Im losing my mind trying to pick a new portrait lens for my Sony A7III and honestly I feel like Im just going in circles at this point. I have a wedding shoot coming up in about three weeks so I really need to pull the trigger on something soon but every time I look at reviews I just get more nervous. My budget is around 1200 bucks which is a decent chunk of change but it feels like a lot to gamble when I dont know which one is actually gonna give me those buttery smooth backgrounds I see all over instagram.
So I was thinking maybe the Sony 85mm 1.8 because everyone says it is super sharp and the price is amazing but then I see people talking about the Sigma 85mm 1.4 DG DN and my logic was well maybe I should just stretch the budget and go for the wider aperture since the low light performance would be killer for some of the indoor reception stuff I have to do. But then the Sony 85mm 1.4 GM pops up on the used market for like 1100 and now my head is spinning because that used to be the gold standard, right? Is it even worth getting the older GM glass when the Sigma is newer and lighter? I live in a pretty small apartment here in Chicago and I dont have a ton of storage so the size actually matters to me a bit which is why I keep looking back at the Sony 1.8 but Im terrified I will regret not having that extra stop of light.
Does the Sigma really feel that much heavier to carry around all day? Or am I just overthinking the bokeh difference between a 1.4 and a 1.8? If you were in my shoes and had one shot to get this right before a big client gig, which one would you actually grab?
Honestly, grab the Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN Art! It is sharper than the old GM and way more compact, which is perfect for your wedding work. You will absolutely love it!
Like someone mentioned, weight matters. Over the years, I found the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 plenty sharp. Grab that and a Godox V1 Flash for Sony to nail your reception shots.
Like someone mentioned, the Sigma is popular, but honestly, you might want to consider the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 for your wedding gig. Be careful about weight because shooting all day gets exhausting. The 1.8 is way lighter and focuses faster than the older GM glass. Just make sure to rent or try the Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM first if you're worried about bokeh. The extra stop isn't always worth the back pain.
