Despite being a traditional choice for portraiture, Sony’s FE 85mm f/1.4 GM is an exciting take on a classic focal length. The short-telephoto reach and bright f/1.4 design excel in low light and, more importantly, help to achieve that characteristic shallow depth of field, selective focus look that’s perfect for highlighting a subject. It’s a G Master lens, too, which means its optics yield well-corrected, sharp imagery, and an 11-blade diaphragm also contributes to distinctly pleasing bokeh. In terms of handling, a linear SSM promotes fast and precise autofocus performance while a physical aperture ring and focus hold buttons lend a bit more tactile control when shooting.
Applications: The 85mm lens has the reputation for being a portrait lens, and that’s exactly where it excels—with portraits, fashion, headshots, and documentary subjects. But the slightly short-telephoto focal length is also a suitable choice for landscape and even more selective-focus-style street shooting, too.
Perks
+ G Master lens, advanced optics
+ Fast f/1.4 maximum aperture; perfect for shallow depth of field
+ Weather sealed
+ Physical aperture ring with de-click switch
Drawbacks
- Lacks versatility of a zoom
- Larger, heavier form factor
Specs
| Focal Length | 85mm |
| Aperture Range | f/1.4 to f/16 |
| Optical Layout | 11 elements, 8 groups (1 XA element, 3 extra low dispersion elements) |
| Coating | Nano AR |
| Minimum Focusing Distance | 2.6' / 80 cm |
| Maximum Magnification | 0.12x |
| Diaphragm Blades | 11 |
| Image Stabilization | No |
| Filter Size | 77mm |
| Dimensions | 3.5 x 4.2" / 89.5 x 107mm |
| Weight | 1.8 lb / 820 g |
Sample Images
