I'm freaking out a bit because I have my sisters engagement party coming up in three weeks and I really need a dedicated portrait lens for my A7IV. Im currently torn between the Sony 85mm f1.8 and the Sigma 50mm f1.4 DG DN.
My logic was that the 85mm would give that nice blurry background but the venue is kind of a small restaurant in downtown Chicago so I'm worried it'll be too tight. I only have about 800 dollars to spend right now after buying the body so the 85mm is cheaper but the 50mm feels safer for the space. Or should I just blow the budget and look at a used 35mm GM? I just cant decide if the extra reach is worth the risk of being stuck against a wall all night...
Unfortunately, the Sony FE 85mm f1.8 is a total nightmare for tight indoor venues. I've had issues where the narrow field of view makes group shots impossible. You should grab the Sigma 50mm f1.4 DG DN Art instead. Its optical design is technically superior, specifically regarding corner-to-corner sharpness and managing axial chromatic aberration at wide apertures. In a cramped restaurant, 50mm is the maximum focal length you can realistically use.
