Sigma 85mm f1.4 vs Canon 85L

I think the best bet to make sure a Sigma lens operates as expected is to pair it up with a Sigma body.

Thorrulz wrote in post #15564561
I think the best bet to make sure a Sigma lens operates as expected is to pair it up with a Sigma body.

Except that Sigma lenses work fine on Canon, Nikon, Pentax, and Sony bodies as well.

drzenitram wrote in post #15564560
You are! My 50 1.8, 35 f2, 24-105L, 35L, 135L, 85 1.8 x2(both of them), 70-200 f4 IS, 70-200 ii, and 100 2.8 macro all required micro adjustment.

The only lenses I've ever owned that required none? Sigma 30 1.4, Sigma 85 1.4, Sigma 35 1.4, Sigma 70-200 OS. Surprisingly enough, after all the lenses I've owned and tested, the latter 3 make up 3/5 of my lenses, the other two being a MF samyang wide angle and a russian MF lens with swirly bokeh.

If all of those lens needed MA on the body, I hate to say it but did it ever occur to you it may be the body?

Thorrulz wrote in post #15564566
If all of those lens needed MA on the body, I hate to say it but did it ever occur to you it may be the body?

That would make sense if it weren't multiple bodies! Some rented canon lenses worked fine too, a 135L I rented and the 85L I frequently rented were spot on for my cameras. However, nearly all the canon lenses I've ever owned have required MFA, while I've had much better luck with the sigmas.

Too hard to believe canon isn't perfect? :P

drzenitram wrote in post #15563410
If you put all the sigma fast primes in order from most AF problems to least AF problems, the list would go: 50 1.4, 30 1.4, 85 1.4, 35 1.4. There is, however, a huge gap between the number of AF problems from the 30 1.4 and the 85 1.4. Also, with the 85 1.4 I've never seen a single case where a person had AF issues and sending it in to sigma didn't fix it.

The new 35 seems to have problems, if you go by the POTN threads at least 20% are faulty.

Maybe it is because the 85 is older now, but it doesn't seem to have the issues that plagued the 30, the 50 and seemingly the 35.

I had a 30 on my crop which back focused, couldn't MA so just lived with it. I had 3 50's and they were just ridiculous, and the 2 85's I tried - one in store, and the one I bought, were both great.

I think they work differently on different bodies - the 50 seems to hate the 5D3 in a lot of cases, and 3 of them hated mine. But the 85 seems to love it. As people have speculated, it could be something Canon does to steer people towards their lenses and avoid 3rd parties.

If I had not bought an 85mm lens, and already had a complete kit at the time, I probably would have saved up for the 85L. But buying the Sigma gave me a lens arguably equal to the 85, and gave me enough change to also buy a 35L.

It's not that simple. The 135L is a old design and it start to show. Also yes, I had and still have problem with focus accuray with it. It's not a deal breaker but I dont feel the "legendary" status of this lens. It goes very well for far away people though. Like I would expect a 135mm f2 lens to do.

The Sigma 85mm is a lot more modern and show that particular crispness of image that make your subject pop without much effort. It look cleaner somehow, almost clinical. Also the Focal Range is more manageable.

Still, I dont regret the 135L as there's is just no other options for this Focal Range.

You say that the 135L was a wise choice over the Sigma 85mm. I would say the Sigma 85mm is a wise choice over the 85L because it's almost as good for half the price. For hobbyist it's a god send.

As for Sigma AF problems, it seams to go in the good direction with the new art line. The USB dock will make it even better.

I never tried a 85L but the sigma 85 is a really great lens. It's easily on par with my 35L and 135L if that means anything.

Sigma 85 1.4 gets my vote. Its cheaper =D

I think the best decision is to just get a Canon 85 f/1.8. Sure there are shortcomings to that lens as well but it's speed and AF accuracy are second to none.

With a Sigma lens the day you purchase it the clock starts ticking on how long they will support it with the newer dslr bodies coming out. Even if it works on the 5DMIII, will it work on a 5DMIV in 5 years? Sorry, but there is no guarantee it will and there won't be one in writing anytime soon from Sigma. I guess that 10 year warranty from Sigma won't be much good unless you plan on not upgrading the body over the life of the lens.

Aside from many consumers there are too many professional negative reviews on Sigma lens in general with focus issues to not be concerned. Like TheDigitalPicture says, when the Sigma nails focus the pictures are beautiful. If I pay $1000 for a lens, when better be most of the time and not the exception. Even here on POTN, Adorama is doing a survey on Sigma lens problems. I don't see a Canon, Tamron, Zeiss, Tokina, Rokinon or any other lens manufacturer listed in Adorama's survey. Must be a bigger problem than a few individuals chattering in one forum, don't you think?

My viewpoint is only one of many on here and fwiw I hope Sigma does come around and becomes a licensed manufacturer of Canon lens. At least you could rule out the reverse engineering as a cause of their AF issues. And for the other forum members that are happy with their Sigma products, good for you for scoring a bargain in the marketplace. But for me it has to work correctly to be a bargain and in my case it didn't work out that way.

Drinkin' that haterade.

drzenitram wrote in post #15565463
Drinkin' that haterade.

Just the facts ma'am, just the facts.

Man, I better never sell my Sigma 85mm 1.4, the thing autofocuses fast and accurately on my 7D even for indoor sports stuff! If there's a "Sigma lottery" I guess I should celebrate hitting it, as it enabled me to sell my Canon 85 1.2 and pocket the difference.

Canon never licensed the ef mount to anyone. Tokina/Tamron/Sigma are all in the same ballpark.

Unless Canon change the mount, I dont see much risk that your lens should stop working. It feel like a really old argument against Sigma.

Earwax69 wrote in post #15565672
Canon never licensed the ef mount to anyone. Tokina/Tamron/Sigma are all in the same ballpark.

Unless Canon change the mount, I dont see much risk that your lens should stop working. It feel like a really old argument against Sigma.

Old argument or not, it's still valid. Lets say Sigma ends production of this version of the 85 f/1.4 at the end of 2013. Now Canon comes out with a new body and lets say it's the 5DMIV in 2016. There is a 50/50 chance at best your 3 year old $1000 lens won't work with the new body.

With Canon any ef mount 85 they have made in the past or make up till the newer body in 2016 will work. Check back in 3 years and see how many of any Sigma lens made in 2000 will work on a 2016 Canon body. My guess is %0 will.

Paranoia or propaganda? Maybe a bit of both?

I've got quite a few old cheap Sigma lenses from my film days (70-300mm, 28-70mm, 17-40mm, 15mm) and they are all working on my modern t3i.

I've been disregarding Sigma lenses since the 20D era but now they got all my attention again with the Art line. While I would be wary of the 50mm f1.4, I believe the 85mm f1.4 to be a worthy contender. The Sigma 35mm is certainly the best thing coming my way since a very long time.