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Sigma 135mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art Lens - Sony E-Mount
Sigma 135mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art Lens - Sony E-Mount
Sigma 135mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art Lens - Sony E-Mount
Sigma 135mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art Lens - Sony E-Mount
Sigma 135mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art Lens - Sony E-Mount
Sigma 135mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art Lens - Sony E-Mount
Sigma 135mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art Lens - Sony E-Mount
Sigma 135mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art Lens - Sony E-Mount
Sigma 135mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art Lens - Sony E-Mount
Sigma 135mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art Lens - Sony E-Mount
Sigma 135mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art Lens - Sony E-Mount
Sigma 135mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art Lens - Sony E-Mount
Sigma 135mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art Lens - Sony E-Mount

Sigma 135mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art Lens - Sony E-Mount

$999.00

(293 reviews)

Equip your Sony E-mount camera with the Sigma 135mm f1.8 DG HSM Art Lens and click close-up shots with absolute ease. The optical design of this telephoto prime lens contains 13 elements in 10 groups which include two FLD and two SLD elements to combat chromatic aberrations and color fringing. Also the super multi-layer coating improves light transmission so there is minimal ghosting and lens flare. The Hyper Sonic Motor delivers accurate focusing performance without making any noise. You may also manually override the autofocus setting by rotating the focus ring. Further a wide aperture of f1.8 and rounded 9-blade diaphragm create a shallow depth of field with a pleasing bokeh effect. Lastly this Sigma lens is built from a Thermally Stable Composite TSC material while the brass bayonet mount has a rubber sealing that resists dust and water splashes.

Equip your Sony E-mount camera with the Sigma 135mm f1.8 DG HSM Art Lens and click close-up shots with absolute ease. The optical design of this telephoto prime lens contains 13 elements in 10 groups which include two FLD and two SLD elements to combat chromatic aberrations and color fringing. Also the super multi-layer coating improves light transmission so there is minimal ghosting and lens flare. The Hyper Sonic Motor delivers accurate focusing performance without making any noise. You may also manually override the autofocus setting by rotating the focus ring. Further a wide aperture of f1.8 and rounded 9-blade diaphragm create a shallow depth of field with a pleasing bokeh effect. Lastly this Sigma lens is built from a Thermally Stable Composite TSC material while the brass bayonet mount has a rubber sealing that resists dust and water splashes.

Sigma 135mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art Lens - Sony E-Mount

(293 reviews)

Equip your Sony E-mount camera with the Sigma 135mm f1.8 DG HSM Art Lens and click close-up shots with absolute ease. The optical design of this telephoto prime lens contains 13 elements in 10 groups which include two FLD and two SLD elements to combat chromatic aberrations and color fringing. Also the super multi-layer coating improves light transmission so there is minimal ghosting and lens flare. The Hyper Sonic Motor delivers accurate focusing performance without making any noise. You may also manually override the autofocus setting by rotating the focus ring. Further a wide aperture of f1.8 and rounded 9-blade diaphragm create a shallow depth of field with a pleasing bokeh effect. Lastly this Sigma lens is built from a Thermally Stable Composite TSC material while the brass bayonet mount has a rubber sealing that resists dust and water splashes.

Equip your Sony E-mount camera with the Sigma 135mm f1.8 DG HSM Art Lens and click close-up shots with absolute ease. The optical design of this telephoto prime lens contains 13 elements in 10 groups which include two FLD and two SLD elements to combat chromatic aberrations and color fringing. Also the super multi-layer coating improves light transmission so there is minimal ghosting and lens flare. The Hyper Sonic Motor delivers accurate focusing performance without making any noise. You may also manually override the autofocus setting by rotating the focus ring. Further a wide aperture of f1.8 and rounded 9-blade diaphragm create a shallow depth of field with a pleasing bokeh effect. Lastly this Sigma lens is built from a Thermally Stable Composite TSC material while the brass bayonet mount has a rubber sealing that resists dust and water splashes.

$999.00 - $2,039.00

in 17 offers

The lowest price for Sigma 135mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art Lens - Sony E-Mount right now is $999.00 at eBay.com.au, compared across 7 retailers.

The all-time low was $587.00 on 6 May 2026 — today's price is 70% above the lowest ever. It has been notably cheaper before — worth setting a price alert.

Prices last updated 20 June 2026.

