Sigma has announced a new medium-telephoto prime for full-frame L-mount and Sony E-mount cameras. The Sigma 85mm F1.2 DG Art joins the Sigma 35mm F1.2 DG II Art and 50mm F1.2 DG DN Art, completing Sigma’s F1.2 Art trio.
It also fills a real gap. Until now, neither E-mount nor L-Mount had an autofocus 85 mm F1.2 from anyone. The only options were manual focus.
Smallest in its class
Sigma claims the 85mm Art is the smallest and lightest 85mm F1.2 available, and the numbers back it up. At 31.9 ounces (905 g), it comes in roughly 24% under Canon’s RF 85mm F1.2 and about 22% under Nikon’s Z 85mm F1.2 S.
The lens measures 3.4 inches (87.2mm) in diameter by 4.8 inches (121.7 mm) long, with an 82mm front filter thread. Construction is dust- and splash-resistant, and the front element carries a water- and oil-repellent coating.
Optical design
Sigma built the 85mm with 17 elements in 12 groups, including two SLD (special low dispersion) elements and three aspherical elements. Placing those aspherical elements inside the focus groups cut the number of elements that have to move during focus, which is a large part of how Sigma kept the weight down.
The design suppresses focus breathing and controls chromatic and spherical aberration. There’s no optical stabilization, so you’re relying on in-body stabilization.
F1.2 maximum aperture
F1.2 buys about two-thirds of a stop over an F1.4 lens, along with noticeably shallower depth of field at the same distance. For portrait work, that’s the entire argument.
A 13-blade rounded diaphragm keeps bokeh near-circular even stopped down, which is a few more blades than this class usually gets. Minimum focus is 33 inches (84 cm), for a maximum magnification of 0.11x.
Controls
The aperture ring de-clicks via a switch for video, and a lock switch keeps it from drifting. Sigma also fitted two assignable AFL buttons and an AF/MF switch on the barrel.
Autofocus
Dual HLA (High-response Linear Actuator) motors drive focus. They deliver fast, quiet autofocus for stills and video, and Sigma claims reliable tracking. That matters more here than usual, since 85 mm F1.2 lenses have historically been slow to focus given how much glass has to move.
What we think
This one is going to sell. 85mm is the portrait focal length, F1.2 gives you background separation nothing slower can match, and Sigma has undercut the competition on both weight and price by a wide margin.
The weight figure is the real achievement. Three aspherical elements let Sigma shorten the optical chain, and the result is an F1.2 portrait lens you can actually hold through a full session without your arm giving out.
It’s still a chunky lens with an 82mm filter thread, and there’s no stabilization. But if you’re shooting a body with decent IBIS, this is the fast 85mm E-mount and L-mount shooters have been waiting on.
Pricing and availability
The Sigma 85mm F1.2 DG Art launches Sept. 30, 2026, at $1,599.
