So any news on early release in the states. I'm seeing the 30th but love to get my hands on one sooner. I got 3 weddings to go too, I'm not shooting them but love to take a couple shots for the couple.
Bespoked wrote:
I prefer the sunstars of the 1.8, which is a shame as I don't want to buy both and want good looking sunstars from my GM. I guess the rounded iris blades are the trade-off for the beautiful soft and round specular highlights of the GM.
The GM seems to have better flare control, but focuses slower and has issues sometimes in strong back light, I've experienced the AF issues a few times, very annoying.
If you like sunstars the Loxia 85's straight 10-blade aperture is unmatched.
The 85GM has unattractive sunstars because of the 11-curved-blade aperture which renders softer 22-point stars.
GMPhotography wrote:
Finally some decent shots. Looks very good outside the bokeh balls . The GM does have more separation or 3D pop but that is expected.
I agree. Great side-by-side samples!
It's not just the amount of blur. The OOF transition zone is gorgeous on the GM. To my eyes, the FE 85 bokeh rendering is similar to the Batis which is not a bad thing.
I don't think the 85/1.8 replaces the GM though. The latter has a unique character and its OOF rendering is very special. However, for travel and general use, the FE 85/1.8 is a steal for the price even though many will say it's too expensive compared to other 85/1.8 lenses. These samples demonstrate why that's not the case.
Oh by the way, guys u dont find that absurd, we have the choice between 4x 85mm 1.4, Zeiss Batis 85mm 1.8, Sony 85mm, Loxia 85... one 90mm, a 100mm.... but no 135, no 200mm or other telephoto... the lens family for Sony FE is a bit strangely develloped
Looks good, definitely going to pick up one of these in a couple of months, decent sun stars as well.
Yeah there really has been some strange stacking of lenses at certain focal lengths in the FE system. The four native 85's and the the 6 or so 50-55mm's.
From the above tests, although the FE 85/1.8 is great wide open from center to the very edges, center and extreme edges seem optimal at f/4. That's an impressive performance for a budget lens. It seems to be similar or better than the Batis and GM as far as resolution goes.
aeonsim wrote:
Looks good, definitely going to pick up one of these in a couple of months, decent sun stars as well.
Yeah there really has been some strange stacking of lenses at certain focal lengths in the FE system. The four native 85's and the the 6 or so 50-55mm's.
While I can see that there are huge gaps, the stacking is strangely reassuring to me - it tells me that as the system develops it'll have not just breadth, but also depth. Historically the deepest systems offered a choice of speeds versus size and weight and economy trade offs at each FL, and we are seeing that at the most common FLs in Sony, and hopefully it will continue as the range of FLs expands.
Probably a lot easier to convince her you hang out with really sick people that have even more than you and you need to keep up. Or I'll send my baseball helmet after you buy the 1.8. That way you can protect yourself. 😂
The GM gets beat by the ZM 85 in the corners till about 5.6. So if this Sony is pulling it off at F4 than that's a advantage. Trust me the GM is no slouch either. I'm in line for this
Bespoked wrote:
I have, with the exception of the Sigma 85Art which it equals.
I have many 85's. my other favourite being the Nikkor 1.4/85G and the 85GM is miles ahead.
Sorry, I must have missed it. You've seen some comparison images where the GM was sharper than the FE85/1.8 at comparable apertures? Since I'm close to buying one of these lenses, please share the link with me. (I'm not questioning that the GM wins on rendering.)
Bespoked wrote:
It's going to be difficult to convince my wife, who's my company accountant, that I require 3 85's, at least.
The GM for it's best in class sharpness and rendering, the 1.8/85 for its compact, lightweight ergonomics and snappy AF and the Lox for its sun stars and contrast
If you want to get Loxia sunstars on the cheap, the ZM 85/4 is another option. It's my main 85mm landscape lens.
It's so small, your wife may not even notice it in your pocket.
Bespoked wrote:
It's going to be difficult to convince my wife, who's my company accountant, that I require 3 85's, at least.
The GM for it's best in class sharpness and rendering, the 1.8/85 for its compact, lightweight ergonomics and snappy AF and the Lox for its sun stars and contrast
Surely she can be persuaded that the 1.8 should be replaced with the Batis for slightly better flare control and very slightly better LOCA. And that you also need the ZM for near Loxia performance and greater compactness. And maybe an Otus for ultimate contrast at f 1.4....
