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Sigma

85mm F1.4 DG DN Art

Nikon Z Mount

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

$1,199

Launch price

Released Apr 2021

vs

Sony

FE 50mm F1.2 GM

Sony E Mount

Exquisite resolution and dreamy bokeh combine in a masterful f/1.2 prime.

$1,999

Launch price

Released Mar 2021

Released within a month of each other.

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Wins

3categories

85mm F1.4 DG DN Art

PortraitSports & Action

Wins

4categories

FE 50mm F1.2 GM

PortraitSports & Action

1 categories tied

TL;DR — Key differences

85mm F1.4 DG DN Art wins 2 categories·FE 50mm F1.2 GM wins 3 categories
  • A85mm F1.4 DG DN Art has lower Min focus distance (30 cm vs 40 cm)
  • BFE 50mm F1.2 GM has lower Length (108 mm vs 138 mm)
  • A85mm F1.4 DG DN Art has lower Weight (625 g vs 778 g)
  • BFE 50mm F1.2 GM has lower Max aperture (Wide) (f/1.2 vs f/1.4)
  • BFE 50mm F1.2 GM has lower Max aperture (Tele) (f/1.2 vs f/1.4)

Key specs at a glance

85mm F1.4 DG DN ArtFE 50mm F1.2 GM
Focal Length85 mm50 mm
Max Aperturef/1.4f/1.2
MountNikon ZSony E
CoverageFull FrameFull Frame
StabilizationNoNo
Weight625 g778 g
Min Focus30 cm40 cm
Filter Size77 mm72 mm

Use-case scoring

Which one for what?

Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class

Use case85mm F1.4 DG DN ArtFE 50mm F1.2 GM
Portrait
9.5Excellent
9.0Excellent
Sports & Action
6.5Good
6.5Good
Video & Hybrid
4.5Fair
4.5Fair
Landscape
4.0Fair
3.0Limited
Travel
3.5Limited
2.0Limited
Wildlife
3.0Limited
3.0Limited
Macro & Close-up
1.5Limited
0.0Limited

Why pick one over the other

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

  • Special elements

    Adds Aspherical, ED

  • Min focus distance

    30 cm vs 40 cm — lower is better

  • Weight

    625 g vs 778 g — lower is better

  • Diameter

    81 mm vs 87 mm — lower is better

Reasons to choose the FE 50mm F1.2 GM

  • Special elements

    Adds 3 XA (extreme aspherical)

  • Custom function button

    Only FE 50mm F1.2 GM supports it

  • Length

    108 mm vs 138 mm — lower is better

  • Max aperture (Wide)

    f/1.2 vs f/1.4 — lower is better

  • Max aperture (Tele)

    f/1.2 vs f/1.4 — lower is better

  • Max magnification

    0.17 × vs 0.15 × — higher is better

Shared specifications

Internal focus

Both support internal focus

Weather sealing

Both support weather sealing

Control ring

Both support control ring

Pros & cons at a glance

Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.

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

FE 50mm F1.2 GM

Pros

  • Outstanding sharpness wide open at f/1.2
  • Stunningly smooth, circular bokeh with 11 aperture blades
  • Extremely quiet and fast autofocus tracking
  • Manageable size and weight for an f/1.2 lens

Cons

  • Expensive investment for a single focal length
  • Heavy compared to standard f/1.8 options
  • Some visible vignetting wide open

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the 85mm F1.4 DG DN Art and FE 50mm F1.2 GM at major authorized retailers.

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Full specifications

= category winner

85mm F1.4 DG DN Art
FE 50mm F1.2 GM
Focal length (Min)
85 mm
50 mm
Focal length (Max)
85 mm
50 mm
Max aperture (Wide)
f/1.4
f/1.2+0.4 stops wider
Max aperture (Tele)
f/1.4
f/1.2+0.4 stops wider
Elements
14
14
Groups
11
10
Special elements
Aspherical, ED
3 XA (extreme aspherical)
85mm F1.4 DG DN Art
FE 50mm F1.2 GM
Min focus distance
30 cm−10 cm less
40 cm
Max magnification
0.15 ×
0.17 ×+13%
Autofocus motor
Linear / Stepping Motor
XD Linear Motors
Internal focus
Yes
Yes
85mm F1.4 DG DN Art
FE 50mm F1.2 GM
Optical stabilization
No
No
OIS effectiveness
0 stops
0 stops
85mm F1.4 DG DN Art
FE 50mm F1.2 GM
Weight
625 g−153 g less
778 g
Length
138 mm
108 mm−30 mm less
Diameter
81 mm−6 mm less
87 mm
Filter thread size
77 mm
72 mm
Weather sealing
Yes
Yes
Diaphragm blades
11
11
85mm F1.4 DG DN Art
FE 50mm F1.2 GM
Lens mount
Nikon Z
Sony E
Format coverage
Full Frame
Full Frame

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