Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM
Announced February 3, 2016
PixelMeter The PixelMeter is our 1–100 aggregate of reviewer scores from trusted publications and creators. Weighted by source tier — not a raw average, and not PetaPixel’s own review.
Reviewer Consensus
Strong
The Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM is a premium prime lens that delivers exceptional sharpness and smooth bokeh for portraiture. While it provides professional-grade optical performance and versatile features like a de-clickable aperture ring, it is a heavy, expensive, and relatively slow-focusing investment.
Weighted from 30 reviewer scores
Pros
- Versatile controls including a de-clickable aperture ring and focus hold button
- Solid build quality with weather sealing
- Accurate and quiet autofocus performance
- Beautiful, smooth bokeh and background blur
- Exceptional sharpness and high resolution across the frame
Cons
- Expensive pricing relative to alternatives
- Heavy and bulky physical design
- Slower autofocus speeds and hunting in low light
- Chromatic aberration and longitudinal color fringing
- Restrictive minimum focus distance
- Launch price $1,799.99 (USD)
- Focal length & aperture 85mm f/1.4
- Mount & coverage Sony E Full-Frame
- Stabilization None
- Close focus 80 cm (0.12x)
- Filter thread 77mm
- Autofocus motor Autofocus
- Weight & size 820g · 89.5 x 107.5 mm (3.52 x 4.23 in)
What the Reviewers Say
All 30 expert reviews, weighted into the PixelMeter score.
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Sony's FE 85mm f1.4 GM is a high-end prime lens for its mirrorless cameras. The short telephoto focal length and bright f1.4 focal ratio make it ideal for portraits and the de-clickable aperture ring also makes it great for video work.
- OpticalLimits 8.5/10
The Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM is an excellent example of what a lens should look like in this class - albeit it is still not perfect.
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On the evidence of using it on the 42-million-pixel A7R II in our Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM review, I see no reason why it won’t meet the demands of even higher resolution sensors, and from that point of view, it may make a reasonable investment.
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Sony calls it "The ultimate portrait prime" and, at least for Sony systems, I think they are right.
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The G Master lenses were the answer to the challenge that Sony didn’t have enough serious lenses for its full frame mirrorless platform.
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[F]or anyone whose priority in a Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM lens is deadly sharpness and nice handling, it certainly does come recommended.
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This lens on the other hand is the first Sony lens where I think there is actually a tangible advantage over the competition, not just a higher price tag.
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The Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 G Master lens is a traditionally very high quality choice.
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The Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM is an outstanding prime lens for portraiture, offering a winning combination of sharpness and very appealing bokeh.
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The Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM accepts filters and adapters with a 77mm filter thread If you own an A7R II and portrait photography is your key subject matter, it is naturally a fine pairing. For everyone else, it is a premium lens at a premium price.
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This Sony lens ticks all the right boxes for portraiture on a full-frame camera, with its 85mm focal length and fast f/1.4 aperture.
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The Sony FE 85mm F1.4 GM is an absolutely phenomenal short telephoto lens, ideal for portraiture.
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Before this lens existed, Chelsea and I never enjoyed the experience of shooting portraits with a Sony camera.
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If you own an A7R II and portrait photography is your key subject matter, it is naturally a fine pairing. For everyone else, it is a premium lens at a premium price.
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Let’s give Sony credit: the brand has created an excellent portrait lens. There is little to complain about concerning optical quality, if not the lower contrast at the fastest aperture (which is not necessarily a negative thing).
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The Sony 85mm f/1.4 GM is a lens that feels greater than the sum of its parts. Yes, it’s very sharp; it’s got great bokeh; it’s got good color and contrast.
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[T]his is such a stunning lens with very little downsides in my opinion.
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All right guys, so as you can see the performance of this Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM lens is outstanding at least based on how I like to use lenses and stuff in the real world and I was extremely impressed with it.
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If it is within your budget and you are shooting professionally, you will find so many uses for this lens. Even though it's just 85mm and there isn't any zoom to it, you're absolutely gonna love it.
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This Sony 85 1.4 is the real thing; a modern interpretation of a classic professional staple for your Sony mirrorless camera.
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So this lens does produce some really, really good looking images, but to be completely honest, I would not recommend you to buy this lens unless you have a pile of money that you just want to get rid of.
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For those rocking Sony E-mount cameras, this lens is dreamy. An excellent and high-quality choice as a native Sony mount.
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With beautiful out of focus blur and sharpness to match, this lens easily earns itself the G Master status and I feel like portrait photographers would enjoy using this classic focal length.
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As mentioned earlier on, using the Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM Lens (B&H / Amazon) with the 42 megapixel of the Sony a7R II (affiliate), gave an astonishing amount of detail in the files.
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It's been one of my favorite purchases in the past three years when it comes to photo video gear, and it's one of the last lenses I'd sell about how to downsize.
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It's definitely something I'm going to be adding to my wedding kit, which will finally kind of give me like the whole the circle is now complete thing from Star Wars to really feel like I finally built out a Sony kit that is complete and not lacking in anything.
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An absolutely brilliant lens for weddings and portrait photographers, it is also an absolute must-have lens for filmmakers and bokeh fans.
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Guys, this is the best portrait lens I've ever touched before.
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I definitely want to say my overall opinion with this thing for sure is that for portraits, this lens is awesome.
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It takes really, really good photos.
