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give me your thoughts? Sigma 56/1.4 or Sony Zeiss 55/1.8?

Ghostinz
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · give me your thoughts? Sigma 56/1.4 or Sony Zeiss 55/1.8?

My daughter has a A6600 with a 18-135 lens. For her birthday she asked for a decent portrait lens to use.

She also wants it to be fairly compact, so I have ruled out the standard 75 and 85 focal lengths.

I have narrowed it down to either the Sigma 56/1.4 or the Sony Zeiss 55/1.8.(used)

I have the 55/1.8 and its a great lens. I also have a FF camera which I don't see her going to any time soon.

I have both the Sigma and a used 55 in hand and can't decide which one to give her for her birthday..lol. I was pretty set on the 55/1.8, which I got refurbished (like new) for $500. However, last night, I got in the Sigma 56 and i was pretty impressed with the size and build quality, and the price, which was $400. Everything I have read suggest the Sigma is just as good as the 55/1.8. they seem very similar, with the exception of the 1.4 vs. 1.8. Am I missing anything else I should consider?

which one would you choose?

Nov 15, 2023 at 01:25 PM

ajamils
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · give me your thoughts? Sigma 56/1.4 or Sony Zeiss 55/1.8?

Sigma is outstanding lens with great sharpness and rendering. If she never plans on upgrading to FF, I will get Sigma in a heartbeat.

Nov 15, 2023 at 01:29 PM

foto16
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · give me your thoughts? Sigma 56/1.4 or Sony Zeiss 55/1.8?

Sigma 56 for f1.4. Why not.

Nov 15, 2023 at 01:37 PM

mojoh
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · give me your thoughts? Sigma 56/1.4 or Sony Zeiss 55/1.8?

Show her both. Let her try, let her choose..

Nov 15, 2023 at 01:52 PM

Ghostinz
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · give me your thoughts? Sigma 56/1.4 or Sony Zeiss 55/1.8?

mojoh wrote:
Show her both. Let her try, let her choose..

I have actually considered this as well! Maybe just let her choose?

Nov 15, 2023 at 02:03 PM

freaklikeme
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · give me your thoughts? Sigma 56/1.4 or Sony Zeiss 55/1.8?

Letting her pick might be your best bet. On the 6700, I went with the Zony because it was a better match with the Zony 24/1.8 I already owned (and the focus is a bit faster and more consistent) but the Sigma wins on bokeh and overall CA correction.

Nov 15, 2023 at 03:39 PM

QuietOC
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · give me your thoughts? Sigma 56/1.4 or Sony Zeiss 55/1.8?

I wouldn't rule out the E 50mm F1.8 OSS. It doesn't have much downsides compared to the ZA Sonnar. It is wider than that lens. It might have more variation due to the OSS mechanism--the ZA is also pretty bad in that department in my experience. I tried two copies of the former and several copies of the later.

The Samyang 50mm F1.2 AS UMC CS is quite nice if they don't mind learning full manual.

The Lensbaby Velvet 56mm F1.6 and Twist 60mm F2.5 for more unique looks.

The Sigma 60mm F2.8 DG DN Art is obsolete, but very nice optically. Sigma never updated it to support Fast Hybrid AF.

The Sigma 56mm F1.4 DN C may be the safest bet. I haven't tried it.

The 1.8/55ZA, 1.8/50 OSS, and 60mm Sigma use linear voice-coil motors, but the stepper motor Sigmas like the 56mm are generally quick enough.

Edited on Nov 15, 2023 at 04:25 PM · View previous versions

Nov 15, 2023 at 04:10 PM

raminolta
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · give me your thoughts? Sigma 56/1.4 or Sony Zeiss 55/1.8?

Just speculation: there may be a difference in AF performance (speed, tracking) native Sony typically being better. Or that may not be the case in this particular comparison.

Nov 15, 2023 at 04:18 PM

j4nu
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · give me your thoughts? Sigma 56/1.4 or Sony Zeiss 55/1.8?

