Customer Reviews

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

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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!

The SAL85F14Z has been around for as long as the Sony Alpha 100, and for the few of us who is lucky enough (or have a deep enough pocket) to finally own it, the rewards are boundless.

It is very difficult to describe the picture quality of this lens in a few words. For one thing, regardless of which alpha-mount body you have been using, this lens will unveil a whole new dimension of optical clarity to your camera's sensor. The lens features a whole different level of optical clarity and sharpness over conventional alpha-mount lenses, combined with an effective defocusing so strong that during wider aperture settings, it practically captures your attention at the center of its focal point with razor sharp details while quickly blankets everything else away so vigorously that these elements quickly slide into this hazy blend of soft lights and shadows.

When used at smaller apertures at F8 and beyond, the massive prime lens pinches every drop of incoming light so tightly across the entire diameter of its optics that every pixel of your camera's digital sensor will struggle to capture all the details it has to provide. When used for landscape composition, the resulting details are so breathtakingly sharp from corner to corner that viewing the pictures on your computer monitor is nothing short of an insult to the makers of this lens.

The SAL85F14Z is not without faults though, however. Without the use of a single (super) extra low dispersion glass (ED glass or Super ED glass) or any aspherical elements, at maximum aperture of F1.4, you will see color fringing while shooting under very bright sunlit conditions. There is visible purple bleed around high contrasting edges, but the fringe melts away quickly when you dial the aperture from F1.4 to around F2.2. The lens is also unsuitable for close-up work, with a minumum focusing distance of 85 cm and a maximum magnification ratio of just 0.15x. It's immediate cousin, the SAL135F18 on the other hand, has a minimum focusing distance of around 70cm and has an impressive maximum magnification ratio of 0.25x.

The SAL85F14Z is probably one of the heaviest prime lens under the alpha mount line-up, next to its above close cousin, the SAL135F18Z, which is even larger and weighs around 30 percent more. The construction of the lens however is nothing short of elegant, with large, finely polished glasses and precision-milled metal parts assembled probably by hand. There is not a single element on the SAL85F14Z that suggests a hint of frailty, and the lens looks and feels as though it is a piece of optical accessory taken out from an Aston Martin.

A great investment for those who shoots portraits for a living.

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.

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.

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.

Sony's Zeiss Planar 85mm/1.4 is among the sharpest lenses I've ever seen. I've long been a fan of Zeiss medium format glass - particularly the Zeiss lenses for the Contax 645. Not only is this lens incredibly sharp, but somehow even captures a "medium format" look and feel.

Also recommended are Sony's Zeiss 24-70mm f2.8 Sony 24 -70mm f/2.8 Carl Zeiss Vario Sonnar T Zoom Lens for Sony Alpha Digital SLR Cameras and Zeiss 135/1.8 lenses Sony SAL-135F18Z 135mm f/1.8 Carl Zeiss Sonnar T Telephoto Lens for Sony Alpha Digital SLR Camera in an growing line-up of amazing Sony flagship lenses.

Putting this lens on my a55 was a revelation. All of a sudden I'm shooting pro-quality portraits with unbelievable sharpness of focus, rich bokeh and beautiful colors. The effective focal length for APS-C is about 128mm. Translated into practical usage, with a 128mm lens, you've got to have some room to shoot. The minimum distance to get a head-shot is around 10 feet, and for full body, you need around 30. But what you lose in versatility in this fixed-focal-length lens, you more than make up for in the beauty of the images. Wide open at 1.4, the bokeh is delightful, popping the subject out heroically. The depth-of-field is very narrow, but still quite workable. I've noticed no vignetting. Landscape shots are super-clear and vivid. I recommend using a filter when outdoors because under bright conditions, using large-apertures, the shutter speed sometimes goes off the charts. Enough words, I'm posting some sample pictures taken with the lens.

The Minolta heritage and Zeiss branding on this medium telephoto lens raised my expectations pretty high, and I have not been disappointed. Its build quality and heft communicated quality right out of the box, and Sony's inclusion of a soft case and velvet-lined lens hood were small touches that reinforced the feeling.

I bought the lens as an existing-light portrait lens, and the 85mm focal length gives just enough room to stand back and capture candids from an innocuous distance. (Up close, the combination of this lens and a solid KM/Sony camera body will not fade as easily into the background.) Even in very challenging indoor scenes, the lens's f/1.4 maximum aperture combines with on-board anti-shake to capture photos I would not have been able to imagine getting before I got this lens.

Even wide open, shots from this lens are consistently sharp. A couple of stops down and it is nothing short of amazing. I'm looking forward to putting this on an a900 to see just how far we can go.

Bottom line? It's an expensive purchase for a hobbyist, but if you're in the market for professional-quality glass this one should be near the top of your list.

There is absolutely nothing not to like about this lens. Yes, it's a tad on the heavy side, but I hold my hand left hand under it while shooting and it's perfect fit. Smooth is the word that comes to mind when I think about bokeh with this lens. The out of focus area just seems to blend into and away from the subject. Maybe I'm not saying it right, but my shots are beautiful. If ever there was a lens that could make an amateur portrait photographer look like a pro, this is it. On my Alpha 550 85mm translates into 125mm and for me, I think that's ideal for shooting faces.

The lens is a bit expensive, but if you spend as much time behind the viewfinder as I do, then you'll get your money's worth. This lens focuses fast, holds the focus, gives you colors that are true and photos that are sharp. If you can afford it, I can't recommend this lens highly enough, Sony & Zeiss have come up with a lens most people only dream about owning.

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.