Sigma has announced the development of the Sigma 85mm f/1.2 DG | Art, a large-aperture medium-telephoto prime lens designed for full frame mirrorless cameras.
This is not a full product launch, so detailed specifications are limited. However, what Sigma has shared so far paints a clear picture of where this lens fits in the lineup and what it's aiming to deliver.
What We Know
Sigma says the 85mm f/1.2 DG | Art uses its latest optical design to deliver high resolution even at maximum aperture, and the lens is built around a dual HLA (High-response Linear Actuator) autofocus system for fast, precise, and quiet focusing. The company also describes the lens as compact and lightweight, though no exact dimensions or weight figures have been disclosed yet.
The lens will be available in L-Mount and Sony E-mount. No pricing has been announced. Sigma is targeting a September 2026 launch.
Here are the key specs confirmed so far:
- Focal length: 85mm
- Maximum aperture: f/1.2
- Lens designation: DG | Art (full frame, Art line)
- Autofocus: Dual HLA (High-response Linear Actuator) system
- Filter thread: 82mm
- Available mounts: L-Mount, Sony E-mount
- Price: Not yet announced
Completing the f/1.2 Trio
The 85mm f/1.2 DG | Art completes Sigma's lineup of f/1.2 prime lenses for full frame mirrorless cameras. It joins the Sigma 35mm f/1.2 DG II | Art, which launched in September 2025, and the Sigma 50mm f/1.2 DG DN | Art, which arrived in 2024. Sigma has stated that this completes the f/1.2 series, suggesting the company does not plan to release additional f/1.2 primes beyond these three focal lengths.
The lens will sit above the existing Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN | Art, which launched in 2020 and remains one of the more compact 85mm options on the market.
Why It Matters for Photo and Video Creators
The 85mm focal length is one of the most popular choices for portrait photography, and an f/1.2 aperture at this focal length is a significant offering. The extremely shallow depth of field at f/1.2 gives photographers strong subject separation and smooth background rendering that an f/1.4 lens simply cannot match to the same degree. For event, wedding, and editorial portrait photographers, this kind of rendering can be a defining part of their visual style.
For video creators, an 85mm f/1.2 is a natural choice for interview setups, medium close-ups, and narrative work where strong subject isolation is needed. The dual HLA autofocus system should deliver the kind of quiet, smooth focusing performance that hybrid shooters need, and given that Sigma's recent f/1.2 lenses have featured well-suppressed focus breathing, there's reason to expect similar attention here, though Sigma has not confirmed that detail yet.
The fact that this lens is coming to both Sony E-mount and L-Mount means it will be available to a large segment of the mirrorless market. For L-Mount users shooting on Panasonic Lumix or Leica bodies, this would be the first 85mm f/1.2 autofocus option native to the mount. Sony shooters will gain another alternative alongside the Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM, and given Sigma's typical pricing strategy, the 85mm f/1.2 DG | Art will likely undercut first-party equivalents from Canon and Nikon by a considerable margin, even though it won't be available in those mounts.
Looking Ahead
With only a development announcement and a prototype on the CP+ show floor, there is still a lot we don't know about this lens, including its optical formula, physical dimensions, weight, minimum focus distance, and price. Those details will come closer to the September 2026 launch. But the trajectory set by the 35mm f/1.2 DG II | Art and 50mm f/1.2 DG DN | Art, both of which earned strong reviews for their combination of optical performance, compact size, and competitive pricing, gives a solid foundation for expectations. If Sigma can deliver on the same formula at 85mm, this lens could become a go-to portrait prime for a wide range of working photographers and filmmakers.
1 Comment
“…an f/1.4 lens simply cannot match to the same degree…”?
That depends on too many factors to make such a broad assertion. My guess is Sigma thinks there’s a market for an 85/1.2 DG Art alonside their 85/1.4 DG DN Art, and it won’t cannibalize sales of the earlier lens too much.
Yes, the renderings will probably be different at f/1.4 vs f/1.2. But that may be more a function of lens design. Biggest difference will most likely be weight. Photographers will have to ask themselves if the rendering difference is worth spending the extra money and carrying the extra weight around.
I had a Leica 50mm f/1 Noctilux for a couple years. The thing was so big and heavy on am M-camera that it usually stayed home, and I used a much smaller 50/1.4 Summilux instead.
I also use an RF 50/1.2L occasionally. That lens stays home a lot for the same reason - it’s too heavy to carry all the time.
Sigma’s 85/1.4 DG DN Art has a plenty large max aperture and good sharpness and background blur at f/1.4 for my needs on a Leica SL3. But if somebody wants to try the new 85/1.2 to see how it renders, have at it.