This is an expensive specialty lens. It is relatively heavier, has a faster aperture, a slower AF, and is more expensive than the Batis 85. This is not a "travel" lens. It is a great lens for portraits. The images are superb, with great perspective and image isolation. You may want to shoot in Aperture priority and set the minimum shutter speed to say 1/125 sec or higher. At wide apertures, the focus plane is so small, only one eye may be in sharp focus. Using eye focus, it is possible to capture a moving toddler indoors and the hit rate is understandably low.
AF Speed: AF speed is relative. Someone's too slow AF is someone's fast enough AF. Here are test results comparing AF focus between the FE 55 and the GM 85, A7Rii, Firmware 3.2 indoors AF-S, AF-Wide, pre focus off, from 15 feet to 4 feet, in seconds:
Ap. 85GM 55FE
F1.4 .58 (3) <.3
F2.8 .63 (3) < .3
F4 .67 (3) < .3
F8 .69 (3) .44 (3)
F11 .86 (3) .51 (3)
F16 1.12 (3) .62 (3)
The 85 GM focuses stopped down. The FE55 focuses near wide open. The data show that the FE55 AF is much faster at F11 and F16. I am unable to easily reproduce data in AF-C mode on moving subjects.
AF Noise: There is some AF noise in my copy. An "N" of 1. Nothing that I find objectionable. Although the manual focus is focus by wire, I do not hear any focus motor noise in manual focus mode. Early models using early firmware may have had more AF noise. If your model makes AF noise with Firmware 3.2 in manual focus mode, I would return it. I have posted a clip shot in video mode with fast focus changes here:
[...]
The lens hood is an improvement over the FE55 as it has a press lock.
I try to travel light with only a single lens. On the A7Rii my travel choice is the FE 35 2,8. If I wanted an 35/85 two lens travel kit, I would avoid this lens as it is too heavy.
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This Item  Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM Lens |  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | -6% $1,698.00 Typical: $1,798.00 | $1,298.00 | $2,298.00 | -7% $1,298.00 List: $1,399.99 | -5% $1,898.00 List: $1,999.99 | -6% $1,498.00 List: $1,599.99 |
| Delivery | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Mar 26 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Mar 26 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Mar 26 | Get it as soon as Monday, Mar 25 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Mar 26 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Mar 26 |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
| Auto focus | ||||||
| Picture quality | ||||||
| Image stabilization | ||||||
| Value for money | ||||||
| Sold By | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com |
| lens type | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard | Wide Angle |
| compatible mountings | Sony E | Sony E | Sony E | Sony E | Sony E | Sony E |
| lens design | Zoom | Prime | Zoom | Prime | Prime | Prime |
| focus type | Auto/Manual | Auto Focus | Auto Focus | Auto/Manual | Auto/Manual | Auto Focus |
| minimum focal length | 85 millimeters | — | 24 millimeters | 35 millimeters | — | — |
| max focal length | 85 millimeters | 50 millimeters | — | 35 millimeters | — | — |
| fixed focal length | 35 millimeters | 50 millimeters | 70 millimeters | 35 millimeters | 50 millimeters | 14 millimeters |
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Reviews with images
Best Lens I've Ever Used.
