Images with the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art

[Lithos]

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Thanks Alan for this nice comparison. I agree with you: the picture taken with the elmarit is the most balanced and pleasing one.
I had the Summilux-R and it's a magical (Mandler) lens wide open, but for sharpness and contrast you must stop down.

I purchased a Panasonic S1R and I'm deciding which portrait lens to choose. One idea is Zeiss ZM 35 1.4  + a 85/90mm combo.
Candidates are the Sigma 85 DN, the Panasonic 85 1.8 (light and cheap but I do not like the bokeh from what I could see).
Other one-lens-only options (better suited for generic use) are the Panasonic 50 1.4 or the Voigtlander 50 1.2.

 

[Alan Friedman]

4 hours ago, Lithos said:

Thanks Alan for this nice comparison. I agree with you: the picture taken with the elmarit is the most balanced and pleasing one.
I had the Summilux-R and it's a magical (Mandler) lens wide open, but for sharpness and contrast you must stop down.

I purchased a Panasonic S1R and I'm deciding which portrait lens to choose. One idea is Zeiss ZM 35 1.4  + a 85/90mm combo.
Candidates are the Sigma 85 DN, the Panasonic 85 1.8 (light and cheap but I do not like the bokeh from what I could see).
Other one-lens-only options (better suited for generic use) are the Panasonic 50 1.4 or the Voigtlander 50 1.2.

 

Thank you. The Elmarit-M at f2.8 and the Sigma 85 at 1.4 seem similar from a standpoint of sharpness and contrast at focus. The Elmarit has attractive warm color and benefits here from the most peaceful version of my wife's face during this portrait session. But it is a nice compact and non-imposing lens for portraits. I will continue to try to access the magic of the Summilux-R 80. ;^)

[Alan Friedman]

A pixel peeping 100% side by side look at the resolving character of the Sigma 85 at f1.4 (left) vs the Leica Elmarit-M at f2.8 (right). 

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No adjustment has been made in these images save highlight recovery in the coat's white collar. The warmer tones, slightly softened resolution, slightly deeper depth of focus (and the better pictorial expression) in the Elmarit image make the right hand version a more pleasing portrait out of the camera. 

Edited April 7, 2021 by Alan Friedman

[Ivar B]

11 hours ago, Alan Friedman said:

A pixel peeping 100% side by side look at the resolving character of the Sigma 85 at f1.4 (left) vs the Leica Elmarit-M at f2.8 (right). 

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No adjustment has been made in these images save highlight recovery in the coat's white collar. The warmer tones, slightly softened resolution, slightly deeper depth of focus (and the better pictorial expression) in the Elmarit image make the right hand version a more pleasing portrait out of the camera. 

A very interesting comparison. I am surprised that the difference in skin tones is so pronounced. The Elmarit-M 90mm was and is an excellent lens also. 

[db24fps]

I tried this lens briefly last week (on an SL2S) and there was a curious pulsing/flicker to the image in both the LCD and EVF when it was focusing. Is that normal with this lens (or any Sigma)? It's not something I've noticed with Leica's native SL glass.

[Reggie]

On 10/10/2021 at 9:40 PM, db24fps said:

I tried this lens briefly last week (on an SL2S) and there was a curious pulsing/flicker to the image in both the LCD and EVF when it was focusing. Is that normal with this lens (or any Sigma)? It's not something I've noticed with Leica's native SL glass.

Not normal with the Sigma on my TL2 which is the least compatible of the L mount Leicas (no firmware updates for years). Something must be wrong with the firmware of the lens or the SL2S which you were using. 

[db24fps]

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3 hours ago, Reggie said:

Not normal with the Sigma on my TL2 which is the least compatible of the L mount Leicas (no firmware updates for years). Something must be wrong with the firmware of the lens or the SL2S which you were using. 

Thanks. A firmware issue was my first thought. Sadly I didn't get much time in the store so didn't have a good chance to check settings.

[Pierre68]

Hello everyone.

I have just bought the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM for my SL2-S. I chose this version over the DG DN because of the obvious pincushion distortion that the latter shows. But after reading this thread I am having doubts...

As I still have the possibility to return the lens for 3 days I am asking what you would do? Would you return the DG HSM to get the DG DN or just let I be?

Thanks for any input

Pierre

[insomnia]

You'll never see the distortion as it's corrected internally. Take the new, smaller lens, you'll take it with you more often.

