For Sony A7R IV - Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN or Sony 135mm F1.8 GM

[Manzur Fahim]

Hello everyone,

Hope you are well and safe. COVID is on the rise again, and is worse this time

I was wondering if anyone here used / have both the Sigma 85mm DG DN and the Sony 135mm GM, and can share their experience? I have the DG DN, but I never tried the 135mm GM. What I want to know is how well does the 135mm resolve details with A7R IV? Is it better or worse than the Sigma 85mm DG DN?

All I want to know is about the sharpness, detail resolving power, bokeh etc. in comparison with the Sigma 85mm DG DN. Price, focal length difference, lack of F1.4 etc. doesn't matter.

Many thanks in advance.

 

[Jeff2013]

I have both. The Sigma is outstanding, but zooming in to details reveals that the GM is noticeably sharper, still (on the A7RIV). Bokeh quality is similar. The GM 135 is an amazing lens.

--
Jeff
Florida, USA
http://www.gr8photography.com

 

[Manzur Fahim]

I have both. The Sigma is outstanding, but zooming in to details reveals that the GM is noticeably sharper, still (on the A7RIV). Bokeh quality is similar. The GM 135 is an amazing lens.

Thank you very much Jeff, that is good to know. I suspected as such. GM got some amazing reviews, I will probably get the GM and sell the Sigma. I just hope I can manage to use 135mm and not run into tight spaces.

Have a great day!

 

[AlephNull]

I had the first Sigma Art 85mm, and at the time I was impressed with the detail (on a 36Mpixel sensor). I have not tried the newer version.

The Sony 135mm GM is, however, at another level. LensRentals measured 10 samples and reported it to be the sharpest lens they'd seen out of hundreds of models.

I got the 135 GM just after release, and I started using it on the A7RIII, where it produces a vast amount of detail. However, putting it on the A7RIV reveals even more detail, to the point where you can crop out a small part of a frame, blow it up, and see pixel-level sharpness.

I don't know if the Sigma can achieve that. Few lenses can. What I do know is that I am more than pleased with the 135 GM. :-D

As far as "I just hope I can manage to use 135mm and not run into tight spaces." goes - shoot outdoors - this lens works very well outside. Inside I mostly concentrate on details (it captures beautiful headshots.

 

[DuxX]

Both lens are fantastic portrait lens but keep in mind that 135mm is much much tighter than 85mm and if your intention is to shoot sometimes indoors portraits it's very possible that 135mm will be to long for that. My choice goes to 85mm but hey... how to resist that super creamy 135mm at f1.8!?!?

 

[panther fan]

Hello everyone,

Hope you are well and safe. COVID is on the rise again, and is worse this time

I was wondering if anyone here used / have both the Sigma 85mm DG DN and the Sony 135mm GM, and can share their experience? I have the DG DN, but I never tried the 135mm GM. What I want to know is how well does the 135mm resolve details with A7R IV? Is it better or worse than the Sigma 85mm DG DN?

All I want to know is about the sharpness, detail resolving power, bokeh etc. in comparison with the Sigma 85mm DG DN. Price, focal length difference, lack of F1.4 etc. doesn't matter.

Many thanks in advance.

The 135mm is sharper, it also focuses quicker.

That said the biggest difference is the changed working distance and perspective. Forget about using the 135 indoor

 

[jan pawlak]

Hello everyone,

Hope you are well and safe. COVID is on the rise again, and is worse this time

I was wondering if anyone here used / have both the Sigma 85mm DG DN and the Sony 135mm GM, and can share their experience? I have the DG DN, but I never tried the 135mm GM. What I want to know is how well does the 135mm resolve details with A7R IV? Is it better or worse than the Sigma 85mm DG DN?

All I want to know is about the sharpness, detail resolving power, bokeh etc. in comparison with the Sigma 85mm DG DN. Price, focal length difference, lack of F1.4 etc. doesn't matter.

Many thanks in advance.

These are the same class of lenses, I have them both

The choice depends on what second lens you will be using and what you are mainly shooting.

On a trip I only take the FE 35mm connected to the A7R3 and 85mm F / 1.4 DG DN connected to the second A7R3

It should be even better with the A7R4

--
jan
https://public.fotki.com/janusz-pawlak/
https://www.dpreview.com/galleries/5184011425

 

[f1point4andbethere]

I was just using both on a shoot this week with my A1. They are both basically the same in sharpness. Mind you, they are both about the sharpest lenses I've ever used, so sharpness shouldn't be a deciding factor between them. Size and weight, I would take the 85DN without question. AF is great on both but I could see the 135 outpacing the DN for sports use.