Price comparison

Price data powered by pricesAPI.io

Last updated at 20/06/2026 19:00:58

Please note: price history and price alerts are not available for some stores, including Amazon.com.au.
eBay.com.au

$999.00

Sigma 135mm F/1.8 DG HSM Art Lens for Sony E

Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!

eBay.com.au

$999.00

Sigma 135mm F1.8 Dg Hsm Art Lens Sony Fe E-mount Full Frame Boxed

Delivery $15.50

Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!

eBay.com.au

$1,028.35

Sigma 135mm F/1.8 Dg Hsm Art (for Sony E Mount) 293

Free delivery

Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!

eBay.com.au

$1,049.77

Sigma 135mm F/1.8 Dg Hsm Art (for Sony E Mount) 300

Free delivery

Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!

eBay.com.au

$1,049.77

Sigma 135mm F/1.8 Dg Hsm Art (for Sony E Mount) 581

Free delivery

Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!

eBay.com.au

$1,061.15

Sigma 135mm F/1.8 Dg Hsm Art (for Sony E Mount) 229

Free delivery

Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!

eBay.com.au

$1,099.80

Sigma 135mm F/1.8 Dg Hsm Art (for Sony E Mount) 278

Free delivery

Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!

eBay.com.au

$1,145.30

Sigma 135mm F/1.8 Dg Hsm Art (for Sony E Mount) -near Mint- 208

Free delivery

Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!

eBay.com.au

$2,002.48

Sigma 135mm F1.8 Dg Hsm Art Sony E Mount Prime Lens For Full Frame

Free delivery

Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!

Ted's Cameras

$1,099.95

Sigma AF 135mm F1.8 DG HSM Art - Sony E | Secondhand

Free delivery

Price history

Price history

Please note: price history and price alerts are not available for some stores, including Amazon.com.au.

Reviews

A beast in multiple ways...!
20 November 2021Cyrus

originally posted on bhphotovideo.com

Absolutely love this beast for portraits! Very "creamy" bokeh, tack sharp when used correctly, and very sturdy. However, it is a slightly longer focal length and can perform "soft" on you if not shot correctly. You need to have your shutter speed at 1/135th of a second of faster to really insure that tack sharpness. Did a shoot last weekend and many of my shots were just under tack. I got down to 1/60th in my haste to let in more light at dusk and those shots suffered. Not noticeable to the average eye and my client loved them but a trained eye would agree that many of these are trash. In the end, hard to find another lens that would outperform this one for portraits or really any of the Sigma ART series ones so I highly recommend. Don't delay, buy today...!

Amazing Lens
13 September 2022Paul F.

originally posted on lensrentals.com

This lens was everything they said it would be and more. I used this for rodeo and animal photography. The lens is sharp, with a beautiful color rendition and at 1.8 the bokeh is fantastic, fast accurate focus on a D850.....like a whole arena full of faces disappears into a smooth swirl. Confession time: I bought a used copy before the rental period was over; I couldn't live without it.

An excellent lens for photographing children
2 March 2020Omprakash

originally posted on bhphotovideo.com

At this time of review, it is longest focal length lens with aperture 1.8 or less. It is indeed top choice for me to photograph children in outdoor.Pros1. Resolves images to the full potential of latest high resolution sensors. When using this lens and other 135 f2 lens on D850, you could see the difference.2. Bokeh. The blur in the background is really smooth and also gives you nice separation from subject. When you compare bokeh side by side it is better than 200mm f2.8.3. Focal length. Ideal length for outdoor child photography work.Cons1. Weight. For me it is heavy to carry and shoot for an hour. But for the image quality and results, it is worth carrying though.2. It sometimes hunt for focus when changing focus from subjects in far to subjects in ... MoreAt this time of review, it is longest focal length lens with aperture 1.8 or less. It is indeed top choice for me to photograph children in outdoor.Pros1. Resolves images to the full potential of latest high resolution sensors. When using this lens and other 135 f2 lens on D850, you could see the difference.2. Bokeh. The blur in the background is really smooth and also gives you nice separation from subject. When you compare bokeh side by side it is better than 200mm f2.8.3. Focal length. Ideal length for outdoor child photography work.Cons1. Weight. For me it is heavy to carry and shoot for an hour. But for the image quality and results, it is worth carrying though.2. It sometimes hunt for focus when changing focus from subjects in far to subjects in close. So you will have to remind yourself to use the focus limit buttons in these cases.My recommendation for buying.If you already have 70-200mm f 2.8 (with no focus breathing) Canon or Nikon, you can produce similar results with 200mm f2.8. For an event and fast family outdoor shots, just carrying constant 135mm focal length will limit your shots.For everyone else for shooting pets, kids, head-shots and whoever thrive for artistic touch in work, this is the lens you should seriously consider.

