Zeiss Otus 1.4/85 Test Results: World’s Best 85mm Portrait Lens

Posted on by

DxOMark has posted the test results of Zeiss Otus 85mm f1.4 Apo Planar T* lens: The new Otus 85mm is without question the most desirable and best performing 85mm portrait lens available. Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4 prime lens scored 49 points, just one point less than the Zeiss Otus 55mm f/1.4 lens.

The Otus 1.4/85 Lens will be displayed to the public for the first time at Photokina 2014 in Cologne from September 16 to 21. And the new Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4 lens is priced at $4,490, available for Canon EF mount and Nikon F mount. And it will be released in mid-September.

See the test results below:

Zeiss Otus 1.4/85 on Nikon D800E:

 

Zeiss Otus 1.4/85 on Canon EOS 5D Mark III:

 

Nikon Mount: Otus 1.4/85 Vs. Otus 1.4/55 Vs. APO Sonanr T* 2/135:

 

Canon Mount: Otus 1.4/85 Vs. Otus 1.4/55 Vs. EF 85mm f/1.2L II

Conclusion from DxOMark:


The new Otus 85mm is without question the most desirable and best performing 85mm portrait lens available but at $4,490 it’s not for those without deep pockets. It’s also rather large and bulky (although it’s remarkably well balanced on the D800 models), and it lacks the convenience of autofocus. While that may not be an issue for most enthusiasts or professionals (particularly as AF is at best difficult with f1.4 models) it’s likely to further limit its appeal, even if the real reason is obvious.