Sigma 90mm f2.8 DG DN | Small, Light & Pretty Much Perfect!

[@chryseass.5143]

Your enthusiasm for this lens is infectious ,Pav. You have got me interested in it!

[@PavSZ]

Thanks! it is a great lens!

[@alen2937]

This is what I would call an specialty lens, but it is very unique at that, compact form factor for daylight faraway shots or simply portrait photography without too much weight, love it.

[@PavSZ]

it is a great little lens

[@gitithadani]

Just love what sigma is doing with the I series. I dont care about the 2.8 as it makes up in mfd and compact size. Its size is like the older vintage meyeroptik oreston 100mm f2.8 (very light and small). Otherwise most 85s tend to be much larger with much longer mfd. Sigma in the film days made some amazing macro apo lenses - a 180mm f5.6 (about 400+ grams) 1:2 macro. And now they are bringing in the compact semi macro in this design. Personally I often donot shoot wideopen - sometimes I want more of the texture or compositional detail. What is amazing is that it is smaller and lighter than the 65. Just such a special design and also special optics

[@PavSZ]

yes! They are really nailing it right now. Just over a year ago words small and Sigma would never be used together

[@gitithadani]

@@PavSZ they are giving both now - from a large 35/1.2 to a compact 35/2 or a 85/1;4 to a compact 90mm. The lenses are also so precisely engineered

[@ArminHirmer]

the 90mm lives almost all the time on my Sigma FPL, sometimes I put the 45mm 2.8 on it which came with the camera. But if, then I smash a nice vintage lens on it :D

[@PavSZ]

good lens!

[@Cthames123]

I am a Sony shooter and have never experienced a sigma camera. Is there any advantage to having a sigma lens mounted to the sigma camera? Similar to how there is a advantage to having a Sony lens on a Sony camera?

[@ArminHirmer]

@@Cthames123 if then surely not significant the difference. Never had any other L mount AF lens on it, so I cant tell

[@alexlex2147]

Thanks for this video !

[@PavSZ]

My pleasure!

[@troyphillips1077]

I have the 65 I series contemporary and love love love it . I have noticed it will occasionally loose focus when a G master wouldn’t. During a low light video interview. But I like the “look” of the image over my G Masters for some reason. I most likely will be getting this 90 I series. I had been thinking of get the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 but the images from this 90 look almost identical to the 65 . Then no focus breathing in a bonus. The lens will be used 80% of the time video. Great job on review, thanks!

[@PavSZ]

If you love the 65, you will LOVE this one! Thank you for watching!

[@JonathanElliman]

Thanks for this. Definitely on my L-mount wishlist.

[@PavSZ]

on mine too!

[@MrAlexTech]

Ah I just wish it was an f2. I'd take a slight bump in size for it to be an f2 like their 35mm (which I love!) I've no interest in 1.4 but a teeeeny bit brighter would be perfect for me. Would make for an awesome wedding photography combo then.

[@PavSZ]

Still awesome at 2.8 ;)

[@gitithadani]

and one can go closer and be less intrusive. Its a great fit for the compact sigma fp/l line. For sony there is just too much choice - from the sony 90 macro to the tiny samyang 75/1;8 and loads of 85s. The sigma 65 in comparison has a unique fl & my feeling is that it resolves more detail on high res sensors. However the 90 is lighter - smaller and better mfd. Sigma actually during the slr- early dslr period was making very light apo lenses - less wider apertures but with better mfd. What they are doing now is just taking everything up a couple of levels. Also with precision engineering

[@SkyGW]

​@@gitithadani yeah sony lens choice is too diverse now. Not sure why one would take this sigma instead of the native sony 85mm 1.8

[@gitithadani]

@@SkyGW form factor & less mfd - can be very useful for certain cinematic perspectives. One has too the excellent sony 90 macro but it is double the size and weight. Also for travel

[@alen2937]

@@SkyGW Image quality is also better on the sigma, specially in APSC sensors as the sony 85 introduces some fringing.

[@kjltube]

Nice examples. Thanks, I’m going to order one for sure!

[@PavSZ]

Thanks! Good choice!

[@kjltube]

@@PavSZ I received it and love it's IQ, size and build quality.

