mdvaden wrote in post #18473608
There's certain locations and times where the 85mm 1.2 L's focusing doesn't seem to be the right tool in the drawer. But it's stellar when I choose to use it.
Here's a test shot from today. Another photographer in a nearby park. He moved after I focused. But I wanted to share this to show the bokeh of Tamron's 85mm 1.8 VC. This photo is completely as-is aside from cropping and resize to 1100 pixels wide. No change to color, brightness, etc..
The main thing that had always detoured me from getting the 85 1.2 was the price as here in Aus it is real expensive. The price of the 85 IS appears to be pretty high here too but if I can get a decent price for my Sigma I may be able to save a bit that way. Sometimes it's best to get the lenses in a period when they are least popular.
I know with me 35mm f/2 IS it dropped a few hundred from the launch price which is when I bought it, then I seen it get more popular and the price went back up so I'm glad I bought it when I did.
ejenner wrote in post #18473632I have the old Sigma as well and like it a lot. I pretty much shoot at f2 (because of the DOF I want) and sharpness seems good at that aperture, rendition/bokeh is great for what I've used it for, but it can show some CA. But also no IS which I would really like. I just got the Tamron 45 1.8VC and like it a lot so considering I don't really need 1.4 I think I'm going to go for the Tamron. VC + decent sharpness and good bokeh and although my old Sig AF is OK on the 5DIII, it is not stellar in the accuracy/consistency department. At least not as good as I would ideally like.
Also not a lens I use all that often, I would rather be saving/looking at a 135 f2 IS. If Tamron does a deal like they did recently on the 45 and 35 ($200 instant rebate) I'll probably jump on it.
I think the AF and IQ on both he Tamron and Sigma 85's is such that the Canon seems quite overpriced, even for a 1.4 with IS. But maybe it is actually really amazing IQ and the Bokeh examples are not representative of the lens. Either way I can easily live with f1.8 for 1/2 the price - or less.
If you're shooting at f/2 and already have the Tamron I wouldn't see a need to upgrade either if I was you.
I'm not sure exactly what it is that appeals to me about the 85 IS as the AF is already spot on when using my Sigma on the 6DII and sharpness is really impressive too. I think with the EX series of lenses, they were a lot sharper than they were credited for but due to their AF issues most people's copies never showed their true potential. I have a self enforced rule that I will never buy a Sigma lens online and will always test in store before buying.
