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Archive 2017 · Zeiss ZA85 1.4 vs G Master - image quality differences?

  
 
roofdweller49
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Zeiss ZA85 1.4 vs G Master - image quality differences?


On a purely IQ perspective, how do the two differ?


Nov 30, 2017 at 01:30 PM
Lucinda
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Zeiss ZA85 1.4 vs G Master - image quality differences?


I wont be much help here, as I have no experience with the Zeiss, but will say the 85mm GM is tops daddy-o, this lens renders way crazy and makes magic everytime I use it. It inspires me to shoot.










Nov 30, 2017 at 02:04 PM
Parariss
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Zeiss ZA85 1.4 vs G Master - image quality differences?



roofdweller49 wrote:
On a purely IQ perspective, how do the two differ?


Your search button is our friend.



Nov 30, 2017 at 02:18 PM
roofdweller49
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Zeiss ZA85 1.4 vs G Master - image quality differences?


Apparently not my friend, lots of threads comparing to the batis, but the 1.4 is less popular, it appears


Nov 30, 2017 at 04:55 PM
freaklikeme
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Zeiss ZA85 1.4 vs G Master - image quality differences?


They ZA isn't as well corrected for SA, spherochromatism, or axial CA, nor does it have the overall resolution or the strong contrast in backlit situations of the G Master. It also requires the LAEA4 to AF since it's a screw-driven lens.


Nov 30, 2017 at 06:52 PM
bjornthun
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Zeiss ZA85 1.4 vs G Master - image quality differences?


freaklikeme wrote:
They ZA isn't as well corrected for SA, spherochromatism, or axial CA, nor does it have the overall resolution or the strong contrast in backlit situations of the G Master. It also requires the LAEA4 to AF since it's a screw-driven lens.


Then the 85/1.4 ZA doesn't have eye-AF either, which the 85/1.4 GM has got. This function may be importsnt for portraiture or people photography.



Nov 30, 2017 at 07:54 PM
mogul
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Zeiss ZA85 1.4 vs G Master - image quality differences?


bjornthun wrote:
Then the 85/1.4 ZA doesn't have eye-AF either, which the 85/1.4 GM has got. This function may be importsnt for portraiture or people photography.

My 99Ii has eye AF



Nov 30, 2017 at 08:25 PM
bjornthun
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Zeiss ZA85 1.4 vs G Master - image quality differences?


mogul wrote:
My 99Ii has eye AF


Yes, but 85/1.4 ZA + LA-EA4 + A7x/Nex won't give eye-AF. The OP asked after a comparison to the 85/1.4 GM.



Nov 30, 2017 at 09:45 PM
serhan_
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Zeiss ZA85 1.4 vs G Master - image quality differences?


Zeiss Loxia 85/2.4 vs Zeiss Batis 85/1.8 vs Sony FE 85/1.4 GM vs Sony SAL 85/1.4 ZA. Battle of 85mm lenses for Sony E Mount – Comparative Lens Review

https://www.lenstip.com/484.11-Lens_review-Sony_FE_85_mm_f_1.4_GM_Summary.html

https://www.lenstip.com/23.11-Lens_review-Sony_Carl_Zeiss_Planar_T*_85_mm_f_1.4_Summary.html



Nov 30, 2017 at 11:27 PM
trogdon
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Zeiss ZA85 1.4 vs G Master - image quality differences?


In most measurable IQ aspects (if not all), the GM will be better. The ZA is a good lens for the time, but not up to snuff with the high quality of the GM. That said, for the price (especially used) it's definitely a solid lens, and it would do a very good job in most situations


Nov 30, 2017 at 11:46 PM
johnctharp
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Zeiss ZA85 1.4 vs G Master - image quality differences?


trogdon wrote:
In most measurable IQ aspects (if not all), the GM will be better. The ZA is a good lens for the time, but not up to snuff with the high quality of the GM. That said, for the price (especially used) it's definitely a solid lens, and it would do a very good job in most situations


Better comparison might be the Sigma 85/1.4 | Art, being adaptable to use EyeAF and probably cheaper overall.



