so i am honestly just totally fed up with my 24-105mm zoom right now like its fine for travel and random stuff but the portraits just look so flat and boring and i am ready to just chuck it in a drawer and never look at it again lol. im getting so excited though because i finally saved up some cash for a proper prime lens and i want that creamy bokeh look everyone talks about for this engagement shoot im doing in brooklyn next month so the pressure is kinda on to get this right.
my logic was originally to go for the sony 85mm f1.8 because everyone says its the king of portraits but then i started thinking maybe it is too tight? like if im on a busy street in nyc i dont want to be standing a mile away from my subject just to get their shoulders in the frame. so then i thought okay maybe the 35mm 1.4 gm is the move because it gives more context but i worry about that weird distortion on faces if i get too close and i dont want my friend looking like she has a giant nose on her big day. i just want that professional look where the background just melts away.
i looked at the 50mm 1.2 g master too but man that price tag is scary and i only have about 1100 to 1300 bucks to spend tops. i was even looking at the sigma 85mm f1.4 art lens because i heard its sharper than the sony version but then some people say the autofocus is slower and i really cant afford to miss shots when they are walking toward me or laughing. i keep going back and forth between the focal lengths and the brands and im just stuck in this loop of watching youtube reviews until my eyes bleed.
if you had to pick just one prime for sony for a mix of headshots and full body stuff in a city environment which one is actually the best? am i crazy for wanting the 85mm or should i stick with something wider...
> i was even looking at the sigma 85mm f1.4 art lens because i heard its sharper than the sony version but then some people say the autofocus is slower Late to the party but honestly been shooting with that Sigma 85mm f1.4 DG DN Art for years and never had issues. The autofocus is plenty fast for people walking or laughing. Brooklyn streets are tight tho, so keep that in mind. No complaints about the bokeh, its definitely creamier than the Sony 1.8. Quick tip: use eye-autofocus and you wont miss those candid laughs.
Building on the earlier suggestion, native Sony glass really is the way to go for AF consistency. Since the 1.2 is too pricey, check these:
- Sony FE 50mm f1.4 GM is the sweet spot. Better CA control than the 85mm 1.8 and fits your budget.
- Sigma 85mm f1.4 DG DN Art offers superior micro-contrast and smoother bokeh. AF is snappy enough for candids... I dont think you'll regret the 50mm for Brooklyn streets.
Wait really?? Thats actually super helpful. I always thought it was the other way around.
To add to the point above: forget the expensive GM glass for a second. If you want that pro look without nuking your bank account, grab the Sony FE 85mm f1.8 used. You can find them for like 400 bucks all day long on the secondary market. It is insanely sharp and the bokeh is genuinely gorgeous for the price. TL;DR: Buy the used Sony FE 85mm f1.8 and put the extra 800 bucks toward a nice dinner or a lighting kit. Seriously, don't overthink the 85mm focal length. If Brooklyn gets too tight, just step back a few feet! The compression you get from an 85 is what makes those portraits pop and look professional, not the camera or the price tag of the lens. You will get way more keepers with that fast, native Sony autofocus than any third-party lens. Trust me, you'll love it!
Lol I was literally about to post the same thing. Glad someone else brought it up.
I shot a wedding in Brooklyn and the MTF performance was amazing for the speed!!
- Resolution is stellar
- Tracking is flawless Just get any Sony prime, they are fantastic!
