when they finally find focus :P).

hello, thanks for the review. I just took 2 test pics on my newly 85mm art. I notice pretty heavy chromatic aberration on my subjects. I am using canon 5Div. first picture is a car. there is heavy purple casting on black trims. 2nd pic is a gold plated fan. the purple casting appeared right on the focus point. this is my first sigma lens so I bit disappoint

Very good review, I believe on a Sony mirrorless system the focus would be very accurate!

can you please review the new canon ef 70-300mm f/4-5.6 is ii usm

Why they make the filter size so big. All my filter is 82mm.

is it compatible with canon 90D?

question, Chris: do you do lens calibration on your canon cameras for each lens you test to make sure it's not front or back focusing?

Hi Christopher, always a pleasure to follow your lens reviews^^. If you'll have the opportunity in the futur, could you review the Samyang 20mm f1.8? It would be very nice to have your opinion about it. Ths in advance. Wish you the best!

No issues with AF on my Nikons. Df, D500 and D750

Great Review

Love the review! Would you go for this or the canon 85mm f/1.4L? The L is around £500 more so not a huge difference in price.

Everyone how you think this lens and tamron 85.8vr lens? what is better than the other?

Hi Chris, The DSLR Version of this lens has auto-focus issues when shooting through optical view finder as you said in the video. Does this lens have the same issues with mirror-less cameras also (e.g. EOS-R, M6 mar ii using adaptor) ???

its the AF problems that Sigma have that keep from upgrading my Canon 50mm F1.4usm to the sigma 50 1.4 ART...or any sigma....i did think about the Tamron 45mmF1.8VC but i have the canon 35mm F2IS in i think the FL is just to close ....if only Tamron had made it 50 or 55mm.....i am guessing making a 35 and 45mm it will keep costs down with R&D and common components

please review the new Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM

Can I use for canon 1500d?

Christopher-What disadvantages would you say if this is used on a Canon 70D? Additionally, was it sharp right out the box? Did you have to calibrate it and if so any tips to make the process easier? Thanks!

Great Video! I have been wanting to purchase this lens for a long time now.. I just am wondering if the focusing issue would still be the same if I use mirrorless camera? I currently have Eos R and would the focusing problem similar to the DSLR shown on the video? Thank you!

omg thats really impressive

Interesting, my copy of 85 1.4 ex focuses as well as it gets on 5d2, certainly better than my 50 1.4 ex and even some (older) canon lenses. I guess it's like lottery with these third party lenses :D Anyways, thanks for yet another great review!

Image at 01:07 Why is the background so ugly on the left. What's happening? Looks like a mirage effect.

why in live view focus every time?

Christopher hello I would buy this purpose but at the moment it is too expensive what do you think of the old 85 mm 1.4 and what are the differences.thanks

i have the 85 art and haven't found the auto focus to miss as much as you have. Mine nails roughly 90%+ . I have the older Sigma 85/1.4 which wasn't great with AF

Your videos are always very good. Does this lens have Vibration Control or stabilization control?

Thank you man.

Christopher, what do you think of this lens vs the samyang XP 1.2? It's a debate that I've been going back and forth between. interested in your opinion, especially because DXOMARK hasn't tested the XP 85mm 1.2 yet

waited for this ;)

+Christopher Frost Photography I took a more critical look at my Sigma 50 and I see a bit of AF play (not as much as you showed though, no where near it, only of a few mm at around 10 feet, might not even notice if not for the tell-tale signs of longitudinal CA, I suspect that it is less because of the different body), but I don't think the Sigma is at fault here actually. At least, when testing some similar focal length Canon lenses at as close of an aperture as possible (e.g. 40mm pancake @f/2.8) I got similar results. I think I'm just running up against the limits of the focusing system for fine detail here and noticing it more because it's an f/1.4 lens and that we are scrutinizing it more heavily because it is a Sigma. After all, if it is really the fault of the lens, then how can we explain the perfectly good live view AF? Fault of the lens can be front or back focused, but those can be corrected with the dock (if changing with focal length) or the MFA in camera (all that is needed for most cases, flat shift with focus distance). This sort of random front or back focus points to the AF system accepting things as sharp that are not because it can't tell the difference (and these systems actually do have some extra challenges as they reach very wide apertures).

