Introduction
The Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM II (SEL85F14GM2) is a brief telephoto prime lens for Sony Alpha full-frame E-mount mirrorless cameras. It should additionally work with APS-C sensor cameras with an efficient enhance in focal size to 127.5mm as a result of 1.5x crop issue. The brand new Mark II model successfully replaces the unique Sony FE 85mm F1.4 GM lens that was launched again in 2016.The optical building options 14 parts in 11 teams, together with two ED (extra-low dispersion) parts and two XA (excessive aspherical) parts that scale back aberration and ship final decision.It has a near-circular 11-blade diaphragm which creates a sexy blur to the out-of-focus areas of the picture.There are two excessive dynamic (XD) linear motors for quick, quiet and exact auto-focusing, and it boasts a dust- and moisture-resistant design.There’s the most recent Nano AR II coating to attenuate inside reflections in order that flare and ghosting don’t happen and a flourine coating on the entrance factor to stop fingerprints, mud, oil and different contaminants.A standard aperture ring runs from f/1.4 to f/16 in third-stop increments with an Auto setting additionally out there. The Click on On/Off swap modifications the aperture ring between 1/3 clicked steps and a clean clickless motion. There’s additionally an Iris Lock swap included.The Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM II lens will likely be out there from September 2024 priced at £1850 / €2100 within the UK and Europe respectively. It’s made in Japan.
Ease of Use
Weighing in at 642g, the Mark II model of the FE 85mm weighs a considerable 20% lower than the unique (820g), regardless of virtually precisely the identical size, because of a extra trendy hybrid steel and engineered plastic-body.Together with a 13% discount in general quantity because of a slimmer design, this makes it really feel a lot better balanced on the A7S III digital camera that we examined it with, even with the big lens hood fitted that is equipped as commonplace within the field.The principle third-party rivals of this lens embody the Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN Artwork, Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 FE, and the Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG HSM. There’s additionally the slower Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 and the older Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM to contemplate.The Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM II has a sealed mud and moisture resistant design that ought to face up to rain showers, however you will want to guard it in additional inclement climate.This lens doesn’t function built-in Optical SteadyShot picture stabilisation, as an alternative counting on the in-body stabilisation system that almost all of Sony digital camera our bodies have.The vast, ridged guide focus ring and the model new aperture ring are the 2 important exterior controls of notice. Handbook focusing is feasible through the textured focus ring on the finish of the lens when it is activated utilizing the AF/MF swap on the aspect of the lens barrel.There are not any laborious stops at both finish of the focusing vary, making it a little bit tougher to set focus at infinity. Polariser customers must be happy that the 77mm filter thread does not rotate on focus.The lens makes use of two XD linear motors for quick, quiet quiet and clean focusing, making it well-suited to taking pictures each stills and video, particularly as focus respiratory is suppressed each optically and in-camera.With regards to auto-focusing, it proved to be an virtually silent, very fast performer on the Sony A7S III digital camera that we examined it with.We did not expertise very a lot “looking” in any respect, both in good or unhealthy mild, with the lens precisely focusing virtually all the time.Sony claims that this lens provides as much as 3x sooner auto-focus velocity and as much as 7x sooner topic monitoring than the unique model, whereas the linear response AF is nearly equal to mechanical guide focusing.Sony’s close to flawless Eye AF additionally works completely with this lens, rapidly locking onto and monitoring the topic’s eye, ideally suited for a portrait lens.This lens options an aperture ring that has 1/3EV stops starting from f/1.4 to f/16 and an Auto setting.The Click on swap on the bottom-right of the lens barrel lets you choose whether or not the aperture ring clicks into place at every aperture cease or rotates easily for silent operation throughout film recording.Utilizing the Iris Lock swap on the lens barrel, it may also be locked to both the Auto or F2.8-F22 settings to stop unintentional motion of the aperture ring.The lens has two customisable focus maintain buttons which hold the lens locked to the present focusing distance, helpful if you happen to’re auto-focusing and don’t need the lens to attempt to discover focus once more. It may well additionally, amongst different choices, be usefully set to Eye AF.The Sony FE 85mm F1.4 GM II has a steel lens mount and it accepts 77mm filters through plastic threads.It’s commendably equipped with each a smooth case and an improved, good high quality plastic circular-shaped lens hood (ALC-SH180) that now locks into place and has an built-in launch button. There is no case included with this lens.
Focal RangeThe 85mm focal size offers an angle of view of 29 levels.
Chromatic AberrationsChromatic aberrations, sometimes seen as blue or purple fringes alongside contrasty edges, weren’t very obvious in our check photographs, solely showing in very excessive distinction areas.
VignettingWith the lens set to its most aperture of f/1.4, there may be some apparent mild fall-off within the corners, requiring you to cease down by at the least 2 f-stops to stop it.
DistortionThere’s nearly no pin-cushion distortion evident both within the RAW information or the JPG information.
MacroThe Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM provides a minimal focusing distance of 80cm when guide focusing and 85cm when auto-focusing, with a most magnification of 0.12x.
BokehBokeh is a phrase used for the out-of-focus areas of {a photograph}, and is often described in qualitative phrases, corresponding to clean / creamy / harsh and so on.Within the Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM lens, Sony employed an iris diaphragm with 11 rounded blades, which has resulted in very interesting bokeh certainly.We do realise, nevertheless, that bokeh analysis is subjective, so we have included a number of examples to your perusal.
SharpnessIn order to point out you ways sharp the Sony FE 85mm F1.4 GM II lens is, we’re offering 100% crops on the next web page.
