Sigma has confirmed it is developing the 85mm F1.2 DG | Art, a large-aperture medium-telephoto prime for full-frame mirrorless cameras that completes its trio of fast F1.2 Art lenses. Coming to L-Mount and Sony E-mount, it joins the 35mm F1.2 DG II | Art and 50mm F1.2 DG DN | Art — and Sigma says this rounds out its F1.2 line-up, so no further focal lengths are planned at this aperture. It’s a lens plenty of portrait shooters have been waiting for, and its development was reported by PetaPixel, with the official word from Sigma.
The 85mm focal length paired with an F1.2 aperture is the classic recipe for portraiture: a flattering perspective, beautiful subject separation and the kind of ultra-shallow depth of field that melts backgrounds away. Sigma promises “exceptional resolution even at maximum aperture” from a new optical design, which matters on today’s high-resolution bodies where softness wide open would quickly show.
Details remain limited, as this is a development announcement rather than a full launch, but Sigma has confirmed a few key points. Autofocus is driven by a dual HLA (High-response Linear Actuator) system for fast, precise focusing, and despite the fast aperture the lens is said to have a compact, lightweight body. It’s expected to use an 82mm filter thread, shared with several other Sigma Art lenses. It will sit above the well-regarded and more compact Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN Art from 2020.
The significance here is competition. An 85mm F1.2 has, until now, largely meant expensive first-party glass such as Canon’s RF 85mm F1.2L and Nikon’s Z 85mm f/1.2 S. Sigma’s existing F1.2 Art primes have been comparatively affordable for their specification, so there’s real reason to hope the 85mm undercuts those rivals significantly — which would make it one of the more exciting portrait lenses of the year.
Sigma 85mm F1.2 DG Art: Specifications
Type: large-aperture medium-telephoto prime for full-frame mirrorless. Mounts: L-Mount and Sony E-mount. Focal length: 85mm. Maximum aperture: F1.2. Autofocus: dual HLA (High-response Linear Actuator). Design: new optical formula promising high resolution wide open; compact, lightweight body. Filter thread: 82mm (expected). Positioning: sits above the Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN Art; completes Sigma’s F1.2 Art trio. (Full specifications to be confirmed at launch.)
Sigma 85mm F1.2 DG Art: Price and availability
Sigma has confirmed a planned launch in September 2026, with a full announcement expected in late August. Pricing has not yet been revealed; we’ll update this story once it is.
