Shootout at Close Range: Sony G Master 85mm f/1.4 vs Zeiss Batis 85mm f/1.8 Sonnar (Dolls, Sony A7R II) UPDATED
Get Sony G Master Lens and Zeiss Batis at B&H Photo.
I plan a distance comparison, but I was curious: how would the Sony 85mm f/1.4 GM compare to the Zeiss Batis 85mm f/1.8 Sonnar at a shooting distance roughly equivalent to a tight head and shoulders portrait, a distance thus highly relevant to real-world usage—for portraiture.
Close-range performance is one area where many lens designs are compromised, particularly in f/1.4 designs. So how does it fare against the 2/3-stop slower Zeiss Batis 85mm f/1.8 Sonnar?
Shootout: Shootout vs Zeiss Batis 85mm f/1.8 (Dolls, A7R II)
With images up to 24 megapixels and large crops, from f/1.4, f/1.8/1.7, f/2, ..., f/8.
Includes comments on field of view, field curvature, vignetting, aberrations, sharpness, contrast.
Update: I went back and reshot several times. There is a confounding factor at work that I discuss that makes me conclude that such a close range comparison cannot be matched properly (across the frame) due to the perspective difference caused by a different entrance pupil position for the two lenses. Based on 12.5X Live View, I have concluded that this perspective difference makes it impossible to match the lenses at close range in a way that allows the best performance for each to shine. I will be showing the Sony separately and at its best shortly.
UPDATE 2: now I understand my perplexity in not being able to match the two lenses: the Sony 85mm f/1.4 GM has a pronounced focus shift in outer zones. I have no posted a full aperture series with detailed examples from f/1.4 - f/8. Important read for anyone using this lens and wanting to get the best out of it.
Sony 85mm f/1.4 GM Aperture Series: Dolls (includes a 2nd series at MOD).