i have to chime in with the bokeh of the G MASTER 85 1.4 by Sony its Magnifico and by far the best bokeh I have ever seen and I'm talking perfect circles. I really want to see Zeiss step up in that area becase the circels arent perfect more then they are futbol shaped. I really hope they make this a sony mount but if they dont that would be a huge bummer as I am just finding of this today.
Dustin, another excellent and thorough review. Thank you. Also, on a side note, if photography does not pan out for you, I think you have a promising career as a New York gangsta actor. Those self portraits were spot on for that type of persona.
I just love the 85mm focal length, seems after about 45mm that is where I want to be. You do a good job with your photos showing how useful a particular lens is. Every I watch a Zeiss review by you I cannot help but get excited by what that lens manufacturer produces. This one and the fabulous 135mm are must haves. Want to thank you for the knowledge, depth and wonderful photos along with your always informative insights into your lens reviews. I always fell better about making a lens choice after listening to your thoughtful analysis, before making my final choice.
Great review of this lens; really appreciate all the finer details. I have been following your reviews for awhile, even though I shoot with Nikon. Like you, I judge a lens acquisition not only by the basic objective break down; bokeh, contrast, etc.., but rather the more subjective feeling; the way the lens renders the out of focus in conjunction with the in focus, how the manual focus operation flows in and out with the synchronization of my fingers, and most importantly... how it balances on my favorite camera bodies. The last is important to me because I use the 85mm 90% of the time in hand and 10% on tripod. I usually chose lenses that work on my two older bodies, (Nikon D700 and D3s) as well as newer; I love these two; however I am considering this lens for my Nikon D810 with its higher resolution; however do to its 35mpx, concerned about not having any vibration control. I don't want to have to restrict this lens to tripod use. That said this is a very beautiful lens. Have a great day!
Hey Dustin! The oval bokeh balls are almost inevitable. If you look down to the bottom of a coffee mug, and start to tilt it away from you slightly, you will see that the bottom starts to get cut from view because of the edge of the mug. A lens works the same way, if you look straight through the front of it and tilt it, you will see that the aperture gets cut of by the front edge of the lens! This is what causes "lemon shape" bokeh balls, and also vinjetting because the "cut-off" aperture is in effect a smaller aperture for the light coming in from the corners, therefore making the corners darker. This is called mechanical vinjetting, and can be somewhat solved by a larger front element, as opposed to the Milvus whose front element is just about as big as the aperture itself (meaning the aperture starts to get cut of quickly from the edges). If you didn't already know about it, I hope it was helpful! Characteristics of fast primes started to make more sense for me when I figured these things out. :) Great review as always, realistic opinions and experiences!
That is a very good description, and is the reason why I tell most people that expecting a medium telephoto to not exhibit that characteristic is highly unlikely.
I wonder if they CAN make a lens like this with round bokeh balls all the way across the frame? They might have to make it a huge aperture like an f/.75 but have the aperture start at f/1.4. Almost like pre-stopping it down. I even see "football bokeh" at the edges of high dollar cinema lenses in movies, also "Onion bokeh" quite often too. It's got to be near impossible to eliminate every objectionable characteristic out of a lens, although Zeiss probably gets the closest to doing so. Imagine trying to create a portrait lens that is optically perfect in every way; No CA, no LOCA, sharpness that out-resolves the sensor, no distortion, flat field, perfect color rendition, round bokeh balls that's also uniform and smooth with great fore to aft transitions, large aperture, high contrast, high micro contrast, 3D pop, no flare, no ghosts, no vignetting, close focus ability etc. Then once you've got it, now try to do it without focus breathing so we can use it for video too, and can you keep it under two grand? Oh you want auto-focus too? Lol.
I'd love such a lens, but I don't think that is a realistic expectation. I've become accepting of the fact that the cat eye bokeh at the edge of the frame is par for the course.
Yeah, I don't think so either. It was more a joke about all the stuff optical engineers have to face when designing lenses. We'll just have to stop down if we want round bokeh.
The sharpness on this lens reminds me of my manual focus Zeiss 120mm lens for my old H'Blad 500CM. I used to shoot a lot of model portfolios and I had to make sure I didn't get too close on the face as it would make the pores show up, no model wants that. LOL But that was back in the film days and a nice Zeiss Softer filter would work wonders :-) Great video & shots Brother :-)
The weather sealing feature is really nice and I love the contours of the hood design. Many complain about the manual focus only, but I think this lens will be around when many of its contemporary's are rotting in the land fill. I own a Sigma Art 24-35 f/2, but I don't see the life expectancy of these Milvus lenses which are built like a tank. I guess only time will tell. I will admit both the Art line and the Milvus line have their charms.