Specification

Focal Length135mm
Maximum Aperturef/1.8
Minimum Aperturef/16
Lens MountSony E
Lens Format CoverageFull-Frame

Price comparison

Updated 1 day ago
Please note: price history and price alerts are not available for some stores, including Amazon.com.au.
eBay.com.au

$999.00

Sigma 135mm F/1.8 DG HSM Art Lens for Sony E

Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!

eBay.com.au

$999.00

Sigma 135mm F1.8 Dg Hsm Art Lens Sony Fe E-mount Full Frame Boxed

Delivery $15.50

Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!

eBay.com.au

$1,028.35

Sigma 135mm F/1.8 Dg Hsm Art (for Sony E Mount) 293

Free delivery

Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!

eBay.com.au

$1,049.77

Sigma 135mm F/1.8 Dg Hsm Art (for Sony E Mount) 300

Free delivery

Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!

eBay.com.au

$1,049.77

Sigma 135mm F/1.8 Dg Hsm Art (for Sony E Mount) 581

Free delivery

Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!

Price history

Price history

Please note: price history and price alerts are not available for some stores, including Amazon.com.au.

Reviews

A beast in multiple ways...!
20 November 2021

Absolutely love this beast for portraits! Very "creamy" bokeh, tack sharp when used correctly, and very sturdy. However, it is a slightly longer focal length and can perform "soft" on you if not shot correctly. You need to have your shutter speed at 1/135th of a second of faster to really insure that tack sharpness. Did a shoot last weekend and many of my shots were just under tack. I got down to 1/60th in my haste to let in more light at dusk and those shots suffered. Not noticeable to the average eye and my client loved them but a trained eye would agree that many of these are trash. In the end, hard to find another lens that would outperform this one for portraits or really any of the Sigma ART series ones so I highly recommend. Don't delay, buy today...!

Cyrus originally posted on bhphotovideo.com
Amazing Lens
13 September 2022

This lens was everything they said it would be and more. I used this for rodeo and animal photography. The lens is sharp, with a beautiful color rendition and at 1.8 the bokeh is fantastic, fast accurate focus on a D850.....like a whole arena full of faces disappears into a smooth swirl. Confession time: I bought a used copy before the rental period was over; I couldn't live without it.

Paul F. originally posted on lensrentals.com
An excellent lens for photographing children
2 March 2020

At this time of review, it is longest focal length lens with aperture 1.8 or less. It is indeed top choice for me to photograph children in outdoor.Pros1. Resolves images to the full potential of latest high resolution sensors. When using this lens and other 135 f2 lens on D850, you could see the difference.2. Bokeh. The blur in the background is really smooth and also gives you nice separation from subject. When you compare bokeh side by side it is better than 200mm f2.8.3. Focal length. Ideal length for outdoor child photography work.Cons1. Weight. For me it is heavy to carry and shoot for an hour. But for the image quality and results, it is worth carrying though.2. It sometimes hunt for focus when changing focus from subjects in far to subjects in ... MoreAt this time of review, it is longest focal length lens with aperture 1.8 or less. It is indeed top choice for me to photograph children in outdoor.Pros1. Resolves images to the full potential of latest high resolution sensors. When using this lens and other 135 f2 lens on D850, you could see the difference.2. Bokeh. The blur in the background is really smooth and also gives you nice separation from subject. When you compare bokeh side by side it is better than 200mm f2.8.3. Focal length. Ideal length for outdoor child photography work.Cons1. Weight. For me it is heavy to carry and shoot for an hour. But for the image quality and results, it is worth carrying though.2. It sometimes hunt for focus when changing focus from subjects in far to subjects in close. So you will have to remind yourself to use the focus limit buttons in these cases.My recommendation for buying.If you already have 70-200mm f 2.8 (with no focus breathing) Canon or Nikon, you can produce similar results with 200mm f2.8. For an event and fast family outdoor shots, just carrying constant 135mm focal length will limit your shots.For everyone else for shooting pets, kids, head-shots and whoever thrive for artistic touch in work, this is the lens you should seriously consider.

