p.1 #1 · Sony 50 mm 1.4 GM in APCS mode vs 85 mm (Viltro EVO or Aurora 1.4)
Hi
I have an A7RV and Sigma 65/2 for my portraits (nothing professional). Although I like it, I miss the 75-90 range. So I am trying to decide what to do.
I was looking into the Sirui Aurora 85/1.4, Viltrox 85/2 EVO. I could invest in the Sony 85 GMII but I am afraid of the bulk (the two formentionnend lenses are smaller and/or lighter, the Aurora has also the same 67 mm filter as my 35 GM).
Before the 65/2 I sold the Sigma 85/1.4 because I left it too often at home because of the weight. I do not need super fast autofocus but it needs to be sufficiently sharp and bokeh has to be nice. There should not be difficult to correct lens flaws.
I am also seriously considering buying the 50/1.4 GM and use it in APSC mode since with the A7RV it will deliver enough resolution and DOF at the level of the person will likely be enough for me. On the other hand, I assume that the lesser compression of the foreground and background (with the shorter focal length) in the out of focus area's will be enough to be visible.
p.1 #2 · Sony 50 mm 1.4 GM in APCS mode vs 85 mm (Viltro EVO or Aurora 1.4)
As someone who regularly shoots both full frame and apsc, I'm always looking for lenses that can pull double-duty.
However, the Sigma 65 already gets you pretty close to the 50GM in crop mode. I think the 85 EVO or even the Sigma 90 might work better for what you want, unless you also are really wanting the 50GM to use as a 50.
p.1 #3 · Sony 50 mm 1.4 GM in APCS mode vs 85 mm (Viltro EVO or Aurora 1.4)
"...bokeh has to be nice."
That's the Sirui Aurora 85/1.4. Link to images at this forum showing rendering, bokeh and enough focusing speed: https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1897586/4/
I think the Aurora is underrated. OK, it's not for sports and action but it's fine for everything else. It's also nice having the 85 without cropping.
The Viltrox is smaller and less weight but the rendering and bokeh is not as good as the Aurora 85. It's a good, or very good really, allrounder though and can of course be used for portraits as well.
p.1 #4 · Sony 50 mm 1.4 GM in APCS mode vs 85 mm (Viltro EVO or Aurora 1.4)
Sirui come from a series of cine products, and are just finding their way into our arena, but with that DNA deeply embedded. They know their stuff, the 14/9 85/1.4 is 540g, and it has fine specs: one asph, a good balance of three HRI and one ED glasses, weather sealing, contacts/buttons, de-click aperture.
And from their cine background, we see 15 aperture blades for near wide open performance with a more circular light path, so f1.7, f2, f2.8 can be used with greater confidence. And they actually design for bokeh, which is so excellent in the 85mm that some folks were disappointed with the 35/1.4 when it was released.
One reason the Chinese lenses came so far so fast is their excellent high refractive index glasses - this one uses glasses with a refractive index over 1.9, which bend light beams much more efficiently. That's a big deal - it's a nerdy 3D thing.
But believe me, it matters greatly to the final imagery, which lacks the facial 'etching' we see so depressingly often with ED-dominant lenses. It uses no fewer than five doublets, also a very good design feature because even in 2026 it reduces the glass-air interface count. And the more complex lenses become, the more tech has to go into coatings. And, best of all, people actually look natural in its images, so you end up with more realistic and vibrant photos.
p.1 #5 · Sony 50 mm 1.4 GM in APCS mode vs 85 mm (Viltro EVO or Aurora 1.4)
You will save the most weight and money by using your Sigma 65/2 in crop mode. With your A7RV, it is effectively a 65mm and 97.5mm, and everything in between (via cropping). The 50/1.4 GM is great, but it doesn't solve your range problem over what you already have. So unless you need to use it as a full frame 50/1.4, it's wasted money.
If you really want the 75-90 range, without too much weight, an 85/2 EVO or Samyang 85/1.8 P would be very nice. They are small high quality lenses. The Samyang 85P doesn't yet have an optical profile in Lightroom yet, but its slight pincushion distortion is easy to correct. I'm not sure whether the 85 EVO has an optical profile yet, or whether it needs one.
I haven't tried the Sirui Aurora. The 85 GM II is absolutely brilliant but a significant chunk of weight to carry, very much like the Sigma 85/1.4.
p.1 #6 · Sony 50 mm 1.4 GM in APCS mode vs 85 mm (Viltro EVO or Aurora 1.4)
Others have answered the APS-C vs FF question very competently, but IMHO the main problem with the 50/1.4 GM (in APS-C mode or otherwise) is incompatible with "the bokeh has to be nice". It is fine if you like harsh, clinical bokeh, but personally I wouldn't call it "nice".
p.1 #7 · Sony 50 mm 1.4 GM in APCS mode vs 85 mm (Viltro EVO or Aurora 1.4)
Some criticize the GM because the bokeh is too soft, others find it too harsh. But what on earth is "clinical bokeh" supposed to be? It's getting more and more ridiculous.😅
p.1 #8 · Sony 50 mm 1.4 GM in APCS mode vs 85 mm (Viltro EVO or Aurora 1.4)
I mean, if you are thinking of shooting the 50/1.4GM in APS-C mode, why not just shoot the Sigma 60/2 that you already own in APS-C mode for a while and see how you like it?
