Sigma 85mm F1.2 DG | Art Announced – First Hands-on Impressions
- SMotographers
- Lens , News
- September 8, 2026
Table of Contents
Sigma has announced the development of the Sigma 85mm F1.2 DG | Art. Designed for full-frame mirrorless cameras, the fast 85mm prime is scheduled to launch in September 2026 for Sony E-mount and L-Mount. Sigma has not yet announced a price.
I had the opportunity to try the lens ahead of its official launch at a kickboxing tournament organised by Xplosiv Fight Night. It was a demanding real-world test, with fast movement, constantly changing distances and challenging arena lighting. What stood out immediately was the impressive sharpness wide open. Every Fight Night image shown here was captured at F1.2.
A huge thank you to Ott + Wyss for giving me the opportunity to test the lens before its official release.
Key Details
- Product: Sigma 85mm F1.2 DG | Art
- Camera type: full-frame mirrorless cameras
- Available mounts: L-Mount and Sony E-mount
- Autofocus: Dual HLA (High-response Linear Actuator)
- Planned launch: September 2026
- Price: not yet announced
- Supplied accessories: lens hood, LCF-82 IV front cap, LCR III rear cap and pouch
Optical Performance at F1.2
Sigma says its latest optical design delivers exceptional resolution even at maximum aperture. My first session supports that claim: despite the extremely shallow depth of field, accurately focused areas retain plenty of fine detail. Faces, gloves and droplets of sweat remain clearly defined, even during fast action under high-contrast event lighting.
The F1.2 aperture is more than a visual effect. It gathers a great deal of light and gives photographers more room to use the fast shutter speeds needed to freeze action in a dark venue.
Bokeh and Subject Separation
An 85mm focal length paired with F1.2 is a compelling combination for portraits. Subjects stand out distinctly while distracting elements in the venue fall softly out of focus. At the same time, the framing can retain enough context to convey the atmosphere of the event. That shallow depth of field demands precise focusing, however, making dynamic subjects a serious autofocus test.
First Autofocus Impressions
Autofocus is driven by a Dual HLA system. At Fight Night, the lens had to keep up with rapid changes of direction and brief, decisive moments. My first impression is very positive: focus was fast and accurate enough to capture strikes and movement at F1.2. A final verdict will have to wait until I have tested the lens for longer and in a wider range of situations.
Sample Images: Xplosiv Fight Night
The following images were captured with the Sigma 85mm F1.2 DG | Art on a Sony Alpha 1 II. According to the EXIF data, every image was shot at F1.2, with the other exposure settings adjusted to suit each scene.
Completing Sigma’s F1.2 Prime Line-up
The 85mm F1.2 DG | Art adds the classic portrait focal length to Sigma’s F1.2 prime range. Together with the Sigma 35mm F1.2 DG II | Art and Sigma 50mm F1.2 DG DN | Art, the line-up now covers wide, standard and medium-telephoto perspectives.
Price and Availability
Sigma lists September 2026 as the planned launch window. The lens will be available for L-Mount and Sony E-mount. A price and exact on-sale date have not yet been announced.
More information is available in Sigma’s official development announcement.
First Verdict
The Sigma 85mm F1.2 DG | Art made a strong impression in its first real-world outing. Its sharpness at F1.2, pronounced subject separation and autofocus performance in difficult light make it an exciting option for portraits, events and indoor sports. A more detailed review with additional images will follow.
Note: At the time of publication, Sigma had not released the full final specifications or pricing. The product’s appearance and specifications may change before launch.