Omprakash originally posted on bhphotovideo.com
Great lens!!!
9 January 2020

Lets get it out of the way up front. Weight and size, the elephant in this particular room. The only drawback to this lens it that it IS the elephant. It is a massive thing. Gives new meaning to the term suffering for one's ART. But the payback is that it is massive in every other way as well.Yes, it somewhat goes without saying that the lens is fast with a max aperture of 1.8. But that does the Sigma little justice. Even wide open it is undeniably sharp across the entire frame. While I haven't done any comparison testing, my general impression is that this optic is just as sharp as the APO-Telyt-M, yet bests that lens by several stops. CA is well controlled, though no APO. Color fidelity excellent. In short, the optical performance simply can not be faulted even ... MoreLets get it out of the way up front. Weight and size, the elephant in this particular room. The only drawback to this lens it that it IS the elephant. It is a massive thing. Gives new meaning to the term suffering for one's ART. But the payback is that it is massive in every other way as well.Yes, it somewhat goes without saying that the lens is fast with a max aperture of 1.8. But that does the Sigma little justice. Even wide open it is undeniably sharp across the entire frame. While I haven't done any comparison testing, my general impression is that this optic is just as sharp as the APO-Telyt-M, yet bests that lens by several stops. CA is well controlled, though no APO. Color fidelity excellent. In short, the optical performance simply can not be faulted even by Leica standards. Unless and until Karbe ventures into designing a mid-tele Summicron, this lens is certainly king of the 135mm L-mount hill.While I tend to slightly prefer rendering of those new Leica Summicron-L primes, at 3x the cost, with the longest lens currently available being 90mm, this lenses not only competes well, but its the only option anyway. If your looking for a mid-telephoto for the SL2 there is no reason, other than physical fitness, to hesitate. It is a stellar optic.

ron originally posted on bhphotovideo.com
I couldn't ask any more of it
25 February 2020

Shot with this lens over a four day period on the Lumix S1. My subject matter consisted of Southwest US desert landscape images with incredibly dynamic light after a series of storms and a portrait session. I was blown away in both scenarios. The 135mm makes for a really great focal length for deeper landscape work. I shot detail work of the upper cliffs of a very craggy mountain in misty clouds with beautifully dynamic light from the setting sun. Impeccably sharp and all the details rendered beautifully. For the portrait shoot I shot every image wide open at 1.8. Every shot was dead on accurate focus wise, and the depth of field when combining foreground elements and wispy clouds in the background while keeping the subject in mid foreground was just dreamy. A very ... MoreShot with this lens over a four day period on the Lumix S1. My subject matter consisted of Southwest US desert landscape images with incredibly dynamic light after a series of storms and a portrait session. I was blown away in both scenarios. The 135mm makes for a really great focal length for deeper landscape work. I shot detail work of the upper cliffs of a very craggy mountain in misty clouds with beautifully dynamic light from the setting sun. Impeccably sharp and all the details rendered beautifully. For the portrait shoot I shot every image wide open at 1.8. Every shot was dead on accurate focus wise, and the depth of field when combining foreground elements and wispy clouds in the background while keeping the subject in mid foreground was just dreamy. A very pleasing bokeh. The best part about this lens though... and for the Sigma ART series is the color. The color characteristics are stellar.

Travis originally posted on bhphotovideo.com
Phenomenal portraits!
14 March 2022

By far the BEST prime I have ever used. I kept renting this lens to do portraits as favors to family and friends, as I am really just a landscape and abstract art photographer. I immediately became obsessed and kept renting it for other things as well. I waited for a few months for B&H to have it back in stock and jumped on it as soon as it was available! Soooo worth the wait! The bokeh of the is lens, even when not all the way open is creamy and dreamy! This is my second sigma art lens I've added to my arsenal, and as much as I loved my 20, this one is truly in a class by itself! Do yourself a favor if you are a portrait photographer, and get this lens! Your clients will truly be amazed!

