Do you really need the f/1.4? If not I think in your situation the Leica M 90 f/2 pre-AA is a very nice lens with a lot of the same character as the 75 f/1.4 for about a third of the money. It will work with both systems and it is smaller than the other options as well.
I find it plenty sharp wide open, but perhaps that's just me. The Samyang/Rokinon 85/1.4 is where I'd start and end unless you needed smaller or were REALLY picky. Gorgeous bokeh and plenty of resolution.
An 'out-of-the-box' suggestion for you. One of my all time favourite lenses, very very small, glorious isolation and rendering : Pentax FA77 Ltd (f1.8). In black or silver (mine was the silver).
I've had most of the higher end 85's and optically the Samyang/Rokikon hangs right with them, and actually best a few wide open. Doesn't sharpen up quite as much, but at f1.4 and f2 its quite good. Far better than it should be for its price.
I also like its very smooth and neutral bokeh quality
Adorama just had them on Ebay, brand new, for $199 in most mounts.
You don't get AF, but honestly AF is pretty hit or miss at f1.4 and your a bit better off to manual focus, which is a real pleasure on the A7 with its great EVF,
And if you need sharp stopped down pair the Samyang with Sony's diminutive and inexpensive 85/2.8 SAM which is very sharp through it's aperture range. The pair should run the same or less cost than the other alternatives (you're looking around $600 for both lenses, bought new, possibly as low as $400 for the pair on the used market).
I really like the manual focus Nikon 85/1.8's. I have two on the B&S board, but also kept one for myself to use on the A7r. The lenses are compact, well built, and have excellent IQ from wide open - even on the A7r.
I will have to recommend the Leica Summilux R80/1.4 as a viable substitute for the Summilux M 75. I have had the Contax Zeiss 85/1.4 and numerous portrait teles over the years but the R80 is something else if portraits is your game. Not necessarily the "best" but on a subjective level I think the drawing style is top notch, as is the handling and build quality.
Stopped down it has great performance as an all rounder too.
I have almost reluctantly grown to like it - enough that I am about to pick up an A7 for it. At the moment I am using it on APS-C but find that a bit crippling considering I am sporting a slow-ish camera.
pdmphoto wrote:
I really like the manual focus Nikon 85/1.8's. I have two on the B&S board, but also kept one for myself to use on the A7r. The lenses are compact, well built, and have excellent IQ from wide open - even on the A7r.
Don't forget the Nikon 85mm f/2.0 AIS lens. Very sharp and compact lens. One of my favorites.
Since the R80 and M75 lux's have been mentioned, I will suggest the M75 Summicron. It is said to be based on the M50 Lux Asph design. I had to sell off and reduce my inventory in order to get one, but I really like it, being useable from f/2 on. Since I tend to crop most of my normal 50mm shots, 75mm gives me that crop. I have it paired with a 35mm lens.
At f/2 it's very good, but at 1.5 it's a bit wild and maybe too glowy for paid work.
I liked the FL so well at this party on the A7, I'm thinking maybe I need something more modern looking wide open.
I have a CV 75/2.5 which is great for everything 75 on both cameras, and tiny as well. But in dim light I don't care for it.
The roki/sammy I've always resisted, but maybe I need to re think that.
Anyway the 75 lux is a benchmark lens and I can use it on the M9 too which is huge. But of course at a party I won't trust my focus on the M9 even close to wide open, so the real use would be with the A7.
AF really would be sweet if it sort of works with the LAEA4 and AF minolta or possibly zeiss. The one thing which spooks me a bit with the minolta is there is no MF/AF switch. So I'm not sure how it will go real world.
The minolta is supposedly great wide open, better than the canon 1.2 at 1.4--which costs about the same in FD mount.
Of course I've always craved that FD 1.2 too.
I know there many many good 85ish lenses and the current cron 75/2 is fantastic, but it's just not fast enough for me to justify the cost. I'm already happy at f/2.
The 75 lux would be pretty darn fun and I think would really fit the bill, but the minolta AF cries: "affordable work horse" at 1/5 cost.
anyway love the input and passion for personal favorites.
I love my Pentax SMC Takumar 85 1.8 on the A7. Relatively small, fairly light, sharp and gorgeous bokeh. Won't break the bank and feels wonderful in the hand. I've also gotten great results with it for video, e.g., interviews, etc. Mine's the screw mount version. The K mount is said to be better, but I really can't imagine how it could be. Simply put, I love using this lens.
for shooting paid event work at f/1.4 the rokinon/samyang 85/1.4 gets my vote. it's competitive with the best for sharpness at f/1.4 (sharper than the luxes at f/1.4) and has the most unobtrusive bokeh (boringly smooth).
the rest of the options aren't going to give you much extra at f/1.4 other character and/or (inaccurate) AF.
for portraits where you can pick and choose the background/lighting i'd choose something more exotic.
