Im looking for a new prime for my A7IV for senior portraits this spring. Seen tons of people raving about the Sony 85mm 1.8 but then I hear the Sigma 85mm 1.4 is way sharper. Budget is around 800 bucks, so is the Sigma worth the extra weight and cost? Im stuck.
Honestly, I had a frustrating experience with the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 after about a year. The autofocus performance just felt a bit inconsistent for client work, and I found the chromatic aberration pretty annoying to fix in post. If you have the budget, just skip the disappointment and go for the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art. It is significantly sharper wide open and the build quality feels much more professional for paid senior sessions. Sure, it is heavier, but the subject separation is in a different league entirely. My tip? Invest in a solid strap if you go for the Sigma because the extra weight adds up during a long shoot. Dont waste money on the Sony if you care about corner-to-corner clarity.
> Seen tons of people raving about the Sony 85mm 1.8 but then I hear the Sigma 85mm 1.4 is way sharper. I swapped my Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 for the Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN Art ages ago. The sharpness is insane, just watch the weight.
Just catching up on this thread! Since you have a budget of 800 bucks, have you looked into the Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 FE? Honestly, it is such an amazing lens for the price and fits right into your budget without forcing you to overspend. I get nervous about dropping huge cash on gear, so this felt like a much safer bet for me.
- It is super sharp wide open
- The bokeh is honestly dreamy
- Way lighter than the Sigma alternatives If you really want that native Sony feel though, maybe check out the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 again, but definitely keep the Samyang in mind. It is fantastic for senior portraits and gives you that pro look without breaking the bank. Good luck with the shoots!