I will just add that although I have heard photographers moan, regret and even return Sigma Art lenes, I never hear the same about Zeiss. Used Zeiss lenes rarely appear at two local dealers I do business with but when they do they are usually estate deals; however I see a lot of used and hardly used at that, Sigma Art lenses on the shelf, I am more likely to see a talking unicorn than a used Zeiss Milvus lens. That says quite a bit.
I finally found one used at an affordable price and by trading in my venerable (screw drive) nikon af 85mm f1.4D and all manual samyang 85mm f1.4 it was a no-brainer imo. This lens has been a sort of sleeper as newer mirrorless models have come out from zeiss (batis), sony (GM), nikon (S), samyang and sigma (dg/dn art), all of which are undoubtedly very fine. I didn't desire compactness or even autofocus, I already have the sony 85mm f1.8 for that. I was seeking a lens that would hold focus at large aperture for long exposure constellation shots and for scenery while not having blue fringing wide open like my previous lenses (even the older sigma DG art at f1.4 had a bit at f1.4). Conclusion after first light is: It's a keeper. Minimal CA or coma wide open and no star bloating. It's night and day so to speak.
I've had the Canon 85mm 1.4L IS USM for more than a year. It's okay. But after seeing Zeiss images, I'm trading (B&H) my Canon for Zeiss 85mm. Just have to bite the manual focus bullet.
Pity it is not in Canon AF interface. Because 85 mm can be a level up in manual focusing. However, overall, impressive lens in color, sharpness and hardly any imperfections.
Aren’t the ‘lemon’ shaped bokeh balls simply a shadow artifact of the lens barrel? Given you want a super wide 1.4 apperture I don’t understand how this can ever be avoided.
Great review. I feel now even more polarized because I really want that optic...but as we discusses not in that barrel :) PS: I bet that Asahi Takumar let the Geiger sing. Did you test that once?
+F To Not the 55mm, but I do have a 50mm f/1.4 with the Thorium element. I love the lens, though. It actually produces very similar bokeh to this lens wide open, though it starts to show the aperture blades much more quickly when stopped down.
+Dustin Abbott The takumar uses a glass element with radioactive compounds that modern lenses can't use today (since it's "radioactive" and "illegal") so modern optics manufacturers struggle to rebuild a glass compound of similar rendition today.
hi, Dustin, thank you ever so much for yet another great and detailed review. I am quite excited about the new Sigma 85 art. how do you think the sigma will compare with this amazing zeiss?
I wouldn't be surprised if it is just as sharp...or as heavy. It is larger than the Milvus, but probably not as dense in construction (they haven't released weight figures). The bigger issue for me is whether or not the AF will be accurate and consistent.
i have the old zeiss 85mm planar it is too soft on 1.4 but ok on 5.6 on my d810 acording to DXO it resolves 19mg pixels out of 36.3 is that bad or good loosing more than 17million pix the 85otus and 135mm can deliver 35mg pix ? i need this milvus
+isopixify That's the downside on the 5DIII - that focus screen can not be easily exchanged. I plan to keep one of my 6D bodies for that reason even when I upgrade some of my bodies this year.
I had seen your review of 85 otus that you said you want it one day for your own kit. What do you think about milvus 85 its close to otus. But at the same time while in your 35mm show down & your tamron 45mm lens review you said that you will not own a lens that does not autofocus correctly. So are you going looking forward to own milvus despite its manual focus only?
+Surya Pandey I definitely own manual focus lenses (quite a few of them). If I miss in MF, that's my fault. If the lens' AF can't be relied on, that's a whole other matter.
+Dustin Abbott Thank you for your quick reply i appreciate that. What do you think if a lens is optically so good without AF will any professional will add it to its workflow & do you use any manual focus lens for your work?
Dustin, which lens would you pick for portraits: Milvus 85mm or Zeiss 135mm APO? Is it hard to compare these two lenses in terms of picture quality? The price for both of them is quite close now.
Roman Sen'kov Both of them are excellent lenses, though I personally like the 135 a bit more. Better magnification and subject isolation. The 85mm focal length is a little more flexible, though.
