Reading mode: Light Dark

My Take - New Sony GM 85mm f1.4 vs Zeiss Batis 85mm f1.8 vs Leica Summilux 75mm f1.4

Go to last post
AirJarhead

AirJarhead

Well-known member
Messages
143
Reaction score
176
Location
Dallas, TX, US
Just used the Sony GM 85/1.4 last week. Here are some thoughts and comparisons with other portrait lenses:

Sony GM 85/1.4 vs the Rest

Excerpt:

When Sony announced the G Master line of lenses, I took a lot of their claims with a grain of salt - as I always do. Ditto for the reviews from Sony Artisans. I tried to reason with myself that I bought into a mirrorless system for size and weight, and the Zeiss Batis made much more sense in that regard. However, Gear-Aquisition-Syndrome (GAS) was in full effect and weeks of fighting with myself couldn't keep my longing for the potential "unicorn of lenses" at bay.

I contacted one of my wife's favorite models and asked if she wanted to test. We found a great location, and picked up some nice clothes - it was finally time to test out the new Sony 85mm GM f1.4!

My first impressions were:
  • It's BIG! I knew this going in - but I LOVE my Sony/Zeiss 35mm f1.4, which I also thought was BIG - so I was willing to give the 85mm a chance.
  • It's heavy! It feels quite a bit heavier than the 35mm f1.4.
  • The AF does make noise (unlike the silent Batis), but it isn't as bad as some are claiming. I didn't notice the noise when actually shooting.
  • I thought the AF was terrible. I'm not sure what was going on when I was shooting, but it was more difficult to get that green AF confirmation than I was used to. Just after the shoot concluded, I was expecting about half of my shots would be soft.
  • I'm sending this lens back
Impressions after loading the images:
  • wow
  • WOW!
  • To my surprise, at least 90% of my shots were in focus (again, I'm not sure why I wasn't getting the focus confirmation).
  • The pictures are beautiful, sharp, and contrasty.
  • The bokeh is beautiful.
  • I'm keeping this Lens!
Sony a7rii and Sony GM 85mm f1.4 Wide Open
Sony a7rii and Sony GM 85mm f1.4 Wide Open

Cheers!

--
AirJarhead
www.romeobravophoto.com
https://www.flickr.com/photos/romeobravophoto/
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the review.

I tested both in the shop and went with the Batis.

GM is simply too big and bulky to a point I simply don't care how good it is. The size and weight totally puts me off, so I know it will end up sitting at home more than going out with me.

Sometimes a line has to be drawn, good enough is good enough. Mine stops at the Batis...

--
My Flickr
My Getty Images
 
Last edited:
mg_k said:
Thanks for the review.

I tested both in the shop and went with the Batis.

GM is simply too big and bulky to a point I simply don't care how good it is. The size and weight totally puts me off, so I know it will end up sitting at home more than going out with me.

Sometimes a line has to be drawn, good enough is good enough. Mine stops at the Batis...
Click to expand...
Well it's good that Sony A7 users have more choices now and the 85mm is one of them as everyone has different needs, budgets and expectations.

Regarding the focusing issues, just confirming you were using the latest A7 firmware that supported the GM lenses?
 
mg_k said:
Thanks for the review.

I tested both in the shop and went with the Batis.

GM is simply too big and bulky to a point I simply don't care how good it is. The size and weight totally puts me off, so I know it will end up sitting at home more than going out with me.

Sometimes a line has to be drawn, good enough is good enough. Mine stops at the Batis...
Click to expand...
Same with me. I know the GM is awesome, but I wanted to be out and about and the Batis is just much more portable (e.g., I can even walk around for long periods using a wrist strap). I have a bag that just barely fits A7RII and Batis 85 and that allowed me to take it to a recent Cubs game to get shots of CubsFan. ;-)

c204fb4f3f4b41ada28f469aab18b394.jpg

I'd love to have the GM if I was shooting studio shots and shooting for $$$. For my needs, the Batis has the quality that pleases me very much. No regrets. I am happy that Sony shooters have the GM option, but I am happier that I had the Batis option.

--
My recent favorite shots

My photo page on Facebook
 
Thanks for the very nice review. I went with the Batis but I bought it last year when there was no GM. I also own the Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II so until I decide to sell that I'm not going to consider the GM. Also, I like the size and weight of the Batis. I agree I'm more likely to use it with its smaller size and weight and faster AF. Also I like the IS even though my A7RII has IBIS. I will use it on occasion on my A6000 to give me the look of a 135mm. So the IS is a plus to me.

Steve W
 
Suuuuweet, thanks for sharing, excellent shots and model choice. Checked out your and your wife's portfolios - lot's of great portraiture there, loved it, nice work!
 
alextardif said:
Suuuuweet, thanks for sharing, excellent shots and model choice. Checked out your and your wife's portfolios - lot's of great portraiture there, loved it, nice work!
Click to expand...
 
kronosx2 said:
mg_k said:
Thanks for the review.

I tested both in the shop and went with the Batis.

GM is simply too big and bulky to a point I simply don't care how good it is. The size and weight totally puts me off, so I know it will end up sitting at home more than going out with me.

Sometimes a line has to be drawn, good enough is good enough. Mine stops at the Batis...
Click to expand...
Well it's good that Sony A7 users have more choices now and the 85mm is one of them as everyone has different needs, budgets and expectations.

Regarding the focusing issues, just confirming you were using the latest A7 firmware that supported the GM lenses?
Click to expand...
Yes, I updated to the latest firmware before the lens arrived. I almost wonder if the firmware made eye-focus less reliable somehow though? Eye-focus was completely useless on every lens i used that day. I enabled face-detect again, and now eye-focus seems to work. I'll experiment more when I get a chance.
 
