Zeiss Canon EF Prime

Planar T* 85mm f/1.4 ZE

85mm
f/1.4
Prime
670 g
Min focus 1 m

Quick answer

The Zeiss Planar 85mm f/1.4 in Canon EF mount, a manual-focus portrait lens with electronic aperture control. It weighs about 670 g, takes 72mm filters and focuses as close as 1.0 m.

Pros

f/1.4
Electronic aperture control
Smooth rendering
72mm filters

Cons

Manual focus only
Heavy at about 670 g
Slow to use at f/1.4

Verdict

A classic portrait lens known for its rendering. Accurate focusing is the challenge.

About this lens

Zeiss Planar T* 85mm f/1.4 ZE: a fast short-telephoto prime lens with a 85mm focal length and a maximum aperture of f/1.4, made for Canon EF mount cameras. The focal length is a classic choice for portraits and details.

Zeiss Planar T* 85mm f/1.4 ZE specifications

Brand: Zeiss
Mount: Canon EF
Focal length: 85mm
Maximum aperture: f/1.4
Lens type: Prime
Format coverage: full-frame
Optical construction: 6 elements in 5 groups
Autofocus motor: none
Minimum focus distance: 1 m
Maximum magnification: 0.1x
Filter thread: 72 mm
Weight: 670 g
Length: 65 mm
Diameter: 78 mm

Specification source: zeiss.com

What can you shoot with the Zeiss Planar T* 85mm f/1.4 ZE?

Portraits
Weddings with manual focus
Shallow depth-of-field work

Its very wide maximum aperture suits low light and shallow depth of field with strong background blur.

Full-frame equivalent and field of view

Calculated from the focal length and crop factor. Not measured.

Sensor	Crop	Equivalent	Horizontal FOV	Diagonal FOV
Full frame	1.0x	85mm	23.9°	28.6°
APS-C	1.6x	136mm	15.1°	18.1°

Try the field-of-view calculator

Frequently asked questions

Can I use the Zeiss 85mm f/1.4 ZE on a mirrorless Canon body?

Yes, with an EF-to-RF adapter, where focus peaking helps with manual focusing.

What filter size does it use?

It uses a 72mm thread. If your other lenses use a different size, step-up rings let you share filters.

How close can it focus?

Minimum focus is 1 m, with a maximum magnification of 0.1x. That works for detail shots and small subjects, though it is not a dedicated macro unless stated.