Dustin, you as a Canon pro photographer, wouldn't you consider to get a 5drs to take the absolute of a lens like this? Not to say that the 6d show a lot of detail, but the 50mp of the 5drs I think is another step forward. I know that more mp isn't everything, but just to consider
+Cesar Harretche I have strongly considered getting a 5DsR (although the 6D is probably still better suited for MF work), but I am holding off and considering the new 1Dx II or the 5D4 (after I see what the latter brings to the table). I will keep a 6D set up for MF anyway, but I will replace one of my 6Ds with one of the new bodies this year
Do some Zeiss lenses perform better at or near infinity focus? I see many mixed reviews and was wondering if that is the case? I currently have a ZK35 f2 which i love and was thinking of getting the ZK25 2.8.
I find that some primes seem optimized for portrait distance and don't hold as well at infinity. The best lenses perform well at all focus distance (like this one!)
This lens is begging for a comparison with the upcoming Sony 85mm 1.4GM I've recently sold off my favorite 85 of all-time, the Nikkor 85mm 1.4D opting to replace it with the Canon 85mm 1.2 L The new Zeiss is a strong performer, though. I wish the vignetting was better controlled.
In the past years , I have been using the zeiss 85/1.4 classic version. The lans performed good if I shoot targets which were about 2-3 meters away from me, however if I focus on somewhere farther(especially the infinite edge), the resolution seems to be falling apart, and the purple fringing is also another bothering issue. I am wondering if the Milvus really makes a difference?
Dustin, you did not say how the Milvus version of this lens compares with the older Zeiss ZF 85mm f/1.4 lens which you had previously reviewed. Any comments on that?
+David Weber I haven't actually reviewed the older Zeiss Planar T* - only the Otus. The optical performance on the Milvus is far superior to that of the older lens, though.,
I took FOREVER to bite the bullet on the Fuji 90, as I'm not a pro guy, (I've had plenty of Contax primes and even the 645 sitting around as a paperweight) so, finally only about 3 hours ago I spent a third of my checking account on a used 90 for about 700. on ebay. Then to amuse myself, I looked for reviews I missed, and found yours. But in the middle of it you compared it to this with samples. I never knew about this. I had to laugh at the irony of finally getting a killer Fuji 90 and then seeing it get it's butt kicked just a daylight savings minute later.. That's ok, cause when somebody robs me of the Fuji, I won't feel so bad...(things have changed in San Francisco)
Your final comment about SF is sad. I was born about 1 1/2 hours from there (Stockton), and San Francisco has changed so much in the past twenty years. I used to love doing day trips there , but its been pretty much ruined.
Did you notice any focus shift on this lens I know the old classic Planar 85mm has it for sure.. I wonder if adding those 5 elements to the lens did any thing for it... also did you notice any real loss of micro contrast over the other classic Zeiss you have tested?
I didn't notice focus shift, and frankly, I've never been able to see the loss of contrast that some report. If anything the contrast seems more intense to me on the Milvus and Otus lines.
Hello Dustin, Very nice review! If you compare this lens against a Leica 90mm Summicron R or M version, What dow you tthink? Greets from the Netherlands
+MrBaervan Sure. The biggest helper (since the 6D body I used has no articulating screen) was that I use a great wifi remote app (Cascable) that enables me to have Live View on my phone and make a lot of adjustments. I was able to see the the point of focus (for the most part) and try to move into it. With autofocusing lens I could have actually AF'd from the app, making this easier to pull off.
Amazing self portrait ....just wow .....Justin can u tell me if I want to choose between Zeiss Milvis 85mm f1.4 vs SIgma 85 f1.4 which one should i Choose ??
Dustin Abbott ya true ....how the sharpness micro contrast wide open compare with sigma art 85 mm ....as i have seen the milvus 135 mm smoke the sigma 135mm for sharpness and microcontrast and overall look ...
In term of esthetic this lens or Milvus 135 looks great or not glued to a body camera "Sony A7RII" via Adapter? It is my only concern! I know the IQ have to be the same but the esthetic?
Dustin, really have enjoyed your reviews. I am trying to decide between the Milvus 85mm, 100mm, and 135mm. I own Canon's 24-105L and 100-400L 4.5-5.6 mark 2. Seems like the Milvus 100mm might be the best selection since it also has 1.5x magnification. How would you rank the three lenses?
+Roger I own the 135, which is an incredible bit of glass, but they are all very good lenses. I do agree that the 100M is the most flexible tool in the bunch. It gives you the shallow DOF and light gathering of f/2 along with the macro capabilities. Any of the three is going to give you something you don’t have in your current kit, but I think your 100M choice may be the wisest.
