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Sigma 135mm f/1.4 DG | Art: One-minute evaluation
The Sigma 135mm f/1.4 DG | A (2025) builds on the now 9 yr previous Sigma Art 135mm f/1.8 DG HSM. So with almost a decade of technicological and optical developments, how does Sigma’s newest cutting-edge 135mm prime up the ante?
The worth has additionally modified – 2017’s Sigma 135mm f/1.8 DG HSM | Successful the cabinets at $1399 / £1399, whereas the brand new Sigma 135mm f/1.4 DG | A is $1899 / £1649 / AU$3,499, making it between 18-35% dearer this time round. This isn’t simply all the way down to a decade of inflation and tariffs although, a few of this price can be all the way down to its extra premium construct and redesign, being the world’s quickest 135mm with an f/1.4 most aperture.
But what is the Sigma 135mm f/1.4 DG | A really like to make use of? Well, it is a phenomenal achievement, from the legendary Japanese lens producer – delivering supremely sharp element and dreamy bokeh, even when this can be a notably hefty optic.
Bottom line – in the event you want a brief telephoto focal size with an excellent quick f/1.4 aperture, then this would be the one to go for, supplied you shoot on the 2 mounts it’s presently out there for and have deep sufficient pockets to purchase one.
Sigma 135mm f/1.4 DG | Art: Price and availability
- Priced at $1,899 / £1,649 / AU$3,499
- Lens hood, tripod foot collar and tender pouch included
- Announced in September 2025
When it involves worth, the Sigma 135mm f/1.4 DG | Art is among the most costly 135mm primes available on the market, although it’s not fairly as costly because the Canon RF 135mm f/1.8L IS USM which prices $2399 / £2399, or the Nikon Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena which retails for $2597 / £2179. That being stated, sadly the Sigma 135mm f/1.4 isn’t presently out there for both Canon RF or Nikon Z mounts presently so it doesn’t provide a extra inexpensive third-party choice for Canon or Nikon customers.
However, for the Sony FE and L-mount cameras that it’s presently out there for, it’s one of many dearer lenses you’ll be able to go for, however then it’s the solely 135mm lens available on the market with that tremendous vast f/1.4 aperture. If you are keen to pay the premium over a f/1.8 different, this lens is a must have as you’ll be confronted with no different choices; it is a wonderful portrait lens and one which delivers very good picture high quality.
For photographers on the lookout for one thing extra transportable and svelte, the Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM, Samyang AF 135mm f/1.8 or Viltrox AF 135mm f/1.8 lenses can be higher choices and the most effective third-party Sony lenses.
Sigma 135mm f/1.4 DG | Art: Specs
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Type: |
Short telephoto lens |
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Mount: |
L-Mount, Sony FE |
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Sensor: |
Full-frame |
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Focal size: |
135mm |
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Max aperture: |
f/1.4 |
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Minimum focus: |
1.1m |
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Filter measurement: |
105mm |
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Dimensions: |
111.7×135.5mm |
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Weight: |
50.4oz / 1430g |
Sigma 135mm f/1.4 DG | Art: Design
- Big and hefty, weighing 50.4oz/1430g
- Houses 17 components organized in 13 teams
- Has a detachable Arca-Swiss tripod foot and collar
- No optical picture stabilization
The new Sigma 135mm f/1.4 DG | Art is chunky and that’s maybe none-too-surprising to realize its momentous f/1.4 most aperture. Its diameter of 111.7mm is bigger than its competitors and its size of 135.5mm makes it about 18% longer than its predecessor. In truth, it is solely the Viltrox AF 135mm f/1.8 and Nikon Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena lenses which might be longer, at 147.6mm and 139.5mm respectively.
The Sigma 135mm is heavier than its friends too – tipping the scales at 50.4oz/1,430g it’s considerably heavier than different mirrorless full-frame 135mm primes. Many 135mm primes from the likes of Sony, Samyang, Canon and Nikon all are available round 35% lighter or much less, although none obtain the coveted f/1.4 aperture of the Sigma, so that is the worth you pay for having a quicker lens.
The barrel homes 17 components organized in 13 teams, 4 of that are massive FLD glass components together with strategically positioned excessive dispersion glass which Sigma claims can suppress axial chromatic aberration. There’s additionally not one however two HLA (High response Linear Actuator) motors which drive the autofocus – the floating focus system permits two lens teams to be moved independently – I’ll contact extra on the way it performs within the subsequent part.
The unique Sigma 135mm f/1.8 DG HSM | Art lacked picture stabilization when it got here out 9 years in the past and sadly the brand new Sigma 135mm f/1.4 DG | A omits this as soon as once more. However, whereas the unique launched for predominantly for DSLRs, this new Sigma 135mm f/1.4 DG | A is constructed with trendy mirrorless our bodies in-mind, lots of which have excellent in-body picture stabilization (IBIS) which is more practical than optical stabilization (OIS) anyway, so it’s much less of a problem that it could have been again then. We additionally should keep in mind that including stabilization to the lens would probably consequence within the lens being even greater – one thing I’m positive Sigma can be eager to keep away from with its already very tank-like construct.
I acquired maintain of the Sony FE model, although the lens will also be picked up for L-mount alliance cameras, which incorporates Sigma, Panasonic and Leica our bodies. It has a pleasant brass metallic mount with a climate seal round it, exhibiting that the lens has some sealing and safety from the weather, which is to be anticipated from Sigma’s premium ‘Art’ vary (and this worth level).
