Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 vs Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary

Both are Sony E mount primes for portrait and low-light — here's how the specs differ and which to pick. Every spec is from the manufacturer's own catalog.

Last verified 2026-06-21 · Sony E mount · prices change — check the retailer

Spec	Sony FE 85mm f/1.8	Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary
Focal length	85mm	56mm
Max aperture	f/1.8	f/1.4
Type	prime	prime
Coverage	full-frame	APS-C
Mount	Sony E	Sony E

Which should you buy?

• the Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary opens wider (f/1.4) — brighter in low light and more background blur
• the Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary (56mm) is wider — more in the frame for street and interiors; the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 (85mm) is tighter — more reach and compression for portraits
• the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 covers full-frame (also works on APS-C bodies); the Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary is APS-C-only — it won't fill a full-frame sensor
• the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 is first-party (Sony) for guaranteed full autofocus and in-camera corrections; the Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary is third-party — usually the value pick

Where to buy

Check the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 price on Amazon →

Check the Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary price on Amazon →

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FAQ

What's the difference between the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 and the Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary?
The Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 is 85mm f/1.8 prime, full-frame; the Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary is 56mm f/1.4 prime, APS-C. Both fit the Sony E mount.

Which is better in low light, the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 or the Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary?
The Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary — its f/1.4 maximum aperture lets in more light and gives more background blur than the f/1.8 of the other.

Do the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 and Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary fit the same camera?
Yes — both are Sony E mount lenses, so they fit Sony a7/a9/a1 (full-frame) and a6000-series (APS-C). Note the Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary is APS-C-only and won't fill a full-frame sensor.

More Sony E comparisons: Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM vs Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG DN Art · Sony FE 40mm f/2.5 G vs Sony FE 50mm f/2.5 G · Sony E 15mm f/1.4 G vs Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary · Sony FE 20-70mm f/4 G vs Tamron 20-40mm f/2.8 Di III VXD · all Sony E lenses · all comparisons