[@richardpcrowe]

I wish that Sigma would come out with a 70-150mm f/2.8 lens for the Sony APSC cameras. If it were small and lightweight, like the 18-50mm f/2.8, it would pair up very well with that lens.

[@PavSZ]

that's the problem .... with all the lenses. Wider aperture and wider zoom range, bigger the lens

[@Chaosflo-kc9fh]

Love the colors in your photos! Are these presets you might offer?

[@PavSZ]

thank you! yes, all my presets are available on my website www.pavsz.com/shop

[@Ansonandco]

I’ve now small the lens is. I’d buy it for real!

[@PavSZ]

me too!!

[@TomCalton]

Nice video Pav! Looks like you enjoyed this one as much as me 👍

[@PavSZ]

I did! It's a lens that I really struggle to find anything wrong with!

[@RideWithDanger]

Would you recommend this or the Sony 85mm F1.8? I watched both reviews, and I see the biggest downside of the Sony was the focusing in video, which I never do. Both seem very sharp, and it seems the main benefit of the Sigma is its size, and the biggest benefit of the Sony is the 1.8 VS the sigmas 2.8. Is there one you prefer over the other?

[@PavSZ]

I have never been a huge fan of Sony 85mm f1.8. It doesn't mean that it isn't an amazing lens. This sigma is pretty neat but as you say, it is only f2.8 wide open

[@Chris-ey7zy]

Sony is so hallow and feels so cheap

[@dennisshyu6797]

i just sold my sony 85 1.8 for the sigma 85 DG DN 1.4 and it feels so much sharper and the colors are much more pronounced. The Sony one was nice but the colors felt muted out of camera

[@RideWithDanger]

@@dennisshyu6797 I did end up buying the Sigma and it's my favorite lens lol

[@tom_nuyts]

Great review - thx a lot!

[@PavSZ]

thank you

[@enjoygary]

I love these

[@PavSZ]

Thanks!

[@KevinZJR]

This lens has some serious quality control issues. The dust can go easily inside the lens from the front element. There is dust inside the lens even when it's brand new. I bought one but had to return it due to this reason.

[@PavSZ]

I had going through my hands for awhile and I never had problems with them. It's most likely there was something wrong with the one you had

[@jklphoto]

Great lenses, both $639 USD. Slightly irritated that I recently acquired the Sigma 24mm f3.5, when for $90 more, I could have had f/2!

[@PavSZ]

24mm f3.5 is s till an amazing lens and it can focus super close too

[@Cthames123]

@jklphoto Seems like you bought the Sigma 24mm, f3.5. How do you like it? It's been 2yrs so it's also reasonable to ask if you still have it?

[@CrivRex]

Want to see how this lens works on the Sony with eye tracking.

[@PavSZ]

very well - all samples in my video were shot with a7III

[@Chris-ey7zy]

I got it for the weight and size for a gimble

[@PavSZ]

great size and weight for that

[@elwirastadnik]

We should make a compare friendly competition between the Sigma and my Tamron 90mm 2.5 Adaptall 2 from 1980 :D

[@PavSZ]

I don't think it would be a fair comparison. Old vintage lenses will always have more character but less sharpness

[@musar03580]

Hi, Pav. SIGMA's website claims that their I series lenses are an all-metal construction. In your many reviews of the I series, however, you state that that these lenses are metal and plastic. Is this correct? And which parts are plastic? Keep up your great videos of SIGMA products. I'm a SIGMA fp owner/user and aspire to a full range of I series lenses. Your videos are helping me determine which ones to buy first.

[@PavSZ]

all outer casing and the hood are metal, that's true. There is some internal and front of the lens plastic parts for sure. I haven't taken any of them apart so I can't confirm for 100% but that's what it looks like. It's making no difference though

[@musar03580]

@@PavSZ Okay, thank you. That's what I understood SIGMA is saying, that the housing is all-metal.

[@sansin6250]

Any idea if this lens is sharper than Lumix 85mm f/1.8 lens at aperture f/2.8 ?

[@PavSZ]

I doubt it

[@wenz5390]

Does this count as a marco lens? Recently been searching one for my a7c.

