I am just a newbie to this forum Denise and a newbie in experience level. I have the Canon 24L 1.4 which is my favourite lens, but I have had the Sigma 85mm for a week now and I love it.


I rented the Canon 85 1.2 and the Canon 50 1.2 the week before I bought the Sigma and while I would love to have the 85 1.2, by buying the Sigma 85 1.4, it has literally left an extra $1400 in the bank account and I will be ready to buy either the new 70-300 or the 8-15 as soon as they are released for "about" a combined cost similar to the 85 1.2 expenditure. If wedding photography or portraiture was my main source of income I would not have settled for less than the 85 1.2, but because it is my hobby, I know I will be happy with the Sigma 85 and the new Canon 8-15 as a pairing.


I love Canon L glass and have five of them but the Sigma 85 is very sweet. The focus is faster than the Canon 85 1.2, but slower than the Canon 50 1.2. The bokeh is as good as the 85 1.2, build very similar and the Sigma takes a 77mm filter and looks very impressive on the 7D.


I have posted a series of photos already on the forum after I had it only a couple of hours and they showed more my short comings than the lenses.


This weekend I will use the tripod and take some more shots. Here in Australia they are selling very well, a lot of people waited a long time to get this lens and so far it is delivering the goods. I suppose in the long run, it is a portrait lens and people will either pay $1000 for the Sigma and get a very good lens or $2200 for the 85 1.2 and also get a very very good portrait lens.


Cheers,


Steve