Dec 01, 2017 at 02:10 AM
Chris_88
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Zeiss ZA85 1.4 vs G Master - image quality differences?


The a-mount lens is a ten-year old design with lots of CA and a somewhat noisy screw drive AF, while the GM is the best portrait lens Sony could make in the present (at that price point at least). The rendering is also different: The ZA renders cooler, while the GM carries deliberately plenty of classic Minolta 85 1.4 G DNA. The GM's design team even included some veterans who had worked on that Minolta classic.



Dec 01, 2017 at 03:05 AM
Marve Almar
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Zeiss ZA85 1.4 vs G Master - image quality differences?


I've had two samples of the ZA85 and I have the 85GM now and the 85GM is in a different league in every way. The ZA85 was a good lens back in the days, but far from perfect.


Dec 01, 2017 at 03:51 AM
roofdweller49
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Zeiss ZA85 1.4 vs G Master - image quality differences?


Thanks, I was hoping the za would at least give me the nice Zeiss pop and smoothness, but the GM is looking more and more appealing.


Dec 01, 2017 at 09:55 AM
AGeoJO
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Zeiss ZA85 1.4 vs G Master - image quality differences?


I had and used the ZA 85mm lens quite a bit 3 years ago. Yes, the CA was there at wide open or close to wide open but it is negligible at f/2 and only if you look for it. I moved on to the Batis 85mm not because of that but for the noiseless AF and the convenience of being able to get more AF features. I bought the GM 85mm later on when it became available.

Since I enjoy portrait photography and I do a fair amount of that, I do have and keep both native FE lenses and love both for what they are. For portraits, in a studio or outdoors locally, I use the GM lens; I love its rendition at wider aperture settings. For portraits outdoors, landscape and travel, I use the Batis. To me they are different enough to justify owning both, but that's me.

Here are a few images taken with the ZA 85mm; really, you cannot complain about the IQ coming off that lens, IMHO. FYI, the ZA uses a fairly noisy screw drive AF motor....



© AGeoJO 2017





© AGeoJO 2017





© AGeoJO 2017





© AGeoJO 2017




Dec 01, 2017 at 10:30 AM
roofdweller49
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Zeiss ZA85 1.4 vs G Master - image quality differences?


Hmm, any batis or gm samples to compare? That looks great, I'm mainly concerned with skin textures


Dec 01, 2017 at 10:32 AM
AGeoJO
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Zeiss ZA85 1.4 vs G Master - image quality differences?


roofdweller49 wrote:
Hmm, any batis or gm samples to compare? That looks great, I'm mainly concerned with skin textures


Skin textures are more the result of lighting quality/conditions and post processing, IMHO.

Here are 2 images taken with the Batis in a studio, stopped down, mind you and 2 off the GM taken at wide open.



© AGeoJO 2017





© AGeoJO 2017





© AGeoJO 2017





© AGeoJO 2017




Dec 01, 2017 at 11:03 AM
Faraday
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Zeiss ZA85 1.4 vs G Master - image quality differences?


Since we've introduced the Batis to discussion, I did a newborn/mother shoot in April and brought both the Batis 85 and the 85 GM. Deliberately didn't separate the shots and when I was editing I wasn't looking at metadata.
They are both great lenses (and so is the FE 85 1.8, especially at its price), but many more of my keepers were from the GM. It has that creamy rendering.



Dec 01, 2017 at 02:15 PM
JimUe
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Zeiss ZA85 1.4 vs G Master - image quality differences?


The 85gm won't eye af on the a99ii either

bjornthun wrote:
Yes, but 85/1.4 ZA + LA-EA4 + A7x/Nex won't give eye-AF. The OP asked after a comparison to the 85/1.4 GM.




Dec 01, 2017 at 05:27 PM
roofdweller49
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Zeiss ZA85 1.4 vs G Master - image quality differences?


Thanks for the samples. The reason I bring up skin tones is I've tested lenses that make skin completely plasticky (no pore definition, not sure if it's related to microcontrast)


Dec 02, 2017 at 09:15 AM





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