The move from SLRs to mirrorless cameras marches on, and third-party lensmaker Sigma is fully on board with its latest release. The 85mm F1.4 DG DN Art is built from the ground up for full-frame mirrorless camera systems, and will be sold in an E-mount version for Sony cameras, as well as an L-mount edition for cameras from Leica, Panasonic, and Sigma itself.

It's a new optical design, not the older 85mm F1.4 DG HSM Art in a new package. (Sigma uses the HSM designation for most SLR lenses, and DN for mirrorless designs.) The physical benefits are palpable—at 1.4 pounds, the DG DN Art is more than a pound lighter than the SLR version of the lens, and an inch shorter.

Optically, Sigma promises superior performance—its optical elements include Super Low Dispersion (SLD) and aspherical glass to improve resolution while at the same time minimizing chromatic aberration.

As an f/1.4 lens, it will blur backgrounds with ease, and maintain a pleasing bokeh even when stopped down a bit thanks to an 11-blade aperture design. The focal length is often thought of for portraits, and while it's not a macro lens, Sigma displayed some close-up flower shots to show the lens's prowess; it focuses close enough for 1:8.4 macro magnification.

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Autofocus is included too. The lens works with all of your camera's autofocus modes, regardless of brand, including face and eye detection. The focusing group is one of the lighter, smaller parts of the optics, and as such Sigma promises smooth, quiet focus by way of a stepping motor.

It's built for use in any type of weather. The lens is protected from dust and splashes, and its housing is made from aluminum and quality composite, finished with a brass bayonet mount to attach to your camera. A lens hood is included as well, protecting the front element and blocking light from entering at askew angles.

It includes a physical aperture ring with clicked and de-clicked operation to meet the needs of photographers and videographers alike. There's an assignable control button, as well as a feature we've not seen in other lenses: the Iris Ring Lock Switch. Locking the iris ensures that you won't accidentally change your f-stop.

If the lens has you excited, you won't have to wait too long to try it out. It's shipping later this month for $1,199.

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