Dustin, I also looked at your reviews on the Zeiss 135mm 2.0 Milvus and Classic lenses. I have seen a mixture of reviews saying the the image quality is the same or the Milvus is better. Have you done a comparison? As you know a big price difference. I am looking forward to buying my first Zeiss lens. Thanks
They both share the same optical formula, though there are some minor optimizations and coating improvements on the Milvus version. The Milvus upgrade is mostly about build and handling improvements.
Both are optically exceptional. I feel like the Otus lenses had just a hair more "specialness", though I've not shot them side by side. You certainly aren't giving up much with the Milvus, and you are picking up the gain of weather sealing.
+Christopher O'Grady I agree with your first statement, but not necessarily with your last. As camera bodies move to higher and higher megapixel counts, image stabilization becomes more and more important
Hi Dustin, I love your reviews but I don't understand why your avatar is a photo of an evil magician! Do you have a second career in the works as The Great Dustini? ;-P
it would be a lot easier doimg a selfie with an 85 on a fullframe then on a crop sensor! but I wouldn't think you could hand-hold it, that would be far too close!
Hi Dustin, Love your videos. I am an amateur, just shoot my wife and daughter during vacation. I shoot both Canon and Fuji. Along with the zooms, I also have a Canon 35mm 1.4 II and a 100mm 2.8 IS. The macro isn't that good for my wife: she is 39. Considering Fuji 90mm, Canon 85mm( 1.2 or 1.8) and the zeiss 85mm( otus or milvus). I dont want to carry a lot of lenses. And I don't shoot a lot of head and shoulder portraits, only the environmental portraits. I will appreciate if any advice. By the way, my camera: 5d iv and X-t10, lens: 16-35 f4, 24-70 2.8, 70-200 2.8 II, 40mm STM, 35mm 1.4 II, 100mm 2.8 IS. Fuji 18-55mm, 55-200mm
I guess my question is: the Canon 85mm got 3d effects, even the 1.8, while the Zeiss, not so sure. I looked at the sample pics, some have the 3d effects, some don't. I don't print big pics. Only looking for the best overall feel of the pics. so zeiss or Canon?
If you are shooting a lot on the 5D IV, it isn't the best platform for MF lenses. The Otus is the absolute best, but if you want a good, versatile, and lighter 85mm option go for the Tamron 85mm f/1.8 VC. It focuses very well, has an image stabilizer, and has good contrast and sharpness. It is what I have in my bag right now.
Exceptional review as always Dustin! Please keep up the great work. Would love for you to review the ZEISS Milvus 2/35 whenever you get the chance. P.S. - I had the great honor of having you comment on one of my Flickr images a year ago. Thank you! www.flickr.com/photos/bombatron/4671888978/in/datetaken-public/
That's a legitimate question, and most all of these images ARE RAW files, but when I do the aperture comparison series I shoot JPEGs without any correction for any lens. That gives you a look at what comes right out of camera without any software correction. I shoot RAW almost exclusively personally, but I shoot a mix of JPEGs and RAWs during reviews as that reflects what people are shooting and I want to see how the lens does with both.
+Theoria Apophasis I don't agree. It isn't nearly so simple. The Otus 85 has 11 elements and has more microcontrast than any lens I've ever seen. Most modern lenses are more optically complex, and most all of them have more microcontrast at wide apertures than older lenses. If you compare the 85mm Planar and the Milvus side by side it is easy to see which has more contrast and microcontrast: www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=481&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=0&API=0&LensComp=1000&CameraComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=0
+Dustin Abbott It seems obvious where their specialty lies (wide aperture shooting). But closed down at ideal apertures and above, their differences are reversed. I hope I'll have time to acquire and compare them on a more "scientific" setting but here's what I got out of the 28mm. yannickkhong.com/blog/2016/2/12/extra-credits-applying-the-micro-contrast-test-onto-an-otus-lens
+Dustin Abbott No, no no, .....that link is to a BLACK AND WHITE LPMM chart. :/ :/ That will not tell anything about inter-tonal rendition of a genuine image. Ive used the Zeiss Otus 85mm and 55mm, theyre only sharp, their lack of color saturation and microcontrast is bad. :)
The samyang 135mm f2 is about as good incredibly, but not their 85mm f1.4. I mean it's better from a value standpoint being about 10x less expensive used...
