Current E-Mount camera owners can now buy thet $4490 or expensive and worldìs best lens ever Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4. The lens can be preorderd at BHphoto with Nikon mount (Click here) or Canon mount (Click here) version. There is no plan to make an A-mount version of this lens. But the lens will be perfect for those A7 camera owners that want to get the most out of their cameras!
This s the full official Zeiss press text:
With the Otus 1.4/85 ZEISS is expanding its high-end lens family. The Otus 1.4/55, an SLR standard lens, already set new global standards in what is means to achieve perfection. The expectations for the 85-mm focal length are just as high. This new member of the Otus family is an outstanding and fast all-around lens that accepts no compromises. ZEISS will present this new world-class lens for the first time to the public at photokina in Cologne from September 16 to 21.
Close-up of the Otus 1.4/85
The Otus 1.4/85 offers peerless image quality, even with an open aperture. As a short telephoto lens with an 85-millimeter focal length, this new member of the Otus family shows its strengths especially when people are center stage. Thanks to the longer focal length of this lens, photographers can keep a decent distance from the subject. At the same time, the lens is highly versatile: it excels in general studio work, as well as for fashion, advertising, product and architectural photography. Even photographers who are looking for a powerful companion for nature photography will find it in the Otus 1.4/85 – the edges of the picture can be used for compositional purposes at all f-stops. Photographers who had a chance to test exclusively this new flagship from Germany’s leading optics specialist were enthusiastic. Using the Otus 1.4/85 in combination with a full-frame SLR lets a photographer master all shooting situations and achieve effects that until now have only been known from the medium-format range: unusually high contrast, unusually high depth of field, impressive three-dimensional effects and sensational quality.
Otus 1.4/85 ZF.2
Is there little ambient light? That is no problem for the Otus 1.4/85. When the light fades, ZEISS’s newest high-end lens ‘sees’ just as well as the owl species from which this lens family gets its name. There is no trace of correction deficits, which are typical in such situations.
Just like its older ‘brother’, the Otus 1.4/55, the new Otus has been designed to meet professional photographers’ most rigorous demands. Internal focusing, the dial window, and the dials‘ clearly recognizable yellow labeling, familiar from professional cine lenses like ARRI/ZEISS Master Prime, are just a few of the characteristics of the Otus 1.4/85. The smooth manual focus operation with the large angle of rotation of 261 degrees combined with the easy-to-grip focus ring enables the finest variations in focusing. The freedom to focus — one of the most important creative elements in photography — has literally been put into the hands of the photographer as an artistic tool. Both the extra-fine haptics and the precision of the focusing mechanism can only be achieved with the metal design of the Otus range. The robust all-metal barrel is also well equipped to deal with the rough daily work of a professional photographer, ensuring a long product life. And for all photographers who in addition to the actual optics also rely on screw-on filters in their work, matching T* UV and POL filters with a diameter of 86 millimeters will be available from ZEISS for the Otus 1.4/85.
The Otus 1.4/85 ZE without lens hood
Optically, the Otus 1.4/85 stands out for its high image quality, even with an open aperture — as is true for the entire Otus range. Specifically, that means a neutral bokeh in the background, highly detailed images without any bothersome optical artifacts, consistently high resolution power across the entire image field, no color fringing or distortion, and an extremely high image contrast all the way into the edges. The imaging performance remains entirely consistent for all shooting distances. High apertures can be used even for close-ups right down to a working distance of 0.65 meters. This freedom offers the photographer new opportunities to compose his or her subjects, without having to waste time thinking about a possible loss of quality This is one of the reasons why the photographers who tested the new Otus 1.4/85 lens exclusively beforehand returned it only reluctantly.
The Otus 1.4/85 ZE on camera
“After we launched the Otus 1.4/55, our customers immediately understood the enormous benefits they can get from such a lens. Photographers are in the position to take full advantage of their high-end full-frame cameras and shoot pictures with a quality and look that they were previously only used to getting from expensive medium-format systems. With the Otus 1.4/85 we are now bringing out the second lens with this promise,” explains Christophe Casenave, Product Manager with ZEISS Camera Lenses.
