Sigma 105mm f/1.4 Art Field Test: Fast portrait prime delivers great performance
posted Monday, January 7, 2019 at 3:30 PM EDT
Click here to read our Sigma 105mm f/1.4 Art Field Test
A 105mm focal length and a maximum aperture of f/1.4 is a compelling combination. It is also a demanding one with respect to physical dimensions in the case of the new Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art lens. The full-frame portrait prime is a massive lens weighing over 3.6 pounds (1.6 kilograms) with a 105mm front element. It's a beastly lens and after my hands-on time with it, I came away impressed with its quality in terms of build and optics, but also with reservations about its overall utility within different types of workflows.
It is challenging to work with a lens as heavy as the Sigma 105mm, and it is also hard to take full advantage of its f/1.4 aperture because the depth of field is razor thin. With that said, even as you stop down a bit, the lens delivers outstanding bokeh and creates pleasing images. When you are able to capture your subject in focus, the Sigma 105mm, even at f/1.4, delivers very sharp photographs.
While it may not be the perfect lens for every scenario, it is certainly a capable lens and one which will fit very well into the kits of many photographers, although you may need to make a bit of room in your bag for this behemoth. To learn more about our real-world experiences with the Sigma 105mm f/1.4 Art, read our Field Test.