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Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM Review

Smeggypants
Posted 19/04/2011 - 18:35 Link
[i]Bodies: 1x K-5IIs, 2x K-5, Sony TX-5, Nokia 808
Lenses: Pentax DA 10-17mm ED(IF) Fish Eye, Pentax DA 14mm f/2.8, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8, Pentax-A 28mm f/2.8, Sigma 30mm F1.4 EX DC, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.2, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.4, Pentax-FA 50mm f/1.4, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.7, Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8, Sigma 135-400mm APO DG, and more ..
Flash: AF-540FGZ, Vivitar 283
Edited by Smeggypants: 19/04/2011 - 18:36
Dangermouse
Posted 19/04/2011 - 19:15 Link
I wouldn't mind seeing how it compares to the Samyang 85mm. It will inevitably be better, but I'm intrigued whether it will be 4x as good as well as 4x the price!
Matt

Shooting the Welsh Wilderness with K-m, KX, MX, ME Super and assorted lenses.
Smeggypants
Posted 19/04/2011 - 19:38 Link
Law of diminishing returns
[i]Bodies: 1x K-5IIs, 2x K-5, Sony TX-5, Nokia 808
Lenses: Pentax DA 10-17mm ED(IF) Fish Eye, Pentax DA 14mm f/2.8, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8, Pentax-A 28mm f/2.8, Sigma 30mm F1.4 EX DC, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.2, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.4, Pentax-FA 50mm f/1.4, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.7, Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8, Sigma 135-400mm APO DG, and more ..
Flash: AF-540FGZ, Vivitar 283
Cayman
Posted 19/04/2011 - 20:21 Link
They tested a portrait lens without actually taking a portrait????
Posted 19/04/2011 - 22:33 Link
Cayman wrote:
They tested a portrait lens without actually taking a portrait????

It does seem strange.
Dangermouse wrote:
I wouldn't mind seeing how it compares to the Samyang 85mm. It will inevitably be better, but I'm intrigued whether it will be 4x as good as well as 4x the price!

Well AP did do a comparison test between the Samyang and the Nikon, and it was so close, they really could'nt split them (the Nikon won, only because of the AF)
However, as dangermouse said, its the law of dimishing returns (like most things). So, if you are happy with MF, then the Samyang will be a great lens. But if you don't trust your eyes (like a glasses wearer like me) then the Sigma makes more sense, albeit a more expensive sense.

Ultimately it is nice to see that you can get two 85mm F1.4 lenses for the Pentax mount. It is a shame they don't still make the FA* 85mm, but I would be very happy that the Sigma runs the mighty FA* really close, and in certain aspects, exceeds it.
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Don
Posted 19/04/2011 - 22:41 Link
Offertonhatter wrote:
Cayman wrote:
They tested a portrait lens without actually taking a portrait????

It does seem strange.
Dangermouse wrote:
I wouldn't mind seeing how it compares to the Samyang 85mm. It will inevitably be better, but I'm intrigued whether it will be 4x as good as well as 4x the price!

Well AP did do a comparison test between the Samyang and the Nikon, and it was so close, they really could'nt split them (the Nikon won, only because of the AF)
However, as dangermouse said, its the law of dimishing returns (like most things). So, if you are happy with MF, then the Samyang will be a great lens. But if you don't trust your eyes (like a glasses wearer like me) then the Sigma makes more sense, albeit a more expensive sense.

Ultimately it is nice to see that you can get two 85mm F1.4 lenses for the Pentax mount. It is a shame they don't still make the FA* 85mm, in an all plastic body and plastic mount, using the same optics ,but labelled as a DA lens, and sell it $325.00 Canadian...., but I would be very happy that the Sigma runs the mighty FA* really close, and in certain aspects, exceeds it.

fixed it for you.....
Fired many shots. Didn't kill anything.
Dangermouse
Posted 19/04/2011 - 22:51 Link
It's actually three 85/1.4s, although only two are AF.