Great review, I own the 50mm 1.4 variant of the Milvus and I couldn't be more pleased. Zeiss really does make remarkably good glass
+Tanner Silva Nice! That is my next Zeiss lens that I plan to review.
That is the most chill bokeh balls I've ever seen. Impressive.
+Henrik Karlsson They are really fantastic.
+Dustin Abbott gorgeous and perfect at f1.4 no doubt
i have to chime in with the bokeh of the G MASTER 85 1.4 by Sony its Magnifico and by far the best bokeh I have ever seen and I'm talking perfect circles. I really want to see Zeiss step up in that area becase the circels arent perfect more then they are futbol shaped. I really hope they make this a sony mount but if they dont that would be a huge bummer as I am just finding of this today.
how this 85 1/4 Milvus vs Distagon 85 1.4 ?
David Duong
More expensive and heavier, but much sharper and better image quality all around.
Self portrait was nicely executed. Great detail and resolution. Very strongly leaning towards getting this lens!
You'll be impressed. Seriously great image quality!
Love your reviews Dustin! Greetings from Argentina!
+BeTo Repetto Thanks. I've got a number of great followers from Argentina!
My jaw dropped when you zoomed in on the tree. So much resolution
+PrimeDeceiver Definitely. Just started on the 1.4/50mm Milvus review.
Can't wait to see it!
+Dustin Abbott You'll love it. I compare it to the Tamron 45 almost daily.
Captain Zouave
I'm using that as a benchmark in my review.
+Dustin Abbott Using the Tamron as benchmark? I'm doing the opposite since I've had the 50 milvus much longer. great reviews, man
Dustin, another excellent and thorough review. Thank you. Also, on a side note, if photography does not pan out for you, I think you have a promising career as a New York gangsta actor. Those self portraits were spot on for that type of persona.
Great review! And very beautiful scenery!!
+lamarque1 Thank you!
I just love the 85mm focal length, seems after about 45mm that is where I want to be. You do a good job with your photos showing how useful a particular lens is. Every I watch a Zeiss review by you I cannot help but get excited by what that lens manufacturer produces. This one and the fabulous 135mm are must haves. Want to thank you for the knowledge, depth and wonderful photos along with your always informative insights into your lens reviews. I always fell better about making a lens choice after listening to your thoughtful analysis, before making my final choice.
+James R thanks for the feedback! All of the Milvus lenses with a new optical formula have been exceptional
Great review of this lens; really appreciate all the finer details. I have been following your reviews for awhile, even though I shoot with Nikon. Like you, I judge a lens acquisition not only by the basic objective break down; bokeh, contrast, etc.., but rather the more subjective feeling; the way the lens renders the out of focus in conjunction with the in focus, how the manual focus operation flows in and out with the synchronization of my fingers, and most importantly... how it balances on my favorite camera bodies. The last is important to me because I use the 85mm 90% of the time in hand and 10% on tripod. I usually chose lenses that work on my two older bodies, (Nikon D700 and D3s) as well as newer; I love these two; however I am considering this lens for my Nikon D810 with its higher resolution; however do to its 35mpx, concerned about not having any vibration control. I don't want to have to restrict this lens to tripod use. That said this is a very beautiful lens. Have a great day!
That's a legitimate concern. I actually enjoy using my Milvus glass on the Sony a7R3 for that reason.
Hey Dustin! The oval bokeh balls are almost inevitable. If you look down to the bottom of a coffee mug, and start to tilt it away from you slightly, you will see that the bottom starts to get cut from view because of the edge of the mug. A lens works the same way, if you look straight through the front of it and tilt it, you will see that the aperture gets cut of by the front edge of the lens! This is what causes "lemon shape" bokeh balls, and also vinjetting because the "cut-off" aperture is in effect a smaller aperture for the light coming in from the corners, therefore making the corners darker. This is called mechanical vinjetting, and can be somewhat solved by a larger front element, as opposed to the Milvus whose front element is just about as big as the aperture itself (meaning the aperture starts to get cut of quickly from the edges). If you didn't already know about it, I hope it was helpful! Characteristics of fast primes started to make more sense for me when I figured these things out. :)
Great review as always, realistic opinions and experiences!
That is a very good description, and is the reason why I tell most people that expecting a medium telephoto to not exhibit that characteristic is highly unlikely.
