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Would you still buy a new Sony 85 1.4 GM in November 2023?

zeitlos
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Would you still buy a new Sony 85 1.4 GM in November 2023?

If yes, why?
If not, what speaks against it in your opinion?

Oct 28, 2023 at 04:06 PM

freaklikeme
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Would you still buy a new Sony 85 1.4 GM in November 2023?

Absolutely, despite the slower and noisier AF. In my opinion, there's no better short tele portrait lens.

Oct 28, 2023 at 04:37 PM

AGeoJO
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Would you still buy a new Sony 85 1.4 GM in November 2023?

Yes, for reasons stated above but I would not buy a brand new copy though 😃.

Oct 28, 2023 at 04:46 PM

patotts
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Would you still buy a new Sony 85 1.4 GM in November 2023?

Nope. I would buy a mint FE 85/1.8 to hold me over if you indeed must have a 85 right now, and then wait for the GMII version or perhaps more likely the 85/1.2. YMMV.

Oct 28, 2023 at 05:54 PM

zeitlos
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Would you still buy a new Sony 85 1.4 GM in November 2023?

Thank you all. I‘m asking because there‘s a promotion right now here in Germany for this weekend. So instead of the official 1600 it‘s about 1300 right now. But then again, I know that it‘s quite old and might be replaced soon/someday. At the same time I know that it‘s got beautiful bokeh. Hm…

Oct 29, 2023 at 12:32 AM

Keunish
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Would you still buy a new Sony 85 1.4 GM in November 2023?

Of course. 1300 is a good price.
Maybe it will be replaced, but I'm not sure the rendering will be as good. The new 85mm GM will be certainly optimized for high sharpness wide open. The current 85mm GM is sharp enough wide open but not ultra sharp, however it is very sharp stopped down to f1.6/f1.8.

Oct 29, 2023 at 02:20 AM

Stoffer
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Would you still buy a new Sony 85 1.4 GM in November 2023?

Yes, the rendering is fabulous and it is highly unlikely that its replacement will be as unique regarding the look as the current one.

Oct 29, 2023 at 04:37 AM

InFocus2014
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Would you still buy a new Sony 85 1.4 GM in November 2023?

Keunish wrote:
Of course. 1300 is a good price.
Maybe it will be replaced, but I'm not sure the rendering will be as good. The new 85mm GM will be certainly optimized for high sharpness wide open. The current 85mm GM is sharp enough wide open but not ultra sharp, however it is very sharp stopped down to f1.6/f1.8.

Agree. I extensively shot the GM 85mm since it was first released and until two years ago. I went through three copies before I realized that the lens is not inherently sharp at f1.4… particularly off-center where I often place the eyes for portraits. I mostly shot it at f1.8 where it was critically sharp. Of course, the bokeh on this lens is outstanding, but I lost some of that at f1.8. Also, focus is noisy, slow and not great in really low light.

A couple years ago, I replaced this lens with the Sigma 85mm f1.4 DG DN. This lens is amazingly sharp across the field at f1.4 , and the bokeh isn’t bad either. To be honest, I can hardly wait for the upcoming GM 85mm f1.2, as I love my GM 50mm f1.2.

Oct 29, 2023 at 04:48 AM

Peire
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Would you still buy a new Sony 85 1.4 GM in November 2023?

Yes.Firstly for it's bokeh,secondly for it's bokeh,thirdly for it's bokeh .........and for colour rendition ......and microcontrast when stopped down.

Oct 29, 2023 at 06:50 AM

patotts
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Would you still buy a new Sony 85 1.4 GM in November 2023?

zeitlos wrote:
Thank you all. I‘m asking because there‘s a promotion right now here in Germany for this weekend. So instead of the official 1600 it‘s about 1300 right now. But then again, I know that it‘s quite old and might be replaced soon/someday. At the same time I know that it‘s got beautiful bokeh. Hm…

Right, but it is selling for around $900-950 mint used, so the moment you open that package, you have lost another 25% of its value...

And more after the new version comes out. If we have learned anything from Sony at this point, it is that the GM II's coming out are spectacular, e.g. 70-200/2.8GMii, 24-70/2.8GMii, 16-35/2.8 GMii. Sony's 85/1.4 has some very stiff competition from Nikon's 85/1.2 and Canon's RF 85/1.2 - I just don't see Sony letting that one slide.

I don't know; if it were me, I'd wait. Or look at a Sigma 85/1.4 ART (check cameralabs.com review) Your call, of course.

Oct 29, 2023 at 01:11 PM

Goodrich
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Would you still buy a new Sony 85 1.4 GM in November 2023?

https://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/Sony/Sony-E-Mount-Lenses/Sony-FE-85mm-f1.4-G-Master-Lens

Well the average price does seem to be going down …

Oct 29, 2023 at 05:16 PM

SNJOps
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Would you still buy a new Sony 85 1.4 GM in November 2023?

I used to own the lens and sold it because while it is capable of producing absolutely beautiful images the lack of sharpness was just too much for me in the end. Was particularly noticeable on 61mp but less so than when I had an A7III. I would only recommend the 85mm GM to someone who values rendering considerably over all other aspects of IQ.

