Digital Photographer - UK (2019-12)

Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L

IS USM

canon.co.uk

It’s the top choice for Canon

DSLRs if you’d prefer

stabilisation over the Sigma’s

marginally better image quality.

Overall

BUILD QUALITY

Excellent in all respects,

the solid build includes

weather seals and

fluorine coatings

Elements/

groups

14/10

Diaphragm

9 blades

Optical

stabiliser

Ye s

Autofocus

type

Ultrasonic

(ring)

Min focus

distance

0.85m

Max

magnification

ratio

0.12x

Mount

Canon EF

Filter size

77mm

Dimensions

89x105mm

Weight

950g

FEATURES

It’s rare to have the combination

of a fast f/1.4 aperture rating

with optical stabilisation

HANDLING

Handling is refined and

assured, stabilisation helping

under dull lighting conditions

VALUE FOR MONEY

Pricier than the

competing Sigma lens,

the Canon is a little less

expensive than the Nikon

QUALITY OF

RESULTS

It’s mostly fabulous,

although bokeh fringing can

be noticeable

Nikon AF-S 85mm

f/1.4G

nikon.co.uk

In many respects the Nikon

loses out to the competing

Sigma, but it has a more

manageable size and weight.

Overall

BUILD QUALITY

The Nikon doesn’t feel

as finely crafted as the

Canon and Sigma lenses,

but it’s not far behind

Elements/

groups

10/9

Diaphragm

9 blades

Optical

stabiliser

None

Autofocus

type

Ultrasonic

(ring)

Min focus

distance

0.85m

Max

magnification

ratio

0.12x

Mount

Nikon FX

Filter size

77mm

Dimensions

87x84mm

Weight

595g

FEATURES

There aren’t many features,

but there’s good glass and

nano-structure coating

HANDLING

The main plus for handling

is that the build is

compact and lightweight

VALUE FOR MONEY

Considering there are fewer

optical elements and no

stabiliser, it’s not great value

at the price

QUALITY OF

RESULTS

Sharpness at f/1.4 isn’t as

good as other lenses, and

bokeh isn’t as smooth

Sigma 85mm f/1.4

DG HSM

sigma-imaging-uk.com

This Sigma Art lens delivers

absolutely sumptuous image

quality and gives a superb all-

round performance.

Overall

BUILD QUALITY

Immaculately

engineered, the Sigma

feels rock-solid and

utterly dependable

Elements/

groups

14/12

Diaphragm

9 blades

Optical

stabiliser

None

Autofocus type

Ultrasonic (ring)

Min focus

distance

0.85m

Max

magnification

ratio

0.12x

Mount

Canon EF, Nikon

FX, Sigma, Sony

FE, Leica L

Filter size

86mm

Dimensions

95x126mm

Weight

1,130g

FEATURES

There’s no stabilisation, but

all the other features you’d

want are present and correct

HANDLING

Although it’s relatively big and

heavy, handling is superb for

autofocus and manual focus

VALUE FOR MONEY

Considering its build quality

and performance, this lens is

outstanding value, especially

in the UK

QUALITY OF

RESULTS

The Sigma beats the other

lenses on test for sharpness,

and delivers beautiful bokeh

Tamron SP 85mm f/1.8

Di VC USD

tamron.co.uk

BUILD QUALITY

Build quality is much

better than in most

camera makers’ own-

brand 85mm f/1.8 lenses

Elements/

groups

13/9

Diaphragm

9 blades

Optical

stabiliser

Ye s

Autofocus

type

Ultrasonic (ring)

Min focus

distance

0.8m

Max

magnification

ratio

0.14x

Mount

Canon EF,

Nikon FX

Filter size

67mm

Dimensions

85x91mm

Weight

700g

FEATURES

The Tamron lacks a fast f/1.4

aperture rating but isn’t much

slower, and adds stabilisation

HANDLING

Everything works with smooth

precision, from the autofocus

system to stabilisation

VALUE FOR MONEY

The Tamron is pretty pricey

for an 85mm f/1.8 lens, but

the up-market build makes

it great value

QUALITY OF

RESULTS

Wide-open sharpness isn’t a

match for the Canon and Sigma

lenses, but bokeh is smooth

Not to be confused with

‘budget’ f/1.8 prime lenses,

this is a serious contender that

packs a punch.

