Sony FE 85mm F1.4 GM

Sony

FE 85mm F1.4 GM

Released March 2016

A full-frame E-mount F1.4 portrait prime with an XA element, eleven aperture blades and ring-drive SSM autofocus.

Mount
Sony E
Focal length
85 mm
Max aperture
f/1.4
Stabilisation
No
Weight
820 g

What reviewers say

Both praise sharp central detail, smooth background blur and construction, while noting substantial weight and weaker wide-open corners on Alpha 7R II. Photography Blog finds strong edge performance from F2.8; Amateur Photographer prefers F4 for corner sharpness. Photography Blog additionally reports audible autofocus and hunting in dim light, despite fairly quick focusing in its brighter-light tests.

From photographyblog.com, photographyblog.com, photographyblog.com and amateurphotographer.com

Optics

Lens type
Prime
Focal length
85 mm
Maximum aperture
f/1.4
Minimum aperture
f/16
Optical construction
Eleven elements in eight groups
Special elements
One XA extreme aspherical element and three ED glass elements
Coatings
Sony Nano AR coating
Diaphragm
Eleven rounded blades
Angle of view
29° full frame; 19° APS-C

Mount and compatibility

Mounts
Sony E
Image circle
Full frame
Image circle detail
Full-frame coverage; 127.5 mm equivalent field of view on APS-C
Teleconverter support
Not compatible with Sony E-mount teleconverters

Focus and stabilisation

Autofocus
Yes
Minimum focus distance
0.8 m (manual focus)
Maximum magnification
0.12×
Optical stabilisation
No
Autofocus detail
Ring-drive SSM with two focus-position detection sensors
Focus distance detail
0.85 m minimum with autofocus; 0.8 m with manual focus; main minimum uses manual focus
Magnification detail
0.12× maximum magnification; maker does not specify a separate focus mode for this figure
Stabilisation detail
No optical stabilisation; compatible camera body stabilisation can be used
Video features
Aperture click switch permits adjustment without click sound; launch notice qualifies autofocus movie compatibility by camera and firmware

Design

Dust and moisture resistant
Yes
Filter diameter
77 mm
Maximum diameter
89.5 mm
Length
107.5 mm
Weight
820 g
Controls
Manual-focus ring, AF/MF switch, focus-hold button and aperture ring with click on/off switch
Weather resistance
Dust and moisture resistant design with rubber mount seal; not guaranteed to prevent all ingress
Dimensions detail
89.5 mm maximum diameter × 107.5 mm length
Weight detail
Approximately 820 g lens; separate hood and caps excluded
Lens hood
ALC-SH142 round bayonet hood with lock button, supplied
In the box
ALC-SH142 hood, ALC-F77S front cap, ALC-R1EM rear cap and soft carrying case
Release detail
Sony Canada announcement dated 3 February 2016 specifies March availability; Sony Japan later confirms 28 April 2016. Main date uses earliest maker-published month; exact first global sale day unconfirmed. Two independently authored full reviews read: Photography Blog Mark Goldstein and Amateur Photographer Richard Sibley, both using Alpha 7R II. Different stopped-down corner assessments and Blog lighting-dependent autofocus findings retained. AP page refreshed in 2023; its 135 mm APS-C equivalent and Blog linear-SSM description conflict with maker 127.5 mm and ring-drive SSM figures. No inferred predecessor link

Pros and cons

Pros

  • F1.4 maximum aperture
  • Aperture ring with click switch
  • Dust and moisture resistant design

Cons

  • No optical stabilisation
  • 820 g lens weight

Closest rivals

Model
MountFocal lengthMax apertureStabilisationWeightReleased
Sony E85 mmf/1.8No371 gMar 2017
Sony E85 mmf/1.4No642 gSept 2024
Sony E90 mmf/2.8Yes602 gJun 2015

Sources

  1. sony.jp/ichigan/products/SEL85F14GM/spec.html
  2. sony.jp/ichigan/products/SEL85F14GM/feature_1.html
  3. news.cision.com/sony-canada/r/sony-launches-new-g-master--brand-of-interchangea…
  4. sony.jp/ichigan/info2/20160331.html
  5. photographyblog.com/reviews/sony_fe_85mm_f1_4_gm_review
  6. photographyblog.com/reviews/sony_fe_85mm_f1_4_gm_review/sharpness_1
  7. photographyblog.com/reviews/sony_fe_85mm_f1_4_gm_review/conclusion
  8. amateurphotographer.com/review/sony-fe-85mm-f1-4-gm-review

Photo: sony.jp

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