In this blog, I will share my first impressions of the Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 G Master II lens. I purchased this lens a couple of months ago and have used it a fair bit on my last Japan trip, so I am now in a position to give you some initial feedback. This isn’t a full review, and a long-term detailed review will come next year. For clarity, I purchased this lens with my own money, and I have no contact or relationship with Sony.

Purpose

As time goes on, I find myself being drawn to night photography ever more, and with 85mm being one of my favourite focal lengths, I decided to invest in this monster of a lens. Also, when coupled with higher-resolution cameras such as the Sony A7RV, I can switch to APS-C mode and still retain 26MP at a 130mm focal length. As well as night photography, this lens will be used on any client projects where the best quality is required.

Focal Length

85mm is an incredibly versatile focal length and is best suited to travel, street photography, and portraiture. While this focal length can be limiting in many scenarios, where it does shine is in bringing attention to small details and making city scenes appear larger than life, especially at night. This will never be your one and only focal length; instead, it will complement something a little wider such as a 35mm.

Build Quality

Just like any G Master lens, expect the best build quality available from Sony. While I can’t go into too many details because I haven’t used this lens for long enough to really test the quality and reliability, I can say that on first impressions, it feels very premium. The aperture dial has solid clicks, the focus dial is smooth and well-damped, and all the switches are solid without excess play. For now, that’s all I can say, so make sure to check back for the long-term review later.

Size / Weight

The overall size and weight are what I expected for a lens of this type. I can’t say it’s bigger or smaller than I expected; it feels about right. On a bigger body such as the A7R, this lens feels at home with perfect balance. On a smaller system such as the A7C, I find it a little front-heavy. Not to the point where it’s uncomfortable or causes issues, but enough to notice. I’m sure this can be fixed with an added grip.

Features

All the usual Sony G Master features can be found here, such as two custom function buttons, aperture ring de-click, IRIS lock, and an AF/MF switch. Having two function buttons means that when you switch to portrait orientation, you have another function button in exactly the same place. This saves having to reach round to the bottom and try to find the other button. I personally have the custom button set to enable manual focus when held down. This allows for easy focus adjustments in complex situations such as reflections. Finally, this lens has full weather sealing.

Image Quality

All modern lenses have fantastic image quality, and I feel we’re at the point where any modern lens above £500 will produce good results. I can’t say anything specific about the 85mm f/1.4. The image is tack-sharp, the bokeh is nice, and the colours render as they should at all aperture values. No issues at all, and I can’t possibly see how this image can be improved.

Autofocus

The AF is top-notch thanks to two linear motors. It’s silent, fast, and reliable. However, just like image quality, this is hardly a surprise. Nothing specific I can say about the AF – it works every single time exactly how you’d expect.

Summary

Overall, this is an amazing lens at a premium price. It’s aimed at people who want the absolute best 85mm from Sony and those who will be shooting in low light. This isn’t a lens for everyone; I would argue that for many people, something like the Sigma 90mm f/2.8 can deliver 70% of the performance in a smaller, lighter, and considerably cheaper package. With that said, if you want the best, this is your only option.