Not Canon, but Sigma 85mm 1.4

[img]/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/8/4174.IMG_5F00_3199a.jpg[/img]


Greetings to all,


I hope I am not about to be booted off the forum, but today I picked up the Sigma 85mm 1.4 and it seems pretty good. I have hired the Canon 85mm 1.2 and the Canon 50mm 1.2 and this lens is faster than the 85, but not as quick as the 50.


It does do the whole bokeh thing very creamy and very smooth, sharpness is OK and I haven't tried real hard to get it better, everything hand held, no PP shot in RAW and saved in JPEG.


Just thought I would stick a couple of images here and I will post a few in the other forum.





[img]/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/8/8204.IMG_5F00_3278a.jpg[/img]


Regards,


Steve

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Steve U

I hope I am not about to be booted off the forum, but today I picked up the Sigma 85mm 1.4 and it seems pretty good.

---

Tar and feather him! Burn him at the stake! Only Canon is the one true brand!


[;)] Seriously, I'm glad to hear your good report on the Sigma 85mm, I've been seriously considering it myself.

Thanks Daniel, I appreciate your comments and advice.[Y]


I'll give it a bit more of a hiding this week and see how it performs.


Steve

Woohoo ...I should have mine in my hands tomorrow :) Thanks for pushing me over the edge on this one, Steve!! It took me quite awhile to finally find it in stock anywhere! I have been searching daily since the day this thread was originally posted!


Anyway, I will surely be testing it against my Canon 85mm f/1.8 (which I truly love) and see how it compares. This will be my first non-Canon lens and if it

Good for you, I love mine, just have to learn how to produce with it. I

Here are several shots taken with the New Sigma 85 1.4 on a 1D4. I rented it last week, along with the Zeiss. I haven't had much of a chance to go through the pictures, but here are some. I wasn't too impressed with the zeiss wide open, and as such, didn't shoot a whole lot with it. I had wanted to do more, but I am still working on out Italy trip pictures, and I had a double photo shoot this past Sunday, so I am on a bit of a schedule....


I liked the feel of it, and the build quality was good(better than the Sigma 50), but could not compete with the Zeiss in that regard!! It was fast, too, but my 70-200 2.8ll is much faster, and has a better keeper rate...which is expected!! It can be really sharp wide open, if you hit your focus point accurately(hard sometimes), and it does get really sharp stopped down. The colors and contrast look great, too!!


The bokeh looks fantastic...judge for yourself...and for the price, I think, it can't be beat(compared to the 85<span style="background-color: #993300;"]L)...I am not a tech guru, but if I needed an 85, the Sigma would be the one. But, after playing with it, and doing the type of photography I do, I prefer my 70-200 2.8ll...more versatile, faster, and does everything great, from a family shot, to a extreme close-up....just my 2 cents!! It didn't seem to handle AI servo as good as my 70-200, either, which nails it 98% of the time, but still did a respectable job....especially wide open.


Here are the photos...all untouched either jpg from camera, or raw from camera converted to jpg by LR3, with white balance correction. And all taken at f1.4...


Comments and critique are always welcomed...but remember, this wasn't a studio shoot...just out on a walk with the fam and brought the camera with...as I expect most of you will understand[:D]


[img]/resized-image.ashx/__size/800x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/8/7573.AI6C3898.jpg[/img]


[img]/resized-image.ashx/__size/800x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/8/7587.AI6C3903.jpg[/img]


[img]/resized-image.ashx/__size/800x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/8/6266.AI6C3905.jpg[/img]


OK..ok..ok...this one I did some post on...c'mon guys...you know the rule!!!! (My wife)


[img]/resized-image.ashx/__size/800x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/8/7658.AI6C3984_2D00_Edit.jpg[/img]


[img]/resized-image.ashx/__size/800x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/8/3362.AI6C4000.jpg[/img]


[img]/resized-image.ashx/__size/1000x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/8/8461.AI6C4005.jpg[/img]


