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 Sony 85mm/f1.4 GM II versus Batis 85mm/f1.8 - comparison shots at f2 and f2.8 | |
darbo wrote:
InFocus2014 wrote:
I find it interesting that the shots were done at f2, when including f1.4 lenses. While f2 allows for an apples to apples lens comparison, it might not reflect real world utilization.
I have extensively shot the Batis 85mm f1.8, GM 85mm f1.4 Version I and I now shoot the GM 85mm f1.4 Version II... all of them excellent lenses. I shot all of them at wide-open apertures 90% of the time. I would typically use more convenient zooms if I didn't need the speed or bokeh of f1.4 or f1.8.
At one time, the OS on the Batis provided a nice advantage, but the IBIS is now so good on Sony bodies that that feature might be a bit moot.
The king of bokeh is the GM 85mm f1.4 Version I, but it isn't the sharpest lens at f1.4 (really sharp at f1.8). I really liked my Batis 85, but in certain circumstances, the bokeh could be a little contrasty, for my taste. I actually preferred the bokeh on the Sony 85mm f1.8 that I also shot, for awhile. IMHO, the newer GM 85mm f1.4 II is absolutely killer. When splitting hairs, the bokeh may not be quite as pleasing as the Version I, but the sharpness, colors and contrast are off the charts.
A bit humorous aside - I ordered GM 85mm f1.4 when it was first released, nine years ago. When it arrived, the focus motor made a loud grinding noice. Assuming it was faulty, I put it back in the box and returned it for an exchange. When I tested the replacement lens it was nearly as loud. By then, forums had information relating the fact that it was just a normal characteristic of the lens. The lens was not very sharp at f1.4 so I did another exchange. By my third lens (fourth, counting the first), I was mostly satisfied. There seems to be a lot of copy variation with this lens - at least in the early production units.
My comparison images, thus far, have been by request - I was asked to post f2 and f2.8 photos, but you raise an excellent point. Much of the GM II’s excellence is in it’s high performance at F1.4 and I think I owe this test some comparisons with each lens at max aperture.
This is interesting:
- For landscapes most of my shots are between f2.8 and 5.6, occasionally f2 (at night).
- For portrait I very rarely shoot these lenses wide open, since f1.4 usually does not allow all parts of a face to be sharp.
(Quite obviously, different people use these lenses differently)
Thus, when asking thw orignal question and opening this thread, comparing „apples to apples“, e.g. f2 to f2 and f2.8 to f2.8 made most sense to me.
Of course performance at f1.4 (or f1.8 for the Batis) is of interest. But this data is out there on the internet. Both lenses have been tested extensively when they came out.
But due to their release dates, direct comparisons are scant and usually anecdotal in the sense that users describe what they have found but mostly do not back up their observations with images.
I‘m thus very grateful to Darbo for an „apples to apples“ comparison. And -to me- this has already yielded some very interesting results, on one side how similar The Batis is to the GM II, and especially how competitively good the Batis is, even in 2025 (even not considering, that it is 1/2 the street price).
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