So Ive been using the S5II for a while now with that 20-60 kit lens and honestly its fine for everyday stuff but I really feel like my portraits are lacking that professional pop. I live in Seattle and since the sun is finally coming out more I want to get out into the parks and actually take some decent photos of people. Plus my cousin is getting married in late August and she asked if I could take some candid shots and maybe some formal portraits of the family during the reception so the pressure is kinda on to get something better than the kit glass.

Ive spent the last week going down a rabbit hole on YouTube and various forums trying to figure out which prime to grab first for the L-mount system. I keep seeing everyone talk about the Lumix 85mm f1.8 because it matches the other f1.8 primes in size and weight which is cool for my gimbal I guess but then I see the Sigma 85mm f1.4 Art being called the bokeh king for the system. The Sigma looks huge though and its definitely at the top end of what I can spend right now. I have about 850 bucks saved up for this and I really dont want to regret the purchase if the f1.8 version feels too entry level or if the autofocus isnt as snappy.

Then there is the 50mm vs 85mm debate which is driving me crazy. Some people say the 50mm is better if you dont have a ton of space to move around but then others say the compression on the 85mm is what makes a portrait look like a real portrait. I mostly shoot outdoors so maybe space isnt a huge deal but I dont want to be standing a mile away from my subject just to get a headshot. Im also worried about the autofocus speed because Ive heard mixed things about how third party lenses like Sigma work with the Lumix phase detect system compared to native glass.

Is the extra weight and cost of the Sigma 1.4 actually worth it over the native Panasonic 1.8 for someone doing outdoor shoots and the occasional wedding?