I am appalled by reading the first handful of reviews on this lens -- a product that I labored over pre-ordering having used and loved the Zeiss Batis 85mm. At the end of the day, I've tried every one of Sony's best lenses and found that in aggregate, my favorite images come out of the 90mm G-Macro (that is prior to owning this lens). Even when compared to the Batis, with the trademark Zeiss warmth, micro-contrast and spiraling background bokeh -- the colors, sharpness, detail and overall beauty was better on the 90mm Sony. Understanding the technology that went into this lens and the trust in Sony visual products above all else, I took a chance and I've never been happier with any camera product than with this lens.The bokeh/sharpness juxtaposition is outstanding. With minimal effort, you can get OOC images that are spectacular. Overall, easily better than the Batis. For the first three reviewers on this page, go buy the Zeiss Batis 85mm. It's built to be an autofocus lens. Literally it has fewer features than any of my owned Sony lenses and is really really easy to get great OOC portraits or other shots from. The problem -- it's focal distance is pretty far from the subject and while the autofocus is lightning quick (though IMO not meaningfully quicker than this lens, which adds to the puzzling read of the previous reviews) it's prone to over emphasizing one element because of the speed and focal distance concerns -- meaning you'd have to bump the aperture up to 2.8 or whatever you think you can point-and-shoot if that's your goal.Realistically though, why are you getting a $1200 autofocus Zeiss lens? If you want a camera that takes effortless pictures without you doing anything then why even on a Sony a7rII or sII that would even be able to stand with a lens like this? Sony's products are for perfectionists, they allow for total control, have the best full-frame sensors in the world (Canon and Nikon flagship pro cameras use Sony sensors...) and now their glass is better than anything I've ever seen.If you want total control, thoughtful innovation (click-aperture ring is not only amazing but also dead silent in video post processing...) and products from a company that designs the most important visual elements for the world's most recognizable companies then you are crazy not to be using Sony's a7r/sII and these lenses. If you want something to shoot a soccer game or have some colorful 1080 video without having to think or be artistic about it -- listen to these first three reviews. If you care about your images and are obsessive about quality and detail, you will feel like this lens (and probably the other two G-master's though I haven't used them) was custom made for you.To support, here's a casual shot I took leaving a studio earlier today -- simply holding the camera and liked the backdrop. If you can get image quality like this effortlessly, what else do you need?
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2016
Style: Lens OnlyVerified Purchase
This is an expensive specialty lens. It is relatively heavier, has a faster aperture, a slower AF, and is more expensive than the Batis 85. This is not a "travel" lens. It is a great lens for portraits. The images are superb, with great perspective and image isolation. You may want to shoot in Aperture priority and set the minimum shutter speed to say 1/125 sec or higher. At wide apertures, the focus plane is so small, only one eye may be in sharp focus. Using eye focus, it is possible to capture a moving toddler indoors and the hit rate is understandably low.
AF Speed: AF speed is relative. Someone's too slow AF is someone's fast enough AF. Here are test results comparing AF focus between the FE 55 and the GM 85, A7Rii, Firmware 3.2 indoors AF-S, AF-Wide, pre focus off, from 15 feet to 4 feet, in seconds:
Ap. 85GM 55FE
F1.4 .58 (3) <.3
F2.8 .63 (3) < .3
F4 .67 (3) < .3
F8 .69 (3) .44 (3)
F11 .86 (3) .51 (3)
F16 1.12 (3) .62 (3)
The 85 GM focuses stopped down. The FE55 focuses near wide open. The data show that the FE55 AF is much faster at F11 and F16. I am unable to easily reproduce data in AF-C mode on moving subjects.
AF Noise: There is some AF noise in my copy. An "N" of 1. Nothing that I find objectionable. Although the manual focus is focus by wire, I do not hear any focus motor noise in manual focus mode. Early models using early firmware may have had more AF noise. If your model makes AF noise with Firmware 3.2 in manual focus mode, I would return it. I have posted a clip shot in video mode with fast focus changes here:
[...]
The lens hood is an improvement over the FE55 as it has a press lock.
I try to travel light with only a single lens. On the A7Rii my travel choice is the FE 35 2,8. If I wanted an 35/85 two lens travel kit, I would avoid this lens as it is too heavy.
AF Speed: AF speed is relative. Someone's too slow AF is someone's fast enough AF. Here are test results comparing AF focus between the FE 55 and the GM 85, A7Rii, Firmware 3.2 indoors AF-S, AF-Wide, pre focus off, from 15 feet to 4 feet, in seconds:
Ap. 85GM 55FE
F1.4 .58 (3) <.3
F2.8 .63 (3) < .3
F4 .67 (3) < .3
F8 .69 (3) .44 (3)
F11 .86 (3) .51 (3)
F16 1.12 (3) .62 (3)
The 85 GM focuses stopped down. The FE55 focuses near wide open. The data show that the FE55 AF is much faster at F11 and F16. I am unable to easily reproduce data in AF-C mode on moving subjects.
AF Noise: There is some AF noise in my copy. An "N" of 1. Nothing that I find objectionable. Although the manual focus is focus by wire, I do not hear any focus motor noise in manual focus mode. Early models using early firmware may have had more AF noise. If your model makes AF noise with Firmware 3.2 in manual focus mode, I would return it. I have posted a clip shot in video mode with fast focus changes here:
[...]
The lens hood is an improvement over the FE55 as it has a press lock.
