1.4 vs 1.8 at 85mm

Hodders

Hodders

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Ben
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I'm looking to buy a 85mm prime for portrait use. The two options that are affordable are the canon 1.8 and the sigma 1.4.

The main question I have is in terms of the bokeh and dof. Has anyone got a couple of shots they can show me illustrating the difference between 1.8 and 1.4 in terms of bokeh and dof at these apertures ?

Ideally the same shot at the two apertures....
 
Not quite what you were looking for but I was reading a comparison of the Canon 1.8 and 1.2 models with the Nikon and Sigma 1.4s in the Italian FotoCult magazine while over on holiday. If my dodgy transalations are right, the Sigma is very highly regarded. It (and the new Nikon) are both highly praised for contrast and brightness(?) although the test shots from the Nikon don't look anywhere near as good as those from the Sigma (could be the printing though). The Canon 1.2 just about gets a positive recommendation but the reviewers clearly rated the new designs of the Sigma and Nikon highly. The Canon 1.8 wins on value but is noticeably the poorest performer. The bokeh section is quite small but ratings align with price - Canon 1.2 is a clear winner wide open, followed by the Nikon, then Sigma, then Canon 1.8. But the review says that by f2.8 all perform pretty much in line bokeh-wise. They sum up with something along the lines of the Sigma competing with the Canon 1.8 by having better optics and build quality that offset the price differential.
 
I've found some cracking reviews of the Sigma, but I would be very curious to see what the effect of 1.8 vs 1.4 is on a background say 5 feet behind a subject 5 feet away - how much extra 'blur' do you get on the BG ?
 
Can't comment on the comparison but it's interesting how the 50mm and 85mm have Sigma and Canon in competition with Sigma coming out on top (although the lenses are more expensive!)
 
Consider a 2nd hand Carl Zeiss 85mm 1.4 too,if you can find one,and don't mind focussing manually

Mmmm love primes!!
 
Digital_Clarity said:
Can't comment on the comparison but it's interesting how the 50mm and 85mm have Sigma and Canon in competition with Sigma coming out on top (although the lenses are more expensive!)
Click to expand...

It's just good targeted marketing from Sigma - pick somewhere that Canon are weak at (or haven't updated for Yonks) and release something against it.

EF50mm 1.4 - released june 1993, EF85mm f.1.8 released july 1992 - they're basically both lenses for the old Film EOS range. Not to say that they're bad, necessarily - but in both cases Canon can't release an update without putting a crimp in the sales of their own hyper-expensive (relatively) L versions.

If Sigmas QC was as good as it's marketing, I'd have one of each on order tonight :lol:
 
I haven't used the Sigma lens but the Canon 85 1.8 is a fantastic lens and known as one of Canon's very best. It is far cheaper than the Sigma (especially used) and to be honest I think you would see very little in terms of DOF between the two.

Bokeh on the Canon was also excellent although the Canon 85mm 1.4 was on an even higher level - as it should be for the money!
 
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