I wonder if they CAN make a lens like this with round bokeh balls all the way across the frame? They might have to make it a huge aperture like an f/.75 but have the aperture start at f/1.4. Almost like pre-stopping it down. I even see "football bokeh" at the edges of high dollar cinema lenses in movies, also "Onion bokeh" quite often too. It's got to be near impossible to eliminate every objectionable characteristic out of a lens, although Zeiss probably gets the closest to doing so. Imagine trying to create a portrait lens that is optically perfect in every way; No CA, no LOCA, sharpness that out-resolves the sensor, no distortion, flat field, perfect color rendition, round bokeh balls that's also uniform and smooth with great fore to aft transitions, large aperture, high contrast, high micro contrast, 3D pop, no flare, no ghosts, no vignetting, close focus ability etc. Then once you've got it, now try to do it without focus breathing so we can use it for video too, and can you keep it under two grand? Oh you want auto-focus too? Lol.
I'd love such a lens, but I don't think that is a realistic expectation. I've become accepting of the fact that the cat eye bokeh at the edge of the frame is par for the course.
Yeah, I don't think so either. It was more a joke about all the stuff optical engineers have to face when designing lenses. We'll just have to stop down if we want round bokeh.
The sharpness on this lens reminds me of my manual focus Zeiss 120mm lens for my old H'Blad 500CM. I used to shoot a lot of model portfolios and I had to make sure I didn't get too close on the face as it would make the pores show up, no model wants that. LOL But that was back in the film days and a nice Zeiss Softer filter would work wonders :-) Great video & shots Brother :-)
+hawg427 These days it's easy to reduce sharpness if necessary. I'd rather have more to begin with.
Thanks for this review. It helped me make my decision that this is the one 85mm that will go on my shopping list. "Golfers, have at it." Hahahahahaha.
It's a lovely lens.
The weather sealing feature is really nice and I love the contours of the hood design. Many complain about the manual focus only, but I think this lens will be around when many of its contemporary's are rotting in the land fill. I own a Sigma Art 24-35 f/2, but I don't see the life expectancy of these Milvus lenses which are built like a tank. I guess only time will tell. I will admit both the Art line and the Milvus line have their charms.
+James R There are strengths and weaknesses for both, for sure, but the build is definitely a serious strength for Zeiss lenses.
I will just add that although I have heard photographers moan, regret and even return Sigma Art lenes, I never hear the same about Zeiss. Used Zeiss lenes rarely appear at two local dealers I do business with but when they do they are usually estate deals; however I see a lot of used and hardly used at that, Sigma Art lenses on the shelf, I am more likely to see a talking unicorn than a used Zeiss Milvus lens. That says quite a bit.
That's a very accurate insight.
I finally found one used at an affordable price and by trading in my venerable (screw drive) nikon af 85mm f1.4D and all manual samyang 85mm f1.4 it was a no-brainer imo. This lens has been a sort of sleeper as newer mirrorless models have come out from zeiss (batis), sony (GM), nikon (S), samyang and sigma (dg/dn art), all of which are undoubtedly very fine. I didn't desire compactness or even autofocus, I already have the sony 85mm f1.8 for that. I was seeking a lens that would hold focus at large aperture for long exposure constellation shots and for scenery while not having blue fringing wide open like my previous lenses (even the older sigma DG art at f1.4 had a bit at f1.4). Conclusion after first light is: It's a keeper. Minimal CA or coma wide open and no star bloating. It's night and day so to speak.
It is a lovely lens, for sure.
I've had the Canon 85mm 1.4L IS USM for more than a year. It's okay. But after seeing Zeiss images, I'm trading (B&H) my Canon for Zeiss 85mm. Just have to bite the manual focus bullet.
Zeiss MF lenses are more work and less practical, but they deliver uniquely gorgeous results.
can we have a comparison between milvus 85mm and tamron 85mm vc? and if u pic between this two then which one will u pic?
TIA
Md. Shahnewaz Islam Tamron
No doubt, the milvus is way way better than the Tamron.
Pity it is not in Canon AF interface. Because 85 mm can be a level up in manual focusing. However, overall, impressive lens in color, sharpness and hardly any imperfections.
True enough
Love that self portrait your a stud 😘
LOL - thanks!
Aren’t the ‘lemon’ shaped bokeh balls simply a shadow artifact of the lens barrel? Given you want a super wide 1.4 apperture I don’t understand how this can ever be avoided.
It’s definitely a physical issue that can’t be solved with “better optics”
excellent photos
+atsoskounoglou Thank you!
