Toronto Photography Meetup Group

Just curious if anyone owns or have experience with this lens?

Quite tempted to get this

Actually, does anyone know if I purchase the Sigma 85/1.4 from say Adorama/B&H. Does the warranty/calibration service etc extend to Canada?

I don't own one but was debating the same thing. It's going for $899US and Henry's/Vistek are selling it for 1150 here. I looked around the web on the Sigma warranty and don't quote me on this but I've read in a couple of places that if you buy it out of Canada, Gentec will look at it for the 1 year international warranty but they will charge you $50 for a handling fee.

No it does not. for the difference of a couple of hundred buck just makes sense to pay for the warantee here. It is 10 years.

As for the quality of the lens. I do not know.

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I personally would get the Canon 85L mark 1 or Nikon 85D over this.

85mm mkI is too sluggish for my liking. Its definitely nice glass but AF is slooowww.


Sigma looks very very interesting though.

I am currently using a Sigma 24-70 2.8 EX USM lens (the newest model). I can tell you this is a nice lens. Do not sell it short. Fast quiet and nice glass.

I agree, the Canon offerings for 85L mk I or II - the AF is a bit too slow for me.

Saw this review on the bokeh comparison against the 85L:

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/948986/0

LOL see the Stewie Griffin football bokeh!

Even stopped down to 2.8 it looks very impressive!

This may well be my first third party lens in a long time. $900usd is a steal! But I think I will buy it from Canada to get the 10 year warranty.

Also didn't see any reported issues by users on other forums (yet) around the stopping down focus shifting that some Sigma 50 1.4's ran into.

If you do pull the trigger let us know what you think.

Waiting for Aden Camera to stock this (to hopefully save some cash). Called them up yesterday and they currently don't have it in their system yet.

They do carry Sigma products. Wondering if they are Sigma authorized in order to claim for 10 years of warranty on this EX lens.

@foggy purchased a 30mm 1.4 Sigma at Aden that needed servicing. I assume that Aden is authorized as I had no problems from Gentec (the authorized Sigma servicing place).

Awesome thanks for the info!

Picked up a copy of the Sigma 85 1.4 for Canon mount today.

Mounted it on a 5D2 for testing.

The build is quite impressive. The AF is silent, not too bad speeds. Slightly slower than the Canon USMs but nothing to worry about and 10 years warranty!

My copy ended up with a MF adjustment of +7 on a Lens Align lite.

Bokeh is well shaped. Purple fringing is not bad. Colours are pretty good. Except I find an exposure difference of around a third of a stop underexposed when comparing against a 100L @ 2.8 same shutter/aper/iso.

Shooting wide open the sharpness is ok, edges are not bad.

I bought this to replace my 100L but I'm not sure yet. I will give it a couple days. I think overall this lens is pretty good but I think I have been spoiled with the performances of the 35L 100L 135L that I own.

Althought I never owned an 85L but I have rented it before.
I may just spend 2x the cost to get an 85L - extremely super sharp center and lower edge resolution that don't matter to me in in portraits.

Thanks for the mini review Foggy. Guess I'll be holding on to my 85L.

Someone did up a review on the Sigma 85mm f1.4 here:

http://www.slrgear.com/reviews/showprod ... 331/cat/30

Figured I'd followup on here:

I returned the Sigma 85 and bought the 85L right after.

I've seen many posts and reviews comparing the 2x cost and performance of the 85L vs the Sigma 85.

The Sigma 85 is a good lens, but is the 85L 2x better than the Sigma? No.

But in my opinon it is still an optically superior lens, enough to warrant my actions above.

I tried the Sigma 85 at Henry's. Good built but I'm a lot happier with my 85L ii.

I just bought one and shot two events within 8 hours.

I love it.

It's true its not as awesome as the Canon 85mm mkII but bear in mind it also costs alot less but offers quite a bit for its price.

I shoot a 7D.

My copy is dead on sharp, no need to adjust.

I also find it much lighter and easier to handle on my 7D (no grip) and a very solid lens.

Image quality, yes there is purple fringing at extreme situations but I can live with it. Very contrasty.

AF is faster than the 85mm f1.2L mkII but not as fast as I would like it to be....but I'm greedy.

IMG_3738 by VA-photography, on Flickr


IMG_3157 by VA-photography, on Flickr


IMG_3261 by VA-photography, on Flickr

so, overall isn't it more comparable to Canon 85mm 1.8 rather than the L?

The 1.8 has very very dirty flare and CA. Plus not as contrasty.

The 1.8 doesn't perform well wide open compared to the Sigma's 1.4