Sony 85mm f/1.4 GM II Review: Smaller, Sharper, Speedier

Aug 28, 2024

Chris Niccolls

Every manufacturer should have a good, fast 85mm lens, and the fact is, Sony already makes one. Sony has been on a real kick lately to update some of its earlier — and questionable — lenses that were released near the beginning of the E-mount system. I liked the original G-Master 85mm f/1.4 but it had some flaws and is showing its age.

Perfect timing then, to try out the latest version II of the G-Master 85mm f/1.4, and even better because the Calgary Folk Fest was taking place at the same time. The 85mm should give me the look I want and collect the light I need for some concert photography as the evening encroaches. I was fortunate to get press access to the shows which would allow me to get right up and close to the action where the 85mm range can do its best work.

A man with a beard, wearing sunglasses and a beanie, performs passionately on stage, holding a microphone with one hand. The image is in black and white, with bright stage lights shining in the background, adding to the dramatic effect. — I took the G-Master into the press pits and it filled me with confidence.

Sony G-Master 85mm f/1.4 II Review: How it Handles

I love the 85mm focal length. It’s long enough to capture head-and-shoulders portraits, and short enough to be used as a general-purpose lens on the streets. You can also get some very fast versions that give the ultra-shallow depth of field look.

Like all G-Master lenses, the second version of the 85mm is built incredibly well. It is fully weather-sealed and has a very similar look and feel to the original. 85mm f/1.4 lenses are typically going to be bulky because of the large glass elements required to achieve such a bright aperture however, what blew me away was how much lighter the G-Master 85mm f/1.4 II is. Weighing only 22.6 ounces (642 grams), the Sony 85mm is easy to take with you and even easier to shoot with. You get a smooth manual focusing ring and customizable buttons and there is also a manual focus switch and an aperture ring that can be set for either smooth or click-stop functionality.

Close-up of a black camera lens with visible text markings indicating "FE 1.4/85 GM". The lens is attached to a camera body, and part of an on/off switch is visible in the lower right corner. The background is completely black, highlighting the lens. — The new 85mm looks like the original version but it has shed some weight.

Close-up image of a Sony mirrorless camera body without a lens attached, positioned next to a detached camera lens. Both items are placed on a wooden surface with a dark background. — The G-Master is built well and sealed against the elements. It’s also surprisingly lightweight.

The hood is a newer design with a handy push-button interface and the filter thread is a common 77mm diameter. Sony decided to switch to an 11-bladed aperture to try and provide as smooth a look to the bokeh as possible. I was eager to see just how much that aspect had improved because the original lens had some problems with the look of the out-of-focus areas.

Close-up image of a black Sony camera lens featuring a toggle switch labeled "CLICK" with "ON" and "OFF" positions and a ridged rotating ring with fine detailing. — The aperture ring can now be de-clicked for video work or just a quieter experience.

Sony G-Master 85mm f/1.4 II Review: How it Shoots

So getting right into the look of the depth of field, I found the new lens to be free of the soap bubbles and onion rings that the first lens suffered from. There is a pleasant cat’s eye effect to the bokeh which suits portraits. The specular highlights are clean and smooth-looking. When stopped down, the look of the highlights is almost perfectly round and the backgrounds look smooth and don’t distract from the rest of the scene.

Side-by-side comparison of two photos showing the effect of different aperture settings. The left image is labeled "f/1.4" and shows a shallower depth of field, with blurry background lights. The right image is labeled "f/2.8" and has a less blurry background. — Bokeh is soft and clean with excellent transitions between focus areas.

A person with curly hair and a warm smile stands in front of a colorful background of geometric patterns and art. They are wearing a striped apron over a peach-colored shirt and appear to be engaged in a craft or activity with their hands. — I love an 85mm lens for portraits and version II gives beautiful separation from the background.

The faster linear autofocus motors drive the 85mm II much faster than its predecessor. When I was shooting people in the crowds or musicians on stage, the lens tracked quickly and accurately without delay. This should please not only street photographers but anyone using this lens for weddings and event work as well.

A man in a sleeveless shirt joyfully sings into a microphone while playing a keyboard on stage. His eyes are closed, and he has a wide, expressive smile. The background is dark and blurred, putting the focus on the performer. The image is in black and white. — The focusing speed and accuracy are ideal for fast action and event shooting.

A group of people gathered by a lakeside, shaded by lush, leafy trees. Some are standing, and some are sitting on large rocks along the shore, engaged in conversation. A few individuals are further back in the background, also mingling under the tree. — It was a gorgeous day to shoot and everyone was enjoying the live music and the pretty surroundings.