[@PavSZ]

no, it's not a macro lens - you are thinking of this one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aWi6nqNoZ7Ogrs0

[@Cthames123]

@@PavSZ Man, that' Sony 90 mm, f. 2.8, G, Macro is some kind of super fantastic lens. I bought it a few months ago, but it was just a little bit too big and heavy for my taste and I returned it. The weight made me think twice about bringing it with to shoot with, and it was way too expensive to just be sitting on my shelf. If Sony could give me all that 90mm, f2.8, macro goodness in the Sigma, 90mm, f2.8 body I'd be all over that thing and buy it in a heartbeat.

[@firehorseweddingphotograph3995]

Panasonic 24/35/50/85 all f1.8 and same filter size vs Sigma 24/35/65/90 all f2 other than the 90mm and filter sizes all over the place…??

[@PavSZ]

it's true but Sigma 90 is smaller than the 24 - not everyone needs the same size/filter size lenses. (I love the Lumix lenses too) 😉

[@kjltube]

Actually the 24 f3.5, 45mm, and 90mm all have 55mm threads. I have the 45 and just ordered the 90, and am now considering the 24mm 🤦🏼

[@keepcoding1]

hard plastic? where did you find plastic on this lens?

[@PavSZ]

at the front around the glass and the back

[@puskarsapkota9422]

Can you recommend me some lenses for sony 5100 for travelling?

[@PavSZ]

I can't. Only you know what your budget is and what you are intending to shoot with your camera and lenses.

[@marcobowroad]

This sigma or 85 1.8 Sony ?

[@PavSZ]

only you can answer this question as only you know what your skill levell is, your shooting style and your budget

[@jonoy4375]

I would rather pick Sony 85 F1.8 for compact portrait lens

[@PavSZ]

Sony needs an update

[@juliegreller9242]

It’s also a heavier lens

[@ECDPhotography]

This or the 65mm?

[@PavSZ]

this is a question that only you can answer. Only you know what you need a lens for, your shooting style, your budget and your ability. Both are great lenses

[@michaelbell75]

Great review! Looks like a great lens but too expensive for what it is IMO. Should be closer to the $400 range for f/2.8 About the aperture...This is primarily a portrait lens and f/2.8 is plenty for portrait photographers. This whole f/1.4 or faster blurry, fuzzy background thing came from pixel peeping KZbin reviewers and NOT actual professional portrait photographers. Have a look thru any fashion magazine or any modeling agency website with model portraits all over it and let me know how many blurry and fuzzy backgrounds you see. I'll save you time, the vast majority of the professional portraits you will find in top magazines and on websites that feature professional photographers shooting portraits of professional models are more stopped down than even f/2.8 The background blur is very subtle, you will not find obliterated backgrounds because it looks sloppy and messy and quite unprofessional actually. Unless its a pure head and shoulder headshot portrait, which tend to have a more shallow depth of field, but thats about it. So to any photographers who think that a "professional" lens is f/1.4 or faster and that "professional" portraits need blurry and fuzzy backgrounds, just stop. Its not professional at all.

[@tokekkk]

you pay for the size and all metal body, not just the aperture.

[@michaelbell75]

@@tokekkk Samyang makes a smaller and lighter 75mm that’s 1.8 and costs 1/3rd what this does. It’s overpriced by a couple hundred dollars

[@tokekkk]

​@@michaelbell75 well some people like nicer things, not just the functions. I would pay more for the full metal body and the aperture rings.

[@michaelbell75]

@@tokekkk the Samyang has a custom switch that in mode 2, sets the focus ring to several settings including aperture. So you would be paying 3 times more for a metal lens, but also a heavier lens. No thanks

[@janfrosty3392]

What a beautiful lady at 1:35

[@PavSZ]

she is!

[@janfrosty3392]

@@PavSZ PS. Thanks for reviewing 2.8/90mm Sigma lens, I am considering it for my Leica SL2-S.

[@IslandFilmMaker]

OMG... NOT WEATHERSEALED??? Come on Sigma... it's 2021. Reminds me why I don't own a Sigma lens :'(

[@darryllafferty8730]

Bokeh is overrated!!!!!

[@PavSZ]

so true!