So I've been doing most of my work on the Lumix 24-70 lately but I have a huge wedding coming up next month and I'm really itching for a dedicated portrait prime for my S5II. I'm currently stuck between the Sigma 85mm 1.4 DG DN and the 105mm 1.4 Art... the 105 is kind of a legend but man that thing is huge and I'm worried about the weight for a 10 hour day. Plus my studio space here in Seattle is pretty cramped so the 105 might be way too long? My budget is roughly $1200 and I'm leaning toward the 85 because of the size but part of me thinks I'll regret not having that 105 bokeh. Which one would you guys grab for L-mount if you had to pick just one?
Honestly, i been through this exact dilemma when i was building out my L-mount kit for the s5ii. I used to lug the Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art around for full day events and by hour six my wrist was absolutely shot. Its a legendary piece of glass, nicknamed the bokeh master for a reason, but its basically a dumbbell with a lens mount. For a 10 hour wedding day, you are gonna feel every single gram of that thing. I ended up switching to the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art for my primary portrait work and honestly havent looked back once. Since you mentioned your studio space in Seattle is cramped, the 105mm is likely gonna have you backing into the walls just to get a headshot. The 85mm is much more versatile for those tight indoor spots. Plus, the 85mm dg dn version was built from the ground up for mirrorless cameras like yours, so the autofocus is snappy and it balances perfectly on the s5ii body without needing a tripod collar. The bokeh is still butter smooth and at f1.4 you get plenty of that separation you are looking for. Save yourself the back pain and go with the 85mm, especially since it fits right into that $1200 budget and leaves you some room for extra batteries or a fast sd card. Its just a more sensible tool for professional work.