[insomnia]

Oh yes, and I own the lens (but only for month now, it's on the edge size-wise, coming from the M).

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[Pierre68]

35 minutes ago, insomnia said:

You'll never see the distortion as it's corrected internally. Take the new, smaller lens, you'll take it with you more often.

Is the distortion corrected in camera or do I have to apply the specific lens profile to each image in LR?

[insomnia]

As far as I know, the lens feeds correction parameters to the camera, so even JPGs should look alright. I use Lightroom, but don’t have to do anything manually.

 

I think it’s something you might have gotten irritated by these professionals on YouTube. They tape down the electronic connectors to the camera to evaluate the lens without corrections, even though it’s completely irrelevant in daily use.

[Almizilero]

vor 1 Stunde schrieb Pierre68:

Is the distortion corrected in camera or do I have to apply the specific lens profile to each image in LR?

I have owned the Lens for Sony and now for the SL2s. With Sony, the correction has to be added in Lightroom and can be adjusted in strength. With Leica, the correction is added internally and the distortion correction can't even be un-selected in Lightroom. So you'll never have to think about it. You can deactivate the vigneting correction.

I don't know the DG HSM version, but the DG DN is an amazing lens. Light, sharp, good bokeh. It's great.

[Pierre68]

Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN ordered. DG HSM goes back to B&H

Thanks for your input

[Almizilero]

Did a couple of comparison shots with the SL Summicron 90. Have a look:

 

[LocalHero1953]

I was surprised not to see a thread for this lens. If anyone finds one, this one can be merged with it.

I got the lens last week, used, with no packaging or manuals, but it looks little used. This is the first time I have had a chance to try it as a portrait lens (for which it is obviously suited). They were taken as headshots/publicity shots for a play, a comedy involving best friends forever, one of whom is a serial killer.

Two sets of photos, all taken on the SL2-S and all with a OC flash and large brolly. The first set are at f/1.4. The second set at f/5.6 to get the hands more into focus. No one was murdered to create the blood - this is a concoction made mainly from chocolate.

 

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[LocalHero1953]

And the second set, f/5.6

 

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[LocalHero1953]

Others have reported that this lens focuses faster than the equivalent Apo-Summicron-SL 75 and 90. I didn't use my Apo-Summicron-SL 75 in parallel (I sold the 90 not long ago), but my gut feeling was that there was little or no difference between them for this sort of portrait shot in iAF mode (which switches between AFs and AFc depending on conditions). I do not doubt the reports of a difference between the lenses; all I can say is that I sensed no practical difference.

It has become de rigeur on the forum to say that the Apo-Summicron-SL lenses are slower to focus than later lenses because they have older, slower motors. Again, all I can say is that that is not a problem I have noticed. (The Summilux-SL 50 is distinctly slower).

Other factors: I like the aperture de-click switch - as I can see the aperture in the EVF, I don't feel the need for click apertures when shooting in A or M mode. The AF/MF switch would be useful to some, but not to me: I bought the lens for its AF capabilities alongside the Summilux-M 75. The lens is shorter than an Apo-Summicron-SL, but feels fatter.

[helged]

7 hours ago, LocalHero1953 said:

Others have reported that this lens focuses faster than the equivalent Apo-Summicron-SL 75 and 90. I didn't use my Apo-Summicron-SL 75 in parallel (I sold the 90 not long ago), but my gut feeling was that there was little or no difference between them for this sort of portrait shot in iAF mode (which switches between AFs and AFc depending on conditions). I do not doubt the reports of a difference between the lenses; all I can say is that I sensed no practical difference.

It has become de rigeur on the forum to say that the Apo-Summicron-SL lenses are slower to focus than later lenses because they have older, slower motors. Again, all I can say is that that is not a problem I have noticed. (The Summilux-SL 50 is distinctly slower).

Other factors: I like the aperture de-click switch - as I can see the aperture in the EVF, I don't feel the need for click apertures when shooting in A or M mode. The AF/MF switch would be useful to some, but not to me: I bought the lens for its AF capabilities alongside the Summilux-M 75. The lens is shorter than an Apo-Summicron-SL, but feels fatter.

Nice images and rendering!

Re AF speed: on SL3 with cAF and quickly moving subjects, I get more images in focus with Sigma 85 than SL90. I dont think there is much difference in sAF (although I havn’t run tests to confirm this).

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[Olaf_ZG]

Not happy with this thread. Hoped I didn’t want another portrait lens having just bought the SL lux….