I honestly am so fed up with my current setup. I've been using the kit 20-60mm on my S5II for a while now but the portraits are just... blah. They look like cell phone photos and the background blur is basically non-existent unless I'm right in someone's face which is super awkward. I have a big family shoot coming up next month in some local parks around Chicago and I really dont want to show up with gear that isnt performing.
I tried a friend's 85mm on a Sony and it blew my mind so now I'm desperate to get that look on my L-mount body. I have about 1100 saved up and I'm torn between a few specific options:
- Sigma 85mm f1.4 DG DN
- Panasonic 85mm f1.8
- Sigma 105mm f1.4 (might be too heavy though)
The Sigma 85mm is way more expensive and heavy but everyone says the bokeh is legendary while the Panasonic is lighter but is it pro enough? I just want something that wont make me regret switching to the L-mount system because right now im feeling a bit stuck with mediocre results and poor low light performance.
Should I just bite the bullet on the Sigma or is the Panasonic prime better for actual professional looking headshots?
I once brought the Panasonic Lumix S 85mm f1.8 to a park shoot, but the Sigma 85mm f1.4 DG DN Art has better bokeh. Do you mostly shoot tight headshots or full families?
Re: "I once brought the Panasonic Lumix S 85mm..." - spot on. Over the years I've learned that for family park shoots, f/1.4 is often overkill.
- Youll likely be stopping down to f/4 anyway to keep everyone sharp.
- Lighting usually makes a bigger pro difference than bokeh, so pocketing the savings for a flash is the smarter move.