Great review. I feel now even more polarized because I really want that optic...but as we discusses not in that barrel :)
PS: I bet that Asahi Takumar let the Geiger sing. Did you test that once?
+F To Not the 55mm, but I do have a 50mm f/1.4 with the Thorium element. I love the lens, though. It actually produces very similar bokeh to this lens wide open, though it starts to show the aperture blades much more quickly when stopped down.
+Dustin Abbott
Those vintage lenses are sometimes surprisingly good. Right because they contain thorium oxide ;)
Makes it kind of a connaisseur lens.
F To
The SMC Takumar 50mm f/1.4 still has some of the best bokeh I've seen from a 50mm lens.
+Dustin Abbott The takumar uses a glass element with radioactive compounds that modern lenses can't use today (since it's "radioactive" and "illegal") so modern optics manufacturers struggle to rebuild a glass compound of similar rendition today.
Yannick Khong
True. That's what makes it so great! It is rare and exotic.
hi, Dustin, thank you ever so much for yet another great and detailed review. I am quite excited about the new Sigma 85 art. how do you think the sigma will compare with this amazing zeiss?
I wouldn't be surprised if it is just as sharp...or as heavy. It is larger than the Milvus, but probably not as dense in construction (they haven't released weight figures). The bigger issue for me is whether or not the AF will be accurate and consistent.
i have the old zeiss 85mm planar it is too soft on 1.4 but ok on 5.6 on my d810 acording to DXO it resolves 19mg pixels out of 36.3 is that bad or good loosing more than 17million pix the 85otus and 135mm can deliver 35mg pix ? i need this milvus
+ted tedsen If sharpness is a priority, the move to this lens will definitely be the answer you are looking for.
Would have time to do a shoot out between the various 85 f1.4 lenses, like the Sigma, Sony, Zeiss and even the Rokinon?
I’ve done an 85mm shootout on Canon, but I will do one on Sony at some point
nice review. no lens for me as i find it realy hard to mf on my 5dmkIII.
+isopixify That's the downside on the 5DIII - that focus screen can not be easily exchanged. I plan to keep one of my 6D bodies for that reason even when I upgrade some of my bodies this year.
I had seen your review of 85 otus that you said you want it one day for your own kit. What do you think about milvus 85 its close to otus. But at the same time while in your 35mm show down & your tamron 45mm lens review you said that you will not own a lens that does not autofocus correctly. So are you going looking forward to own milvus despite its manual focus only?
+Surya Pandey I definitely own manual focus lenses (quite a few of them). If I miss in MF, that's my fault. If the lens' AF can't be relied on, that's a whole other matter.
+Dustin Abbott Thank you for your quick reply i appreciate that. What do you think if a lens is optically so good without AF will any professional will add it to its workflow & do you use any manual focus lens for your work?
Surya Pandey
I definitely do, particularly in portrait work.
Dustin, which lens would you pick for portraits: Milvus 85mm or Zeiss 135mm APO? Is it hard to compare these two lenses in terms of picture quality? The price for both of them is quite close now.
What camera body? I personally like the 135 APO a bit more, but 135mm can be a little long in some situations.
canon 6d (sorry I forget to mention the body). Thank you for the quick answer!
Roman Sen'kov
Both of them are excellent lenses, though I personally like the 135 a bit more. Better magnification and subject isolation. The 85mm focal length is a little more flexible, though.
Dustin, you as a Canon pro photographer, wouldn't you consider to get a 5drs to take the absolute of a lens like this? Not to say that the 6d show a lot of detail, but the 50mp of the 5drs I think is another step forward. I know that more mp isn't everything, but just to consider
+Cesar Harretche I have strongly considered getting a 5DsR (although the 6D is probably still better suited for MF work), but I am holding off and considering the new 1Dx II or the 5D4 (after I see what the latter brings to the table). I will keep a 6D set up for MF anyway, but I will replace one of my 6Ds with one of the new bodies this year
Do some Zeiss lenses perform better at or near infinity focus? I see many mixed reviews and was wondering if that is the case? I currently have a ZK35 f2 which i love and was thinking of getting the ZK25 2.8.
I find that some primes seem optimized for portrait distance and don't hold as well at infinity. The best lenses perform well at all focus distance (like this one!)
This lens is begging for a comparison with the upcoming Sony 85mm 1.4GM I've recently sold off my favorite 85 of all-time, the Nikkor 85mm 1.4D opting to replace it with the
Canon 85mm 1.2 L
The new Zeiss is a strong performer, though. I wish the vignetting was better controlled.