QuietOC wrote:
I wouldn't rule out the E 50mm F1.8 OSS. It doesn't have much downsides compared to the ZA Sonnar. It is wider than that lens. It might have more variation due to the OSS mechanism--the ZA is also pretty bad in that department in my experience. I tried two copies of the former and several copies of the later.

That is somewhat weird. I once compared these two, on A6500 I think, and ZA was visibly better (even when looking at CA) ...

Nov 15, 2023 at 05:10 PM

rob_ww
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · give me your thoughts? Sigma 56/1.4 or Sony Zeiss 55/1.8?

I have owned them both and would choose the 55 for better rendering for portraits. The 56 is sharp but not as kind to faces IMHO. In fact, I sent mine back in the end and kept the Zony.

Nov 15, 2023 at 05:18 PM

rob_ww
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · give me your thoughts? Sigma 56/1.4 or Sony Zeiss 55/1.8?

Since you have both lenses to hand, why not try some portraits with them both and let us know what you think? I am curious whether my perceptions at the time would meet with agreement from other photographers. Just a thought!

Nov 16, 2023 at 06:49 AM

serhan_
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · give me your thoughts? Sigma 56/1.4 or Sony Zeiss 55/1.8?

Sigma bokeh is better, but the distortion is very high for a prime. I even use it on a FF as long as the subject is in the middle. Reviews for both:
https://www.opticallimits.com/sony-alpha-aps-c-lens-tests/1092-sigma56f14?start=1
https://www.opticallimits.com/sonyalphaff/965-zeiss55f18?start=1

Sigma 56mm on A7R III

if you don't watch the corners with no distortion correction on FF:

Zeiss on A7R

Nov 16, 2023 at 09:16 AM

SpecFoto
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · give me your thoughts? Sigma 56/1.4 or Sony Zeiss 55/1.8?

I have both and prefer the 55 ZA for portraits too, but they are close. And I use ND filters with flash and CPL filters for my outdoor portraits all the time. As the Sigma f1.4 has the same 55mm filter thread size as the 18-135mm lens, this may make it easier on you daughter down the road as her photography experience grows. The 55mm filter thread size is pretty common for APSC lenses, just in case if she wants a wide angle 11 or 15mm Sony for next years birthday

Nov 16, 2023 at 10:04 AM

Ghostinz
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · give me your thoughts? Sigma 56/1.4 or Sony Zeiss 55/1.8?

SpecFoto wrote:
I have both and prefer the 55 ZA for portraits too, but they are close. And I use ND filters with flash and CPL filters for my outdoor portraits all the time. As the Sigma f1.4 has the same 55mm filter thread size as the 18-135mm lens, this may make it easier on you daughter down the road as her photography experience grows. The 55mm filter thread size is pretty common for APSC lenses, just in case if she wants a wide angle 11 or 15mm Sony for next years birthday

excellent point on the filter size. Something I had not really considered fully until just now.

Nov 16, 2023 at 10:11 AM

Robin Smith
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · give me your thoughts? Sigma 56/1.4 or Sony Zeiss 55/1.8?

I don't remember people praising the bokeh of the Zony, whereas the Sigma is very nice. The Sigma has a good deal of CA wide open, just so you know. The lens is very small and sharp and unbeatable for the price IMO.

Nov 16, 2023 at 10:16 AM

Ghostinz
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · give me your thoughts? Sigma 56/1.4 or Sony Zeiss 55/1.8?

rob_ww wrote:
Since you have both lenses to hand, why not try some portraits with them both and let us know what you think? I am curious whether my perceptions at the time would meet with agreement from other photographers. Just a thought!

I wish I had time to do it, my work schedule is not going to allow me to do any samples before her birthday Sunday. Since the thread seems to be pretty split, with no one saying anything bad about either lens, I think at this point it might just be splitting hairs. At her level of photography right now, either lens is going to be great for her. As another poster suggested, I am just going to give both of them to her, and let her decide which one she likes better.

Nov 16, 2023 at 10:20 AM


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