All pics of Cardigan and surrounds... Do you live there? I know the place very well :)

I have this lens and used for a wedding. Fantastic for group posed shots , the color is amazing out of the lens and the raw needs little adjustment in lightroom . Only thing Nikon 85mm 1.4G has over this lens is its a bit lighter and its full weather sealing. Optically i'd say the Sigma and Nikon there is no difference. Shock horror to the native lens fan boys. But seriously all your paying for in Nikon's version is the name and weather sealing , maybe AF is better but I never noticed missed shots at 1.4 on my Nikon D750. Perhaps your Canon 6D needs retiring foe the newer 5D.

Hmmm. How could the sharpness vary in the center from FF to DX? The DX/FX comparison is only useful in the corners because DX crops off the corners. There must be a calibration issue with your DX camera.

hello there I plan to buy the sigma f/1.4 to mount on the body of the nikonn d810 what do you think? please give some thoughts, thanks

I'm torn choosing between this Sigma and the new Samyang XP. I mainly do manual focus, but am adamant about image quality. Are they neck to neck as far as IQ is concerned?

I wonder if the AF inaccuracies are copy specific. I've not heard any other reviewer mention this. Thanks Chris!

Chris, how come you are not reviewing vintage Minolta lens that can be adapted to you Sony A7RII camera. I heard there are some hidden gems out there for amature and hobby photographers.

Own one, using it with D750. AF isn't great, in good light 20% about misfocused, but if light gets worse, than even 40-60% misfocused. Sharpness is superb, as dxomark stated, sharpest lens ever! Sold 85mm 1.4G. This is better for me.

Any chance to see your Tamron 85 review?

I think it was already mentioned, but the AF problem has probably something in common with the 6D you use. Having the older 85/1.4 ex dg I had the same AF precision as you and I thought I will get rid of it soon since it's piece of **** .. however, I updated on 5D4 and now it is one of the most used lens I have with 90% correctly focused images - using the one shot AF, continous doesn't work well in not moving subjects ... And I honestly believe, it will be even better on the Art ...

How bad was the AF when stopped down? Just as bad or better?

so it focuses worse than the 50 art ? than i will try the art series starting with the 50 (on nikon)... i do not know why people doesn t like the bokeh of the sigma, i find it smooth (no nion rings) and i guess no contour lines also (my 150 macro os is beautiful from this pov) thanks for your intelligent and useful work....anyway, i cannot watch your videos in the evening because your voice make me sleepy :)

Hello Christopher, could you try to calibrate the lens with Sigma USB Lens Dock? Probably, precise calibration will solve the problem with the focusing... I really hope it will! Also it might help with the 35 and 50 f/1.4 lenses as well. However I read it could take a few hours to calibrate the whole focusing scale precisely, but it definitely worth it if it helps!

Hello Christopher, I am enjoying your reviews as I really like your different approach to photography but in this instance I believe you are wrong. I was about to buy the Sigma 85mm and while trying both the Sigma & the Tamron in Yodobashi Camera (Tokyo), I realized that the Sigma was showing extreme chromatic aberration in all my test shots (I was shooting the Nikon logo in other test cameras around). The lens while super sharp as obviously it was already calibrated by the staff, so did the Tamron. You can also notice the green fringing in your chart test. I ended buying the Tamron 85mm VC because of the difference in price, CA, the weight and the more common filter size. Also the difference between f1.4 and f1.8 is not so relevant in my opinion. Perhaps you should take some more photos with high contrast to double check that... I salute you. ps. I own the 35mm f1.4 Art among many other lenses and I consider myself a Sigma fanboy :)