Otus 1.4/85 ZF.2 with lens hood
A view inside reveals how such optical quality was achieved. It is an optical-technical feat as you would expect only from ZEISS: The Otus 1.4/85 consists of eleven lens elements in nine groups. One of the lens elements has an aspheric optical surface and six are made of special glass. The optical design is based on the Planar. Because the Otus 1.4/85 is an apochromatic lens, chromatic diagonal aberrations (longitudinal chromatic aberrations) are corrected with the help of lens elements made of special glass with anomalous partial dispersion. As a result, there is practically no perceptible color fringing on contrast-rich edges both in front of and behind the focal plane. Bright-dark transitions in the image, and in particular highlights, are rendered free of color artifacts. Also, the variable air spaces between certain lens groups (“floating elements design”) create a consistently high imaging performance across the entire focusing range from 0.8 m to infinity.
The Otus 1.4/85 consists of eleven lens elements in nine groups
“Otus lenses show a consistently high quality across the entire focusing range. That is something that scientific test institutes do not acknowledge because the test photos are made from just one distance. But professional photographers appreciate this feature in a lens, because it gives them more flexibility in their work,” continues Casenave. And it is precisely these photographers who can now use this outstanding lens as a tool to give full rein to their creativity and make excellent images.
Portrait of mountain runner Rickey Gates. © David Clifford
More application photos in high resolution can be found in our Otus 1.4/85 Flickr album.
The ZEISS Otus 1.4/85 comes with lens hood, user manual, test certificate and lens caps.
The Otus 1.4/85 will be available worldwide with the F-mount (ZF.2) or EF-mount (ZE) from mid-September. The expected recommended retail price is €3,360.50* or US$ 4,490* (excl. VAT).
* Status September 8, 2014
0 Responses
First!
Seems like you solved the disqus comment problem 🙂
Seriously ?!
that’s the readers’ job to do stupid things :)))
seriously….
Yay, I think we nearly went a whole 5 minutes of having posts about say, Sony Alpha products on here… but now we are back to non-Sony Alpha stuff woot! But at least the post about Sony Alpha stuff was to say that we might get some posts about Sony Alpha stuff… at least now we know, that some time in the future we may or may not get some posts about Sony Alpha stuff.
Quite surprised that SAR hasn’t posted anything about the Canon lens price reductions, it’s probably as (if not more) relevant.
Feel pity that you lack of basic photography notion. That lens will be simply amazing to use on the A7 cameras. But I know it’s hard for you to know that the strenght of mirrorless cameras is that you can actually use all kind of adpated lenses liek this new Otus.
And regarding the rumor stuff. Leaked the QX1, the new FE lens mount announcements. Talked about the 46MP sensor camera, new curved sensor RX FF. But hey, maybe you shoudl work on your memory 🙂
Please chekc all rumors here: http://www.sonyalpharumors.com/category/rumors/
Sorry If my answer was a bit harsh…but It’s annoying sometimes you know 🙂
First page is three posts about the Otus, a post about a deal on a cybershot and a post saying that rumours are being worked on.
As for the Otus, while interesting I don’t think it needs quite as many updates, the number of readers here that will actually buy one to use on an A7/R/S is very very small.
My comments about Canon lenses stand, are Canon lenses not adaptable to E-Mount? I know the system is highly adaptable, that’s why I have two of them.
No offence Andrea, but I’m not the only one who has said something about these Otus posts, it is your website and you can do what you want with it, but it ‘may’ be worth listening to reader feedback?
And your post wasn’t harsh, it’s understandable, hopefully my reply doesn’t sound harsh?
Thinking of the much better support for manual focussing (adjustable EVF-magnification, fokus peaking etc.), adapting the Otus to an A7R is currently one of the best options. Ok, you will propably have an additional investment into a vertical grip but for professional work this is a good idea anyway.