First off, beautiful image of a very beautiful lady. I wish I could 'borrow' somebody like that!

You say you will try every lens, but is the Otus85 on your list?

Only just got mine and every thing they say about this lens is true. There is so much goodness locked up in this lens. But there is no getting away from it, the weight and manual focusing do present real problems.

The GM85 looks real sharp and the bokeh is faultless, but I still find the images slightly flat and dull.

If you demand perfection, then you owe it to that incredibly beautiful lady, to be seen through the Otus :-)
 
Good write up, and honest too.

P.S. Is the "unicron" you talk about a new Leica lens? Just kidding...
 
Shame you missed the "vs" parts about the other lenses in the title.

'Comparisons' would have been much more useful.
 
Flashback said:
First off, beautiful image of a very beautiful lady. I wish I could 'borrow' somebody like that!

You say you will try every lens, but is the Otus85 on your list?

Only just got mine and every thing they say about this lens is true. There is so much goodness locked up in this lens. But there is no getting away from it, the weight and manual focusing do present real problems.

The GM85 looks real sharp and the bokeh is faultless, but I still find the images slightly flat and dull.

If you demand perfection, then you owe it to that incredibly beautiful lady, to be seen through the Otus :-)
Click to expand...
Thanks!

I'm sure you are right about the Otus, and I would love to try one. The cost is fairly prohibitive, and the size for a manual focus lens is definitely a turn off. I will certainly look into renting one some day.

...and thank you for the defense regarding the comparisons/vs comment ;)
 
AirJarhead said:
Flashback said:
First off, beautiful image of a very beautiful lady. I wish I could 'borrow' somebody like that!

You say you will try every lens, but is the Otus85 on your list?

Only just got mine and every thing they say about this lens is true. There is so much goodness locked up in this lens. But there is no getting away from it, the weight and manual focusing do present real problems.

The GM85 looks real sharp and the bokeh is faultless, but I still find the images slightly flat and dull.

If you demand perfection, then you owe it to that incredibly beautiful lady, to be seen through the Otus :-)
Click to expand...
Thanks!

I'm sure you are right about the Otus, and I would love to try one. The cost is fairly prohibitive, and the size for a manual focus lens is definitely a turn off. I will certainly look into renting one some day.

...and thank you for the defense regarding the comparisons/vs comment ;)
Click to expand...
 
Flashback said:
AirJarhead said:
Flashback said:
First off, beautiful image of a very beautiful lady. I wish I could 'borrow' somebody like that!

You say you will try every lens, but is the Otus85 on your list?

Only just got mine and every thing they say about this lens is true. There is so much goodness locked up in this lens. But there is no getting away from it, the weight and manual focusing do present real problems.

The GM85 looks real sharp and the bokeh is faultless, but I still find the images slightly flat and dull.

If you demand perfection, then you owe it to that incredibly beautiful lady, to be seen through the Otus :-)
Click to expand...
Thanks!

I'm sure you are right about the Otus, and I would love to try one. The cost is fairly prohibitive, and the size for a manual focus lens is definitely a turn off. I will certainly look into renting one some day.

...and thank you for the defense regarding the comparisons/vs comment ;)
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
AirJarhead said:
Just used the Sony GM 85/1.4 last week. Here are some thoughts and comparisons with other portrait lenses:

Sony GM 85/1.4 vs the Rest

Excerpt:

When Sony announced the G Master line of lenses, I took a lot of their claims with a grain of salt - as I always do. Ditto for the reviews from Sony Artisans. I tried to reason with myself that I bought into a mirrorless system for size and weight, and the Zeiss Batis made much more sense in that regard. However, Gear-Aquisition-Syndrome (GAS) was in full effect and weeks of fighting with myself couldn't keep my longing for the potential "unicorn of lenses" at bay.

I contacted one of my wife's favorite models and asked if she wanted to test. We found a great location, and picked up some nice clothes - it was finally time to test out the new Sony 85mm GM f1.4!

My first impressions were:
  • It's BIG! I knew this going in - but I LOVE my Sony/Zeiss 35mm f1.4, which I also thought was BIG - so I was willing to give the 85mm a chance.
  • It's heavy! It feels quite a bit heavier than the 35mm f1.4.
  • The AF does make noise (unlike the silent Batis), but it isn't as bad as some are claiming. I didn't notice the noise when actually shooting.
  • I thought the AF was terrible. I'm not sure what was going on when I was shooting, but it was more difficult to get that green AF confirmation than I was used to. Just after the shoot concluded, I was expecting about half of my shots would be soft.
  • I'm sending this lens back
Impressions after loading the images:
  • wow
  • WOW!
  • To my surprise, at least 90% of my shots were in focus (again, I'm not sure why I wasn't getting the focus confirmation).
  • The pictures are beautiful, sharp, and contrasty.
  • The bokeh is beautiful.
  • I'm keeping this Lens!
Sony a7rii and Sony GM 85mm f1.4 Wide Open
Sony a7rii and Sony GM 85mm f1.4 Wide Open

Cheers!

--
AirJarhead
www.romeobravophoto.com
https://www.flickr.com/photos/romeobravophoto/
Click to expand...
Awesome! :)

Did you upgrade the lens and camera firmware before using the lens?
 
Yes, I did upgrade the firmware.

Thanks :)
 
Thanks for your posts, images, and findings. It is great to see that this lens really performs well!

As to me, I'll stick to the Batis 85 for the obvious reasons: size, price, AF, rendering, and IQ - all tradeoffs in their own right.

I could be talked into a Batis 135/2.0 lens down the line. It may not improve the bokeh over the FE85GM/1.4, but it will give me another (FOV) option.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top