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Sigma

56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary

Sony E Mount

56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary — 56mm f/1.4 for Sony E, a popular choice in the sigma lineup.

$429

Launch price

Released Nov 2018

vs

Sigma

85mm F1.4 DG DN Art

Sony E Mount

85mm F1.4 DG DN Art — 85mm f/1.4 for Sony E, a popular choice in the sigma lineup.

$1,199

Launch price

Released Dec 2020

85mm F1.4 DG DN Art is 2 years newer.

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Wins

3categories

56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary

PortraitSports & Action

Wins

0categories

85mm F1.4 DG DN Art

PortraitSports & Action

5 categories tied

TL;DR — Key differences

56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary wins 3 categories·85mm F1.4 DG DN Art wins 0 categories
  • A56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary has lower Weight (280 g vs 625 g)
  • A56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary has lower Length (89 mm vs 138 mm)
  • A56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary has lower Diameter (70 mm vs 81 mm)

Key specs at a glance

56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary85mm F1.4 DG DN Art
Focal Length56 mm85 mm
Max Aperturef/1.4f/1.4
MountSony ESony E
CoverageAPS-CFull Frame
StabilizationNoNo
Weight280 g625 g
Min Focus30 cm30 cm
Filter Size67 mm77 mm

Use-case scoring

Which one for what?

Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class

Use case56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary85mm F1.4 DG DN Art
Portrait
8.5Excellent
9.5Excellent
Sports & Action
6.5Good
6.5Good
Video & Hybrid
3.5Limited
4.5Fair
Landscape
2.0Limited
4.0Fair
Travel
5.0Fair
3.5Limited
Wildlife
1.0Limited
3.0Limited
Macro & Close-up
1.5Limited
1.5Limited

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose the 56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary

  • Weight

    280 g vs 625 g — lower is better

  • Length

    89 mm vs 138 mm — lower is better

  • Diameter

    70 mm vs 81 mm — lower is better

Reasons to choose the 85mm F1.4 DG DN Art

  • Weather sealing

    Only 85mm F1.4 DG DN Art supports it

  • Control ring

    Only 85mm F1.4 DG DN Art supports it

Shared specifications

Max aperture (Wide)

Both f/1.4

Max aperture (Tele)

Both f/1.4

Min focus distance

Both 30 cm

Max magnification

Both 0.15 ×

Internal focus

Both support internal focus

Pros & cons at a glance

Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.

56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary

Pros

  • Bright f/1.4 aperture for low light and subject separation
  • Prime design typically delivers strong sharpness and lighter weight
  • Lightweight design easy to carry all day

Cons

  • Third-party or older alternatives may offer better value

85mm F1.4 DG DN Art

Pros

  • Bright f/1.4 aperture for low light and subject separation
  • Prime design typically delivers strong sharpness and lighter weight
  • Weather-sealed construction for outdoor shooting

Cons

  • Third-party or older alternatives may offer better value

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the 56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary and 85mm F1.4 DG DN Art at major authorized retailers.

Sigma 56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary

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Full specifications

= category winner

56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary
85mm F1.4 DG DN Art
Focal length (Min)
56 mm
85 mm
Focal length (Max)
56 mm
85 mm
Max aperture (Wide)
f/1.4
f/1.4
Max aperture (Tele)
f/1.4
f/1.4
Elements
14
14
Groups
11
11
Special elements
Aspherical, ED
Aspherical, ED
56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary
85mm F1.4 DG DN Art
Min focus distance
30 cm
30 cm
Max magnification
0.15 ×
0.15 ×
Autofocus motor
Linear / Stepping Motor
Linear / Stepping Motor
Internal focus
Yes
Yes
56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary
85mm F1.4 DG DN Art
Optical stabilization
No
No
OIS effectiveness
0 stops
0 stops
56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary
85mm F1.4 DG DN Art
Weight
280 g−345 g less
625 g
Length
89 mm−49 mm less
138 mm
Diameter
70 mm−11 mm less
81 mm
Filter thread size
67 mm
77 mm
Weather sealing
No
Yes
Diaphragm blades
11
11
56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary
85mm F1.4 DG DN Art
Lens mount
Sony E
Sony E
Format coverage
APS-C
Full Frame

Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.