New Sigma 85mm f1.4

Looks interesting, and its released in Pentax mount as well. LINK

They are releasing a few other lenses but they seem to be mainly older models that have been updated to include IS in the lens.

Don't forget FLD lens elements, don't know how effective they trully are though link

Are there already tests about if Sigma's lens OS is better then Pentax's build-in SR?

I'm fairly sure that Sigma (though it might have been Tamron) released one of their OS standard zooms in Pentax mount, but I'm not aware of any comparisons online.

As regards the original topic, my only questions regarding this lens are likely to be 'how much?' (this, I suspect, will be the unfortunate sticking point) and 'are the HSM motors being made in a different factory from the ones in the 50 1.4?'

Plus an 8-16mm (!)

On the point of IS, what on earth is the point of IS'ing the Bigma? It isn't as if something of that weight can be handheld anyway.

More generally, it seems that the 'FLD' name for their new elements really does expand to 'F Low Dispersion' in the sense of 'F is better than E'. That is absolute genius

it only weighs 1.7 kilos, I hand hold my Tamron 300 f/2.8 all the time and that's more like 2.1.

a bigma with OS would be easily hand holdable IMO. Of course even with OS you'll still need fairly good light.

I ALWAYS use my Bigma handheld, I have done airshows, cars, speedboats, birds and numerous other things with the lens and have never used a tripod.

The built in IS is for the Nikon/Canon crowd I suspect .. Nikon users moan that they have nothing like the Canon 100-400mm L lens which has built in IS and if its good enough IQ wise it will take that part of the market (and Canons lens) in an instant.

[quote:3496ace15f="Mike-P]
The built in IS is for the Nikon/Canon crowd I suspect .. Nikon users moan that they have nothing like the Canon 100-400mm L lens which has built in IS and if its good enough IQ wise it will take that part of the market (and Canons lens) in an instant.[/quote]Doesn't have to be, Sigma is bringing out OS lenses for the Pentax mount lately I would not be surprised some of these if not all have OS as well even for the Pentax.

Doesn't have to be, Sigma is bringing out OS lenses for the Pentax mount lately I would not be surprised some of these if not all have OS as well even for the Pentax.[/quote]I have no doubt the Pentax versions will have built in OS Stefan but the Canon and Nikon users have no inbody IS so having a cheaper option to the L glass prices of the 70-200mm f2.8 and 50-500mm range will be very popular with them. Can you imagine a Canon 7D with its 18MP teamed up woth a 50-500mm OS lens. Nice.

I've always wondered why Sigma didn't have an 85 in their line up.

If the 85mm performs as well as their 50mm f1.4 it'll be very interesting indeed. Dependant on the price of course. I paid more for a Sigma 50 than the manufacturers equivalent, I'm not prepared to do that for the higher priced 85's.

I hope they continue to develop fast primes. A 105mm f1.8 or 135mm f2 would be a welcome addition.

In FF perhaps those lengths are good but the 85 is good for crop sensor and I might be tempted but as always the payoff is the size. The Pentax 70 is so sweet and at f2.4 not too slow.

and if it was there is also the FA 77mm f/1.8, it really depends on the budget and how good the sigma 85mm is would it be come interesting.

Just so long as it isn't made as well as the 50 - ie not very well at all

Compared to ?

It's certainly far better built than the other modern 50's I've owned (Pentax FA f1.4 & Nikon f1.8 )

Now that I have seen the announcement, it is indeed a lens I am very interested in. Having trawled through the web for a SMC-FA* 85mm F1.4 without success (only once on sale, on ebay, at over £1000 18months ago). I even got my mate, a BA pilot, when he went to Tokyo, to see if any example was available - not one!
So, now that Sigma have announced this lens, it could be the one to go for, especially as I do a lot of portraits. If the Sigma 30mm and 50mm reviews are anything to go by (ie excellent) this will be one hell of a lens.

So Chris at SRS, have you any idea of what this lens will cost and when will you have them in?

Now, the next question is, now that Sigma are bringing out primes in the wide to short tele range, what odds are there for a 135mm F2 with OS and HSM? This would be another one I would love to have (even with my mighty 50-135mm in the bag) as it seems that pentax are not interested in bringing out a prime in this focal length (much as we would love a DA* 135mm F2 or 2.5)

From reading other forums I think the 85mm f1.4 could be a real winner for Sigma if it's as good as everyone expects. Even the Canon and Nikon crowd are interested in it.