When it comes to portrait lenses with focal lengths near 85 mm two kinds of instruments prevail on the market – either very fast and very expensive f/1.2-1.4 models, or constructions aimed at amateur photographers with a maximum relative aperture of f/1.8-2.0. If you see anything slower with such a focal length, more often than not it is a macro construction.
Meanwhile a small, shapely portrait lens as fast as f/2.5-3.5 is not a completely bad idea. Not everyone needs DOF as thin as a sheet of paper; f/2.8 light with a focal length of 85-90 mm on full frame allows you to reach depth of field appropriate for many other uses. Still not many producers have decided to construct such a device so our comparison chart looks rather modest.
You can notice at once that older lenses of that type are very simple constructions, with just 4-5 elements inside. The new Sigma C 90 mm f/2.8 DG DN outclasses its rivals hands down as it features as many as 11 elements, five of them made of low dispersion SLD glass. We do hope it will result in a better image quality.
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Even though the new Sigma has a metal casing and many elements inside, it is hardly heavy. In our chart only the Sony 85 mm f/2.8 SAM, with a barrel dominated by plastics of medium quality, is physically lighter.
