Im trying to pick a lens for my S5II because my sister asked me to do her engagement photos at a local park next month and honestly im kinda panicking lol. Ive been looking at two main ones:
- Sigma 85mm 1.4 DG DN
- Lumix S 85mm 1.8
People say the Sigma has insane bokeh but then I saw the Panasonic is like half the weight and way cheaper. Im worried the 1.8 wont give me that really blurry background look I want but the Sigma looks massive to carry around all day. My budget is around 1000 bucks max so I could swing the Sigma if I find a deal but is it really worth the extra weight for a hobbyist? What are you guys using for portraits on L-mount right now?
I have been using the Panasonic Lumix S 85mm f/1.8 for my portrait work and i am extremely satisfied with the results. It works well on the S5II and i have no complaints regarding the sharpness or the bokeh quality. While the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art L-Mount is a stellar piece of glass, the weight is a real factor when you're walking around a park all afternoon. The f/1.8 aperture still provides plenty of subject separation and that blurry background you're looking for. Native glass just feels more reliable for autofocus. Honestly, you might be better off saving the cash or grabbing a Godox V1-O Flash for Panasonic to help with the lighting. For your sisters engagement photos, the 1.8 is definitely the more practical and cost-effective choice. It wont let you down.
