Sigma 85mm f/1.2 DG Art Promises Stunning Bokeh in the Smallest Build of Its Class

Sigma has officially launched the 85mm f/1.2 DG Art for Sony E and L-mount cameras. It’s aiming mainly at portrait and event photographers who want the optical performance of a fast Art lens without lugging around a tank. At $1,599, it undercuts a lot of the competition while claiming the title of smallest and lightest lens in the 85mm f/1.2 class.

The optical setup consists of 17 elements in 12 groups, with two SLD elements and three aspherical elements working together to keep chromatic aberration and spherical aberration in check. Sigma has also engineered the lens to suppress focus breathing, which matters if you’re shooting video. The 13-blade rounded diaphragm is a nice touch. Even when you stop down a little, the bokeh stays smooth and circular rather than turning into a polygon party.

Dual HLA (High-response Linear Actuator) motors handle autofocus, and Sigma promises fast, quiet, and precise focus. From a personal experience, Sigma Art lenses do a fantastic job with autofocus, even older generation of lenses. This one also comes with physical AF/MF and aperture click/de-click switches, plus a ring-lock button.

Now, about the weight, which is one of the main selling points. I immediately thought of my 18-35mm f/1.8 Art, which almost give me a hernia every time I shoot with it, and it weighs 1.8 lb (810 g). Well, the Sigma 85mm f/1.2 DG Art weighs a bit more: 2 pounds (or 905g for my metric system folks). It’s not light, but for a a constant f/1.2 aperture lens, it’s not heavy either.

I’ve compared it with the 85mm f/1.2 lenses from Nikon, Canon, and SongRaw – and they all weigh over 1100 g, or over 2 pounds. Interestingly, the Mitakon Zhongyi Speedmaster 85mm f/1.2 weighs nearly the same as the new Sigma lens: 921 g or around 2 lb. Still, the Sigma 85mm f/1.2 Art is one of very limited options for Sony shooters, and one of the cheaper options among 85mm lenses this fast.

Sigma 85mm f/1.2 DG Art Specs

Specification	Details
Focal Length	85mm
Aperture	Maximum: f/1.2 / Minimum: f/16
Lens Mount	Sony E
Lens Format Coverage	Full-Frame
Angle of View	28.6°
Minimum Focus Distance	2.8′ / 84 cm
Magnification	1:8.9 Macro Reproduction Ratio / 0.11x Magnification
Optical Design	17 Elements in 12 Groups
Aperture/Iris Blades	13, Rounded
Focus Type	Autofocus
Image Stabilization	No
Filter Size	82mm (Front)
Dimensions	3.4 x 4.8″ / 87.2 x 121.7 mm (Diameter x Length)
Weight	2 lb / 905 g

Pricing and Availability

The Sigma 85mm f/1.2 DG Art is available now for Sony E and L-mount at $1,599.

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