Taking the entrance lens cap off reveals the large entrance component, which has an oil and water repellent coating and in addition takes monumental 105mm screw-in filters. The entrance component is so massive that the lens barrel protrudes on the entrance to create space for it (and presumably to guard it). This upshot is that the lens feels safe within the hand, together with your supporting hand naturally resting on the main focus ring.
Speaking of the main focus ring, it’s considerably thinner than the previous model at simply 2cm vast, maybe exhibiting the shift away from handbook focus, particularly with how good trendy face and eye detection autofocus methods have develop into up to now decade.
Looking on the new and previous Sigma 135mm lenses facet by facet, the distinction in actual property given to the main focus ring is kind of stark and must be round half as vast this time round. That being stated, its knurled rubber design affords lots to carry on to and is clean to show. With the transfer to mirrorless, focusing manually is digital slightly than mechanical, which suggests we additionally miss out on a spotlight distance window.
The lens now comes with a tripod foot collar, you will get a greater stability on a monopod/tripod and cut back pressure versus handheld taking pictures. I really most well-liked attaching to a monopod whereas taking pictures outside to present me a extra secure platform, particularly when nailing such a carefully skinny slice of focus taking pictures vast open at f/1.4.
The collar is detachable, and whereas it may be screwed right into a tripod or monopod, the foot has additionally been machined to work in Arca-Swiss mounts with out the necessity to connect a plate.
Also on the lens barrel is a swap to flick between AF/MF and there’s an iris ring which can be utilized to manage the lens aperture, complimented by one other swap to interact or disable the aperture ring from clicking – a helpful function for videographers who just like the smoother un-clicked operation. It will also be locked into the ‘A’ place in the event you’d choose to not use it in any respect and as a substitute set the aperture by way of the digital camera physique.
To wrap up, you’ll additionally discover two AFL buttons on the lens, spaced 90-degrees other than one another, with one on the left and the opposite on the highest of the barrel for straightforward entry when taking pictures in panorama or portrait orientation. These buttons could be assigned to a variety of capabilities.
Sigma 135mm f/1.4 DG | Art: Performance
- Stunning shallow depth of subject results with f/1.4 aperture
- Good face detection and eye monitoring with my Sony take a look at physique
- Some vignetting when taking pictures vast open at f/1.4
As previoously talked about, the Sigma 135mm f/1.4 DC | Art is an enormous and chunky lens that is nearly twice as heavy as a few of its rivals. This does make it just a little unwieldy to make use of and I’d suggest a digital camera physique with in-body picture stabilization (IBIS) to scale back camera-shake – I paired it with the Sony A7R V.
If utilizing a smaller physique which lacks a vertical grip, I might additionally suggest including a battery grip enhance stability with the lens – it helps to maintain the digital camera and lens extra secure when taking images within the portrait orientation.
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The addition of the tripod foot and collar is clearly a welcome addition and can are available use for these taking pictures on a tripod in a studio or on a monopod for situations akin to taking pictures fashions at an outside location, or automobiles at a racetrack, for instance.
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Focusing with the compressed 135mm focal size and with the aperture vast open at f/1.4 is a problem since you’re enjoying with such a small focus space and really restricted depth of subject. Luckily, the Sigma 135mm f/1.4 DC | Art has fast and correct focusing by its Dual HLA motors, and nailing concentrate on the eyes turns into simpler when taking pictures on a tripod or monopod, to get rid of camera-shake.
Your topic may even have to be very regular to keep away from topic blur and the main focus slipping onto the eyelashes – which is all very effectively with an accommodating grownup, however extra of a problem with animals! You are additionally considerably on the mercy of how good the attention detection and topic monitoring is on the digital camera physique, however the Sony A7R IV I paired the lens to carried out very effectively.
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Optically, the lens is razor sharp when you’ll be able to land the main focus precisely the place you want it in your topic, whereas the background bokeh blur is stunningly lovely, with monumental bokeh circles when taking pictures vast open. The bokeh is large, clean and round due its 13 bladed aperture, and confirmed no indicators of ugly onion ring defects you will get with cheaper optics.
Vignetting is a minor challenge when taking pictures vast open, though this clears up by f/1.8. There can be a really delicate quantity of chromatic aberration on edges of distinction, although each of those points are very straightforward to repair in submit, and for probably the most half could be handled utilizing the profile corrections in enhancing software program with a single click on, so for me they don’t seem to be an enormous deal.
Should you purchase the Sigma 135mm f/1.4 DG | Art?
Buy it if…
Don’t purchase it if…
How I examined the Sigma 135mm f/1.4 DG | Art
- I used the lens for a month, capturing every part from managed still-life setups at dwelling to outside portraits
- I paired it with the 61MP Sony A7R V full-frame physique, zooming in on photographs to evaluate decision and readability
- I took photographs all through the aperture vary, focusing up shut and additional away to evaluate picture sharpness
I used the Sigma 135mm f/1.4 DG | Art lens for a month, paired with a Sony A7R V to provide extremely detailed 61MP recordsdata so I might zoom in and completely examine the picture high quality.
I shot a variety of topics from indoor nonetheless life setups to portrait shoots outside with the lens and shot at the entire out there apertures to see how picture high quality and vignetting have been dealt with all through the aperture vary.
I took a variety of images with in-camera lens corrections each enabled and disabled to see the distinction. I additionally shot in uncooked and JPEG codecs, and gauged how issues like nook sharpness and vignetting modified at completely different aperture values.
- First reviewed January 2026