Sigma’s long-awaited 85mm f/1.2 DG Art is now available to preorder. For portrait photographers looking for a seriously fast prime, this could be one of the most exciting lenses Sigma has released in years.
In the US, the new 85mm f/1.2 can be preordered from B&H and Adorama for $1,599, while UK photographers can order from Wex Photo Video, London Camera Exchange, and Park Cameras for £1,299.
The lens will be available in both Sony E-mount and L-Mount versions, with Sigma officially listing September 30, 2026 as its launch date.
Sony FE mount Sigma 85mm f/1.2 deals
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An 85mm lens has always been something of a sweet spot for portrait photography, but combining that classic focal length with an f/1.2 maximum aperture takes things to another level. That exceptionally wide aperture allows photographers to create an incredibly shallow depth of field and really separate a subject from the background, while also giving the lens serious low-light capabilities.
Sigma has paired this with a 13-blade rounded diaphragm, which is designed to maintain smooth, near-circular bokeh even as the lens is stopped down. For portraits, weddings and fashion photography in particular, that combination has the potential to deliver exactly the kind of three-dimensional rendering photographers want from a premium 85mm prime.
Of course, an f/1.2 aperture means very little if a lens cannot deliver the optical quality to make the most of it, and this is where Sigma’s Art series pedigree becomes important. The 85mm f/1.2 DG Art uses 17 elements arranged in 12 groups, including two SLD elements alongside high anomalous-dispersion glass and aspherical elements.
Sigma says this design has been developed to suppress axial chromatic aberration, spherical aberration, and sagittal coma flare, with the aim of maintaining impressive resolving power even when the lens is being used wide open at f/1.2. That is particularly important with today’s high-resolution full-frame cameras, where any optical weaknesses can quickly become obvious.
Perhaps one of the most impressive things about the new Sigma, however, is that the company has somehow managed to stop an 85mm f/1.2 from becoming an absolute monster. The lens weighs 905g and measures approximately 119.7mm long in its L-Mount version, with Sigma claiming it is the smallest and lightest autofocus 85mm f/1.2 lens in its class for full-frame mirrorless cameras as of September 2026.
It is certainly not what I would call a lightweight everyday prime, but considering the amount of glass and that enormous maximum aperture, Sigma has clearly put some serious work into making this lens practical enough for weddings, portraits and location work rather than restricting it to the studio.
Autofocus should also make the 85mm f/1.2 considerably easier to live with than some ultra-fast portrait lenses. Sigma has equipped it with a dual HLA, or High-response Linear Actuator, focusing system designed to provide fast, quiet, and accurate AF for both stills and video.
That becomes especially important at f/1.2, where depth of field can be razor thin and even a small focusing error can mean the difference between perfectly sharp eyes and a missed shot. Video shooters have not been forgotten either, with Sigma specifically designing the lens to suppress focus breathing, alongside an aperture ring, aperture-ring lock, click/de-click switch, and two customizable AFL buttons.
Sample images
At $1,599 / £1,299, the Sigma 85mm f/1.2 DG Art is unquestionably a premium lens, but it also feels like an impressive amount of glass for the money when you consider exactly what Sigma is offering. You are getting that enormous f/1.2 aperture, a professional Art-series optical design, sophisticated autofocus, weather-resistant construction, and a surprisingly manageable body.
More importantly, this finally completes Sigma’s current f/1.2 Art prime lineup alongside the 35mm f/1.2 DG II Art and 50mm f/1.2 DG DN Art. For Sony and L-Mount photographers who want the ultimate combination of subject separation, low-light performance, and classic 85mm portrait rendering, this looks like a lens that could be very difficult to resist.
