Lens Summary
Brand: Zeiss
Also Known As: Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4
Lens Type: Prime Lens
Format: Full Frame / FX
Focus: Manual Focus
Release Date: 2014-09-08
MSRP Price: $4490
Made in: Germany
Production Status: In Production
Lens Description: The second in Otus family, this classic 85mm lens aims to deliver best possible optical performance of any comparable DSLR lens and, together with the rest of Otus lenses, is pinnacle of Zeiss lens design. It comes with appropriate size, weight and price, however, and because of all those factors and manual focus is out of reach for most photographers.Apochromatic design ensures no colour aberrations should be visible, while a 261 degree travel of the focus ring is there to help with precise focusing.
Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4 Specifications
| Lens Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Lens Type | Prime Lens |
| Focal Length | 85mm |
| Mount Type | Canon EF, Nikon F |
| Format | Full Frame / FX |
| Compatible Format(s) | 35mm Film / Full-Frame Digital Sensor |
| Compatible with Teleconverters | No |
| Maximum Reproduction Ratio | 1:7.7 |
| Image Stabilization | No |
| Aperture Information | |
| Aperture Ring | Yes |
| Maximim Aperture | f/1.4 |
| Minimum Aperture | f/16 |
| Maximum Angle of View (Full frame or larger format) | 28.24° |
| Optical Information | |
| Lens Elements | 11 |
| Lens Groups | 9 |
| Diaphragm Blades | 9 (rounded) |
| Aspherical Elements | 4 |
| Focus Information | |
| Focus | Manual Focus |
| Built-in Focus Motor | No |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 0.80m |
| Distance Information | Yes |
| Filter Information | |
| Filter Size | 86mm |
| Accepts Filter Type | Screw-on |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weather / Dust Sealing | No |
| Mount Material | Metal |
| Dimensions | 101 mm / 141 mm |
| Weight | 1140g |
| Other Information | |
| Available in Colors | Black |
Lens Construction
MTF Charts
I have Leica, Voigtlander, Canon L, Hasselblad, and other Zeiss lenses. The Otus 85mm is in a separate class from these. I have not been able to detect any chromatic aberration at all, regardless of the shot taken. The sharpness is extraordinary. Colour reproduction is what you expect from Zeiss. Bokeh is excellent.
There are points to be aware of when using this lens. I prefer to shoot with it only when the camera is mounted on a tripod. It’s resolution is so detailed that the tiniest shake can be detected in the photo. The depth of field is also narrower than any other lens I have used. It is so narrow wide open, that I can only adjust focus by using the camera’s LCD screen and 16x magnification. Focusing using the viewfinder is nigh on impossible.
This lens takes images that cannot be duplicated with another lens. This is a point to be aware of however. There are no artistic effects in the images this lens produces. It is a precise and clinical tool.
Thanks for the review.
1. Are there floating elements?
2. Does the lens have helicoid focusing?