Sigma Contemporary 56mm f/1.4 DC DN 56mm
Meike 85mm F1.4 II 85mm
What Buyers Say
Sigma Contemporary 56mm f/1.4 DC DN 56mm
This Sigma 56mm f/1.4 lens is widely praised for its exceptional sharpness, beautiful bokeh, and compact build, making it a top choice for portrait and street photography on APS-C and Micro Four Thirds cameras. Users consistently highlight its fast and reliable autofocus, excellent low-light performance, and outstanding value for the price compared to pricier native alternatives. A few users noted minor issues such as a very long manual focus throw, occasional focus misses in low contrast light, and a lack of an aperture ring, but these are far outweighed by the general enthusiasm. Despite isolated reports of poor retailer packaging, the overwhelming sentiment is that this lens delivers professional-quality results at an affordable price.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness at f/1.4
- Beautiful bokeh and background blur
- Fast and reliable autofocus
- Compact and lightweight build
- Excellent value for money
Cons
- Very long manual focus throw
- No aperture ring
- Occasional focus misses in low contrast
- Not compatible with all camera mounts
- Poor retail packaging by some sellers
Meike 85mm F1.4 II 85mm
The Meike 55mm f/1.4 AF lens for APS-C Nikon Z cameras is a compact, fast-aperture portrait lens that delivers excellent sharpness and creamy bokeh at a very affordable price. Autofocus is quick and reliable, with good eye detection, and the lens handles well on smaller bodies like the Z30. Some users noted the minimum focus distance is a bit limiting and the build feels plasticky, but overall it offers outstanding value for money.
Pros
- Excellent sharpness
- Creamy bokeh
- Fast and reliable autofocus
- Great value for money
- Compact and lightweight
Cons
- Plasticky build feel
- Limited minimum focus distance
- No image stabilization
- Some chromatic aberration wide open
- Vignetting at wide apertures
Scores
Specifications
| Sigma Contemporary 56mm f/1.4 DC DN 56mm | Meike 85mm F1.4 II 85mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | prime | telephoto |
| Focal Length Min | 56 mm | 85 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 56 mm | 85 mm |
| Elements | 10 | 5 |
| Groups | 6 | 8 |
| Aspherical Elements | 2★ | 1 |
| ED Elements | 1 | 2★ |
| Coating | Super Multi-Layer Coating | Multi-layer coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/1.4 | f/1.4 |
| Min Aperture | f/1.4 | f/1.4 |
| Constant | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 9 | 11★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Nikon Z | L-Mount |
| Format | APS-C | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.28 kg★ | 0.91 kg |
| Filter Thread | 55 mm | 77 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | stepping motor | STM★ |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 500 mm | 85 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 1:7.14★ | — |
Pros & Cons
Sigma Contemporary 56mm f/1.4 DC DN 56mm
- Strong aperture (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong bokeh (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong social proof (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong build (85th percentile)85th %ile
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
- Below average stabilization (34th percentile)
Meike 85mm F1.4 II 85mm
- Strong bokeh (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong aperture (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong macro (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
- Strong af (85th percentile)85th %ile
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
Pricing
Sigma Contemporary 56mm f/1.4 DC DN 56mm offers 2.0x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 88 overall, wins 2 of 9 usage categories and 6 of 21 specs.
