I know a few members here have this lens. I've been enjoying it since I got it a couple of weeks ago. It would be great to share some images made with this lens. I'll start with something very "un-105-like." The AF of this lens is pretty quick - I spontaneously grabbed this shot with the a7r iv as the car came around the corner.
I did some more testing today with my co-workers Sony A7rIV. The Sigma 105mm f1.4 seemed good but still I am not finding it anywhere close to my Fuji 110mm f2. Maybe it is the bigger sensor on Fuji compared to the Sony. I don't know. The silky smooth look from GFX with that 110mm f2 is hard to beat. Here is my quick shot from today.
Would someone be willing to share the full res jpeg with me? Also would like to know the camera settings that other folks use.
Edited: - I looked at some reviews and all the shots I see aren't what I would call super sharp. I checked dpr's image gallery at 100%, the eyes look just like mine. Then I saw this one https://www.diyphotography.net/first-impressions-of-the-sigma-105mm-f-1-4-art-lens-the-bokeh-master/. I the pictures I see same, if you check last shot of a guy's face you see mustache is in focus rather than the eyes. Of course reviewer using older camera.
bobby350z wrote:
I did some more testing today with my co-workers Sony A7rIV. The Sigma 105mm f1.4 seemed good but still I am not finding it anywhere close to my Fuji 110mm f2. Maybe it is the bigger sensor on Fuji compared to the Sony. I don't know. The silky smooth look from GFX with that 110mm f2 is hard to beat. Here is my quick shot from today.
Would someone be willing to share the full res jpeg with me? Also would like to know the camera settings that other folks use.
Edited: - I looked at some reviews and all the shots I see aren't what I would call super sharp. I checked dpr's image gallery at 100%, the eyes look just like mine. Then I saw this one https://www.diyphotography.net/first-impressions-of-the-sigma-105mm-f-1-4-art-lens-the-bokeh-master/. I the pictures I see same, if you check last shot of a guy's face you see mustache is in focus rather than the eyes. Of course reviewer using older camera....Show more →
Well the 105mm 1.4 DOF is narrower than the Fuji which is sort of an 87mm 1.6 or something like that so when comparing them side by side. There is no reason for the 105mm to not be silkier and smoother than the Fuji but anyways...maybe this will help: https://www.flickr.com/photos/lgabrielg/49250440727/sizes/o/
This is a sort of BTS shot before starting a photoshoot while setting one of the lights but is less "stylized" so I figured it would be a better sample for you. You can see how razor thin the focal plan is where his left eye is in focus and most everything else is not.
Would you mind posting some 100% crops at f1.4? The flickr link wants me to register. The dpr links I looked at, didn't have eye properly in focus. I agree 105mm f1.4 is thin DoF compared to 110mm f2 on GF but I am worried why Sony A7rIV is not nailing it with its eye focus. It can't just be DoF, I can bring 300mm f2.8 and can nail eye with Canon dSLR hand holding. I can also try 85L f1.2 on my GFX which is wider than f1.0.
Just to be clear, I know with thin DoF, one eye will be in focus, while the other won't be. I want to see the eye in focus to see how sharp it is at f1.4.
It would also be great if the folks using the 105mm can share the settings they are using.
bobby350z wrote:
Would you mind posting some 100% crops at f1.4? The flickr link wants me to register. The dpr links I looked at, didn't have eye properly in focus. I agree 105mm f1.4 is thin DoF compared to 110mm f2 on GF but I am worried why Sony A7rIV is not nailing it with its eye focus. It can't just be DoF, I can bring 300mm f2.8 and can nail eye with Canon dSLR hand holding. I can also try 85L f1.2 on my GFX which is wider than f1.0.
You are welcome. Well that one was with flash so shutter was 1/800 and f1.4 at ISO 100 but I have no issues shooting with that lens at much slower shutters speeds since both A9 and R3 have the stabilization. Normally I like to stay around 1/100 in case of slight movements of the subject during the shoot but for static subjects I can go lower easily.
What about AF, tracking, which size spot and so on? I have been keeping shutter to 1/200 or higher and then tried AF-S with single point which I put on an eye as well as AF-C with tracking enbaled medium and small point and make sure it is on the eye which I later look at. I also changed my AF-S and AF-C focus priority to Focus from balanced but don't see any improvements. If no rain, I will test more tomorrow, otherwise time to call Adorama on Monday morning.
bobby350z wrote:
What about AF, tracking, which size spot and so on? I have been keeping shutter to 1/200 or higher and then tried AF-S with single point which I put on an eye as well as AF-C with tracking enbaled medium and small point and make sure it is on the eye which I later look at. I also changed my AF-S and AF-C focus priority to Focus from balanced but don't see any improvements. If no rain, I will test more tomorrow, otherwise time to call Adorama on Monday morning.
I use Eye AF in continous mode for all my portrait work and usually in wide tracking mode unless I need to select a more specifi zone if selecting a person among many others for example. I do not use spot on for my portrait work really, just Eye AF and let the camera do its magic is what works for me
Thanks. I will test more. In my past I have had bad experience with some Sigma glass though my first Sigma lens, 30mm f1.4 was the best lens I ever had and I have bought $5-$6k lenses. It was so sharp on my 1dmk2. Here is another one from my shoot. Wish Zenfolio allowed me linking bigger pictures.
Did some more testing and it seems lens is good. I was shooting with the light falling on the subject and at higher ss. It is smaller size (may need to move away from zenfolio due to this) but I am seeing very nice eye lashes at full res now. Thanks everyone for their help.
fuzzykeys wrote:
Thanks Joshua! What kinds of camera bags are you guys using for location portraits with this beast?
Matt, no problem. Most of the time I carry this lens by itself, including the lens collar inside a TT Speed Changer but when shooting, I use a Black Rapid Double Strap and let it hang with a camera body to my side. I use either the Sigma 40mm f/1.4 Art or the Sigma 35mm f/1.2 on the other side. Again, with a body mounted. I happen to have both and they are both equally great performers. Most of the time, these two lenses will do some 95% of my portraits and I minimize lens changing that way.
