Hey everyone! Today, let's dive deep into the world of the Carl Zeiss Planar T 85mm f/1.4 ZA lens*. This lens is a premium offering designed for Sony's Alpha series cameras, known for its exceptional image quality and beautiful bokeh. If you're a portrait photographer or someone who values top-notch optics, this lens might just be your next holy grail. So, let's get started and explore what makes this lens so special.

Overview of the Carl Zeiss Planar T* 85mm f/1.4 ZA

The Carl Zeiss Planar T 85mm f/1.4 ZA* is a manual focus lens renowned for its sharpness, clarity, and stunning background blur. Its fast f/1.4 aperture allows for incredible low-light performance and shallow depth of field, making it a favorite among portrait and wedding photographers. The lens is part of the Zeiss ZA (Zeiss Alpha) series, which means it's designed to work seamlessly with Sony's Alpha cameras, providing exceptional image quality and performance.

Key Features

• Focal Length: 85mm – Ideal for portraits, providing a flattering perspective.
• Aperture: f/1.4 – Allows for stunning bokeh and excellent low-light performance.
• Lens Construction: 9 elements in 8 groups – Ensures high image quality and minimal distortion.
• T Coating:* Reduces flare and ghosting, enhancing contrast and color fidelity.
• Manual Focus: Offers precise control over focusing, essential for achieving critical sharpness.
• Build Quality: Robust and durable, designed to withstand professional use.

Image Quality

The image quality of the Carl Zeiss Planar T 85mm f/1.4 ZA* is where this lens truly shines. The sharpness is exceptional, even wide open at f/1.4. This allows you to capture incredibly detailed images with a beautiful, creamy background blur. The T* coating effectively minimizes flare and ghosting, resulting in images with high contrast and accurate colors. Whether you're shooting portraits, landscapes, or anything in between, this lens delivers outstanding results.

Bokeh

One of the most appealing aspects of the Carl Zeiss Planar T 85mm f/1.4 ZA* is its bokeh. The fast f/1.4 aperture and the lens's optical design create a smooth and dreamy background blur that makes your subjects stand out. The bokeh is pleasingly round and free from harsh edges, adding a touch of magic to your images. If you're a fan of creamy, dreamy backgrounds, this lens won't disappoint.

Design and Build Quality

When it comes to the design and build quality, the Carl Zeiss Planar T 85mm f/1.4 ZA* doesn't compromise. It's a robust and well-constructed lens that feels solid in your hands. The manual focus ring is smooth and precise, allowing for accurate focusing. The lens mount is made of metal, ensuring a secure and durable connection to your camera. While it's not the lightest lens, the weight is a testament to its high-quality construction.

Handling

Despite being a manual focus lens, the Carl Zeiss Planar T 85mm f/1.4 ZA* is relatively easy to handle. The focus ring is well-damped and provides enough resistance for precise adjustments. The lens is also well-balanced on Sony's Alpha cameras, making it comfortable to use for extended periods. However, it's worth noting that manual focusing requires practice and patience, especially when shooting at wide apertures.

Durability

The Carl Zeiss Planar T 85mm f/1.4 ZA* is built to last. The high-quality materials and robust construction ensure that it can withstand the rigors of professional use. While it's not weather-sealed, it's still a durable lens that can handle various shooting conditions. With proper care and maintenance, this lens can be a reliable companion for many years.

Performance and Image Characteristics

Discussing the performance and image characteristics of the Carl Zeiss Planar T 85mm f/1.4 ZA* is crucial for understanding its true potential. This lens is designed to deliver exceptional results in various shooting scenarios, from portrait sessions to low-light environments. Its unique optical design and advanced coatings contribute to its outstanding performance.

Sharpness and Detail

At the heart of the Carl Zeiss Planar T 85mm f/1.4 ZA* lies its ability to capture incredibly sharp and detailed images. Even at its widest aperture of f/1.4, the lens exhibits remarkable sharpness in the center, gradually softening towards the edges. Stopping down to f/2.8 or f/4 improves sharpness across the entire frame, making it suitable for landscape and architectural photography. The level of detail this lens can resolve is truly impressive, allowing you to capture every nuance of your subject.

