Quick answer
A fast 85mm portrait prime for full-frame DSLRs, with an 86mm filter thread and a minimum focus distance of 0.85 m.
Pros
- f/1.4 aperture
- HSM autofocus
- Strong sharpness
- 9-bladed aperture
Cons
- Large and heavy
- 86mm filters
- No stabilization
Verdict
A high-end portrait lens for DSLR shooters, a rival to brand-name 85mm f/1.4 lenses.
About this lens
The Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art is a full-frame fast short-telephoto prime lens covering 85mm at f/1.4 for Nikon F mount cameras, from the Sigma Art line with Hyper Sonic Motor autofocus. A wide-aperture portrait prime from Sigma's Art line.
Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art specifications
- Brand
- Sigma
- Mount
- Nikon F
- Focal length
- 85mm
- Maximum aperture
- f/1.4
- Lens type
- Prime
- Format coverage
- full-frame
- Optical construction
- 14 elements in 12 groups
- Aperture blades
- 9
- Autofocus motor
- HSM
- Minimum focus distance
- 0.85 m
- Maximum magnification
- 0.12x
- Filter thread
- 86 mm
- Length
- 126.2 mm
- Diameter
- 94.7 mm
Specification source: sigmaphoto.com
What can you shoot with the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art?
- Portraits
- Weddings
- Shallow depth-of-field work
Its very wide maximum aperture suits low light and shallow depth of field with strong background blur.
Full-frame equivalent and field of view
Calculated from the focal length and crop factor. Not measured.
| Sensor | Crop | Equivalent | Horizontal FOV | Diagonal FOV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full frame | 1.0x | 85mm | 23.9° | 28.6° |
| APS-C | 1.5x | 128mm | 16.1° | 19.3° |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 Art sharp wide open?
Yes, it is considered sharp at f/1.4, with excellent central resolution.
How does it compare to the Sigma 105mm f/1.4 Art?
The 85mm is smaller and easier to carry, while the 105mm has a tighter field and more compression.
What filter size does the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 Art use?
86mm, a size that is less common than 77mm or 82mm.
Alternatives for Nikon F from other brands
All Nikon F lensesSame mount, overlapping focal range, closest maximum aperture first.