For those who want the best overall 85mm on emount get the Sigma Art DG DN. I have seen it compared to the Canon RF 85mm f1.2 and it more than held its own its that good. However in my opinion I don’t think it renders as nicely as the GM so I waiting for an 85mm GM update.

Oct 30, 2023 at 06:00 AM

sismailian
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Would you still buy a new Sony 85 1.4 GM in November 2023?

Not a bad price for sure. Also depends if you are shooting on a 61 mp body it will be a bit lacking in sharpness until you stop it down and then you loose some of the bokeh. Everyone has different taste and tolerance so I am only speaking from my experience.

At this point i would wait for the 85 gm coming out most likely by end of this year. It has to be in development. If one cannot wait the sigma 85 dg dn is absolutely incredible in its rendering, bokeh and sharpness wide open. And its small, light and priced pretty fairly too. It's af is definitely faster than the current 85 gm.

Biggest issue with current 85 is the slow noisy af and partly the sharpness wide open on a higher mp body. That's whats going to interest many with the new fast xd af motors that sony is putting in the newer lenses. They are incredible! Just try a 50 1.2/1.4 gm or any of the newer gm ii lenses. Lightning fast and accurate every time.

I am waiting for the new 85 gm as well as i love shooting portraits with 85/105/135 often.

Oct 30, 2023 at 10:24 AM

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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Would you still buy a new Sony 85 1.4 GM in November 2023?

I'd prefer a 105mm 1.4, I have the Sigma and love it but would prefer something with faster autofocus.

Oct 30, 2023 at 11:05 AM

saaketham
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Would you still buy a new Sony 85 1.4 GM in November 2023?

Compared to lenses (albeit larger/bulkier), such as Nikon 200mm f/2 VR, Sigma 105mm f/1.4, 50mm f/1.2, etc,
I wasn't impressed with the Sony 85mm f/1.4 GM. I rented it for a weekend, but did use it quite a lot that weekend.
Images were decent enough, but not enough to make me want to buy one.

Oct 30, 2023 at 12:22 PM

Dj R
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Would you still buy a new Sony 85 1.4 GM in November 2023?

If I had an A7IV, maybe
But I have two A7RV.

the 85 1.4 GM is a lovely lens.
I love the rendering.
I think my fav shot of all time, is with that lens.
I rocked it when I shot with A7iii for a while, and sometimes put it on an A7Riii, where it was dependable.

so I have a four GM PRIME bag of 14 35 50 135

The 35/85 combo is unbeatable for me, since I mostly do portrait/wedding.
I also do indoor sport, so for now, I'm using 135GM for that.
once a new 85 comes out, I'll be tempted to make a switch.

I may end up with 14 35 85 135, which on paper, is exactly what the doctor ordered. well spaced out glass, however most of us sometimes feel 85 and 135 is "too close"...
but of course, it's not.

14 UWA for specialty shots
35/85 pairing when I'm wearing two bodies at the same time, portrait/wedding
135 for head shots, indoor sport, and reach (at a wedding)

35 for casual/travel/reception

will the new 85 be good enough for indoor sport? if so, then I'll may examine my options again, and could move the 135, but it's sooooo good. it would be incredible if sony could make a compact 70-200 2.8 like canon's rf.
then I would prob go 14/35/85 and 70-200

Edited on Oct 30, 2023 at 03:35 PM · View previous versions

Oct 30, 2023 at 03:31 PM

AGeoJO
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Would you still buy a new Sony 85 1.4 GM in November 2023?

At wide open, it is not the sharpest tool in the shed and that’s what makes it desireable for portraits. Stopped down a little then it becomes like a completely different lens; sharp in the center but the bokeh is oh, so smooth. And at f/4 it is bitingly sharp, more than sufficient to shoot landscape with. So, it acts like more than just a single lens… Of course, this is coming from someone that loves this lens, if it is not obvious 😜.

Oct 30, 2023 at 03:34 PM

wordfool
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Would you still buy a new Sony 85 1.4 GM in November 2023?

Yes, because I suspect the new version will be quite a bit more expensive and might not have the famous rendering of the current version since Sony tends to favor pin sharp these days.

However I ended up buying the Sigma 85/1.4 competitor because of the GM's potentially loud AF motor (I needed a completely silent lens)

Oct 31, 2023 at 01:20 PM

patotts
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Would you still buy a new Sony 85 1.4 GM in November 2023?

wordfool wrote:
Yes, because I suspect the new version will be quite a bit more expensive and might not have the famous rendering of the current version since Sony tends to favor pin sharp these days.

However I ended up buying the Sigma 85/1.4 competitor because of the GM's potentially loud AF motor (I needed a completely silent lens)

Since when does gen II Sony lenses have loud AF motors? I found them to more silent than anything else on the market?

Oct 31, 2023 at 03:06 PM

wordfool
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Would you still buy a new Sony 85 1.4 GM in November 2023?

patotts wrote:
Since when does gen II Sony lenses have loud AF motors? I found them to more silent than anything else on the market?

The 85GM (current version) is a bit notorious for having a noisy AF motor. Not all copies do, but google it and you'll find plenty of complaints about it.

Oct 31, 2023 at 04:16 PM

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