Sony Planar T* 85mm f/1.4 ZA lens vs Sony Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 135mm F1.8 ZA (SAL135F18Z)
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 0.7 stops (f/1.4 vs f/1.8), letting in more light.
- Sony Planar T* 85mm f/1.4 ZA lens is lighter by 410g.
- Sony Planar T* 85mm f/1.4 ZA lens goes wider (85mm vs 135mm).
- Sony Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 135mm F1.8 ZA (SAL135F18Z) reaches further (135mm vs 85mm).
| Spec | Planar T* 85mm f/1.4 ZA lens | Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 135mm F1.8 ZA (SAL135F18Z) |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Sony | Sony |
| Mount | Sony A | Sony A |
| Type | Prime | Prime |
| Focal length | 85mm (wider) | 135mm |
| Max aperture | f/1.4 (faster) | f/1.8 |
| Released | 2006 | 2006 |
| Blades | 9 | 9 |
| Format | full-frame | full-frame |
| Groups | 7 | 9 |
| Af motor | screw-drive | screw-drive |
| Elements | 8 | 11 |
| Weight g | 640 (lighter) | 1050 |
| Filter mm | 72 | 77 |
| Length mm | 72.5 | 115.0 |
| Min focus m | 0.85 | 0.72 (closer focusing) |
| Max magnification | 0.13 | 0.25 |
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 Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 135mm F1.8 ZA (SAL135F18Z)
A Zeiss 135mm f/1.8 telephoto for A-mount, widely admired for portrait rendering. It uses body-driven screw-drive autofocus and is built heavy at about 1,050 g.
Pros
- Bright f/1.8 aperture at 135mm
- Famous for smooth, natural rendering
- Min focus 0.72 m
- Full-frame coverage
Cons
- Heavy at about 1,050 g
- Screw-drive AF is not as fast as SSM
- Slow to refocus in low light