Romi originally posted on bhphotovideo.com
Sharp as a tack and Fast as a bullet
14 April 2017

Upon initially attaching this lens to my camera I was pleasantly surprised by the build quality and by its lightness. I was worried after the first few test shots about the sharpness of the lens. After adjusting the focusing through the sigma dock I was pleasantly surprised by how amazingly sharp the lens became. The contrast native to the lens isn't as strong as what I was accustomed to from the Sigma 35mm Art lens but is still quite pleasant. The bokeh and bokeh-bubbles are smooth with little detail when shooting this lens wide open. The focus speed of this lens has me in awe. Using my canon 6D with the af-s focusing, I was able to focus on a fire engine coming straight at me going around 40-45 mph. All three of the photographs I took in that few seconds were ... MoreUpon initially attaching this lens to my camera I was pleasantly surprised by the build quality and by its lightness. I was worried after the first few test shots about the sharpness of the lens. After adjusting the focusing through the sigma dock I was pleasantly surprised by how amazingly sharp the lens became. The contrast native to the lens isn't as strong as what I was accustomed to from the Sigma 35mm Art lens but is still quite pleasant. The bokeh and bokeh-bubbles are smooth with little detail when shooting this lens wide open. The focus speed of this lens has me in awe. Using my canon 6D with the af-s focusing, I was able to focus on a fire engine coming straight at me going around 40-45 mph. All three of the photographs I took in that few seconds were crisp and focused, something I wouldn't be able to accomplish with other lenses. Having the option of zone focusing makes a huge difference as well. Using the full range of the focusing is still incredibly sharp. However, utilizing the zone focusing on the lens makes it noticeably faster. Having typically photographed portraits and weddings with the Sigma 35mm Art and the Sigma 50mm Art, I wanted something that had a different look to it. The compression yielded by this lens with it's 135mm focal length just feels good, especially in urban environments where I work. It gives the buildings in the background a slightly larger-than-life feel, which just feels good. I couldn't recommend this lens enough, it likely won't leave my camera body for the next few months at the least.

Brandon originally posted on bhphotovideo.com
Steller, a real gem
15 February 2021

Sigma 135 f/1.4 Canon mount on R6 via adaptor.I really do own this lens. I bought it from a friend going through some hard times and moving back home. Otherwise I would have bought it here.It is really really REALLY sharp. We've all read buy it, you won't be disappointed blah blah blah. I'm selling my 85 ART f1.4 after one wedding shoot with the 135.It isn't good, it's really unbelievable good. I've never seen images like this before.Back in my mean college days I'd almost want to dog this lens to keep my work above other's. But now i'm just a 42 year old retired real estate investor that helps a friend shoot weddings for fun. She's the pro, I'm just the 2nd shooter. She emailed me to tell me my pics were 'awesome'. I assume she was referring to the ones out ... MoreSigma 135 f/1.4 Canon mount on R6 via adaptor.I really do own this lens. I bought it from a friend going through some hard times and moving back home. Otherwise I would have bought it here.It is really really REALLY sharp. We've all read buy it, you won't be disappointed blah blah blah. I'm selling my 85 ART f1.4 after one wedding shoot with the 135.It isn't good, it's really unbelievable good. I've never seen images like this before.Back in my mean college days I'd almost want to dog this lens to keep my work above other's. But now i'm just a 42 year old retired real estate investor that helps a friend shoot weddings for fun. She's the pro, I'm just the 2nd shooter. She emailed me to tell me my pics were 'awesome'. I assume she was referring to the ones out of the 135 as most of them were (i'm able to use primes for risky arty pics while she has to use zooms to get all the standard stuff).Anyway, smaller and lighter than my 85mm f1.4. Works superb on my Canon R6 body by-way-of the cheapest EF-to-RF adaptor I could find (on here). Not that heavy, compared to the bigger 85mm.My R6 will stabilize it a little bit and will focus it better than the SLRs it was designed for. There should be zero difference in performance between this EF version than waiting year(s) for sigma to develop one with an RF mount, so no need to wait.

David originally posted on bhphotovideo.com
Third Sigma Prime in my kit
30 December 2022

This completes my collection of prime lenses. 20mm, 35mm, 85mm and 135mm. The last three are all Sigma art lenses. I love it so far. I have been shooting 135mm with an old canon screw mount, so I decided to upgrade. I'll use this for portrait and landscape. I like this focal length for landscape when the subject is far off or when I have a subject aligned with the moon or setting sun. it is a very sharp lens and obviously full of bokeh when open. The depth of field is terrifying! My only complaint is that it doesn't have an aperture ring. One of the things I like about old manual lenses is the depth of field scale. The focus distance is replicated in-camera so I don't find the feature very useful. Not sure why modern cameras can't calculate DOF and display it for ... MoreThis completes my collection of prime lenses. 20mm, 35mm, 85mm and 135mm. The last three are all Sigma art lenses. I love it so far. I have been shooting 135mm with an old canon screw mount, so I decided to upgrade. I'll use this for portrait and landscape. I like this focal length for landscape when the subject is far off or when I have a subject aligned with the moon or setting sun. it is a very sharp lens and obviously full of bokeh when open. The depth of field is terrifying! My only complaint is that it doesn't have an aperture ring. One of the things I like about old manual lenses is the depth of field scale. The focus distance is replicated in-camera so I don't find the feature very useful. Not sure why modern cameras can't calculate DOF and display it for you. It's a heavy lens too but it's a keeper and it was on sale for $300 off so after looking for a while I made up my mind to jump on it.

