Sigma 135mm f/1.8 DG HSM 'Art' lens review with samples (Full-frame & APS-C)
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- Опубліковано 7 лют 2025
- A very exciting (and expensive) new portrait lens from Sigma - I love 135mm, so it was a real pleasure to test out this one! Let's see if it's as good as everyone seems to be saying it is.
Find it here (Amazon affiliate link) (Be sure to get the right lens for your camera system):
geni.us/sigma1...
All pictures shot by me on Canon 6D and EOS M3 cameras.
If you've found this or other videos I've made to be helpful, then support me on Patreon! / christopherfrost
Equipment I use to make my videos (Amazon affiliate links):
Canon EOS R5: geni.us/CanonE...
Canon EF-RF Adaptor: geni.us/CanonE...
Sigma 50mm f/1.4 'Art': geni.us/Sigma5...
Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS STM: geni.us/CanonR...
Marumi Fit and Slim CPL Filter: geni.us/Marumi...
AudioTechnica AT2020USB+ Microphone: geni.us/AT2020...
Rode Smartlav+ Microphone: geni.us/RodeSm...
Rode SC3 adapter: geni.us/RodeSC...
Zoom H1n Recorder: geni.us/ZoomH1...
DJI Mini 2 Drone: geni.us/DJIMin...
Music:
'Opportunity Walks', Kevin MacLeod (www.incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
creativecommons.... - Навчання та стиль
Hi Christopher, your smooth voice, awesome articulation and choice of background jazz alongside really thourough reviews, puts you at the very top of reviewers. Trustworthy indeed. Best regards, from Denmark.
I own this lens and I agree to everything you said. Totally blown away by its sharpness and lack of CA at f1.8 and beautiful bokeh. Sold my 85 1.2L to get it. It is terribly heavy though but well worth it if you want the best images. Use it on a 6D too.
I'm thinking of selling my Sigma 85/1.4 Art to get this. Are you liking the 135mm length?
You are the best!
I never buy a lens until I watch your review of the lens I am interested on and you say, highly recommend at the end of the video.
¡Muchas gracias!
Can edit after using this lens for two years now:
ON DSLRs (Canon 80D, 2000D and 7DMk2) I had autofocus issues - but ON DLSM (Canon R6) with eye-autofocus all problems were gone and I had 10 out of 10 sharp pictures - I LOVE this lens, highly recommended
Zowy, that's one impressive performance! I always enjoy it when you include pictures of your wife, since she makes such a lovely model. Thanks for the review.
sigma is really raising the bar!
Rage Studios yeah big-time
Thanks, Chris, for the review! Recently I purchased the counterpart Canon EF 2.0/135mm L USM and I'm very happy with it on my Canon 6D. It is preowned and its condition almost like new. Maybe the pre-owner sold it because of this Sigma.
I do not have money nor the will for using a heavy lens like this
But your reviews are so soothing
I wished you made a video every single day!
I appreciate your lens reviews so much. You help me train my eye when looking at the various characteristics of lenses. Keep up the good work!
Hey Chris, pleeeease can we get a review of the RF 135mm, especially want to see how it compares to the sigma ef 135mm
i own this lens for years - for nikon - and had never problems with the AF. this is a canon problem but only a canon problem. btw. it's one of my all time favourites!
The mad price of Z mount lenses is making me think about buying this beast now in 25, for my d850. I was just wondering how the AF performance could be as I read a lot of complaints in this regard.
'The lens stays this sharp throughout the zoom range.' Woops...
Oops! *aperture range
Sorry for only pointing out a minor mistake, great and thorough video, as always!
I have been hoping you would review this lens. I'm am glad you were able to, great review as always.
One of the best explainers. I'm very helpful. Thank you. I would like to, for a lot of photographers begin and want to move to Paul Frame to make a comparison between 24-70 2.8 and the significant difference between them. There is no one who explains something like you and gives a professional picture. The lenses are expensive and it's not cheap chocolate and if they do not enjoy it, it's not bad. Thanks.
