I knew I shouldn't have bought a prime...

Hodders · 18 Feb 2011 at 11:59

First studio session with my new Sigma 85mm 1.4 and I love it. Just so sharp at f8. Makes my 24-70L look ordinary. 100% crop below.

neoboy · 18 Feb 2011 at 12:08

Only hear good things about this, although won't be able to afford one for some time still!

Adrianr · 18 Feb 2011 at 12:23

What camera is it bolted too? Surprised you say it makes your 24-70 look ordinary. If there's one thing my 24-70 doesn't lack at f/8 it's sharpness. Even my 135L doesn't make it look ordinary at that aperture.

Glad you're enjoying your new lens though

Looks very nice that Sigma. How does it perform wide open?

log1K · 18 Feb 2011 at 12:46

Makes the 24-70L looks ordinary?!?! I have to say at F8 my 24-70L is tack sharp!

Derek W · 18 Feb 2011 at 13:14

Hodders said:
Makes my 24-70L look ordinary.

well if you dont want it I'll happily take it off your hands

Raymond Lin · 18 Feb 2011 at 13:45

F/8? Surely a Kit lens can look sharp at F/8...

p.s. is it me or the pic has quite a lot of noise?

ishamy · 18 Feb 2011 at 13:48

I'm reading a lot about peoples lenses looking sharper at f8 than other f stops, is this true of most lenses?

I find quite a lot of my photos with my 18-55 IS Canon lens not as Sharpe as I would like, however I usually have it set at f5 or as close as.

Hodders · 18 Feb 2011 at 14:07

My 24-70 is pretty Sharp but not as Sharp as that. But then you would expect a prime to perform better. Plus the ability to frame a shot with a zoom is also lovely.

Still very happy with sigma though.

Adrianr · 18 Feb 2011 at 14:18

ishamy said:
I'm reading a lot about peoples lenses looking sharper at f8 than other f stops, is this true of most lenses?

I find quite a lot of my photos with my 18-55 IS Canon lens not as Sharpe as I would like, however I usually have it set at f5 or as close as.

Every lens has a sweet spot. But it's dependant on the lens and the camera system. Too wide and you contend with decreased sharpness and things like chromatic aberations, too narrow and diffraction starts to occur. A rule of thumb on most 35mm camera systems is around f/8-f/11

Diffraction occurs at different stages depending on the lens and the system, so you just have to find where is best for your set up.