If you want an occasional portrait lens with good character, I'd look at a minty used Zeiss Batis 85/1.8 as well, around $500.
p.1 #9 · Sony 50 mm 1.4 GM in APCS mode vs 85 mm (Viltro EVO or Aurora 1.4)
Indeed, the 65/2 in crop mode is quite decent — I use it that way myself from time to time. However, for a head and shoulders portrait you do need to step back a bit more, and the depth of field isn’t as shallow as I’d prefer. One of the reasons I bought it in the first place was because I thought the 35GM and 65/2 would make a relatively light and compact walk around kit.
But I never really got used to the 65, so I’m leaning back toward the 35GM + 85 combination (maybe even adding the small 40/2.5 or 50/2.5 as a single lens ultralight setup for those moments when I’d otherwise leave the camera at home). In that case, the 85/1.4 Sirui might be my best option: it stays compact, takes the same 67mm filters as the 35GM, and performs well for portraiture — though I still need to test its flare resistance and AF accuracy myself.
On the other hand, the 35GM + 50GM (the f/1.4 version because of its size and weight) would give me both a great 50mm and a 75mm equivalent, again with the same filter size for ND use. But the question is whether the 50GM really delivers as a portrait lens in APS C mode. Has anyone by any chance compared a 50/1.4 in APS C mode at f/1.4 with an 85mm on full frame at f/2.0 (or wider/narrower), while framing a head and shoulders portrait so the subject fills the frame similarly?
You can calculate depth of field at the subject distance, of course, but I’m also curious how facial compression — and especially background compression — changes with the different focal lengths and the different camera to subject distances required for such a comparison. My assumption is still that the longer the focal length, the closer the background will appear, even when it’s out of focus.
p.1 #10 · Sony 50 mm 1.4 GM in APCS mode vs 85 mm (Viltro EVO or Aurora 1.4)
I'll admit to liking the idea of a 50mm as a single lens, it's my favorite focal length anyway, one C button press and I get a longer lens and with plenty resolution still on my A7r4. A few frames stitched and I have a wider lens. The concept does appeal to a minimalist if your subject matter suits stitching. I plan on trying this out next chance I get into the wild.
p.1 #11 · Sony 50 mm 1.4 GM in APCS mode vs 85 mm (Viltro EVO or Aurora 1.4)
If you’re deadset on using a 50mm in APS-C mode, the Samyang/Rokinon AF 50mm f/1.4 II is the smarter choice. There’s little reason to overspend on the GM when you’ve already said autofocus speed isn’t a priority. The Samyang II arguably delivers better bokeh and overall rendering than any other 50mm E-mount lens aside from the 50mm f/1.2 GM. It also weighs just 420g and is impressively sharp in the center even wide open.
p.1 #12 · Sony 50 mm 1.4 GM in APCS mode vs 85 mm (Viltro EVO or Aurora 1.4)
Frank-Starling wrote:
Hi
I have an A7RV and Sigma 65/2 for my portraits (nothing professional). Although I like it, I miss the 75-90 range. So I am trying to decide what to do.
I was looking into the Sirui Aurora 85/1.4, Viltrox 85/2 EVO. I could invest in the Sony 85 GMII but I am afraid of the bulk (the two formentionnend lenses are smaller and/or lighter, the Aurora has also the same 67 mm filter as my 35 GM).
Before the 65/2 I sold the Sigma 85/1.4 because I left it too often at home because of the weight. I do not need super fast autofocus but it needs to be sufficiently sharp and bokeh has to be nice. There should not be difficult to correct lens flaws.
I am also seriously considering buying the 50/1.4 GM and use it in APSC mode since with the A7RV it will deliver enough resolution and DOF at the level of the person will likely be enough for me. On the other hand, I assume that the lesser compression of the foreground and background (with the shorter focal length) in the out of focus area's will be enough to be visible.
Anyone who asked him/herself the same question?...Show more →
My situation is similar. I have both an A6700 and A7V. I would go with a 50/1.4 GM because of its versatility. I have the Sonnar 55/1.8 that is superb for APS-C but anxious to try it with my new A7V. For my A6700 I've used it mainly for portraiture and it is great for head shots as it is like an 85mm lens (FF equivalent). However if I didn't have the Sonnar, I would definitely go with either a 50/1.4 GM or Sigma 50/1.2 ART.