What a masterpiece! I would have bought this lens if I had a spare kidney left 😂😂😂
Asssssasin424 take mine...
you can borrow mine
You can have mine too . At this point you can buy 10 Sigma lenses now 😂😂😂
My 2 favourite lenses are ART series lenses. They're amazing lenses.
You are my trusted source of reviews. If you say this lens is good, then it really is! Thank you!
I was not sure 85 F1.2 canon or this one for portrait. Now I know what to buy. Tomorrow I'll test both
Я приобрёл это чудо, очень доволен его качеством сборки, съёмки. Автору ролика спасибо за его объективный обзор.
It's great to read someone's opinion from 2 months ago. Since this video is from five years ago. Do you have photos with this lens on Flickr?
This lens is blowing my mind !! I love it for outdoor portrait work. Can’t wait to document hikers on trail using this lens. Worth the weight penalty imo
Gonna need 5DSR to really test this lens lol.
Thank you for the wonderful review. I bought this lens yesterday. Wonderful lens , beautiful sharp images . But boy it’s heavy , can you please advise how to hold this lens ? I am using it on a6000, Will it cause strain on the camera body if I don’t hand hold it ?
Whatever you think of Sigma you can't deny this lens is very impressive in terms of edge to edge optical sharpness. Dare I say I'm very impressed.
How does this lens compare to the new Nikon Z 135mm f1.8 Plena? I am mostly interested in the quality of Bokeh..... thank you
Sticking with the 135mm f2 dc Nikkor ... another great review Chris.
Needs a revisit on canon mirror less cameras
How does this beautiful lens perform on an R5?
One more thing, It would be epic if you also could test the "light transmission" of the lenses. For example , one of my vintage
F2.8 lenses is almost that much darker as my Sigma 30mm at F4, that's a really big difference for low light photography.
Navi Retlav look at T stops.... Looking at the lens specs will give you the info...
T-stops are hardly ever given by the manufacturers specs lists. Often you have to wait until DxO has tested the glass.
@@boudewijnj.m.kegels5198 DXO still hasn't tested the sigma :(
Wonderful review Christ!
This lens def needs a re-review. I mean 135mm right,, at F1.8!! Showing such good control over chromatics, etc.
We'd love to see this lens get put thru some ruthless testing.
There are so many people now, with much higher megapixel cameras that have more technological upgrades and updates since end 2017 going 2018.
How would this fair against full frames of the R5 (and now R5ii is out, or adapted to A7RV), and especially against the challenge of the crops like R7's (or 90D or M6ii who are all) higher density 32MP sensors??
I need this focal length on my 90D, and sooner will need this when upgrading (Probably R6ii but A7RV might take me to Sony with the Sigma 85mm).
The King of Portraits! Great review Chris
Would love to see videos on your editing process, your photos are natural and beautiful
They would be boring videos hehe
I need to consider this lens. Great review!
Thank you so much!!!! I've been waiting for this review for quite some time now and I just bought the Sigma 85mm 1.4...I would love to have the 135 1.8 as well even though I don't need it haha
I was looking at the zoom ins thinking that it was a bit fuzzy, so perfect seemed a bit extreme, then I realised that you were way beyond 1 to 1 on a 4k video using a 20mpix camera.
May I ask is this 135mm sharper than the Sigma 85mm f/1,4 Art?
Yes
sharp, sharper, Jordan Peterson
Hi, Chris! Please test Sigma 50mm f1.4 Art with Canon APS-C like this test, not using House Picture. Thanks
That is one heck of a lens....total beast. I will invest in this one when I can afford it. By next Spring !!!
Sir, please review the tamron 24mm f2.8 iii for sony🙏
Just picked this up, been hoping you’d take a look at this for ages bud haha. Keep up the great work. I’m impressed, but using the 5ds so far and find it sometimes wanting, amazingly haha. Only in the more difficult situations though. The rest of the time, it’s a new favourite.