Given the emphasis of Zeiss on the cover glass thickness and how the new Loxia lenses are optimized for the Sony A7 series camera, do you really think using lenses made for CaNikon is the best option?
@Vivek. Lensrentals latest posts on cover glass thickness’ effect on performance with Metabones adapters should make people pay attention, as you say. Why spending that much money if you can’t get the optimum performance out of it? But maybe I’m wrong and it is less of an issue with the A7r.
Maybe I misinterpret, too, as 3D-Kraft says, but I can imagine that s.th. is noticible at the corners.
When they get the cover glass thickness part correct, I will. It does not take a $60K machine to measure the thickness of cover glass and spin a story based on false numbers. Story was already made up and they just threw in some (wrong) numbers bulk it up. Infortaintment at its best.
What do you mean exactly? Are you referring to http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2014/07/sensor-stack-thickness-part-iii-the-summary? The discussion seems to address some of your concerns and seems to indicate that this indeed affecting some combinations?
Not the best but a very good option. You seem to misinterpret the optical bank tests of Roger Cicala.
Yes, because the intended flange range is very big, unlike with e- or m-mount wide angle lenses. That’s why the 35mm biogon had to be modified for e-mount. This lens, just like the other Otus, will hardly need that and using a A7r will be just as good as using a Nikon D800.
I get this, but where do we draw a line? Do we need posts on every lens that gets launched because they will work on Sony E-Mount with adapter?
Only about very important lenses. This is the best lens of the FF world. SAR readers and I definitely think this is a great news to post.
Ok.
Never debate with Andrea…. because you will be a death man in second! lol… we are all backup admin at all time 😀
If it’s a brand new Ferrari like super duper lens, as this clearly is (e.g. there are zero native options for e-mount right now in this quite important 85mm category), then it belongs here. If it is another Pentax or what have you kit lens, then drop it..
I purchased the a7r partly because I had the Zeiss Otus 1.4/55. If I had waited and got the boring choice of the Sigma 50mm F1.4 | Art for my DSLRs I probably would not have considered mirrorless so quickly.
I listen to readers and to the likes and discussion they make. And that Otus lens is highly interesting for them. Example see the likes and comments here:
http://www.sonyalpharumors.com/sr5-zeiss-otus-85mm-f1-4-to-be-announced-tomorrow-sept-8-costs-3950-euro/
So if you are not interested just skip that news 🙂
This lens can be used on E-mount cameras, and many A7r owners probably already have an adapter, so reporting about this milestone lens is not just warranted, it shows that Andrea knows about and cares for what’s important in the whole world of photography. Sony tunnel vision is all too common among Sony users.
“Sony tunnel vision is all too common among Sony users.”
So, what is the problem? 🙂
Yes! Knowing too much always makes my head hurtz! Don’t needz to know anything about that stupidz other stuff like Cannon and NIkkon sucks! I know that Sony is bestest and that is all I needz to know! I am Sony pro man!!! I don’t need to learn about other suck carz, my Dacia is bestest car in the world I know that and that’z all I need know! Bestest I say!!! Like Sony and stuff! I am president of local Sony fanclub and have HX400V! 1200mm I say! 1200 is like 20times better than 85mm!!!! We Sony shooterz rule big timez and are bestest photographers in the univers and even outside of univerz!
And pro guy on internet told me that V in HX400V is for Vampire because camera sooo goood in night!!! So awesome and generations ahead I say! Sony rulez!
So can every lens that gets launched by Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Leica, Zeiss etc. It’s not tunnel vision, I simply think at some point we have to draw a line on what gets reported on a SONY site and on top of that, did one lens, not made in Either Sony mount, really need 3 different posts? Yes report on it, but this is just a bit much for a Sony oriented site.
well… that’s AWESOME !
wait! what? world’s what?
world’s best??? my аss !!
Honest question: how do you take a portrait without af when dof is only millimeters? Will the person not move out of focus until you are ready to press the shutter?