I try to travel light with only a single lens. On the A7Rii my travel choice is the FE 35 2,8. If I wanted an 35/85 two lens travel kit, I would avoid this lens as it is too heavy.
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2016
Style: Lens OnlyVerified Purchase
I am appalled by reading the first handful of reviews on this lens -- a product that I labored over pre-ordering having used and loved the Zeiss Batis 85mm. At the end of the day, I've tried every one of Sony's best lenses and found that in aggregate, my favorite images come out of the 90mm G-Macro (that is prior to owning this lens). Even when compared to the Batis, with the trademark Zeiss warmth, micro-contrast and spiraling background bokeh -- the colors, sharpness, detail and overall beauty was better on the 90mm Sony. Understanding the technology that went into this lens and the trust in Sony visual products above all else, I took a chance and I've never been happier with any camera product than with this lens.
The bokeh/sharpness juxtaposition is outstanding. With minimal effort, you can get OOC images that are spectacular. Overall, easily better than the Batis. For the first three reviewers on this page, go buy the Zeiss Batis 85mm. It's built to be an autofocus lens. Literally it has fewer features than any of my owned Sony lenses and is really really easy to get great OOC portraits or other shots from. The problem -- it's focal distance is pretty far from the subject and while the autofocus is lightning quick (though IMO not meaningfully quicker than this lens, which adds to the puzzling read of the previous reviews) it's prone to over emphasizing one element because of the speed and focal distance concerns -- meaning you'd have to bump the aperture up to 2.8 or whatever you think you can point-and-shoot if that's your goal.
Realistically though, why are you getting a $1200 autofocus Zeiss lens? If you want a camera that takes effortless pictures without you doing anything then why even on a Sony a7rII or sII that would even be able to stand with a lens like this? Sony's products are for perfectionists, they allow for total control, have the best full-frame sensors in the world (Canon and Nikon flagship pro cameras use Sony sensors...) and now their glass is better than anything I've ever seen.
If you want total control, thoughtful innovation (click-aperture ring is not only amazing but also dead silent in video post processing...) and products from a company that designs the most important visual elements for the world's most recognizable companies then you are crazy not to be using Sony's a7r/sII and these lenses. If you want something to shoot a soccer game or have some colorful 1080 video without having to think or be artistic about it -- listen to these first three reviews. If you care about your images and are obsessive about quality and detail, you will feel like this lens (and probably the other two G-master's though I haven't used them) was custom made for you.
To support, here's a casual shot I took leaving a studio earlier today -- simply holding the camera and liked the backdrop. If you can get image quality like this effortlessly, what else do you need?
The bokeh/sharpness juxtaposition is outstanding. With minimal effort, you can get OOC images that are spectacular. Overall, easily better than the Batis. For the first three reviewers on this page, go buy the Zeiss Batis 85mm. It's built to be an autofocus lens. Literally it has fewer features than any of my owned Sony lenses and is really really easy to get great OOC portraits or other shots from. The problem -- it's focal distance is pretty far from the subject and while the autofocus is lightning quick (though IMO not meaningfully quicker than this lens, which adds to the puzzling read of the previous reviews) it's prone to over emphasizing one element because of the speed and focal distance concerns -- meaning you'd have to bump the aperture up to 2.8 or whatever you think you can point-and-shoot if that's your goal.
Realistically though, why are you getting a $1200 autofocus Zeiss lens? If you want a camera that takes effortless pictures without you doing anything then why even on a Sony a7rII or sII that would even be able to stand with a lens like this? Sony's products are for perfectionists, they allow for total control, have the best full-frame sensors in the world (Canon and Nikon flagship pro cameras use Sony sensors...) and now their glass is better than anything I've ever seen.
If you want total control, thoughtful innovation (click-aperture ring is not only amazing but also dead silent in video post processing...) and products from a company that designs the most important visual elements for the world's most recognizable companies then you are crazy not to be using Sony's a7r/sII and these lenses. If you want something to shoot a soccer game or have some colorful 1080 video without having to think or be artistic about it -- listen to these first three reviews. If you care about your images and are obsessive about quality and detail, you will feel like this lens (and probably the other two G-master's though I haven't used them) was custom made for you.
To support, here's a casual shot I took leaving a studio earlier today -- simply holding the camera and liked the backdrop. If you can get image quality like this effortlessly, what else do you need?
Images in this review