And some post on this one, too....my little man, Mason(3 1/4 yrs old)


[img]/resized-image.ashx/__size/1000x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/8/1121.AI6C4056-_2800_Large_2900_.jpg[/img]


[img]/resized-image.ashx/__size/1000x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/8/2804.AI6C4077.jpg[/img]


[img]/resized-image.ashx/__size/800x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/8/6116.AI6C4143.jpg[/img]


[img]/resized-image.ashx/__size/1000x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/8/7140.AI6C4170.jpg[/img]

Really gorgeous images - nothing to criticize. I

Thanks for the kind words Rob

Great shots Gregg, I like the detail of the gate shot. And any lens would work well with your family, you guys should be doing breakfast cereal ads.


Mason obviously doesn

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rob Gardner

Really gorgeous images - nothing to criticize. I'm very intrigued about this lens. I LOOOOVE my 85 1.8 Canon, but sometimes wish I had a little more something....but I don't want the 1.2 L. I can't wait to read the comparos....

---

I know EXACTLY what you mean, Rob! My 85 1.8 is one of my absolute favorites but I am hoping the Sigma will give me a happy medium between it and the 85L I lust for! Expectations are high &amp; I hope it does not disappoint. I am hoping to do comparison shots continuously over the next few days to make sure the Sigma is a keeper but most will probably indoor shots since weather may not be all that good. Hoping for one nice day on the weekend.

Denise

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rob Gardner

Really gorgeous images - nothing to criticize. I'm very intrigued about this lens. I LOOOOVE my 85 1.8 Canon, but sometimes wish I had a little more something....but I don't want the 1.2 L. I can't wait to read the comparos....

---

I know EXACTLY what you mean, Rob! My 85 1.8 is one of my absolute favorites but I am hoping the Sigma will give me a happy medium between it and the 85L I lust for! Expectations are high &amp; I hope it does not disappoint. I am hoping to do comparison shots continuously over the next few days to make sure the Sigma is a keeper but most will probably indoor shots since weather may not be all that good. Hoping for one nice day on the weekend.

Denise

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Steve U

I'll try a bit harder with my lens now, you've set the bar.

---

Post away! I have from now until 11:30 to drool over them until mine arrives at work right in time for me to play with it over lunch time. I better eat a big breakfast since eating lunch will be the last thing I'll want to be doing! UPS driver better be on his game this morning!

Denise

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by greggf

I liked the feel of it, and the build quality was good(better than the Sigma 50), but could not compete with the Zeiss in that regard!! It was fast, too, but my 70-200 2.8ll is much faster, and has a better keeper rate...which is expected!! It can be really sharp wide open, if you hit your focus point accurately(hard sometimes), and it does get really sharp stopped down. The colors and contrast look great, too!!


The bokeh looks fantastic...judge for yourself...and for the price, I think, it can't be beat(compared to the 85<span style="background-color: #993300;"]L)...I am not a tech guru, but if I needed an 85, the Sigma would be the one. But, after playing with it, and doing the type of photography I do, I prefer my 70-200 2.8ll...more versatile, faster, and does everything great, from a family shot, to a extreme close-up....just my 2 cents!! It didn't seem to handle AI servo as good as my 70-200, either, which nails it 98% of the time, but still did a respectable job....especially wide open.

---

Thanks, Gregg for the mini critique of the lens and the sampe photos! You are expressing everything I am hoping to get out of this lens! Also, your family is very photogenic and these spontaneous shots are well done, exactly what I needed to see to re-convince me that I did the right thing!

Your little guy is so cute and obviously doesn't mind the camera at all! My grandson is approx. the same age and he thinks he is being funny by always NOT letting me take his photo!

Denise

Thank you everybody for the kind words of my family!! Thankfully, I

I took two comparison shots already! Since I

To Owners of the Sigma - Is your AF noisy?? My Canon 85mm lens is whisper quite but the Sigma is pretty noisy in comparison. Something I'm just not used to and wondering if this is normal for the Sigma lens.