1) Great eyesight with good focusing screen installed (not the AF focusing screen type that gives roughly the same brightness regardless of lens attached)
2) AF confirm (ZF, ZE lenes have this for Canon and Nikon)
3) Liveview
4) Be confident…shoot it.
You freeze the portrait first, then you shoot it (though this lens) LOL.
Have you heard of McCurry and his portrait?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghan_Girl
You do not even need the “best” lens ever for a stunning portrait. 🙂
BTW, the old 105/2.5 Nikkor can be used on an A7.
Looks just like my Samyang 85..
If you cant tell the difference, go for the Samyang and be happy!
From the Zeiss press release:
[“Otus lenses show a consistently high quality across the entire focusing
range. That is something that scientific test institutes do not
acknowledge because the test photos are made from just one distance. But
professional photographers appreciate this feature in a lens, because
it gives them more flexibility in their work,” continues Casenave. And
it is precisely these photographers who can now use this outstanding
lens as a tool to give full rein to their creativity and make excellent
images.]
It is targeted towards a very few and few among those is likely to use an A7/7r.
For most Sony users, this lens is unlikely to figure in their kit.
Many A7 users are still waiting for that Sony FE 85mm lens, however lowly it may be.
The question is, is it worth forking out $4200 extra dollars over the Samyang for what is a small difference in noticeable quality after PP for which 99.99999% of population won’t be able to notice anyway. I’d pay an extra $1000 for that maybe. For it to be the world’s best glass it should also be somewhat compact, not a giant bazooka of a thing. 600 grams should be the absolute limit. The future is after all, mirrorless.
Take one picture of your cat and dog with this thing and you’ll feel differently.
“no perceptible color fringing” ? The huge amount of color fringing on their f/1.4 photo would disagree there. But this is f/1.4 we’re talking about, and easily correctable. Still, it’s interesting how their demo photo conflicts with their press release: https://www.flickr.com/photos/carlzeisslenses/14862256903/in/set-72157645669891382
This is what happens when you mount the “best lens ever” on a dated camera. Surely, it is induced by the D800?
where are the huge of color fringing?
Ah, in the larger version (2000×1336) it’s all across the top of the mountain, purple and green: https://www.flickr.com/photos/carlzeisslenses/14862256903/sizes/o/
Really unpleasant halos around edges
admin, more rumors from FE 16-35 please 🙂
ok! Will do! 🙂
I see the Sony Japan teaser has been removed.
weird that they removed it….
This isn’t great bokeh – https://www.flickr.com/photos/carlzeisslenses/14649679429/in/set-72157645669891382
The lens may be the “best ever” but is the camera used the best ever? Are Nikon cams the best out there? May be it is the problem with the camera.
Sensors aren’t responsible for bokeh. Lenses only. Why is Zeiss testing a lens made for 50MP cameras on 12MP cameras. There is nisen bokeh in nearly every one of these wide open images. The Otus 55 and APO Sonnar melt nisen both fore and aft.
You see, the matching camera for this “best ever” lens is yet to be released. 🙂
I’d like a side of onion rings with my $4400 lens – Onion ring bokeh on left side of dog. https://www.flickr.com/photos/carlzeisslenses/14833959224/in/set-72157645669891382/
Good catch! Certainly not from the camera. Only Panasonic have the technology to make aspheres that do not project onion rings.
What is interesting is that the OTUS only has one aspherical element and they could not get that right.
The flaw seems to be shallow bokeh. We see it in the grass behind the dogs left foot and the portions of the stalky plant shot where the plant itself is out of focus. I find the deep bokeh quite pleasing. But the closer zone is problematic.
It’s unpolished ASPH elements –
How does Panasonic include a process that eliminates ASPH elements
circular ring artifacts (onion ring bokeh) on much less expensive lenses
and Zeiss does not on what is one of the most expensive lenses out
there?