I find the Samyang dead easy to focus, the depth of field is so narrow and the viewfinder so bright that you can often find focus when the camera's AF struggles and fails to lock on. That said I do struggle when the subject lacks contrast or is poorly lit.

IIRC that AP test drew some comment along the lines of "How come the Nikon won even though in all the scientific tests the Samyang was right behind it at a quarter of the price?"
Matt

Shooting the Welsh Wilderness with K-m, KX, MX, ME Super and assorted lenses.
Edited by Dangermouse: 19/04/2011 - 23:02
Posted 19/04/2011 - 22:52 Link
LOL Don!
Some Cameras
Posted 19/04/2011 - 22:53 Link
Dangermouse wrote:
It's actually three 85/1.4s, although only two are AF.

I find the Samyang dead easy to focus, the depth of field is so narrow and the viewfinder so bright that you can often find focus when the camera's AF struggles and fails to lock on. That said I do struggle when the subject lacks contrast or is poorly lit.

whats the third new one? Samyang, Sigma and?

Edit, sorry, I now see, the FA*, but that not new, and trying to find one is difficult. Unless there is a third new one
Some Cameras
Edited by Offertonhatter: 19/04/2011 - 22:55
Dangermouse
Posted 19/04/2011 - 23:04 Link
Ahh, oops, I thought the FA* was still in production! :lol

I am a bit surprised they don't make something like a 90mm f1.4 now though - it'd be roughly equivalent to the classic 135mm on 35mm film.
Matt

Shooting the Welsh Wilderness with K-m, KX, MX, ME Super and assorted lenses.
Posted 19/04/2011 - 23:31 Link
Oooh stop me drooling! I would love a 90mm F1.4
Some Cameras
Smeggypants
Posted 20/04/2011 - 22:57 Link
I'd like a 300mm 1.4
[i]Bodies: 1x K-5IIs, 2x K-5, Sony TX-5, Nokia 808
Lenses: Pentax DA 10-17mm ED(IF) Fish Eye, Pentax DA 14mm f/2.8, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8, Pentax-A 28mm f/2.8, Sigma 30mm F1.4 EX DC, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.2, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.4, Pentax-FA 50mm f/1.4, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.7, Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8, Sigma 135-400mm APO DG, and more ..
Flash: AF-540FGZ, Vivitar 283
karma mechanic
Posted 21/04/2011 - 08:32 Link
Smeggypants wrote:
I'd like a 300mm 1.4

I guess that one comes with some sort of trolley to move it around, and a special magnifying glass to determine whether the subject is in the millimetre of sharp focus
My own website is www.richardgaddphotography.com

Also on 500px
sorted78
Posted 21/04/2011 - 09:33 Link
Quote:
I would be very happy that the Sigma runs the mighty FA* really close, and in certain aspects, exceeds it.

I think it's quite a tribute to Pentax's lens designers that even after the advances in technology of nearly 20 years, the FA* still holds its own. Perhaps even more remarkable is the fact that some of the Takumar and SMC-K series designs still hold up pretty well.
MrCynical
Posted 22/04/2011 - 21:49 Link
Offertonhatter wrote:
Cayman wrote:
They tested a portrait lens without actually taking a portrait????


This is the site which reviewed the 18-135 superzoom (or semi-superzoom, perhaps) without once mentioning the biggest 'issue' regarding such lenses i.e. barrel distortion.

The review wrote:
The Pentax FA* 85mm F1.4 [IF] is also known for its tendency to fringing, but the Sigma is slightly worse.

In my opinion the 100% crops they offer (of the palm trees) don't actually show that: the Sigma has retained some of the original colour in leaves which are completely purple in the FA* sample.

In short, this review only reinforces my growing impression that these PF reviews are of very little value. Is an 85mm prime really a sport lens, for example? I know that 'every lens is what the photographer makes of it', but to actually recommend it for such use strikes me as very odd. But then I'm not a sport photographer
Edited by MrCynical: 22/04/2011 - 21:49

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