Ronald originally posted on bhphotovideo.com
Very good, but not a keeper for me
27 May 2017

For a while now I’ve been in the market for a new portrait lens, and when Sigma came out with the 135mm f/1.8 ART, I was intrigued because it’s a focal length I prefer over the 85s and 105s of the world. Online, reviewers raved about the sharpness and bokeh, so I had to give it a try. I knew a lens would have to really impress me to justify spending that much money, especially when compared to my reference lens -- my Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G VRII, which has been a stellar performer for more than seven years (and is even better after a recent tune-up from Nikon service).My initial experience was a bummer. The first copy had autofocus problems, which is exactly what I had feared. I was determined to give it a fair shake, though, so I sent it back and requested an ... MoreFor a while now I’ve been in the market for a new portrait lens, and when Sigma came out with the 135mm f/1.8 ART, I was intrigued because it’s a focal length I prefer over the 85s and 105s of the world. Online, reviewers raved about the sharpness and bokeh, so I had to give it a try. I knew a lens would have to really impress me to justify spending that much money, especially when compared to my reference lens -- my Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G VRII, which has been a stellar performer for more than seven years (and is even better after a recent tune-up from Nikon service).My initial experience was a bummer. The first copy had autofocus problems, which is exactly what I had feared. I was determined to give it a fair shake, though, so I sent it back and requested an exchange and got the Sigma USB dock along with it so I could calibrate it more thoroughly. Around the same time, I ordered a Nikon 105mm f/1.4 with the idea I would test it head-to-head against the Sigma’s replacement when it arrived. Long story short: After several days of testing and hand-wringing and several hundred images shots under varying conditions, I've decided to keep the Nikon even though the second copy of the Sigma was better than the first. It was a tough call, but for me it came down to autofocus capabilities. The Nikon was just more accurate and more consistent, and that's really important to me.SHARPNESS: Is it sharp? Absolutely. Crazy sharp. It has been hailed as the sharpest lens ever tested by some reviewers, and I would have to agree. It is sharp across the frame at 1.8 and only gets better. Advantage: Sigma.BOKEH: This, of course, is very subjective. In looking at photos some reviewers posted, I thought the Sigma was slightly more appealing (less fringing and outlining on the “bokeh balls”). In my testing, though, I found little to distinguish the two. Both lenses produce a “creamier,” much more appealing background than my 70-200, which I have always found to be a little “busy” in the bokeh department. Advantage: neither.AUTOFOCUS: This is where the rubber meets the road as far as I’m concerned. My replacement Sigma was better than the first one, and after fine-tuning with the Sigma USB dock, I thought the AF performance would be acceptable. I was disappointed. My testing consisted of shooting test charts using a tripod and camera timer; still-life arrangements; outdoor portraits both handheld and on tripods; and indoor portraits with studio lighting. I did not test either lens under extreme low-light conditions, like what you might encounter at a wedding or a concert. All shots were taken with my Nikon D750, which is the best-focusing camera I’ve ever owned.After shooting almost 500 images over the course of several days, I now estimate that the percentage of in-focus shots was between 75-80% for the Sigma and between 85-90% for the Nikon. (Why the estimate? Because I cannot totally account for errors due to my own technique, and I couldn’t tell if some out-of-focus shots were attributable to camera shake or front/back focus.) Is 75-80% good enough for you? Not me. Especially when the Sigma misses focus on a test chart with adequate contrast and detail in a brightly lit room, which it did multiple times, especially when using the outer focus points. I just don’t get that. Neither lens was as reliable as my 70-200, which regularly nails about 95% of shots.

JEFF originally posted on adorama.com

Specification

Focal Length135mm
Maximum Aperturef/1.8
Minimum Aperturef/16
Lens MountSony E
Lens Format CoverageFull-Frame

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