Sigma's 85mm F1.2 DG Art is shipping now for Sony E-mount and L-Mount at $1,599, making it the cheapest autofocus 85mm f/1.2 lens for full-frame mirrorless cameras by a wide margin. Canon's and Nikon's equivalents both list at $2,799, and both are heavier.
It is one of four lenses Sigma has brought out or announced for October and November. Here is what each one costs, when you can get it, and what the first reviews say about the 85mm.
Quick facts: Sigma 85mm F1.2 DG Art
| Price | $1,599 (US), £1,299 (UK) |
| Mounts | Sony E-mount, L-Mount |
| Availability | Shipping since October 6, 2026 |
| Weight | 905g / about 31.9 oz (L-Mount, per Sigma) |
| Length | 121.7mm |
| Filter | 82mm |
| Optics | 17 elements in 12 groups, including 2 SLD and 3 aspherical |
| Aperture blades | 13, rounded |
| Minimum focus | 0.84m (33.1 in), 0.11x magnification |
| Autofocus | Dual HLA linear motors |
| Build | Dust- and splash-resistant, water- and oil-repellent front coating |
Sigma calls it its brightest-ever f/1.2 aperture and "the smallest and lightest in its class for an 85mm F1.2." It has a de-clickable aperture ring with a lock switch and two customizable AFL buttons. There is no image stabilization.
How does it compare with Canon and Nikon?
The Sigma's main selling point is price. Weights and list prices for the autofocus 85mm f/1.2 lenses on full-frame mirrorless cameras:
| Lens | Mount | Weight | List price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sigma 85mm F1.2 DG Art (2026) | Sony E, L-Mount | 905g | $1,599 |
| Nikon Z 85mm f/1.2 S (2023) | Nikon Z | 1,160g | $2,799 |
| Canon RF 85mm F1.2L USM (2019) | Canon RF | 1,195g | $2,799 |
The catch is that those two rivals are on Canon and Nikon cameras, and the Sigma isn't. Sony shooters have never had a first-party 85mm f/1.2 from Sony. Their closest Sony option is the FE 85mm F1.4 GM II (642g), which is lighter but has a slower f/1.4 aperture. Sigma's own 85mm F1.4 DG DN Art is 630g, 275g lighter than the new f/1.2.
What do the reviews say?
Early reviews are strongly positive.
- Digital Camera World gave it five stars, calling it "simply a phenomenal lens that's great value for money." It praised sharpness "even wide open," smooth bokeh and the handling. Its two complaints were that it is fairly bulky and only comes in two mounts.
- Fstoppers found the center sharp at f/1.2 and the frame sharp edge to edge by f/2.8, even on a 61-megapixel sensor. Autofocus was quiet and tracked well, and focus breathing was modest for video. Its "one real weakness" is longitudinal chromatic aberration, colored fringing on out-of-focus highlights, which it says stays strong from f/1.2 through f/4. It also noted heavy vignetting wide open.
Fstoppers also raised the practical question every buyer should ask: if you mostly shoot in daylight or groups, a cheaper, lighter f/1.4 may serve you just as well. The f/1.2 matters most in low light.
Sigma's other new lenses
20-60mm F2.8-4 DG Contemporary ($849). A compact standard zoom for full-frame Sony E and L-Mount that starts wider than the usual 24mm. It weighs 385g (L-Mount) and focuses as close as 15.8cm at 28mm. It went on sale October 6.
50-120mm F2.8 DC OS Contemporary ($799). Announced October 8, this is a stabilized constant-f/2.8 telephoto zoom for APS-C cameras, roughly 75-180mm in full-frame terms. It comes in Sony E, Fujifilm X and Canon RF, weighs about 390g (13.8 oz) for Sony and 410g for RF, and is due October 22. With Sigma's 10-18mm and 18-50mm f/2.8 zooms, it completes a three-lens APS-C set that weighs under 1kg in total, according to RedShark News.
16-300mm F3.5-6.7 DC OS Contemporary for Nikon Z ($769). Sigma's APS-C superzoom is coming to Nikon Z on November 5.
| Lens | Format | Mounts | Price | Available |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 85mm F1.2 DG Art | Full frame | Sony E, L | $1,599 | Now |
| 20-60mm F2.8-4 DG Contemporary | Full frame | Sony E, L | $849 | Now |
| 50-120mm F2.8 DC OS Contemporary | APS-C | Sony E, Fuji X, Canon RF | $799 | Oct 22 |
| 16-300mm F3.5-6.7 DC OS Contemporary | APS-C | Nikon Z (new) | $769 | Nov 5 |
Why it matters
Competition from third-party lens makers is a big part of what keeps prices down, and the 85mm f/1.2 is a clear example: it undercuts the camera makers' own lenses by about $1,200. Sigma's two new full-frame lenses are Sony E and L-Mount only; Canon RF and Nikon Z owners get the new APS-C zooms. For context on how the market could shift, see our earlier report on Sony's bid for Tamron.
What to watch
Availability of the 85mm f/1.2 at retailers as the first shipments reach buyers.
More mounts. Whether Sigma brings its full-frame Art primes to Canon RF or Nikon Z.
Independent lab tests. More detailed optical testing of the 85mm f/1.2, especially the color-fringing issue Fstoppers flagged.
Published Sunday, October 18, 2026. Prices are US list prices from Sigma and B&H and may change. Rival weights and prices are manufacturer list figures. Review findings are from Digital Camera World and Fstoppers.
