Quick answer
A high-resolution manual-focus 85mm f/1.4 apochromat from Zeiss, designed to resolve fine detail on high-megapixel sensors. It takes 86mm filters and focuses as close as 0.8 m.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness
- Apochromatic correction
- Manual focus feel
- Full-frame coverage
Cons
- Manual focus only
- Large and heavy
Verdict
A specialist lens for those who want maximum optical performance and are happy to focus manually.
About this lens
This 85mm f/1.4 fast short-telephoto prime lens from Carl Zeiss fits Nikon F mount cameras. The focal length is a classic choice for portraits and details.
Carl Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4 specifications
- Brand
- Carl Zeiss
- Mount
- Nikon F
- Focal length
- 85mm
- Maximum aperture
- f/1.4
- Lens type
- Prime
- Format coverage
- full-frame
- Optical construction
- 11 elements in 9 groups
- Autofocus motor
- none
- Minimum focus distance
- 0.8 m
- Maximum magnification
- 0.13x
- Filter thread
- 86 mm
- Length
- 122 mm
- Diameter
- 101 mm
Specification source: zeiss.com
What can you shoot with the Carl Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4?
- Studio and fashion portraits
- High-resolution landscape detail
- Photographers who want maximum sharpness
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 | 1.5x | 128mm | 16.1° | 19.3° |
Frequently asked questions
What does Otus mean?
Otus is the name of Zeiss's high-end manual lens family, designed for maximum optical quality on high-resolution sensors.
Is the Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4 autofocus?
No. It is manual focus, and its focus ring has a long throw for precise focusing.
What filter size does it use?
The filter thread is 86mm, so standard 86mm polarizers and ND filters screw straight onto the front.
Alternatives for Nikon F from other brands
All Nikon F lensesSame mount, overlapping focal range, closest maximum aperture first.