Denise

Hi Denise. I didn

I am wondering if I should just get another copy of the lens or a refund. When I manually move it out of focus all the way to the right (or left), the Canon very quickly &amp; smoothly moves into focus right on. With the Sigma, you can visually see it repeatedly jerking back and forth quickly in the window of the DOF scale on the barrel and that is also what I am hearing. It is a very short back and forth movement but none the less, I've never had a lens do this before.

Suggestions anyone?


Denise

Comparison shots ...


http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/sets/72157625414118792/

Hi Denise,


Sorry to hear about a possible issue with this lens. I know that can be very disappointing. Greggs

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Richard Lane

Hi Denise,


Sorry to hear about a possible issue with this lens. I know that can be very disappointing. Greggs' Pictures with this lens are outstanding. If you feel like you can evaluate the image quality of the lens with manual focus, then you may want to take some photos over the weekend to help you decide if you would like an exchange or a return. This way you don't have to send the lens back twice. I would let the company know that you may have a problem though. Then you could send it back Monday after deciding.


Rich
<div style="CLEAR: both"]</div>

---

Thanks, Rich! I did speak with B&amp;H this morning and I am going to be exchanging the lens for another copy. He even said it shouldn't be doing that unless maybe it was due to IS which lens does not have. So, I'll give it another chance before I go for a complete refund.

Denise

Hi Denise,


Sorry to hear that you're having issues with your new lens. [:(] From my reading, QC was and apparently remains an issue for Sigma - at least you bought from B&amp;H who have excellent customer service.


Thanks for posting the comparison shots! Looking at the shots on Flickr, it seems that the Canon 85mm f/1.8 is a little sharper. [*-)] These are 100% crops taken from the f/2.8, which is far enough from wide open for them to be nearly as sharp as they're going to get.


[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer-Components-UserFiles/00-00-00-35-15/Canon_2D00_vs_2D00_Sigma.jpg[/img]


This may be an autofocus issue (unless you manually focused with Live View, which is how I usually focus for sharpness comparisons).

Thanks, John!


I waited so long for this darn lens to become available, checking websites daily for it to back in stock somewhere! I guess I refused to except the party was over as soon as it began and that is why I'm exchanging instead of just getting a refund but all the while the more logical side of my brain is telling me I should have just got the refund and moved on to something else completely!


Oh well, we'll see what lens #2 is like next week. If it ends up being just as bad, my next move is either the 5D II or 135mm and I vow to never sway from Canon again!

BTW - Thanks for the crops! They were both done by AF and I didn't even realize how much the Canon was sharper, I was mostly looking at the color difference and testing the shake and rattle of the sigma.


Denise

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ddt0725

I vow to never sway from Canon again!

---

Denise


I say same thing all the time. But I always keep looking.


You may be happy with this lens when you get your replacement. Not to fault the pictures I have seen posted, but I have to believe the 85mm F1.2 L would take the bokeh in the pictures to a whole new level. The sigma would be a $ comprimise lens. I use my 100mm F/2.8 L Macro for potraits, I couldn't see myself comprimising for the sigma when the canon 100mm is close tothe same focal length and in my opinon peforms excelent (also keep in mind I use the 5D Mark II Full Frame with it).The 100mmof course is not what I would concider fast..


I like your idea of the 5DII instead of this lens. You have a good collection of L's now and you would get alot more milage out of them with the full frame. It would change the dynamic of how you view the length of your lenses.


Rick

I would agree with John

Hi Jayson -


Well, that lens is back on the UPS truck headed to B&amp;H. Lets keep our fingers crossed that the next one will be perfect! Even the guy @ B&amp;H said it is a very popular lens and is extremely sharp.


So, all I can say is stay tuned ....

Info on my 2nd copy of the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 can be viewed here ...


community.the-digital-picture.com/.../45369.aspx


Opinions appreciated!


Denise