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3.5 Inches | Home » » » Sony SAL-85F14Z 85mm f1.4 Carl Zeiss Planar T Coated Telephoto Lens for Sony Alpha Digital SLR Camera | | | | | | | Description: | | A brilliant lens for portraits, low light and midrange telephoto shooting. It's a beautiful piece of glass - and for intimate or low-light portraits, fashion shots, and quick candid photographs with superior visual accuracy, this professional lens will satisfy the most uncompromising demands. Its performance at fully open aperture is astonishingly precise - and its 35mm-equivalent 125.7mm focal length gives you sharp midrange close-ups and natural, distortion-free portraits at relaxed distances. | | | Features: | |
• 85mm f1.4 telephoto lens boasts professional performance for portraits and close-ups
• Astonishing sharpness at fully open aperture
• T* coating to reduce flare and increase contrast
• Smooth, visually pleasing background effects
• Focus hold button for full creative control, auto clutch to stop manual focus ring rotation
| | | Product Details: | | | Product Length:
| 7.35 inches | | Product Width:
| 3.83 inches | | Product Height:
| 3.53 inches | | Product Weight:
| 2.0 pounds | | Package Length:
| 9.8 inches | | Package Width:
| 5.0 inches | | Package Height:
| 4.7 inches | | Package Weight:
| 2.5 pounds | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 15 reviews |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
 ( 15 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 20 found the following review helpful:
Best portrait lens ever!Nov 20, 2007
By Steven W. Miller
The sharpness creamy bokeh are unmatched by any other alpha mount lens. The auto clutch is a fine addition, since this lens has some heft to it, so you'll find yourself balancing the camera by the lens with your left hand. When it is in AF, the focusing ring doesnt turn. Nice. The colors are reproduced as true as any glass on the market. My only issue is minor, I wish the lens hood had a filter window, similar to the 70200SSM.
Very fast focusing even in low light, but to really get the most out of it, mount it on the A700. It does tend to lag a tad in low light when mounted on the KM 7D.
You'll forget the hit to your pocketbook as soon as you print your first shot!
12 of 12 found the following review helpful:
On A League Of Its OwnMar 11, 2011
By A. Siew
The SAL85F14Z has been around for as long as the Sony Alpha 100, and for the few of us who is lucky enough (or have a deep enough pocket) to finally own it, the rewards are boundless.
It is very difficult to describe the picture quality of this lens in a few words. For one thing, regardless of which alpha-mount body you have been using, this lens will unveil a whole new dimension of optical clarity to your camera's sensor. The lens features a whole different level of optical clarity and sharpness over conventional alpha-mount lenses, combined with an effective defocusing so strong that during wider aperture settings, it practically captures your attention at the center of its focal point with razor sharp details while quickly blankets everything else away so vigorously that these elements quickly slide into this hazy blend of soft lights and shadows.
When used at smaller apertures at F8 and beyond, the massive prime lens pinches every drop of incoming light so tightly across the entire diameter of its optics that every pixel of your camera's digital sensor will struggle to capture all the details it has to provide. When used for landscape composition, the resulting details are so breathtakingly sharp from corner to corner that viewing the pictures on your computer monitor is nothing short of an insult to the makers of this lens.
The SAL85F14Z is not without faults though, however. Without the use of a single (super) extra low dispersion glass (ED glass or Super ED glass) or any aspherical elements, at maximum aperture of F1.4, you will see color fringing while shooting under very bright sunlit conditions. There is visible purple bleed around high contrasting edges, but the fringe melts away quickly when you dial the aperture from F1.4 to around F2.2. The lens is also unsuitable for close-up work, with a minumum focusing distance of 85 cm and a maximum magnification ratio of just 0.15x. It's immediate cousin, the SAL135F18 on the other hand, has a minimum focusing distance of around 70cm and has an impressive maximum magnification ratio of 0.25x.
