Sony SAL-85F14Z 85mm f1.4 Carl Zeiss Planar T Coated Telephoto Lens for Sony Alpha Digital SLR Camera

by Sony

• 85mm f1.4 telephoto lens boasts professional performance for portraits and close-ups
• Astonishing sharpness at fully open aperture
• T* coating to reduce flare and increase contrast
• Smooth, visually pleasing background effects
• Focus hold button for full creative control, auto clutch to stop manual focus ring rotation

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 3.8 x 3.5 inches ; 2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000JE5CQO
• Item model number: SAL-85F14Z
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 4, 2006

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

The Sony Carl Zeiss SAL-85F14Z lens is a brilliant lens for portraits, low light and midrange telephoto shooting. It's a beautiful piece of glass--and for intimate or low-light portraits, fashion shots, and quick candid photographs with superior visual accuracy, this professional lens will satisfy the most uncompromising demands. Its performance at fully open aperture is astonishingly precise--and its 35mm-equivalent 125.7mm focal length gives you sharp midrange close-ups and natural, distortion-free portraits at relaxed distances.

Features:

• Superb Sharpness at Fully Open Aperture: In conjunction with the Super SteadyShot image stabilization system of the Sony α (Alpha) DSLR-A100 camera, this superb Carl Zeiss lens achieves pinpoint sharpness--even working with hand-held camera by available light.
• Excellent Contrast Reproduction: Precision optical design and advanced T* coatings help to reduce flare and increase contrast.
• Smooth Backgrounds: Smooth, visually pleasing out-of-focus backgrounds give portraits and close-ups an extra dimension of beauty.
• Focus Hold Button: For full creative control, a focus hold button located on the lens can lock auto-focusing even in continuous advance mode--and focus lock can also be set on the spot-focus center frame area.
• Auto Clutch: In auto-focus mode, the manual focus ring does not rotate--and in manual focusing, you'll have a solid, hands-on feel.

Compatible Models
Sony DSLR-A100, DSLR-A100K.

What's in the Box:
Lens, front and rear lens cap, SH0002 lens hood.

Product Description

A brilliant lens for portraits, low light and midrange telephoto shooting. It's a beautiful piece of glass - and for intimate or low-light portraits, fashion shots, and quick candid photographs with superior visual accuracy, this professional lens will satisfy the most uncompromising demands. Its performance at fully open aperture is astonishingly precise - and its 35mm-equivalent 125.7mm focal length gives you sharp midrange close-ups and natural, distortion-free portraits at relaxed distances.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Low Light King March 24, 2011

By James S. Leseke

While rather pricey this lens justifies its cost. Making a telephoto lens that clocks in at 1.4 is no mean feat. At a 85mm focal length this was a perfect portrait lens in the glory days of 35mm. At a 127mm digital equivalence this lens still dose that job. Once you adjust to the focal length, and the head-and-shoulders cropping it offers, you will never go back to a "normal" lens again. It is a great lens for candids, especially in low light or night light.

Back in the days of 1600 ASA film, this lens was my mainstay when shooting available light. It really opens up to allow every last bit of light. Focusing could not be easier because the lens was super-sharp and snapped in and out of focus with little drama. Distortion was non-existent.

Wide open the depth of field is minimal, but with modern auto-focus electronics this is much less of an issue than back in the day. The minimal depth of field really brings out your subject while eliminating visual clutter.

In the bright light of the day, the lens again performed with aplomb. Flare was minimal and images were tack sharp. Again, once you adjust to the images a medium telephoto lens provides, horizons really open up. It is a superb candid shooter, especially for quick moving subjects like children. The lens also allows you some distance from your subject. That allows for less posed, more natural images.

Even in a more formal setting, like wedding photography photography, the lens is a stand out. It is after all a "portrait lens." Couple it with a small flash or perhaps a old-school "potato masher" flash rig and fire away. The crisp, brilliant images will not disappoint.

