Mini Review: Sigma 85mm 1.4 ART vs Canon 85L 1.2 II (34 raw images)

Defffondo wrote in post #18197020
you are not really comparing a completely different camera, without AA Filter? in terms of sharpness? The Canon 85L is known for many things. but not for his sharpness open wide.

What a ridiculous comment about the 85L not being sharp wide open. It's reputation over the years for its extraordinary sharpness at f/1.2 is well known. My MkII version I bought a few years ago made my jaw hit the computer desk when I looked at the wide open images it produced (and I have some decent lenses to compare it to!). I'm not denying that time has moved on and there's better designed fast lenses on the market and the Sigma does look amazing under close scrutiny. However, I defy anyone to tell the difference when comparing images from the 85L and Sigma by looking at an image from each, side by side, on two identical monitors at normal magnification or 16" x 20" prints. Is the 85L a bit long in the tooth now for this age of 30, 40 & 50 mega pickles? Yes it is. But if the rumours of a possible Canon 85mm f/1.4 in the works are true, I'm sure it'd give the new kids on the block a run for their money if the 35L II is anything to go by.

FuturamaJSP wrote in post #18197794
you mentioned your 85L is a UB, isn't it like one of the early ones from the late 80s?
The 85L II focus quite a bit faster, though I am sure it can't still match any of the 85 f1.4 and f1.8 lenses.

No man... UB = 2013. This IS the 85 1.2 II

Sir_Loin wrote in post #18197797
What a ridiculous comment about the 85L not being sharp wide open. It's reputation over the years for its extraordinary sharpness at f/1.2 is well known. My MkII version I bought a few years ago made my jaw hit the computer desk when I looked at the wide open images it produced (and I have some decent lenses to compare it to!). I'm not denying that time has moved on and there's better designed fast lenses on the market and the Sigma does look amazing under close scrutiny. However, I defy anyone to tell the difference when comparing images from the 85L and Sigma by looking at an image from each, side by side, on two identical monitors at normal magnification or 16" x 20" prints. Is the 85L a bit long in the tooth now for this age of 30, 40 & 50 mega pickles? Yes it is. But if the rumours of a possible Canon 85mm f/1.4 in the works are true, I'm sure it'd give the new kids on the block a run for their money if the 35L II is anything to go by.

I find the sharpness of the 85L 1.2 II to be adequate. In fact when I shot with it I was always impressed at it's sharpness and overall look at 1.2. What I could not get over is the purple fringing it suffers from.

I need to refill my ink on my printer but expect to have that done by this weekend and I'll print some 13x19 samples of what I've posted and see if I can see any differences. See everyone wants to dismiss my methods but I actually test the lenses personally and have shot that 85L off and on since 2013. It is my friends but we use each other gear as needed. I also print alot just to examine final output. I'll be sure to post those samples once complete.

Here are two examples of me shooting that 85L back in June 2013 and Jan 2014. It is a sharp lens... but the Sigma Art IS sharper.

Talley wrote in post #18197827
See everyone wants to dismiss my methods.......

Hosted photo: posted by Talley in
./showthread.php?p=181​97827&i=i30441017
forum: Canon Lenses

Hosted photo: posted by Talley in
./showthread.php?p=181​97827&i=i143847460
forum: Canon Lenses

Please tell me where I dismissed your methods?

I acknowledged in my post the Sigma is superior under close scrutiny, what I said was that people would be hard pushed to tell the difference in normal, everyday viewing situations in print or on a screen. We all know the 85L (and MANY other fast lenses) suffer from purple fringing wide open, but lens manufacturers are now managing to greatly reduce or eliminate it.

Stop being so defensive, you do it a lot you know?

Sir_Loin wrote in post #18198101
Please tell me where I dismissed your methods?

I acknowledged in my post the Sigma is superior under close scrutiny, what I said was that people would be hard pushed to tell the difference in normal, everyday viewing situations in print or on a screen. We all know the 85L (and MANY other fast lenses) suffer from purple fringing wide open, but lens manufacturers are now managing to greatly reduce or eliminate it.

Stop being so defensive, you do it a lot you know?

I'm naturally whiny

I never said you dismissed it... just said in general like dpaf wasn't good or whatever which is why I closely examine all the shots to determine if there is any misfocusing going on. For a single copy art to a single copy canon the results are clear.... but you are SPOT on. You won't see a difference between the two under an individual viewing. Only when you slide two images side by side does it become clear...

...when you going to present images to clients side by side with two different lenses and say which one looks better to you?... never. They all will produce wonderful images.

Talley, thank you for the efforts in putting together this review.

Other similar tests on other platforms confirm what your findings are showing, that without doubts the Art is better than the Canon in IQ.

It would however be useful to test the focus accuracy in low light situations.
I recently shot an indoor event, some shots with natural light and some with bounce flash. I used the 135L, the 35mm art and the 24-105 L. The focus of my 35 Art is spot on straight out of the box at all distances. Though, in those circumstances half shots resulted in slight back or front focus while the two Ls maintained accuracy.

Thanks

OMG.... I have an epic epic finding.....

deserves own thread

I think we all know the Sigma Art 85 would be sharper, but what surprises me is bokeh and AF has greatly improved. I think it's a keeper.

level5photog wrote in post #18199222
I think we all know the Sigma Art 85 would be sharper, but what surprises me is bokeh and AF has greatly improved. I think it's a keeper.

Does not look like the Onion Bokeh from the original 85 1.4

Thanks for this thread, Talley.

I'm in the process of looking at a new prime and the 85's were high on my list to pair with the 16-35 for travel. After reading this, I think I'll wait until the next 85L arrives.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com …omp=0&FLIComp=0​&APIComp=1

I would say that TDP tests mimic what I was seeing between the 85L and the Art.

Thanks again for all your investment of time and meticulous testing on these two lenses. Thanks too for keeping your comments open and fair.

I have been testing the SIGMA Art over four weekends at my local camera store against this Canon (1.2), Ziess (1.4) and Tamron (1.8) and ended up buying the SIGMA.
I too was hopeful of the Canon, as it does give a little better bokeh at all f-stops, but the sharpness, focus accuracy and lack of CA on the SIGMA sold me.

My lens should be here by 12/28/16

I just received my SIGMA 85 1.4 ART lens today and had just enough time to grab some images before we lost the light up here in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

Just to dispel some doubts about focus issues I got 25 out of 28 tack sharp keepers and honestly, two of those may have been my fault on the focus points. Keep in mind I literally took it out of the box and put it on my Canon 5D3. All were using center focus (AI mode) with recomposing, as that is my habit for all my lenses.

I tested all the other 85mm out there before choosing this lens and must say I love the sharpness. After only having f2.8 or f4 lenses for most of my work I really like the bokeh I'm getting at 1.4. Maybe not quite as creamy as a Canon 1.2 but it's all a give (one thing), and take (another) in the technical world of photography (Sharpness vs Bokeh). For me, this lens seems to be a very good blend of both. Plus if I really need more blur it is easy to add in LR or PS, adding sharpness, well not so much.

I plan to do more focus testing (off center) and to practice my technique of using a non-IS lens.
So far I this lens

Here are a few more images of tests I just completed to show how accurately this combo does with maximum off-center focusing but just how sharp this lens is in those areas.
Which is one of the main reasons I purchased it. NOTE: I shot multiple images moving the camera to keep this same subject in all the farthest corners of the frame (left, right, top and bottom), plus
I defocused it every time. It nailed focus every time.

First image on each set is the full frame and then the close-up of image I focused on.

A few more here. Notice the lack of chromatic aberrations too, as this is a Sigma ART vs Canon 1.2L Forum.