> ...works well for those tighter shots too Summary: 50mm vs 85mm. I've shot Seattle ceremonies with the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art; it's punchier than the Panasonic Lumix S 85mm f/1.8 and that pulsing is mostly a video issue.

Re: "Honestly, weddings are high-pressure and you really dont..." - totally true. I ended up getting the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG DN Art for my S5II and im super satisfied. It isnt clinical like the 1.8s and works well for those tighter shots too.

• keep your firmware updated
• use the phase hybrid AF settings Its a solid workhorse for under 1k.

omg i have been dealing with this exact same headache for like three weeks now and it is driving me crazy! i have a big family event coming up and i am just as stuck as you are honestly...

• it feels like every single option has some kind of dealbreaker when it comes to reliability
• i want that amazing bokeh but i am way too scared of the autofocus acting up during the ceremony
• every time i think i have made a choice i read another forum post that makes me second guess everything ngl i am so frustrated that there isnt a clear winner under 1k that just works perfectly every time on the Panasonic Lumix S5II. its like we are stuck between boring and broken!

Honestly, weddings are high-pressure and you really dont want to be fighting your gear while the bride is walking down the aisle. I once did a ceremony with a lens that kept hunting right at the big kiss... total nightmare. I ended up with a bunch of blurry frames and had to apologize to the couple later, which is basically the worst feeling ever for a professional. If you're worried about the clinical look of the Panasonic Lumix S 85mm f/1.8, you might want to consider using a light diffusion filter or just tweaking your post-processing a bit. Its better to have a sharp, focused shot that looks a little clean than a dreamy shot thats out of focus because the AF pulsed at the wrong moment. Here is what I would suggest for your Seattle shoot:

• Grab the Panasonic Lumix S 85mm f/1.8 for the main ceremony. Its around 600 dollars and the autofocus is native, so its rock solid on the S5II.
• If you really need that 1.4 look, make sure to update the firmware on the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art L-Mount immediately. Its roughly 1000 bucks.
• Be careful with the Sigma in low light; the pulsing is mostly gone with Phase Hybrid AF, but it can still happen in back-lit situations. I would suggest sticking to the native glass for the must-have moments. The S5II is amazing, but it can still get confused by third-party glass if the lighting is tricky, and Seattle weather is definitely gonna be tricky. Better safe than sorry when you only get one chance to get the shot.

Noted!

Bump - same question here