I am trying to figure out which portrait prime is actually worth the money for my Lumix S5II before a big outdoor wedding I have booked in late October. I have been staring at reviews for weeks and I am basically torn between the Panasonic 85mm f1.8 and the Sigma 85mm f1.4 DG DN Art.
The Lumix 85mm is super tempting because its so tiny and light and it matches the 35mm f1.8 I already own perfectly in terms of size and weight which makes balancing my gimbal a breeze if I need to switch to video. But then I see the shots coming out of that Sigma 1.4 and the rendering just looks... creamier? I dont know if thats just placebo effect or what. I am based in Chicago so I do a lot of street portraits and urban shoots where I really need that subject separation because the backgrounds can get pretty busy and distracting with all the traffic and signs.
My budget is capped at about $1,100 which makes the Sigma a bit of a stretch unless I find a good deal or buy used, while the Lumix leaves me with extra cash for lights or batteries. I have also heard some people swear by the Sigma 105mm f1.4 but honestly that thing looks like a literal brick and I am worried about my wrist hurting after a ten hour wedding day. Plus I am not sure if the autofocus on the Sigma lenses is truly as sticky as the native Panasonic glass now that we finally have the phase detect on the S5II.
Is the jump from f1.8 to f1.4 really noticeable enough to justify the extra weight and the extra five hundred dollars? I want my clients to have that professional look but I also dont want to be miserable carrying a heavy setup all day. Every time I think I have decided on the 85mm 1.8 for the convenience I look at a Sigma sample photo and start second guessing myself again...
I used the Sigma 85mm f1.4 DG DN Art for a marathon wedding last summer and it definitely felt heavy after hour six. Honestly, that f1.4 look is real, but the Panasonic Lumix S 85mm f1.8 is much more practical for hybrid work.
- Sigma: noticeably better rendering.
- Panasonic: lighter for gimbal use. Quick tip: Rent both for a weekend before buying.
I totally get the dilemma. I actually switched from the Sigma 85mm f1.4 DG DN Art to the Panasonic Lumix S 85mm f1.8 about six months ago. The rendering difference is there, sure, but in high-pressure wedding environments, reliability won out for me. I spent a whole day in downtown Chicago last year with the Sigma Art and my wrist was killing me by the time we hit the reception. The Lumix native glass just feels snappier with the S5II phase detect, and honestly, the background separation is plenty for most clients once you master your distance to the subject. Quick tip: prioritize your focal plane accuracy over the f1.4 aesthetic. If you're missing focus because of heavy gear fatigue, that creamy bokeh doesn't matter anyway. If you want that extra reach without the massive weight of the 105mm, you might even consider the Panasonic Lumix S 70-300mm f4.5-5.6 MACRO O.I.S. for outdoor shots, which gives you incredible compression at the long end without breaking your back.
Honestly, I was pretty disappointed with the Sigma 85mm f1.4 DG DN Art when I tried it for a weekend. The bokeh is gorgeous, ngl, but the focus breathing was just distracting for any video work on my S5II. If you really want that pro separation in Chicago traffic, maybe check out the Sigma 105mm f1.4 DG HSM Art used. Its nicknamed the bokeh master for a reason. Unfortunately, it weighs more than a small child and your wrist will definitely hate you by the reception. I found the AF on the Sigmas can sometimes hunt a tiny bit more than native glass in those dim, candlelit reception moments too, which is super stressful when you cant afford to miss the shot. Native glass just feels safer for big money gigs. TL;DR: The Sigma 105mm f1.4 DG HSM Art has the best rendering for street portraits but its a literal anchor. If you value your sanity and need reliable AF for a wedding, the f1.8 native series is usually the safer bet even if the f1.4 looks sexier in samples.
Bump - same question here