Just saw this pop up... honestly you guys are sleeping on the best value pick for Sony shooters. Quick question before I give my final vote though: how big is the venue? If it's a tight indoor space, that 135mm you mentioned is gonna be a nightmare. In my experience, you dont need to drop the full $1200 to get that pro look. Check out the Samyang AF 85mm f1.4 II FE. It is significantly lighter than the Sigma Art and the rendering is gorgeous for skin tones. I've used it for plenty of paid gigs and it holds up great. You could grab that and still have enough leftover for a Godox V1 Flash for Sony which you're definitely gonna need for the reception anyway. TL;DR: Grab the Samyang 85mm f1.4 II. It saves you weight and money while still giving you that f1.4 bokeh you're after.

Ive shot a ton of weddings with my Sony setup and honestly, if you have the budget, go for the Sigma. The weight is something you just get used to after an hour or two. Im always happy with how the shots turn out on the Sigma 85mm f1.4 DG DN Art Sony E because that extra light at f/1.4 is a lifesaver when the reception lighting gets dim... Heres how I see them:

• Sigma 85mm f1.4 DG DN Art Sony E: Super sharp even wide open and the background blur is creamy. No complaints about the build quality either.
• Sony FE 85mm f1.8: Decent lens, but it lacks that special look you want for a sisters wedding.
• Sony FE 135mm f1.8 GM: Incredible lens but way too tight for most indoor venues. Go with the Sigma. Its what I use for pro work and the results are consistently better than the cheaper 1.8 glass.

> Is the extra weight of the Sigma worth the better f-stop or should I stick with the lighter Sony? Building on the earlier suggestion, you might want to consider how much you're actually gonna be moving around. Weddings are marathons and your back will feel it by dinner. Be careful with that 135mm tho... I love the Sony FE 135mm f1.8 GM but its basically a telescope indoors. Youll spend the whole reception backing into walls just to get a decent frame... kinda frustrating. The Sigma 85mm f1.4 DG DN Art is definitely the pro choice for that creamy bokeh, but make sure to test the AF in dim light. Its snappy, but the Sony FE 85mm f1.8 is a total sleeper hit because the focus is nearly instant. Honestly, missing focus at f1.4 is way worse than having a busier background at f1.8. If you can find a used Sony FE 85mm f1.4 GM, that might be the best move for your budget.

@Reply #4 - good point! Native glass is seriously the way to go for that peace of mind. I totally agree that the 85mm can feel a bit tight indoors... If you want that pro look but need something more versatile than a long prime, you gotta look at the Sony FE 50mm f1.4 GM. It is absolutely incredible! A few quick tips:

• Stick to the Sony FE 50mm f1.4 GM or even the Sigma 50mm f1.4 DG DN Art if you wanna save some cash. 50mm is much easier to use during the reception than an 85mm or 135mm.
• Dont sweat the weight too much, but your wrists will definitely thank you for choosing a newer GM over those older, chunkier lenses. Youre gonna do a fantastic job! Weddings are stressful but so worth it when you see those shots.

Jumping in here... you might want to consider the reliability factor before you commit. Weddings are high-stakes and you really dont want an AF glitch during the i dos. Quick question: are you shooting with one body or two? If you only have the A7IV, you might find an 85mm a bit tight if the venue is small. Few quick tips for the big day:

• Stick with native glass for the most reliable eye-AF, like the Sony FE 85mm f1.4 GM.
• Make sure you use both card slots for redundancy. Maybe look for a used Sony FE 85mm f1.4 GM since it hits your budget and definitely has that pro look. Be careful with that 135mm tho, its a gorgeous lens but basically impossible to use once the reception gets crowded... let me know if you need help with anything else!

Building on the earlier suggestion, weight really is the thing that gets you in the end. I been shooting for years and honestly, being comfortable is why I am still so happy doing this. I remember this one wedding in upstate New York where I brought way too much gear and I was so loaded down I could barely move by the time they started the dancing. But the drive up there was actually the best part. I took the long way through the Catskills in my old beat-up Subaru and found this hidden diner that served the best blueberry pancakes I have ever had in my life. The owner had these old polaroids of every local celebrity who ever stopped by, mostly news anchors from the 80s, but it was so cool to see the history on the walls. I ended up staying there way too long and almost missed the rehearsal dinner because I was busy talking to a guy about his fly fishing hobby... anyway lol sorry kinda went off topic there.

Works great for me