The only real down-side to Carl Zeiss lenses is their cost. Planar T lenses always carry a premium.... Thus, the lenses are best for Advanced Amateurs, or what is called the Pro-Sumer customer. More casual users, or people with limited means should look at products by Tonkina or Tamron. The "two T's " are a good bet, and a good buy, for the more casual shooter. But for people who demand the best, and are willing to pay the freight, there is no substitute for Carl Zeiss lenses. It is one of the reasons a person would choose the Sony Product over offerings by Nikon, Canon, and Olympus. For some it is the only reason to go with the Sony Offerings. Read more ›

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Best portrait lens ever! November 20, 2007

By Steven W. Miller

The sharpness creamy bokeh are unmatched by any other alpha mount lens. The auto clutch is a fine addition, since this lens has some heft to it, so you'll find yourself balancing the camera by the lens with your left hand. When it is in AF, the focusing ring doesnt turn. Nice. The colors are reproduced as true as any glass on the market. My only issue is minor, I wish the lens hood had a filter window, similar to the 70200SSM.
Very fast focusing even in low light, but to really get the most out of it, mount it on the A700. It does tend to lag a tad in low light when mounted on the KM 7D.

You'll forget the hit to your pocketbook as soon as you print your first shot!

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent portrait lens February 7, 2008

By Photo/Video Gearhead

Amazon Verified Purchase

I am astonished by this lens, as well as its sibling the 135mm f/1.8 lens Sony SAL-135F18Z 135mm f/1.8 Carl Zeiss Sonnar T Telephoto Lens for Sony Alpha Digital SLR Camera. Each lens is razor sharp at its widest aperture. A discussion of this lens, as well as of the Minolta 85mm f1.4 lens, may be found at the Photozone site. Compared to the Minolta lens, this lens is sharper and exhibits less vignetting, although it does exhibit slightly more chromatic aberration but to no serious extent.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a big-boy (or big-girl) lens for sure. December 30, 2011

By Joe Stealthmode

Amazon Verified Purchase

I'm one of those people who go "all-in" but I was a little sceptical to jump in head first on buying a lens that exceeded the price of the camera body. I got a A77 body and I had a few decent lenses (35mm f/1.8, 50mm f/1.8, Minolta Beercan 70-210 f/4) but I never felt like I had the shots I was looking for. I also wanted to stop buying DT lenses in favor of Full Frame lenses for the upcoming A9x release. So I was torn between getting the 85mm f/1.4 and the 135mm f/1.8 for around the same price. I decided to go with the 85mm lens and I will not look back. I have left the other lenses in my bag to gather dust, maybe to make a cameo appearance when I need something wider. Now, I'd almost rather just back up and get the shot with the 85mm f/1.4, even if I have to open a window or walk into traffic.

This lens is the real deal. I can't wait to see this lens in action on a Full Frame body. I was able to shoot a ballet with apertures of f/1.4 to f/2.0 in ISO 200 or ISO 400 and get sharpness corner-to-corner and freeze the jumps with brilliant color. I get amazing portraits.

My biggest knock on this lens is the autofocus is a bit jumpy, but if you get used to the freeze button on the side, you get good results.

This lens has paid for itself. I won't go to Canon or Nikon or any other manufacturer because I doubt I will get results like I do with this lens. The lens makes the camera, period. I don't use a flash with this lens, ever. I don't need to. It grabs every last bit of color and light it can find and reproduces it better than your eyes can see.

Also, you have to come into this purchase knowing this thing is built like a tank. It weighs as much as the A77 body, or at least it feels like it does.... It comes with a hood with a rubber rim you can use to stand the body and lens up on. Read more ›

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth it, worth it, worth it! May 6, 2009

By K. Jamison

This lens is phenomenal. I was a bit hesitant about purchasing it simply due to price tag, but with a daughter on the way and with the sale of some other equipment, I was able to make it happen. This lens is amazing. My daughter is 3 months old now and I have taken 100s of professional quality photos.

Pros:
- Razor sharp.
- Fantastic colors.
- Amazing bokeh.

Cons:
- Heavy (which I consider a pro, due to the excellent build quality)

I highly recommend this lens. I also have the zeiss 16-80mm, and the sony 100mm 2.8. While both are great lenses, the 85mm zeiss rarely leaves my camera anymore.