Sony Planar T* 85mm f/1.4 ZA lens vs Sony 85mm F2.8 SAM (SAL85F28)
Side-by-side comparison from our catalogue data. Better values are highlighted only where a clear difference exists.
Verdict at a glance
- Sony Planar T* 85mm f/1.4 ZA lens is faster by 2 stops (f/1.4 vs f/2.8), letting in more light.
- Sony 85mm F2.8 SAM (SAL85F28) is lighter by 465g.
- Sony 85mm F2.8 SAM (SAL85F28) is the newer design (2010 vs 2006).
| Spec | Planar T* 85mm f/1.4 ZA lens | 85mm F2.8 SAM (SAL85F28) |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Sony | Sony |
| Mount | Sony A | Sony A |
| Type | Prime | Prime |
| Focal length | 85mm | 85mm |
| Max aperture | f/1.4 (faster) | f/2.8 |
| Released | 2006 | 2010 |
| Blades | 9 | 7 |
| Format | full-frame | full-frame |
| Groups | 7 | 4 |
| Af motor | screw-drive | SAM |
| Elements | 8 | 5 |
| Weight g | 640 | 175 (lighter) |
| Filter mm | 72 | 55 |
| Length mm | 72.5 | 52.0 |
| Min focus m | 0.85 | 0.6 (closer focusing) |
| Max magnification | 0.13 | 0.2 |
Sony Planar T* 85mm f/1.4 ZA lens
The Zeiss 85mm f/1.4 for A-mount, a classic fast portrait prime with body-driven autofocus. It weighs about 640 g and takes 72mm filters.
Pros
- Fast f/1.4 aperture
- Min focus 0.85 m
- Well-liked rendering
- 9-bladed aperture
Cons
- Screw-drive AF is slower than lens-motor designs
- Not stabilized, so you rely on the camera body
Sony 85mm F2.8 SAM (SAL85F28)
A light 85mm prime for A-mount, with a SAM motor and a 55mm filter thread. It weighs about 175 g, much lighter than most short telephoto lenses.
Pros
- Very light at about 175 g
- SAM autofocus
- Full-frame coverage
- 55mm filter thread
Cons
- f/2.8 gives less blur than faster 85mm lenses
- Plastic build
- 7-blade aperture