Who will purchase the Sigma 85mm 1.4 Art and when?

A Vs EX: http://s3t.it/p/#14794​899042038
Thankfully i was able to pinpoint some "Unknown (0x00B9)" EXIF value to distinguish between these.

++ Another batch of samples: http://s3t.it/p/#14794​920430561

s3t wrote in post #18188027
A Vs EX: http://s3t.it/p/#14794​899042038
Thankfully i was able to pinpoint some "Unknown (0x00B9)" EXIF value to distinguish between these.

++ Another batch of samples: http://s3t.it/p/#14794​920430561

These are the best samples I've seen.

1. The difference in sharpness is very sutble and only really obvious in the edges/corners
2. CA is slightly improved... dramatically more then further out to the edges you get
3. Bokeh is probably the most improved and even then it's subtle... it handles the really nervous backgrounds MUCH better and there is less green fringing IN the bokeh


I've said it before... if you have a GOOD solid copy of the non art... there really isn't a reason to upgrade. But the new lens brings on size/weight but also better build and dock compatible. There is improvements across the board in the image quality but the differences are not as dramatic as it may seem. To an untrained eye they will look identical. CA is the easiest to spot and then off center edge/corner sharpness and bokeh IS better.

I can easily spot the Art lens when viewing at 100%. I can in some of those photos spot it without zooming in but it's very difficult. Some of your samples are not 100% matching in focus however... makes it difficult and in the wrong eyes some would say the previous is better

Here is two scenes of your images where you can spot the differences... I hope you don't mind:

On the truck for delivery and I'm trying to find someone who may want to do an impromptu portrait session, like, now. Ha ha! Can't wait to get some samples up… I'll certainly take it with me tonight and hopefully get some nice low-light photos.

s3t wrote in post #18188027
A Vs EX: http://s3t.it/p/#14794​899042038
Thankfully i was able to pinpoint some "Unknown (0x00B9)" EXIF value to distinguish between these.

++ Another batch of samples: http://s3t.it/p/#14794​920430561

Unfotunately there is only a few shots that match up the rest are not equal so hard to compare.

It's been a pain to make these, as the lenses were rolling on the asphalt, as well as AF inconsistency and what not
I thought the difference will speak for itself no matter how different the shots are, but it came out quite the other way round, where you need to shoot with tripod and AF in live view to make sure everything but the lens stays the same.
Which, by itself, tells us the differences in performance are not as pronounced as the price and weight

The AF thing of this Art is mysterious. Every first shot is fine, then if you keep refocusing (half press of the button) without reframing, you might get blurry shots. EX won't do this, as it won't refocus on every button half-press - it kinda knows it's focused and everything is ok.
Might be fixed in forthcoming firmware updates. Might be not.
It might be a problem of high resolution lenses altogether, where their sharpness is greater than AF sensor's. AF sensor always thinks the lens is not in focus (as it sees it needs to spin the focusing in one or another direction, it's never "both directions are equal").
Ah, and not to mention the moire thing which, apparently, should affect AF sensors too.
Damn, this lens gave me moire on D700 (which has the thickest anti-aliasing filter in the history of camera engineering), on camera's JPEGs. This is by far the sharpest thing i ever had.

Just got the delivery, ripped it out of the box, and slapped it on my 6D for some test shots! Nothing too crazy or serious yet as I'm a freelance designer and have things to do (sadly) but here are some first impressions:

Size: Owning the 24/35/50 Art lenses, this is bigger, for sure. But, I'm a 30-year-old 6-foot-tall guy and it's nothing I can't handle. It does feel like a tool, though. I hold it in my hand and feel like a photography warrior or blacksmith wielding a lens of power. It's beautiful.

AF: Quick and snappy! Wow. Noticeably quicker than my other Art lenses (as far as I can remember). No gripes there.

Image quality: Wow, wow, and double wow. This lens is sharp, contrasty, smooth as silk, and I am completely in love.

Well done, Sigma!! This is an amazing lens. Really and truly. Now, I'm chomping at the bit to get this out and about!

Some quick samples. Both at f/1.4, the second being a 100% crop. Yikes!!

And one more quick one. Again, not really going for composition here, but check it out! SOOC from the Raws, no editing

I gave up on center crops long time ago... I'm more interested in edge/corner now.

Do yourself a favor and look at edge/corner and be amazed lol.

s3t wrote in post #18188127
Which, by itself, tells us the differences in performance are not as pronounced as the price and weight

Agreed. However I think that as more copies make their way out and more testing will reveal that there is more improvement than not. I can without a doubt pick the art every single time in your photos. CA does make a good improvement under MOST situations... things like branches in a bright sky still suffer with only minimal improvement but in other areas there is a large gain.

Again sharpness, CA, bokeh and AF speed have all improved. Previous model was 949 new this is 1199. It's a solid upgrade and will be a big hit.

Haha! Those corner crops will come later! I just tried to utilize the camera wifi and my smartphone and… think I'll just wait to do some people photos when I go out later. Ha ha. At least it looked good at f/1.4

I think copy variation really hurt the EX version. I got an absolute perfect copy so I know I'll definitely stick with mine. The Art looks nice but as you say, if we have a good copy there's no reason to switch.

It hurt for sure. I was going to pick one up years ago and the results were really bad, but the lens was really good. If you try to rent one now from some rental companies they even warn about the autofocus inconsistency. It's just weird. I knew an Art would come so I said I'd wait it out.

CamaroSS wrote in post #18188385
It hurt for sure. I was going to pick one up years ago and the results were really bad, but the lens was really good. If you try to rent one now from some rental companies they even warn about the autofocus inconsistency. It's just weird. I knew an Art would come so I said I'd wait it out.

I had two copies that where really good. Funny how it works. I still upgraded anyway.

To me the improvements is good for me. Everything is good minus size weight and price I wasn't worried about

Tomorrow I'll get some shots between the art and the 85LII

Been following this thread for a while. Seems like it might be a great performer especially at the price. I will be buying one once the supply catches up with the demand.

I really like the 35mm Art. I sold my 50mm EX soon afterwards to make space for the 85mm Art which I knew (assumed) was coming soon (but mostly because the 50mm was an odd focal length for me).

Please keep updating us. Looking forward to seeing more samples here.

Talley, please do this ASAP. I'm sure not just me would love to see them samples ߘ