The OOF highlights photo above shows the defect very clearly – http://static.bhphotovideo.com/explora/explora/sites/default/files/styles/960/public/Z_1DSC_1269.jpg?itok=Scbfl_oE
One
would think that the Zeiss engineers and QC would add this step in to
the finishing process for such an expensive and ‘perfectionist lens’.
Pushing the limits of a 12MP camera – Zeiss WTF is wrong with you ? An iPhone could have done this shot. https://www.flickr.com/photos/carlzeisslenses/14833964844/in/set-72157645669891382/
It’s a Mark II, not 5D Classic.
IPhones have Sony sensor 😉 btw
It probably was an IPhone and they just swapped the metadata.
I don’t see how this lens can be better than the helios 85mm 1.5.
The value of the Contax Zeiss 85mm 1,4 and 1,2 lenses doubled overnight. This is not a success. If the Imatest shows this lens shooting over 4500 it won’t matter as the bokeh is garbage. The APO Sonnar melts these details. The Otus 55 also. Just move a little closer or move back a little, or crop. This is a redundant lens and appears to be a slapped together effort. Happy I kept my 85’s – they fringe a little wide open but by 2.0 it’s not an issue for the 1.2
Zeiss is just bragging out, only the price ll be “greater”;). Once Dx0mark will test it we ll discover it s just a good but not excellent lens for $4500. I’ ll rather buy a 2380 f/10 with go to Cassegrain Telescope or a Sony 70-400 mm OS lens with EQ6 mount. It d be more useful than that overpriced lens…
Nice too see another Astronomer here! Cheers!
It s a long time ( over 2 decades) I did not use a telescope until I tried astrophotograhy with my Sony a6000 ;)… I need to upgrade my “astro” gear as I have no motorized mount with my 720 mm cassini telescope. I wonder if I can first buy a EQ6 tripod and adapt manfrotto head on it ( later I could buy a EQ6 mount with a big telescope ) for both terrestrial and astrophotography ( with Astrotac mount).
One would think that not a single soul here would touch Otus with the stick… 🙂
You are wrong. I am waiting for the right preorder links! 🙂
I have the 55mm. it’s great. However, the sample images of the 85mm have some flaws, only the BW image of the guy is really good quality. Waiting for more sample before preordering.
Seeing the bazillion posts about this lens my guess is that the owner of this blog (Sony) has agreed with Zeiss to advertise their lenses as well as part of their cooperation.
What do you mean? Mutually agreed destruction?
Zeiss brand like Hasselblad are overpricing their products..as Zeiss is leading the market, they put a insane price on lenses to sell them to pro photographers ;)…. Btw ll prefer planar version 😉 or use my 50 F/1.8 to not compete the pro ( bad joke!!!)
Lots of good comments below in the thread, all basically observing that this lens isn’t really as amazing and useful as the otus 55mm. The sample flickr pictures look like something that came from a cheaper 85 f1.4 or 1.8. It’s also enormous. Not so sure how easy it will be to use outside of a studio at 1.4. 85mm is primarily a portrait lens, and at 1.2kg (2.64lbs) with manual focus, it’s going to be way too hard to nail focus with paper thin DOF.
Oooh, pictures of my cat never looked so detailed!
The next Otus will be the almighty 135mm 1.2. Zeiss has spoken!
The pictures on flickr do nothing for me. If you told me it was a M43rds lens I”d believe you. The only way to appreciate this lens is in print. I look forward to when Zeiss pulls a two for one deal like they did with the NEX touit.
How does Panasonic include a process that eliminates ASPH elements
circular ring artifacts (onion ring bokeh) on much less expensive lenses
and Zeiss does not on what is one of the most expensive lenses out
there?
This OOF highlights photo shows the defect very clearly – http://static.bhphotovideo.com/explora/explora/sites/default/files/styles/960/public/Z_1DSC_1269.jpg?itok=Scbfl_oE
One
would think that the Zeiss engineers and QC would add this step in to
the finishing process for such an expensive and ‘perfectionist lens’.