Color Rendition and Contrast

The Carl Zeiss Planar T 85mm f/1.4 ZA* excels in producing vibrant and accurate colors. The T* coating effectively minimizes flare and ghosting, resulting in images with high contrast and rich, saturated colors. Skin tones are rendered beautifully, making it an excellent choice for portrait photography. The lens also handles challenging lighting conditions with ease, maintaining color accuracy even in high-contrast situations.

Aberrations and Distortions

Like any lens, the Carl Zeiss Planar T 85mm f/1.4 ZA* is not entirely free from aberrations and distortions. However, it does an admirable job of minimizing these issues. Chromatic aberration, or color fringing, is well-controlled, especially when stopping down the aperture. The lens exhibits minimal distortion, making it suitable for architectural photography and other applications where straight lines are essential.

Using the Lens for Different Types of Photography

The Carl Zeiss Planar T 85mm f/1.4 ZA* is a versatile lens that can be used for various types of photography. Its fast aperture, exceptional image quality, and beautiful bokeh make it a popular choice among professionals and enthusiasts alike. Whether you're shooting portraits, landscapes, or street photography, this lens can deliver outstanding results.

Portrait Photography

Portrait photography is where the Carl Zeiss Planar T 85mm f/1.4 ZA* truly shines. The 85mm focal length provides a flattering perspective, while the fast f/1.4 aperture allows for stunning background blur. The lens's sharpness and color rendition ensure that your subjects look their best. Whether you're shooting in a studio or on location, this lens can help you create beautiful and timeless portraits.

Landscape Photography

While the Carl Zeiss Planar T 85mm f/1.4 ZA* is primarily known for its portrait capabilities, it can also be used for landscape photography. Stopping down the aperture to f/8 or f/11 maximizes sharpness across the frame, allowing you to capture stunning landscapes with incredible detail. The lens's high contrast and accurate colors also contribute to its landscape photography capabilities.

Street Photography

The Carl Zeiss Planar T 85mm f/1.4 ZA* can be a bit challenging to use for street photography due to its manual focus and relatively long focal length. However, with practice and patience, it can be a rewarding experience. The lens's ability to isolate subjects and create a shallow depth of field can help you capture unique and compelling street scenes.

Alternatives to the Carl Zeiss Planar T* 85mm f/1.4 ZA

While the Carl Zeiss Planar T 85mm f/1.4 ZA* is an excellent lens, it's not the only option available. There are several alternatives that offer similar features and performance. Here are a few noteworthy alternatives:

• Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM: This lens is part of Sony's G Master series and offers exceptional image quality and autofocus capabilities. It's a great choice for those who prefer autofocus over manual focus.
• Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art: This lens is known for its sharpness, fast aperture, and relatively affordable price. It's a popular choice among budget-conscious photographers.
• Samyang 85mm f/1.4 AS IF UMC: This lens offers a fast aperture and decent image quality at a very affordable price. It's a great option for those who are just starting out with portrait photography.

Pros and Cons

To provide a balanced perspective, let's take a look at the pros and cons of the Carl Zeiss Planar T 85mm f/1.4 ZA*.

Pros

• Exceptional image quality
• Beautiful bokeh
• Robust build quality
• High contrast and accurate colors

Cons

• Manual focus only
• Relatively expensive
• No weather sealing

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Carl Zeiss Planar T 85mm f/1.4 ZA* is a top-notch lens that delivers exceptional image quality and beautiful bokeh. Its robust build quality and high contrast make it a reliable choice for professional photographers. While it's not the cheapest or most convenient lens, its performance and image characteristics make it a worthwhile investment for those who value top-notch optics. If you're looking for a lens that can help you create stunning portraits and capture breathtaking images, the Carl Zeiss Planar T 85mm f/1.4 ZA* is definitely worth considering. Happy shooting, folks!