03/03/2026 11:10 am
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Im honestly so done with my 24-70 zoom lens. I thought it would be fine for portraits but the background looks so messy and busy and its just not sharp enough for what I need. I have my sisters wedding coming up in Seattle next month and I am lowkey panicking because my test shots look like garbage. I need that creamy background look but I dont want to spend more than like 1200 dollars because I just bought the body. Is the Sony 85mm 1.8 enough or should I just bite the bullet on the Sigma art series? Or maybe a 50mm? Just need something that actually works for once...
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03/03/2026 11:11 am
I've shot several weddings and honestly that zoom wont give you the separation you need. I would suggest the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art as it stays within your budget. You might want to consider these points:
- Make sure to check the AF tracking speed
- Be careful with the lens weight on a long day The Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 is okay but the Sigma glass is much better for professional results.
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03/03/2026 11:35 am
Honestly I think you should check out the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 because its such a safe bet! I love mine so much. Native glass is just so much more reliable for autofocus during a wedding, especially when things get fast and scary lol. You should totally look at the reviews on the Dustin Abbott website for the technical charts... they helped me so much with my first lens purchase!!
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03/03/2026 12:35 pm
Re: "Late to the party but this whole thread..." - it really is a minefield out there when you're trying to pick for a specific event like a Seattle wedding. I've been there and the panic is real. Honestly, you might want to consider looking at some of the glass from the Zeiss Batis lineup or even just sticking with high-end third-party primes if you want to save cash without losing that professional look. Be careful with some of the cheaper brands tho, because while the bokeh looks great in a studio, the autofocus can hunt like crazy when the light starts dropping during a reception. I would suggest keeping an eye on these things:
- make sure you check the weather sealing because Seattle is no joke with the drizzle
- check if the lens has a physical aperture ring because it makes adjusting on the fly so much easier during a ceremony
- dont ignore the weight factor if you're gonna be shooting for 8+ hours straight I would personally go with anything from the Tamron Di III series or even the Sigma Contemporary lenses if you want a balance of price and performance. You kinda have to decide if you want that clinical sharpness or more of a "soulful" look for the wedding. Just make sure to rent whatever you decide on for a weekend before the big day so you arent fumbling with it in front of your sister... that would be a nightmare. You got this!
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03/03/2026 12:45 pm
Late to the party but this whole thread is 💯. Glad I found it.
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03/03/2026 11:55 am
Unfortunately I had some issues with the native 85mm and its kind of disappointing to see that nervous bokeh in my final edits. I ended up grabbing a Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 II FE for way less than the Sigma and it works wonders. I remember shooting in a park once and I got attacked by these massive flies while trying to focus... so annoying. Anyway, look for deals on third-party glass.
