Sigma Contemporary 56mm f/1.4 DC DN 56mm

The Sigma 56mm f/1.4 is a tiny, budget-friendly portrait monster that delivers pro-level sharpness and dreamy bokeh. Stop reading reviews and just get one.

What surprised us most is the sharpness at f/1.4. Most lenses need to be stopped down a bit to get truly crisp, but this Sigma is tack-sharp right from the get-go. The stepping motor autofocus is quick and near-silent, landing in the top 15% of lenses we've tracked, though it can hunt just a little in really low-contrast light. The bokeh is a standout, sitting in the 97th percentile. It's buttery smooth, and the 9-blade diaphragm keeps those out-of-focus highlights nice and round. Just don't expect to use it for manual focus pulls in video, the focus throw is comically long.

The obvious comparison is a native 85mm f/1.8 on a full-frame system, which costs two to three times as much. You're getting very similar results on APS-C for way less cash. Against a superzoom like the Tamron 18-300mm, the Sigma is in a different universe for image quality and low light, but obviously gives up all versatility. If you need one lens for everything, this ain't it. But if you want a dedicated portrait lens that makes your subject pop, the Sigma smokes any zoom in this price bracket.

This is a no-brainer. For the optical quality you're getting, the price is almost laughable. We saw a wild spread in vendor pricing, from $430 up to some bizarre $57,029 listings, so just be a smart shopper and grab it from a reputable dealer at the normal $400-$500 range. At that price, it's one of the best values in photography.

The Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN is the portrait lens you buy when you're done messing around. It's absurdly sharp, even wide open at f/1.4, and the bokeh is some of the creamiest we've seen on an APS-C lens. This thing delivers an 84mm full-frame equivalent look that punches way above its price tag. If you're on a Sony, Fuji, or Canon crop-sensor body and want that magical subject separation without selling a kidney, this is it.

If you need one lens to do it all, this isn't it. The fixed 56mm focal length is useless for landscapes or anything wide. Go grab a solid standard zoom like the Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 instead. Also, if you're a heavy manual focus shooter, the focus-by-wire system here will drive you nuts.

Buy it. If you shoot portraits or street photography on an APS-C camera and don't own this lens, you're working too hard. The sharpness, bokeh, and compact size make it an absolute joy to use. The lack of stabilization and the annoying manual focus ring are minor gripes on an otherwise stellar piece of glass. This is the easy, obvious recommendation for anyone wanting to step up their portrait game.