I took the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art to a three-hour park shoot last month. The rendering is legendary, but my shoulder was spent by noon. The Panasonic Lumix S 85mm f/1.8 works great if you don't want to lug around heavy glass all day. Quick tip: focus more on your lighting than that extra stop of aperture... light quality beats bokeh every time.

> is the Sigma bulk worth it Are you shooting indoors? In my experience, the Sigma 65mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary is more reliable for group shots, or try the Sigma 90mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary for its sturdy build tho.

Like someone mentioned, that extra weight is a real killer. Personally, I don't think the bulk is worth the price jump for family stuff. I did a huge outdoor session last summer and I was so satisfied with my decision to go with a lighter, more affordable lens. It worked well and my back wasn't screaming at me. Honestly, nobody is gonna look at a family photo and wish the background was 5% blurrier... but your wallet will definitely feel the difference. Ngl, keeping that extra $500 for other gear was a huge relief for me. Are you planning on doing mostly posed individual shots or more candid group stuff? Also, how big is the family? If you're shooting a group of ten people, you're gonna be stopped down to f/5.6 or f/8 anyway so that f/1.4 might just be wasted money tho.

Tbh, I’ve been pretty disappointed with using an 85mm for big family sessions lately. It sounds great for the bokeh, but I found myself constantly backed into a wall or tripping over stuff trying to fit everyone in the frame. It just isn't as good as expected when you're dealing with more than two people, ngl. If you have $900, you should really look at something that won't fail you when the group gets large:

• Sigma 50mm f1.4 DG DN Art
• This is basically the sweet spot. It is way more reliable for tracking moving kids than the older 85mm designs and the build is solid as a rock.
• Sigma 35mm f1.4 DG DN Art
• If you're shooting indoors at all, you're gonna need this width. I’ve had issues with focus hunting on cheaper, lighter lenses when things get hectic, and it’s honestly the worst feeling. The Sigma Art stuff is heavy, sure, but the reliability of that metal housing and the faster motors makes a huge difference. You don't want to miss the shot because the lens was struggling to find an eye in a crowd. Plus, 50mm is just way more versatile for a family day than being stuck with a long telephoto...