I am honestly about to lose it trying to pick a lens because every single person on YouTube says something different and it is making my head spin. I have been looking for a dedicated portrait prime for my Sony a7iii to shoot my cousins wedding in San Diego next month and I am totally stuck between the Sony 85mm f1.8 and the Sigma 85mm f1.4 DG DN. I read the Sony is the budget king but then some guys say the Sigma bokeh is way creamier and better for professional work. But then I see people complaining about the Sigma being too heavy or having autofocus issues in low light compared to native glass? Like which is it?? I dont want to spend a grand on a lens that misses focus when she is walking down the aisle because that would be a nightmare.
Heres what I am looking for:
- Budget is strictly under $1000 (cant go higher or my wife will kill me)
- Needs to be sharp even at f1.8 or f1.4
- Fast enough autofocus for a moving bride
- Not a brick because I am gonna be on my feet for 8 hours
I keep going back and forth and every time I think I have decided I read another forum post that says the opposite. Does anyone actually use these for professional gigs or are they just gear geeks arguing over nothing... I just need one solid answer so I can buy the thing and stop thinking about it.
I really wanted to love the Sigma 85mm f1.4 DG DN Art, but it was a letdown at my last wedding gig. It is heavy, and unfortunately, the focus pulsed right as the bride came down the aisle. I missed the shot. I went back to the Sony FE 85mm f1.8 because reliability matters most. Quick tip: Stick to native lenses for weddings so you dont miss key moments.
^ This. Also, I have spent years tracking AF motor lag and MTF charts. In my experience, the Sony FE 85mm f1.8 is the technical winner for weddings because of those dual linear motors. It weighs only 371g, whereas the Sigma 85mm f1.4 DG DN Art hits 630g.
- Faster focus polling
- Sharp enough for high res sensors
- Better balance on a7iii bodies Stick with native glass for the reliability.
You might want to be careful with how that weight distribution feels on your Sony a7iii because after six hours, your wrist is gonna feel every single extra gram. Plus the AF polling rate on some third party glass can lag behind the native linear motors when contrast drops... I remember shooting a ceremony in San Diego a few years back where the humidity was so thick it felt like walking through soup. My lens kept fogging and I ended up spending half the time hiding under a tent eating these tiny crab cakes they were passing around. They had this spicy aioli that was incredible, tho my stomach really hated me for it later that night. It was some local spot near the harbor. But yeah, back to your situation... are you planning on shooting with a flash or just using available light for the aisle walk? Also, are you worried about weather sealing since it is a coastal wedding? Anyway.
Had a moment to think about this more... Ive shot weddings for years and the one I got works great because I prioritized weight.
- Focus was snappy even when light got dim.
- Linear motors in the newer glass handle movement way better than older stuff.
- I looked at third-party options to find better flare resistance. I learned that pro results dont always require the heaviest glass. Seriously happy with the output.
