Sigma 135mm f/1.4 DG Art Lens for Sony E

Sigma 135mm f/1.4 DG Art Lens for Sony E Summary

With its fast f/1.4 aperture and classic 135mm focal length, the new Sigma 135mm f/1.4 DG Art Lens for Sony E is a prime, which brings something unique to the E mount lens line-up. This is the world’s first 135mm autofocus lens to feature such a wide aperture, offering an extraordinary balance of sharpness, subject separation and depth, which is ideal for portrait photographers in particular, who want to capture sharp subject focus with smooth defocus areas.

As a DG lens, this is designed exclusively for mirrorless cameras, with a revised internal design that includes a floating focus system and a pair of High-response Linear Actuators (HLAs) driving the autofocus system. This setup allows for quick, precise focus across a wide range of subjects, and helps ensure consistent sharpness throughout the focus range, even when shooting with the aperture wide open.

Sigma’s optical formula includes 17 elements in 13 groups, with four FLD and two aspherical lenses to reduce chromatic aberration and maintain sharpness and clarity across the frame. A 13-blade aperture ensures defocused areas are circular, with excellent transition between the subject and background.

Despite the large front element and wide f/1.4 aperture, this lens is quite manageable for location and studio shooting, with a weight of 1,430g. It also includes a removable Arca-Swiss compatible tripod collar, and offers comprehensive weather resistance with a protective coating on the front element for easy cleaning. Handling is further supported by an aperture ring with lock and de-click options, dual customisable AFL buttons, and a focus mode switch. For Sony portrait, fashion or event photographers, this is a milestone new prime with a very specific character.

Sigma 135mm f/1.4 DG Art Lens Features

• World’s first autofocus 135mm lens with an f/1.4 aperture
• Dual HLA motors for fast, precise autofocus with high torque
• 17 elements in 13 groups with 4 FLD and 2 aspherical elements
• Close focus of 110cm with 1:6.9 maximum magnification
• 13-blade diaphragm produces circular bokeh at all apertures
• Aperture ring with lock and de-click switches for flexible control
• Rugged construction with dust and splash-resistant design
• Removable Arca-Swiss compatible tripod socket
• 105mm front filter thread

Sigma 135mm f/1.4 DG Art Lens for Sony E in More Detail

Bokeh That Sets It Apart

What immediately stands out with the Sigma 135mm f/1.4 DG Art is the size of its bokeh. It goes beyond what most portrait lenses offer, even surpassing Sigma’s own 105mm f/1.4 Bokeh Master in terms of background blur. You get a level of subject separation and compression that gives images a distinctive sense of depth, particularly when shooting wide open at close-to-moderate distances, which is even comparable to the Sigma 200mm F2 DG OS | Sports for Sony.

The 135mm focal length naturally suits headshots and upper-body portraits, and when taking into account the f/1.4 aperture, the look becomes far more layered and 3D than you’d typically see from an f/1.8 lens.

Optical Design and Rendering

Sigma has used 17 elements in 13 groups, including four FLD and two aspherical lenses, to tackle chromatic aberration and preserve sharpness across the frame. One of the key achievements is how well the lens produces sharp details with softness in the background with crisp edges, clean colours, and defocus, which falls off gradually and naturally.

You also won’t run into distracting highlight shapes or obvious vignetting, even wide open. Bokeh highlights stay circular, even towards the corners, and the transition between in-focus and out-of-focus areas is impressively smooth.

A rounded 13-blade aperture helps to render rounded bokeh with soft backgrounds, while Sigma’s aspherical glass plays a big part in the rendering, delivering a clean, refined look in images.

Consistent Sharpness Across the Focus Range

Despite being optimised for portraiture, this lens still resolves well throughout the focus range. A floating focus system moves two internal lens groups independently, helping to maintain high resolution at any distance. It’s particularly useful if you’re shooting environmental portraits or working with tighter framing where sharpness right to the edges is important.

Backlight and Ghosting Control

Strong resistance to flare and ghosting is provided by Sigma’s Super Multi-Layer Coating, which holds up well even when shooting into sunlight or with artificial light sources just outside the frame.

Dual Autofocus System

Autofocus is responsive despite the size of the internal optics thanks to Sigma utilising two separate HLAs (High-response Linear Actuators), one for each focus group. This gives the lens both speed and torque, which is a combination that’s often difficult to achieve in large-aperture telephoto designs.

Focus is quiet, fast, and very accurate, with little hesitation, whether you’re shooting in single or continuous AF modes. Even subtle expressions or movements are picked up reliably, which makes the lens suitable for events, fashion, and other types of portrait photography.

Handling and Controls

There are two customisable AFL buttons placed for easy access in horizontal and vertical orientations, along with a wide manual focus ring, a physical focus mode switch, and a manual aperture ring. The aperture ring can be locked to prevent accidental changes and de-clicked for video recording.

Art Line Build Quality

Materials include aluminium and magnesium alloy in key structural areas, alongside Sigma’s TSC (Thermally Stable Composite) for balance and weight management. This helps the lens to feel solid without being too heavy.

It’s also comprehensively weather-sealed, with dust and splash-resistance, and the front element has a water and oil-repellent coating to help keep the glass clean.

Accessories

The lens includes a carbon fibre-reinforced petal lens hood, which locks into place with a button mechanism to add impact protection as well as shading from incidental light. You’ll also find a removable Arca-Swiss compatible tripod collar, which is made from magnesium alloy, improving stability for longer shooting sessions. This can be swapped out for a protective cover if shooting handheld.

What’s in the box

• Sigma 135mm f/1.4 DG Art Lens for Sony E
• Lens Hood LH1126-01
• Front Cap LCF-105 IV
• Rear Cap LCR III
• Tripod Socket TS-181
• Protective Cover PT-61

Sigma 135mm f/1.4 DG Art Lens Specifications