Thank You for this review, been looking forward for this one :D
Just bought mine today...for the Fujifilm X-T3 and the Fringer Pro ll AF converter.
Focussing in liveview, no problems= working better on mirrorless via mc11 ?
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE ---------> can you make a comparision with the
samyang, canon, sigma and canon 135mm primes ???
i know, its very special - but you are absolutly the right guy for this - do it :D
Do you have any plans to test the new Sigma Art 24-70mm at all?
Thank you for your review. In your opinion which lens is better 105mm or 135mm Sigma Art for portraits.
They're both simply amazing. I'd personally prefer the 105mm but of course it does cost a lot more
Glad to hear you're updating your gear. Are you going to purchase a Canon 5D?
Shame to hear about the focus accuracy - I have the 35mm Art prime and at f1.4 it nearly always misses focus. Might be time to try the USB dock and see if it can be brought under control. I love that lens though and at 1.8 and higher it's spectacular - this 135mm looks just as brilliant.
I have sigma 35mm 1.4 e mount and it’s tack sharp. Color is nice. It urged me to get sigma lenses
Please test the two new professional lenses of sigma and tamron 24-70, art and g2, many are waiting for you
It would appear that fast Sigma lenses below 105mm have focus issues, but over this focal length, they focus accurately. My 105mm f2.8 macro never misses. I'm a DSLR user, and never use LV. Nikon D500.
I think its more date than anything. The 105mm f1.4 bokeh master I have is pretty mediocre at AF and definitely worse than the 40mm f1.4 I have (newer, but still not a dg dn by any means).
So Sigma 135mm F/1.8 doesn't have auto focusing abilities on Sony E-mount Cameras ?
Thanks for the review Chris, now can you call Sigma for me and tell them to stop dragging their feet on the new 70-200, lol.
thanks for the suggestion! (yes, i already own one great lens !the 85 f1 8! . . maybe not quit as creamy as an 85 f1.2)
i have something to ask of you that no one has asked you ever on ths site . . i think! . . but i cant do it now-i thought i had time . . in the meantime, god bless you!!!!
Hi Chris!!! Do you think it would be useful for event s like meetings convention etc??
Hi @christopher_frost I have a question on urgent basis.
Kindly tell me how to get aberration correction data in Canon 6D for sigma 135mm 1.8.
in my camera it shows correction data not available. cannot correct no data.
kindly guide me about this problem thanks. waiting for your answer.
Would you say that Canon f2 is far behind Sigma in terms of overall performance, or you need some serious pixel peeping to see the difference? Your Canon video is from 2014 and you said the quality of the lens is outstanding. But here a small rant in the end threw me off the track. And I couldn't find any worthy comparison on YT.
I want a good performance, but also Canon could save me some money and AF issues. I hear Sigma has a lot of them on DSLR's and AF is completely fixed when paired with RF cameras. f0.2 is not a big of an issue for me.
Verg good, as always ;)
blueRC Sigma is doing a great job with its ART series, and of course, Christopher Frost Photography is the best camera when it comes to Lens reviews.
hello christopher awesome video!!
listen i wanted to ask you something. i'm going to buy a new wide angle lens in a few days and i can choose between a canon 10-18 mm or a tokina 12-24 mm. with one do you think i should choose?
thanks in regard.
Guglielmo
Chris you have done a lot of lens reviews with your Canon 6D. But do you think we will ever get a review of your camera itself too one day?
thank you for your prompt answer. but if i may ask a follow up question, Did you experience much focus hunting with this sigma?
Can't remember - sorry!
probably not. :)
thank you
Sigma is simply the best lens producer these days...
Miroslav Kvíčala their autofocus still hs room for improvement tho
Have you thought about testing the new Fuji GF lenses? I would love to hear your opinion on those. ^^
Great video! Thank you for the images while you talk and not just your own vlog type video. This made clear why I shouldn't get the lens. It is technically brilliant but has no character what so ever. Those photos are great but they clearly show how less of a character this lens has (or how character less this lens is). For others that may not matter but for people like me who crave for that aesthetic character in a lens, this is a failed product. Thanks a lot for the video. I can peacefully sleep now because I don't need to spend $1.5k lol
P.S. Subbed because you showed me what I wanted to see.
