Sigma 105mm f/1.4 ART for Nikon – Product Photography Test Shoot
This past weekend, after a product photo session, I decided to play with my Sigma 105mm f/1.4 and test it some more, and started out by photographing the same subject at different aperture values. As a note, during the photo shoot, sometimes I used a Nikon SB700 speedlight bought at Adorama, sometimes I did not.
Crystal art piece photographed with a Sigma 105mm f/1.4 @ f/1.4. Photo by Alina Oswald.
Crystal art piece photographed with a Sigma 105mm f/1.4 @ f/4. Photo by Alina Oswald.Crystal art piece photographed with a Sigma 105mm f/1.4 @f/8 by Alina Oswald.Crystal art piece photographed with a Sigma 105mm f/1.4 @ f/16. Photo by Alina Oswald.
Then I tried to focus on different subjects, while maintaining the same f-stop and shutter speed. Here’s an example of photographing the same scene with a Sigma 105mm f/1.4 ART for Nikon at f/1.4, 1/250s first focusing on the foreground, and then focusing on the background.
Crystal art piece photographed with a Sigma 105mm f/1.4 @ f/1.4, focusing on the foreground. Photo by Alina Oswald.Crystal art piece photographed with a Sigma 105mm f/1.4 @ f/1.4, focusing on the background. Photo by Alina Oswald.
Here are a few more examples of photographing the same subject, this time a Galileo thermometer, with the Sigma 105mm f/1.4 ART for Nikon at different, yet very close aperture values: f/1.4, f/1.8, f/2.8. Also worth mentioning is the constantly changing lighting conditions during the test shoot–natural light, with the sun in and out of the clouds.
Product Photography by Alina Oswald. Galileo thermometer photographed with a Sigma 105mm f/1.4 @ f/1.4.Product Photography by Alina Oswald. Galileo thermometer photographed with a Sigma 105mm f/1.4 @ f/1.8.Product Photography by Alina Oswald. Galileo thermometer photographed with a Sigma 105mm f/1.4 @ f/2.8.
Here’s what happened when I focused on the background, while photographing the Galileo thermometer with Sigma 105mm ART at f/1.4:
Photographing the Galileo thermometer with a Sigma 105mm f/1.4 at f/1.4 while focusing on the background. The thermometer disappears. Photo by Alina Oswald.
And here’s the same subject, the Galileo thermometer, photographed with a Sigma 105mm f/1.4, first at f/1.4 (left) then at f/5.6 (right):
Galileo Thermometer. Product photography by Alina Oswald. All Rights Reserved.
Galileo Thermometer. Product photography by Alina Oswald. All Rights Reserved.
Next, I’ll test out photographing the same subject from the same distance and the same camera settings (f-stop and shutter speed) using three of my lenses: Sigma 105mm f/1.4, Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 and Nikon 28-300mm. I’ll share the results in an upcoming post.
Until then and as always, thank you for stopping by!
Alina Oswald is a writer, photographer and educator documenting the AIDS pandemic and the LGBTQ+ community. She is a member of the Undetectable flash collective, Arts Editor of A&U Magazine--America's AIDS Magazine, and author of Journeys Through Darkness: A Biography of award-winning, legally blind photographer and HIV/AIDS activist Kurt Weston, as we as a frequent guest on shows and panels discussing HIV and AIDS, photography, and women empowerment. Her work has appeared in national and international publications, as well as in New York City shows and galleries, including Fresh Fruit Festival at Leslie-Lohman Museum, Postcards from the Edge at Visual AIDS, La Vie Galerie and juried exhibitions at Soho Photo Gallery. Alina Oswald also teaches photography and covers portraits, editorials, events, and promotional photography, as well as nature and the environment. Contact her at alinaoswald.com.
View all posts by Alina Oswald
Hi Alia, thanks for sharing your experience and shots.
I’m also quite new to the Sigma 105mm art and my feelings are mixed.
I like the sharpness at full aperture and the snappy AF.
But i feel that in order to archive that both eyes are sharp when shooting portraits, you need to lower aperture to a value where it ruins the smooth bookey ….
Will run some new tests and try to place focus between the eyes (nose), but I’m quite certain that my Nikon D850 will be facing an issue archiving a fixed AF point on a nose 🙂
What’s your experience when doing portraits with the 105mm art lens.
Hi Ole, Appreciate your note and sharing your thoughts! It looks like you’re a fellow Nikon shooter. I have a D750, thinking to upgrade to a D850 (on sale this month) or…not sure about the Z7 just yet. (decisions, decisions, lol!)
I’m still experimenting with my Sigma 105mm ART especially when photographing people. I’ve done a several shots that I can’t share just yet. I do focus on the eye(s) when photographing people, though, even with the Sigma 105mm ART at f/1.4. From what I’ve noticed so far, if the subject’s eyes are on the same…plane, same distance from the camera, both eyes are in focus, when shooting at f/1.4. I’m still experimenting with other poses, right now, and will share some of the images. It’s a learning curve, photographing with the Sigma 105mm ART. Thank you for sharing your experience! Learning something new every day!
Hi Alia, thanks for sharing your experience and shots.
I’m also quite new to the Sigma 105mm art and my feelings are mixed.
I like the sharpness at full aperture and the snappy AF.
But i feel that in order to archive that both eyes are sharp when shooting portraits, you need to lower aperture to a value where it ruins the smooth bookey ….
Will run some new tests and try to place focus between the eyes (nose), but I’m quite certain that my Nikon D850 will be facing an issue archiving a fixed AF point on a nose 🙂
What’s your experience when doing portraits with the 105mm art lens.
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Hi Ole, Appreciate your note and sharing your thoughts! It looks like you’re a fellow Nikon shooter. I have a D750, thinking to upgrade to a D850 (on sale this month) or…not sure about the Z7 just yet. (decisions, decisions, lol!)
I’m still experimenting with my Sigma 105mm ART especially when photographing people. I’ve done a several shots that I can’t share just yet. I do focus on the eye(s) when photographing people, though, even with the Sigma 105mm ART at f/1.4. From what I’ve noticed so far, if the subject’s eyes are on the same…plane, same distance from the camera, both eyes are in focus, when shooting at f/1.4. I’m still experimenting with other poses, right now, and will share some of the images. It’s a learning curve, photographing with the Sigma 105mm ART. Thank you for sharing your experience! Learning something new every day!
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