When I started Martin Creates, the quality of my images were thanks to the golden three primes that I always used on photoshoots: Sony 35mm f1.8, Zeiss 55mm f1.8 and Sony 85mm f1.8. The Sony 85mm f1.8 was one of the client favourites due to its general reputation in the creative community, and the fact that I was using it a lot for my personal street photography collection (I usually tag my gear in the caption). I found it really fun to use thanks to its strong yet light build that was easy to travel with. It produced incredibly sharp and beautiful results. Initially, it was always a debate between getting either an f1.2, f1.4 or f1.8. Having tested all three, it was clear that 1.8 was the best fit for purpose at an astonishingly affordable price. I buy most of my lenses second hand from various platforms and you can read Martin Creates's guide for shopping second hand camera gear here.
Below is an example of one of its earliest applications in the Martin Creates portfolio. It was during a professional lifestyle photoshoot in Central London for it luggage's summer campaign for a new product line that had just hit the market. The model in the lifestyle photo, Ana Maria, is intentionally out of focus to secure full attention on the luggage. There is a stunning view of Millennium Bridge in the background on a warm summer's day to bring the scene to life.
Even outside the world of commercial and campaign-led photography, an 85mm lens is commonly used for capturing eye-catching stills. In fact, it actually comes at no surprise that most high-performing and, even award-winning street documentary photographers - especially in London - use an 85mm lens.
There was a time when I honestly felt as though nothing could ever make me part ways with my 85mm.
It is THAT good.
That was, until I discovered Sigma's 105mm f1.4 Art lens.
One of the biggest advantages of shooting on a Sony Alpha system is that there is a wide selection of third-party lenses to choose from. It's surprising how many shooters I have encountered that are unaware of the fact that third-party brands quite often outcompete Sony's lenses.
Sigma is a great example of why third-party lenses are always worth considering.
K-Pop dancer captured by Martin Creates using a Sigma 105mm f1.4 Art lens
This photo aims to exemplify one of the 105mm's most unique selling point: compression!
The Sigma 105mm f1.4 Art lens has a longer focal length, which is certainly advantageous for certain types of photography, such as portraiture. This is because portrait photographers usually want more compression and separation from the background so the subject appears more eye-catching.
The wider aperture (f1.4 vs f1.8) allows for even shallower depth of field and better low-light performance, giving you more creative control over your images in various shooting conditions. This has been particularly useful at event photoshoots where the flash interferes with the client's speech due to the actual flash and/or distracting noise. When possible, I can therefore turn my flashgun off and rely on ambient light coming into the camera's body by setting it the aperture to f1.4. By not having to wander around the room and get close-up shots of people in the room, its longer focal length makes it less intrusive whilst allowing me to rely on foreground in the room. Below is an example from a corporate event shoot recently. If I was to attempt the same shot on an 85mm, the compression wouldn't be as strong, I'd have to figure out how to get closer and potentially miss my shot and / or crop the sensor; which we know reduces final image quality.
All things worth having come with a sacrifice.
1.5kg.
Weight & size are key factors to bear in mind when choosing which lens to get. It is significantly more challenging to log around an extra 1.5kg all day along with other gear, or to handle it during a long day of shooting. I know my forearms felt its weight at the end of the day. The lens does come with a black handle so you can use two hands, but it's still a lot for some people. You can see the size difference in the photos below some people will struggle to find space in their bags for this lens.
Sigma 105mm f1.4 size compared to Sony a7iv body with Sony 35mm 1.8 attached
Sigma 105mm f1.4 size compared to a Zeiss 55mm 1.8 (another favourite portrait and event lens used on photoshoots)
The weight of the Sigma 105mm f/1.4 lens could potentially make it less suitable for video compared to lighter lenses, especially if you need to shoot handheld for extended periods or if you're using a gimbal. The added weight might lead to fatigue and difficulty in maintaining stable footage. Tripod video makes the weight a less of an issue but, at Martin Creates, we would mainly consider this lens to be ideal for professional photography and not video purposes unless it was a very specific requirement. Also, at Martin Creates, we tend to shot videos that are fairly wide in focal length such as 14-24mm, 35mm and sometimes 55mm.
Overall, the Sigma Art series is known for delivering outstanding image quality and versatility, making them a popular choice among professional photographers. The 105mm is no exception to the rule. In fact, I don't think there's a better lens on the market and I cannot wait to do more shoots with it. If it's within budget, go for it. Otherwise, an 85mm will not disappoint either. Perhaps I'll purchase an 85mm again... we'll have to wait and see!
I am a professional freelance photographer and videographer based in London, UK. I started Martin Creates in order to help empower people and brands worldwide. One of the ways I do that is by publishing blogs with free information to help any creatives out there reading this. I welcome you to check out my work on this website as well as my newly launched site martincreatesweddings.com. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out.
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