p.1 #1 · Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 - Keep or get rid of it?
I got this Sony FE 85mm in a trade, fully expecting not to use it. Maybe a little snobbery. It came with several lenses I planned to quickly get rid of (a FE 35mm, a Viltrox 20mm, and a Zeiss 35mm 1.8 tiny lens).
But, I put it on my A7CR for a low-expectation day shoot. It hasn't left the body since. Relatively compact, great focal length that I didn't have in a prime, and surprisingly, I love the images from the optical character. Like, I really love it and can't put my finger on why.
Told myself that maybe it was just a few shoots in ideal conditions, but I'm certain now I see something special that is well above the price point and its status in the ecosystem.
I have an opportunity to trade it away, but now I'm having second thoughts. Fearing both regretting later for keeping it or getting rid of it.
p.1 #2 · Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 - Keep or get rid of it?
I have one, I thought its an excellent lens especially considering the size of it. 85 is one of my favorite focal lengths to use and I have shot one of my all time shots with it too. I still have it but I mainly use he much bulkier Sigma 85 art lens now.
p.1 #3 · Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 - Keep or get rid of it?
It's a great little lens and if you really like it I would keep it. At least as a lightweight option. The only real downside to that lens is the longitudinal chromatic aberration it has at wide open apertures. Other than that, the lens is a great value, compact, sharp, fast AF, and has a nice rendering.
p.1 #4 · Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 - Keep or get rid of it?
If you like the focal range I'd suggest getting the batis 85 f1.8. a more premium lens that's about a $100 difference in price. I have it and it's a nice lens to use.
p.1 #5 · Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 - Keep or get rid of it?
I got the 85 f/1.8 as part of my first Sony purchase with my A7RIII in 2017. I used it extensively as a portrait lens. I was and still am impressed with its sharpness, fast focusing, and light weight. The Batis may measure a bit better but you already have the Sony. It sounds like you like it, so why not keep it.
p.1 #6 · Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 - Keep or get rid of it?
Very helpful to hear. I lose nothing by keeping it and it has me opening up to the possibility that I might be missing out on other useful lenses that are great bargains.
p.1 #8 · Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 - Keep or get rid of it?
doc4x5 wrote:
I got the 85 f/1.8 as part of my first Sony purchase with my A7RIII in 2017. I used it extensively as a portrait lens. I was and still am impressed with its sharpness, fast focusing, and light weight. The Batis may measure a bit better but you already have the Sony. It sounds like you like it, so why not keep it.
FYI - I thought about swapping out the FE85 for the Batis as well, but if you use the Batis for shooting fast-moving subjects, it can't keep up due to the slower focusing motors. The FE85 goes into my snowboard pack most of the ~90 days I do each winter. It is fantastic for landscapes, shooting skiers in motion and for shooting après ski music in dark bars.
The other "not so hidden" small gem in the lineup is the 20G.
p.1 #9 · Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 - Keep or get rid of it?
I intended to trade it because it came with a camera and other lenses that I got a great deal on, but I didn't think I would use it because it's not a GM. It tried it for funsies one day and the optical quality turned out much better than I expected. So, I'll probably keep it.
patotts wrote:
What are you trading it for? I don't see the point of getting rid of a lens that you enjoy the output from. Unless you need the money.
p.1 #11 · Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 - Keep or get rid of it?
You like it, you haven't identified any way it is not doing what you need or want (eg you haven't suggested you need or want a wider maximum aperture, keep it! If I was a buying an 85mm lens now for personal use, it would definitely be on my shortlist and may well be my choice (for the combination of image quality, AF and relatively light weight). I have thought about buying one several times, but I am not particularly a fan of 85mm so I have never done it.
p.1 #12 · Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 - Keep or get rid of it?
It never got the respect it deserves, the FE85 is capable of high impact work. I used it to document monastery interiors and some general travel. I'm now a 75mm shooter but this one took some faves for me. Here is one.
p.1 #13 · Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 - Keep or get rid of it?
I have one and use it on my A7Riii. I'm looking forward to using it on my soon to arrive used A6000 too.
Light, sharp, fast focusing, what's not to like?
When I added Sony back in 2018, mainly for the Eye AF for portraits, the 1st 2 lenses I purchased were the Sony 85 f1.8 and the Batis 135mm f2.8. The Sony 85 was a very good lens, but in time I noticed I could shoot handheld at base ISO longer with into golden hour shoot with the Batis lens vs the Sony, even though it’s 65% heavier, due to the OIS. So I traded up to the Batis 85, which has OIS, and am very happy I did. Can shoot about 2 stops lower ss with it, plus it handles backlighting much better than the Sony.
May not be important for your use, but it has been very helpful for me.
p.1 #16 · Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 - Keep or get rid of it?
I regret having sold my Sony FE 85mm f1.8 a couple of years ago together with a 40mm f2.5 G and an A7c when I decided to go exclusively with Canon. Three months later I ended up re-purchasing an A7c (unbeatable travel camera), and I'm kicking myself for having sold off those two primes. They were excellent samples; sharp over the entire frame (I remember having to return several samples because of Sony's notorious decentering issues). Now their prices have gone up considerably, and I don't want to go through the hassle of trying to find good copies. I really wish quality control was a bit better with Sony lenses; they should at the very least strive to be as good as Tamron lenses.
p.1 #17 · Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 - Keep or get rid of it?
One of the strangest threads I've read in a long, long time. Why on earth would you NOT keep something that you got for cheap, use a lot, gives you good results and that you like? Absolutely baffling to even ask that question. WTF?
