The Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM Lens ($1,450 list) is a fast portrait lens available for Canon, Nikon, Sony/Minolta, Pentax, and Sigma D-SLR cameras. The optic is capable of capturing an extremely shallow depth of field when shot wide open, making it possible to create a smooth, pleasant blur behind your subject. The fast aperture also lets in a lot of light, so you can more easily shoot when illumination is scarce.

The lens is pretty sharp, even at its widest aperture. I used Imatest to see if the lens exceeded the 1,800 lines per picture height required for a sharp photo when paired with the Nikon D800 ($2,999.95, 4 stars). At f/1.4 the lens scored 2,089 lines, a figure that increased dramatically to 2,700 lines at f/2. By the time you stop down to f/5.6 it starts to approach 3,500 lines. There are no worries about sharpness with this lens—it's excellent at all apertures.