That thing is a beast!
Has anyone used this lens on a R camera or specifically an R5? Looking to get one for grad season and i know this will blow my clients minds
Very good review, as always! I’d love to see your opinions on the new Sigma 24-70 Art. That lens seems to be stirring up some controversy.
Superb Video as always, superb lens but i will stay with my Samyang because I shoot manual even with my 6D Mk II :)
Chris, i am thinking to buy this lens or the Canon EF 70-200mm F1.8 IS II. which one is for the best for Portrait Photography? I would like to know yor opinion about that. Thank you a lot.👍
Personally I'd go for this 135mm f/1.8 lens for that extra edge of 3D to your images. The 70-200 will be a lot easier to use though and more versatile
Great job Mr. Frost
Great lens (Nikon tested) good build quality and excellent sharpness.
You are planning to get the Sony A7 R II or maybe the new R III ? :) Also, it would be great if you could add the lens color shift test to the video, to show us how much the lens changes the colors of the skin tones and world. ;)
Almost certainly the a7R II unless the 'III' is a major improvement.
from all the videos ive seen it seems to be quite a big step up, especially if you are doing video too.
Not sure about that. We'll see
Sharpest lens ever? That's mind-blowing! Also Chris, could you do a review of the Tamron 150-600 "G2" at some point if possible?
Sigma never fail to impress us
very happy with my Samyang 135. it's flawless.....but waiting for 135 AF and 85 AF :D
question onSony A7iii - is the focus ring always ON? I mean, will it move focus when you move the ring even in AF mode?
Hmm, good question - I'm not sure to be honest
I wouldn't say that the canon 135 has aged.... I LOVE IT
It's more than 34 years old! Predates any consumer digital camera! It's a good lens, but certainly old
@@Tbarlow99 ok.... old design... who cares... if it aint broke, don't fix it
Please Get the 5Dm4 and maybe an A7r2
I'm planning to buy the Sigma 135mm f1.8 EF and to use it with a Viltrox EF-EOS M2 (speedbooster) on a Canon M6 mark II. Has anyone tried this configuration? Will it work?
Question I have this lens. The problem is it’s an L mount lens. Bought it believing it would fit my Canon cameras. But when ?I tried it does not. Do they make an adapter for this lens so it fits my canon cameras or even my Nikon D3400?
Sigma glass comes in all kinds of mounts. You should pick the one that fits your camera xD
Just wondering: you said you'll be getting a higher res camera this Christmas. Any plans of doing preview/review of that? :)
Almost certainly an a7R II, but I will probably adapt full-frame lenses onto it to test them at high resolution. I need to future-proof my videos, and I believe full-frame sensors will generally kind of level-out at about 42mp (in the same way that most APS-C sensors are now 24mp)
I think that's a good choice. Sony is making lovely cameras in both specs and looks. I would go for a7R myself but I have quite a collection of K-mount lenses by now... so I'm just waiting for a new Pentax APS-C flagship.
I want to see a review of the canon 6D dslr after all those lenses have been tested on it.
What a beast of a lens
Through out the zoom range? Prime lens?
Sorry, I meant to say "aperture range"
Sigma lenses seem to have a problem with autofocus. I've tried Sigma 18-35 1.8 on my Nikon D7200 and it was missing focus through viewfinder but focusing correct with LV. Yesterday i've tried Sigma 17-50 2.8 os, and the same thing happened...
so maybe it´s your nikon...?
Sigma 17-50 that's I'm using.. it has some autofocus issue..
Try and compare it to the Milvus 135/2.
Anders Vesterholt Milvus is a lot better.
Yep. And not that much more expensive.
build quality + manual focus ring only
but the rest sigma is better
Prequel How could the Milvus be “much better”? Are you talking about optical quality, or things like rubberized blue Zeiss badges. I’m willing to bet the Sigma beats the a Milvus at f/2...