The SAL85F14Z is probably one of the heaviest prime lens under the alpha mount line-up, next to its above close cousin, the SAL135F18Z, which is even larger and weighs around 30 percent more. The construction of the lens however is nothing short of elegant, with large, finely polished glasses and precision-milled metal parts assembled probably by hand. There is not a single element on the SAL85F14Z that suggests a hint of frailty, and the lens looks and feels as though it is a piece of optical accessory taken out from an Aston Martin.
A great investment for those who shoots portraits for a living.
13 of 14 found the following review helpful:
An excellent portrait lensFeb 07, 2008
By Photo/Video Gearhead
I am astonished by this lens, as well as its sibling the 135mm f/1.8 lens Sony SAL-135F18Z 135mm f/1.8 Carl Zeiss Sonnar T Telephoto Lens for Sony Alpha Digital SLR Camera. Each lens is razor sharp at its widest aperture. A discussion of this lens, as well as of the Minolta 85mm f1.4 lens, may be found at the Photozone site. Compared to the Minolta lens, this lens is sharper and exhibits less vignetting, although it does exhibit slightly more chromatic aberration but to no serious extent.
9 of 9 found the following review helpful:
Low Light KingMar 25, 2011
By James S. Leseke
"lesekejames"
While rather pricey this lens justifies its cost. Making a telephoto lens that clocks in at 1.4 is no mean feat. At a 85mm focal length this was a perfect portrait lens in the glory days of 35mm. At a 127mm digital equivalence this lens still dose that job. Once you adjust to the focal length, and the head-and-shoulders cropping it offers, you will never go back to a "normal" lens again. It is a great lens for candids, especially in low light or night light.
Back in the days of 1600 ASA film, this lens was my mainstay when shooting available light. It really opens up to allow every last bit of light. Focusing could not be easier because the lens was super-sharp and snapped in and out of focus with little drama. Distortion was non-existent.
Wide open the depth of field is minimal, but with modern auto-focus electronics this is much less of an issue than back in the day. The minimal depth of field really brings out your subject while eliminating visual clutter.
In the bright light of the day, the lens again performed with aplomb. Flare was minimal and images were tack sharp. Again, once you adjust to the images a medium telephoto lens provides, horizons really open up. It is a superb candid shooter, especially for quick moving subjects like children. The lens also allows you some distance from your subject. That allows for less posed, more natural images.
Even in a more formal setting, like wedding photography photography, the lens is a stand out. It is after all a "portrait lens." Couple it with a small flash or perhaps a old-school "potato masher" flash rig and fire away. The crisp, brilliant images will not disappoint.
The only real down-side to Carl Zeiss lenses is their cost. Planar T lenses always carry a premium. Thus, the lenses are best for Advanced Amateurs, or what is called the Pro-Sumer customer. More casual users, or people with limited means should look at products by Tonkina or Tamron. The "two T's " are a good bet, and a good buy, for the more casual shooter. But for people who demand the best, and are willing to pay the freight, there is no substitute for Carl Zeiss lenses. It is one of the reasons a person would choose the Sony Product over offerings by Nikon, Canon, and Olympus. For some it is the only reason to go with the Sony Offerings.
9 of 9 found the following review helpful:
Worth it, worth it, worth it!May 07, 2009
By K. Jamison
"Kevin"
This lens is phenomenal. I was a bit hesitant about purchasing it simply due to price tag, but with a daughter on the way and with the sale of some other equipment, I was able to make it happen. This lens is amazing. My daughter is 3 months old now and I have taken 100s of professional quality photos.
Pros:
- Razor sharp.
- Fantastic colors.
- Amazing bokeh.
Cons:
- Heavy (which I consider a pro, due to the excellent build quality)
I highly recommend this lens. I also have the zeiss 16-80mm, and the sony 100mm 2.8. While both are great lenses, the 85mm zeiss rarely leaves my camera anymore.
See all 15 customer reviews on Amazon.com
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