Overall

REVIEWS

Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L

IS USM

canon.co.uk

It’s the top choice for Canon

DSLRs if you’d prefer

stabilisation over the Sigma’s

marginally better image quality.

Overall

BUILDQUALITY

Excellentinallrespects,

thesolidbuildincludes

weathersealsand

fluorinecoatings

Elements/

groups

14/10

Diaphragm

9 blades

Optical

stabiliser

Ye s

Autofocus

type

Ultrasonic

(ring)

Min focus

distance

0.85m

Max

magnification

ratio

0.12x

Mount

Canon EF

Filter size

77mm

Dimensions

89x105mm

Weight

950g

FEATURES

It’s rare to have the combination

of a fast f/1.4 aperture rating

with optical stabilisation

HANDLING

Handling is refined and

assured, stabilisation helping

under dull lighting conditions

VALUE FOR MONEY

Pricier than the

competing Sigma lens,

the Canon is a little less

expensive than the Nikon

QUALITY OF

RESULTS

It’s mostly fabulous,

although bokeh fringing can

be noticeable

Nikon AF-S 85mm

f/1.4G

nikon.co.uk

In many respects the Nikon

loses out to the competing

Sigma, but it has a more

manageable size and weight.

Overall

BUILD QUALITY

The Nikon doesn’t feel

as finely crafted as the

Canon and Sigma lenses,

but it’s not far behind

Elements/

groups

10/9

Diaphragm

9 blades

Optical

stabiliser

None

Autofocus

type

Ultrasonic

(ring)

Min focus

distance

0.85m

Max

magnification

ratio

0.12x

Mount

Nikon FX

Filter size

77mm

Dimensions

87x84mm

Weight

595g

FEATURES

There aren’t many features,

but there’s good glass and

nano-structure coating

HANDLING

The main plus for handling

is that the build is

compact and lightweight

VALUE FOR MONEY

Considering there are fewer

optical elements and no

stabiliser, it’s not great value

at the price

QUALITY OF

RESULTS

Sharpness at f/1.4 isn’t as

good as other lenses, and

bokeh isn’t as smooth

Sigma85mm f/1.4

DG HSM

sigma-imaging-uk.com

ThisSigmaArt lens delivers

absolutelysumptuous image

qualityandgives a superb all-

roundperformance.

Overall

BUILD QUALITY

Immaculately

engineered, the Sigma

feels rock-solid and

utterly dependable

Elements/

groups

14/12

Diaphragm

9 blades

Optical

stabiliser

None

Autofocustype

Ultrasonic(ring)

Minfocus

distance

0.85m

Max

magnification

ratio

0.12x

Mount

CanonEF,Nikon

FX,Sigma,Sony

FE,LeicaL

Filtersize

86mm

Dimensions

95x126mm

Weight

1,130g

FEATURES

There’s no stabilisation, but

all the other features you’d

want are present and correct

HANDLING

Although it’s relatively big and

heavy, handling is superb for

autofocus and manual focus

VALUE FOR MONEY

Considering its build quality

and performance, this lens is

outstanding value, especially

inthe UK

QUALITY OF

RESULTS

The Sigma beats the other

lenses on test for sharpness,

and delivers beautiful bokeh

Tamron SP 85mm f/1.8

Di VC USD

tamron.co.uk

BUILD QUALITY

Build quality is much

better than in most

camera makers’ own-

brand 85mm f/1.8 lenses

Elements/

groups

13/9

Diaphragm

9 blades

Optical

stabiliser

Ye s

Autofocus

type

Ultrasonic (ring)

Min focus

distance

0.8m

Max

magnification

ratio

0.14x

Mount

Canon EF,

Nikon FX

Filter size

67mm

Dimensions

85x91mm

Weight

700g

FEATURES

The Tamron lacks a fast f/1.4

aperture rating but isn’t much

slower, and adds stabilisation

HANDLING

Everything works with smooth

precision, from the autofocus

system to stabilisation

VALUE FOR MONEY

The Tamron is pretty pricey

for an 85mm f/1.8 lens, but

the up-market build makes

it great value

QUALITY OF

RESULTS

Wide-open sharpness isn’t a

match for the Canon and Sigma

lenses, but bokeh is smooth

Not to be confused with

‘budget’ f/1.8 prime lenses,

this is a serious contender that

packs a punch.

Overall

REVIEWS