I'm trying to figure out which prime lens is actually the best for Sony Alpha portrait stuff because I have a wedding gig in literally two weeks and my current zoom just isnt cutting it for the low light look I want. I am totally torn between the Sony 85mm f1.8 and the Sigma 85mm f1.4 Art... the Sigma is heavier and a bit more expensive but people say the bokeh is way better but then I see the Sony is like half the price and super light for walking around all day. Budget is strictly under $1100 cause I still need to buy extra batteries and a new bag so the G-Master is totally out of the question sadly. I'm also kinda looking at the Zeiss 55mm f1.8 just for the versatility since I'm worried the 85mm might be too tight for the indoor reception part but idk if 55mm gives that same wow factor for the bride portraits? I'm in Chicago and the venue is this old botanical garden with some cramped paths so maybe the 55 is safer? But I really want that blurry background. My A7IV is ready but I need to pull the trigger on the glass like tomorrow to get it in time to practice. Is the Sigma worth the extra weight and cash or should I just stick with the Sony 85? Or is the 55mm a better all-rounder??
saw your post and honestly those botanical garden paths can be a nightmare with a long lens. if youre worried about the weight of the sigma, make sure youre looking at the Sigma 85mm f1.4 DG DN Art Sony E-mount and not the old hsm version. the dn one was made specifically for mirrorless and is basically half the size of the original brick. its way more manageable for a full wedding day and the bokeh is definitely a step up from the sony f1.8. a few technical things to think about:
- the f1.4 on the sigma gives you noticeably creamier backgrounds than the f1.8
- it has a dedicated aperture ring which is super handy for quick lighting changes
- sharpness is honestly insane even wide open at f1.4 if 85mm feels too tight for those narrow paths, maybe look at the Samyang AF 75mm f1.8 FE. its a bit wider so you dont have to back up into the bushes as much, plus its tiny and way under your budget. definitely a great middle ground between the 55 and the 85.
I'm super satisfied with these options:
- Samyang AF 85mm f1.4 FE II: Pros: gorgeous bokeh. Cons: slightly heavy.
- Sony FE 35mm f1.8: Pros: fast and compact. Cons: wider perspective.
tl;dr - the Sony FE 85mm f1.8 is your best bet for a mix of value and performance, but the Sony Zeiss Sonnar T* FE 55mm f1.8 ZA is the safer choice if those garden paths are really tight. ive been in your shoes before. i remember shooting this one ceremony in a really cramped greenhouse once. i brought this massive, heavy prime thinking i needed that f1.4 bokeh, and honestly? i spent the whole time tripping over planters and apologizing to the front row because i had to stand so far back to frame the couple. it was a mess and i missed some key candid moments because i was just too close for the space. it was stressful and i barely used the lens again that day. for a long wedding day, reliability and weight usually matter more than that tiny extra bit of blur. the Sigma 85mm f1.4 DG DN Art is a gorgeous lens, no doubt, but after six hours of shooting, youre gonna feel every gram of that thing in your wrist. the Sony FE 85mm f1.8 is plenty sharp and the autofocus is actually faster in some cases, which is what you really need when the ceremony is moving fast and you cant miss the kiss. if the garden paths are really as narrow as you say, the Sony Zeiss Sonnar T* FE 55mm f1.8 ZA might be your best friend for the reception. it doesnt have the same compression as an 85, but its sharp and tiny. but for the wow bride shots? the sony 85 is the logical choice. it keeps you under budget so you can afford those batteries and the bag, which is the safer move for a professional gig.
Regarding what #3 said about the Samyang, I totally get why people love those, but if you want insane reliability for a wedding gig, you have to check out the Viltrox 85mm f1.8 II STM. Seriously, this thing is a hidden gem for the price! I used it for a shoot last month and the autofocus consistency on my A7IV was mind-blowing, even in low light.
- Sharpness is honestly fantastic wide open
- Bokeh is super buttery and smooth
- Weighs next to nothing I was stressing about the same space issues you have at that botanical garden, so I paired it with a Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 Di III VXD G2 for the wider reception stuff. Having that zoom flexibility for the tight paths while keeping the 85mm prime in the bag for the portraits saved my life. Youre gonna crush it! Dont overthink the gear too much, just grab something that locks focus fast so you dont miss those candid moments. The Viltrox is such a steal and leaves you plenty of cash for that new bag you need!
Re: "Regarding what #3 said about the Samyang, I..." honestly, I have been shooting weddings for years and learned the hard way that dragging a heavy bag full of glass is just miserable after six hours. In my experience, if you are stuck in a tight botanical garden, you really want something that stays glued to your body without dragging you down. Have you looked into the Tamron 35-150mm f/2-2.8 Di III VXD? I know it sounds like a big zoom, but honestly, it replaced almost all my primes for reception work. It covers that 55mm space perfectly while still giving you a decent look at the long end for portraits. If that is too pricey, just grab the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 and call it a day. It is cheap, super sharp, and lets you spend the rest of your budget on a solid flash like the Godox V1 Flash for Sony. You are gonna need that light way more than a slightly creamier bokeh in a dark reception area, trust me. Dont overthink the gear too much before the big day, just make sure you have enough batteries and a comfy strap.
Can vouch for this