Sigma 85mm f1.4 DG DN Art

[Leicaboy Norway]

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Hey Leica friends...

Anyone else using this for the SL series?

I used to own this lens back in my "Sony phase" ;):P It was one of my favorite lenses back then.

I re-acquired it for the SL2. The AF decent but not great. IQ wise, I mean I think it's sharp, but somehow I feel i'm missing a wow factor. Maybe it's the colors, I don't know.

 

Anyone else owning it? Would be curious to hear what you think of it.

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[Guest]

I actually bought this lens brand new a few weeks ago for my SL2-S but returned it. The build quality is great. It is sharp and has good contrast. However, something strange was happened occasionally. With the camera in my hand and without pressing any buttons the lens tried to focus by itself a few times! I’m sitting just holding the camera and l could hear the lens racking focus for a couple of seconds. 

Edited August 30, 2024 by TwentyEighthParallel

[CptSlevin]

All new Sigma lenses are superb
50mm 1.2 is a pinnacle of art, 85mm 1.4 is near it.

I think that Sigma lenses are a perfect fit to SL design bodies.

[LocalHero1953]

The search function is your friend.

One of several threads.

(Though, as you can see from the last page, I made the same mistake!)

Edit. Another one

Edited August 30, 2024 by LocalHero1953

[Stuart Richardson]

1 hour ago, TwentyEighthParallel said:

I actually bought this lens brand new a few weeks ago for my SL2-S but returned it. The build quality is great. It is sharp and has good contrast. However, something strange was happened occasionally. With the camera in my hand and without pressing any buttons the lens tried to focus by itself a few times! I’m sitting just holding the camera and l could hear the lens racking focus for a couple of seconds. 

Perhaps this is wrong, but it sounds like pre focus was on. It is on by default in the SL cameras, unfortunately, and is also activated when you use iAF. Basically, the camera will occasionally focus at what it is pointed at without user intervention. Doing so makes AF quicker, as it will generally be closer to the actual focus point. You may have noticed it more with this lens than with another lens, if your other lenses have quieter or smoother focus motors. The first time it happened to me, I also thought it was very weird.

Edited August 30, 2024 by Stuart Richardson

[LocalHero1953]

I have this lens, specifically as a portrait lens, for which I find it excellent. AF is fast enough, but portraits don't demand the fastest AF, nor do they demand edge to edge sharpness - so I can't comment on these qualities.

Aside from the option of ultra thin DoF, the bokeh is very smooth: better than the Apo SL 75 (occasionally nervy with repeated patterns), and approaching that of the Summilux-SL 50 and Summilux-M 75 (all of which I have, and which have their own likeable qualities).

Edited August 30, 2024 by LocalHero1953

[Leicaboy Norway]

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Sorry for starting a new thread

Edited August 30, 2024 by Leicaboy Norway

[Leicaboy Norway]

2 hours ago, CptSlevin said:

All new Sigma lenses are superb
50mm 1.2 is a pinnacle of art, 85mm 1.4 is near it.

I think that Sigma lenses are a perfect fit to SL design bodies.

Have u tried the 50 1.2?

[CptSlevin]

4 hours ago, Leicaboy Norway said:

Have u tried the 50 1.2?

I shoot with it regularly.
Best lens!

[Guest]

8 hours ago, Stuart Richardson said:

Perhaps this is wrong, but it sounds like pre focus was on. It is on by default in the SL cameras, unfortunately, and is also activated when you use iAF. Basically, the camera will occasionally focus at what it is pointed at without user intervention. Doing so makes AF quicker, as it will generally be closer to the actual focus point. You may have noticed it more with this lens than with another lens, if your other lenses have quieter or smoother focus motors. The first time it happened to me, I also thought it was very weird.

Thanks for the information. I checked my settings but neither pre-focus or iAF are activated. 

[Leicaboy Norway]

8 hours ago, CptSlevin said:

I shoot with it regularly.
Best lens!

How do you feel about the size? And which sl are you shooting on?

[CptSlevin]

5 hours ago, Leicaboy Norway said:

How do you feel about the size? And which sl are you shooting on?

Size is highly adequate, SL2S
No AF issues, snap on focus and tracking on 1.2 on iris

[AdjusterBrett]

SL, TL2, and S1.  Have/own the DG DN 85/1.4.

Looks exceptional out of the S1, Looks pretty darn good out of the TL2 (crop), albeit STUPID if you look at the setup.  Does not do anything on the SL - don't know why.

Used to have the BEAST (DG HSN 105/1.4).  IT DID LOOK GOOD ON THE SL and anything else I put it on.  However - good god - it is astronomically HUGE (hence the reason I got the 85)...   I have a picture of it on the TL2 somewhere - I'll have to post it - "Sir, Sir - what is that attached to your lens - is that a filter?"...

I've PLAYED with the 'idea' of a new 50.  I've read till I'm blue in the face.  If 50 will work - I would HIGHLY suggest you go find a store that has BOTH the Lumix 50/1.4 (never heard a bad thing about it - literally) and the sigma and shoot in the store with YOUR body.  If the lumix is 1/2 as good as most claim - it's about the same price used as the sigma.  If you dont' need the 1.4, I played with the new Panasonic macro 2.8 - wow on focus speed and its TINY (microscopic compared to the 105).

Otherwise - figure out what you want the 85mm for and see if you can use smaller/larger - and if AF isn't needed - you have a tone of options.  I've shot the Zeiss big boy (Nikon lens) with it and it looked great - but that puppy is BIG too, and manual focus.  App 135/2.0 - they are not so popular in the used market due to size.  As a pairing, they could serve another purpose - if you are adrift on a ship nearing the shorline/rocks - and need an anchor - you have one.

[SJH]

On 8/31/2024 at 11:27 AM, CptSlevin said:

Size is highly adequate, SL2S
No AF issues, snap on focus and tracking on 1.2 on iris

I have the Sigma 50mm 1.2 on my SL3, superb prime on the basis that a) same weight as my SL APO's but 1.2 b) latest focus motors so measurably faster than the APO's or SL 50mm 1.4 c) weighs considerably less than the SL 50mm 1.4 Summilux - result I use it far more. It's probably Sigma's best lens right now and the equal of Leica and Sony's best. I'm also looking at the Sigma 28-45mm1.8 zoom which again is getting excellent reviews.

[huwm]

I had the Sigma 85 1.4 a year or two ago

Didn’t use it all that often despite it having excellent iq, so traded for much lighter lumix S which I found I used more often as I carried it more frequently but again not that often

Recently I’ve taken to carrying fewer lenses and trying to limit myself to just two at a time with my favourite prime combo being 35 and 75 

It seems 75 suits me better and the iq is to my eyes better too, worth the expense? well that’s a whole can of worms

[Jptsr1]

i thought i replied to this thread already but I guess not. I have to 50 1.2 and the 85 1.4 . They are currently my two favorites across all my systems. I take the 50 with me everywhere and the 85 when i need just a little reach or im shooting portraits (or flowers).   

[Jptsr1]

15 hours ago, huwm said:

I had the Sigma 85 1.4 a year or two ago

Didn’t use it all that often despite it having excellent iq, so traded for much lighter lumix S which I found I used more often as I carried it more frequently but again not that often

Recently I’ve taken to carrying fewer lenses and trying to limit myself to just two at a time with my favourite prime combo being 35 and 75 

It seems 75 suits me better and the iq is to my eyes better too, worth the expense? well that’s a whole can of worms

My thoughts exactly. I carried the 35 and 85 before I got the 50. I feel like the 50 has a bit of each in it plus the 1.2 on top. I love the 85 though.