I had a clear day at the Folk Fest so I pointed the G-Master at the sun and did some flare testing. Sony coatings are very reliable and the new 85mm is no exception. Loss of contrast is minimal and there are no ghosting issues to worry about. Feel free to shoot this lens with backlit portraits or bright stage lights.

Two people in red shirts and sunglasses stand on a wooden platform, leaning on the railing. The person on the left wears a wide-brimmed hat and holds a camera, while the person on the right has short hair. The sun shines brightly behind them, creating a silhouette effect. — Flare is not an issue. The Sony lens coatings control the loss of contrast and deliver good results as usual.

Three people, wearing matching red shirts, converse in front of an outdoor stage. The stage features a large screen displaying “Calgary Folk Music Festival.” The venue has scattered audience members sitting on the ground and lawn chairs, enjoying the event. — Calgary Folk Fest is an awesome event that gets better every year. I was grateful to shoot there.

Sony has slowly updated its lens lineup to perform better for a video and one of the issues with the original 85mm was heavy lens breathing. This causes the field of view to change rapidly when you focus the lens and is detrimental for video work when you pull focus. The new 85mm f/1.4 has some minor breathing but it is far less than what was present in the first iteration of this lens. Most users will find it acceptable and Sony’s Breathing Compensation feature can take care of the rest.

A side-by-side comparison of a test chart image taken at two different apertures: f/1.4 on the left and f/2.8 on the right. Each chart includes detailed patterns, color bars, and a section with a banknote detail. "f/1.4" and "f/2.8" labels are present at the bottom. — Sharpness is just about as good as you could ask for. Even the corners were impressive at f/1.4.

Black and white photo of a person seated, showing only their legs and worn leather boots. The boots are resting on a pedal, suggesting they are playing a musical instrument. Various cables and equipment are visible on the floor. — Subjects can be made to stand out against busy backdrops and the smooth look is not distracting either.

A lens that is going to do a lot of shooting at f/1.4 better be sharp wide open, especially for low-light concert shoots. Luckily, Sony has made the 85mm G-Master II one of the sharpest lenses I have ever used. Performance at f/1.4 is as sharp as you could want with almost no lack of contrast. As you stop the lens down the improvement is minimal because it starts off so well wide open. The corners at f/1.4 are quite good as well and you do see some improvement stopping down but overall sharpness is excellent no matter where you focus this lens. Even on the 60-megapixel Sony A7RV, I was impressed by how well the new 85mm did at f/1.4.

A group of festival-goers standing by a barrier, enjoying an outdoor event. A woman with long curly hair and a tattoo on her arm is in focus, smiling and looking towards the stage, while blurred figures and trees create a vibrant, sunny background. — I like the subtle swirly bokeh effect that the new 11-bladed aperture gives.

Fast lenses tend to have issues with LoCA, which are longitudinal chromatic aberrations that cause color fringing in the out-of-focus areas. The Sony 85mm II is so well corrected that the LoCA is barely visible at f/1.4 and basically gone beyond that. There will be no need to worry about removing this LoCA in post-production.

A bearded man wearing a blue cap, sunglasses, and a black shirt stands on an outdoor stage, singing and playing an acoustic guitar. Behind him, a group of musicians, including a woman with purple hair and a man with a baseball cap, play instruments. — If you want to shoot events, concerts, and weddings, a fast 85mm is a good investment.

Sony’s G-Master 85mm f/1.4 II is a Near Perfect Product

So far, Sony has done an amazing job of updating its earlier lens designs, and optics like the G-Master 70-200mm and 24-70mm are good examples. The original 85mm definitely needed some improvement and Sony has delivered because I can’t really find any issues with the 85mm f/1.4 II.

Everything that plagued the original has been addressed and the new lens is sharp and fast focusing. The only issues are going to be a bit of lens breathing and a fairly pedestrian close focusing distance but the real pain of owning this lens is the asking price. But if you enjoy this focal length as much as I do, and you want the best possible option, the latest G-Master is worth the relatively high $1,800 price.

A wire basket filled with assorted jewelry and decorative items such as necklaces, bracelets, brooches, and pins. Nearby are some containers that hold beads and thread, suggesting a jewelry crafting or repair setup. — Close focusing ability isn’t anything to write home about but the results are sharp.

Are There Alternatives?

The Sigma 85mm f/1.4 Art is a fantastic lens and has excellent performance at f/1.4. It is better than the original Sony 85mm f/1.4 GM and comes in at a more tolerable price but it can’t quite match the new G-Master’s performance.