A Master Of Portraits

Sakshi Parikh tests the Sigma 135mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art to see whether it is able to maintain the superb standards of the Sigma Art lineup. Here’s what she found out.

- Sakshi Parikh

The 135mm prime lens is a long-time favorite of portrait photographers, combining the compression of a telephoto lens with the narrow depth-of-field of a fast aperture, resulting in really blurred out backgrounds. Sigma recently made waves with their long awaited 135mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art lens. The sixth addition in the company’s prime lens Art lineup, the 135mm f/1.8 offers portraitists a second option after the 85mm f/1.4. It features an incredibly fast f/1.8 aperture, setting it apart from its competitors from Nikon, Canon and Zeiss.

Features

The lens is robust. At 1130 grams, the Sigma 135mm f/1.8 with a complex optical construction, makes its competitors like Canon 135mm f/2L feel modest. The 135mm f/1.8 Art wears its size like a badge of honor. The larger, heavier build seems made to last. It has an 82mm filter size to match. The lens features Sigma’s characteristic sleek, matte black finish. The barrel itself is constructed out of Sigma’s proprietary ‘Thermally Stable Composite’ material, which allows for much better manufacturing precision, especially compared to standard polycarbonate plastics.

It features a new large Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM), which has extra torque for quick focusing. In addition, the three step focus limiter makes AF highly responsive to distance from the subject, for an even faster performance.