Sigma’s 85mm F1.2 DG Art is the lightest fast 85mm — at half Canon’s price

Sigma has officially announced the 85mm F1.2 DG Art, and it has done the one thing that makes a fast portrait prime genuinely interesting rather than merely impressive: it has kept the weight down. At 905g, Sigma claims it as the smallest and lightest autofocus 85mm F1.2 for full-frame mirrorless — and it costs less than half what Canon charges for its equivalent. We first covered this as a development announcement in the summer; it is now a real product. Details are on Sigma’s site.

Why the weight matters

An f/1.2 aperture at 85mm has always come with a penalty, and that penalty is mass. These are large, heavy optics, and the class-defining Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L weighs nearly 1.2kg. A fast portrait lens that tires your arm by the second hour of a shoot is a lens you use less than you should.

Sigma has attacked that directly. It arranged aspherical elements within the focus groups to cut the number of elements in the moving focus unit, so despite a complex floating mechanism the lens comes in at 905g — roughly 290g lighter than the Canon. For a portrait photographer working a full day, or anyone hand-holding at events, that difference is felt.

Built for the light it gathers

The optical formula runs 17 elements in 12 groups, with two SLD elements plus high anomalous-dispersion glass specifically to suppress the axial chromatic aberration — the colour fringing on high-contrast edges — that large apertures are prone to. There are 13 rounded diaphragm blades, more than most rivals, which keeps the out-of-focus rendering near-circular even stopped down a little; on a lens bought largely for its bokeh, that is the detail that counts.

Autofocus uses a dual HLA (High-response Linear Actuator) system, which Sigma says moves the heavy f/1.2 optics quickly and quietly while tracking reliably at a depth of field that leaves almost no margin for error. Focus breathing is suppressed for video.

Handling is well specified: an aperture ring with a lock and a de-click switch for video, two customisable AFL buttons, AF/MF switching, and a dust- and splash-resistant build in aluminium and Sigma’s TSC composite, with water- and oil-repellent front coatings. Minimum focus is 0.84m for 0.11x magnification, and the filter thread is 82mm. There is no image stabilisation.

The price is the story

At £1,299 / $1,599 this completes Sigma’s F1.2 Art trio for mirrorless, joining the 35mm F1.2 DG II and 50mm F1.2 DG DN — wide, standard and short-telephoto, all at the same maximum aperture, all from one maker.

The comparison writes itself. Canon’s own RF 85mm f/1.2L USM is $2,799 — $1,200 more — and on paper the Sigma matches or beats it in several respects: lighter, more aperture blades, a newer dual-HLA focus system against Canon’s ageing ring-USM, and a more ambitious optical formula. The Canon is seven years old, which is a fair caveat, but the value proposition is stark.

The one thing the comparison hides is availability by mount. The Sigma is L-mount and Sony E only — there is no RF or Z version — so Canon and Nikon owners cannot have it regardless of price. For Sony, Panasonic, Leica and Sigma shooters, though, this looks like one of the more compelling portrait lenses in years.

Sigma 85mm F1.2 DG Art: Specifications

Mounts: L-Mount and Sony E.
Format: full-frame.
Focal length: 85mm.
Maximum aperture: f/1.2; minimum f/16.
Optical construction: 17 elements in 12 groups, including 2 SLD elements plus high anomalous-dispersion glass.
Diaphragm: 13 rounded blades.
Autofocus: dual HLA linear actuators, reduced focus breathing.
Minimum focus: 0.84m; maximum magnification 0.11x.
Filter thread: 82mm.
Dimensions: 87.2 x 119.7mm (L-Mount) / 87.2 x 121.7mm (Sony E).
Weight: 905g.
Build: aluminium and TSC, dust- and splash-resistant, water- and oil-repellent front coating; aperture ring with lock and de-click switch, two AFL buttons, AF/MF switch.
Stabilisation: none.

Sigma 85mm F1.2 DG Art: Price and availability

The Sigma 85mm F1.2 DG Art is priced at £1,299 ($1,599 / €1,499). UK and European sources give an on-sale date of 30 September 2026, while Sigma’s US announcement cites 6 October — so confirm the date for your region. Available in L-Mount and Sony E-mount.