Tyler Breeden optically. Check out the digital picture.
Does it work with canon R5 by using EF to RF mount ?
Yes
i just came here to mention i should stay humble!!!! . . especially since one of my cats is about $4OO ill i hust found out :-( . . thats a lot!! for me plus a 135 (the sigma is triple that amount!! . . and i do have the 135mm softfocus
that 135 soft focus should go in another "affordable 24- 85, 35 f2 non usm, 80-210 L, 75-300 non-usm, etc video!") . . frost, thank you for the help! . . 85 1.8, 1OO f2!
what lens did you mean by 1.8?
The 85mm :-)
What camera will you get for Christmas? :D
i own a canon 77d. would this lens be good for indoor basketball photography??
Yes, it would be a very nice option
thank you for your prompt answer. but if i may ask a follow up question, Did you experience much focus hunting with this sigma?
have you tried the irix 150mm?
Not yet!
When is the 85mm f1.4 review out?
It's out already
Christopher Frost Photography I was talking about the latest IS version! The one with a red ring??😅
That's a Canon lens. It's not actually out yet
Yeah i meant the canon one. Forgot mention it. When is it going to be released??
It's starting to hit the shelves any time now
I'm just wondering if sigma 17-50 2.8 works for eos m series
With the EF-EF-M adaptor, yes, it will
I have canon 80D(APSC) please help which one is more better sigma 85 mm 1.4f art OR sigma 135 1.8f art OR canon 85mm 1.4 IS due to IS. Hope for you kind feedback soon. :)
The Sigma lenses will be a little sharper, but personally I would probably go for the Canon lens because of the image stabilization
Thanks Christopher.
I love Sigma’s optics, but those autofocus issues make their lenses so frustrating to use. I’ve owned a couple of Art lenses and won’t be going back to Sigma until they figure that out.
Jon Taylor it’s called lens calibration
@@dannyklesh Can't calibrate out AF issue that is inconsistent. Although AF accuracy isn't an issue using LiveView or on the newer Canon RF mount mirrorless cameras. Just need a simple RF to EF adapter.
Would this lens work on a canon rebel t7i?
@MEDiAgamer 216mm to be exact.
Which new full frame camera are you getting? The A7R III or 6D MK II ?
Almost certainly an a7R II, but I will probably adapt full-frame lenses onto it to test them at high resolution. I need to future-proof my videos, and I believe full-frame sensors will generally kind of level-out at about 42mp (in the same way that most APS-C sensors are now 24mp)
Nice choice I hope this implies more lenses from different brands. I shoot Canon but their bodies are boring and the day they implement 4K in their mid tier cameras would be when they consider 4K a low end standard (when 8K or whatever new becomes the new high end)
For such a lens you should test LoCA ( bokeh fringing) .
How is the sigma 105 2.8 macro?
Haven't tried it, sorry!
Please review sigma 105 f/1.4 on sony a7r2 & a6000
A review is coming
Excellent review as usual. On the subject of auto-focus, this lens require some familiarization to fully unleash its potential. F1.8 is very shallow when less then 2 meters away, slightest movement could mis-focus. Also, this lens does not have image stablization and being a medium telephoto lens, requires a steady pair of hands and/or faster shutter speed. A higher mp sensor would be even harder to keep things tact sharp.
First lens I own before you review it. Am glad that you got to experience this beast, did you rent it for the review or is it a keeper?
A higher resolution camera......
A 5D IV I guess? It'll be perfect for you Chris, although it is kinda costly.
Almost certainly an a7R II, but I will probably adapt full-frame lenses onto it to test them at high resolution. I need to future-proof my videos, and I believe full-frame sensors will generally kind of level-out at about 42mp (in the same way that most APS-C sensors are now 24mp)
maybe sony a7r iii?
Don't really need the 'III'. They're both 42mp and my primary need for the reviews is that resolution sensor