+trevorpinnocky I think that is the tradeoff for staying at a 77mm front element. I do wish it were better, too.
In the past years , I have been using the zeiss 85/1.4 classic version. The lans performed good if I shoot targets which were about 2-3 meters away from me, however if I focus on somewhere farther(especially the infinite edge), the resolution seems to be falling apart, and the purple fringing is also another bothering issue. I am wondering if the Milvus really makes a difference?
+林雋庭 It is a completely different kind of lens, and is definitely optimized for all focus distances.
Dustin, you did not say how the Milvus version of this lens compares with the older Zeiss ZF 85mm f/1.4 lens which you had previously reviewed. Any comments on that?
+David Weber I haven't actually reviewed the older Zeiss Planar T* - only the Otus. The optical performance on the Milvus is far superior to that of the older lens, though.,
I took FOREVER to bite the bullet on the Fuji 90, as I'm not a pro guy, (I've had plenty of Contax primes and even the 645 sitting around as a paperweight) so, finally only about 3 hours ago I spent a third of my checking account on a used 90 for about 700. on ebay. Then to amuse myself, I looked for reviews I missed, and found yours. But in the middle of it you compared it to this with samples. I never knew about this. I had to laugh at the irony of finally getting a killer Fuji 90 and then seeing it get it's butt kicked just a daylight savings minute later.. That's ok, cause when somebody robs me of the Fuji, I won't feel so bad...(things have changed in San Francisco)
Your final comment about SF is sad. I was born about 1 1/2 hours from there (Stockton), and San Francisco has changed so much in the past twenty years. I used to love doing day trips there , but its been pretty much ruined.
Did you notice any focus shift on this lens I know the old classic Planar 85mm has it for sure.. I wonder if adding those 5 elements to the lens did any thing for it... also did you notice any real loss of micro contrast over the other classic Zeiss you have tested?
I didn't notice focus shift, and frankly, I've never been able to see the loss of contrast that some report. If anything the contrast seems more intense to me on the Milvus and Otus lines.
Hello Dustin,
Very nice review!
If you compare this lens against a Leica 90mm Summicron R or M version, What dow you tthink?
Greets from the Netherlands
Hi Stefan. I don't have the Leica lens, so you may have to look elsewhere for that comparison. Thanks for writing!
that first self portrait at 1.4 its really impressive!! any trick you'd like to share to nail focus or just very careful positioning? :)
+MrBaervan Sure. The biggest helper (since the 6D body I used has no articulating screen) was that I use a great wifi remote app (Cascable) that enables me to have Live View on my phone and make a lot of adjustments. I was able to see the the point of focus (for the most part) and try to move into it. With autofocusing lens I could have actually AF'd from the app, making this easier to pull off.
ah clever! i wanted to get one of the external wifi control units! thanks for the great work!
Hi Dustin,
A wonderful and pro review as always.
Will you review the Milvus 35mm/2 too?
Oren.
Probably only if I have a slow point in new reviews. My next Zeiss review is the Otus 1.4/28mm next month.
Amazing self portrait ....just wow .....Justin can u tell me if I want to choose between Zeiss Milvis 85mm f1.4 vs SIgma 85 f1.4 which one should i Choose ??
That depends on how comfortable you are manually focusing. I prefer the image quality and build of the Zeiss, but MF isn't for everyone.
Dustin Abbott ya true ....how the sharpness micro contrast wide open compare with sigma art 85 mm ....as i have seen the milvus 135 mm smoke the sigma 135mm for sharpness and microcontrast and overall look ...
I like the Milvus "look" better, myself.
Which Camera body you used with this super lens?
I have a Canon 6D with a precision matte focus screen setup for MF glass and MF reviews.
In term of esthetic this lens or Milvus 135 looks great or not glued to a body camera "Sony A7RII" via Adapter? It is my only concern! I know the IQ have to be the same but the esthetic?
The adapter adds an inch and half to length, but everything still looks good.
When my hood is on the lens. Not he travel side but the use side. It rattles. You notice this?
Definitely didn't notice this. Zeiss hoods typically lock in very tightly.
Dustin, really have enjoyed your reviews. I am trying to decide between the Milvus 85mm, 100mm, and 135mm. I own Canon's 24-105L and 100-400L 4.5-5.6 mark 2. Seems like the Milvus 100mm might be the best selection since it also has 1.5x magnification. How would you rank the three lenses?
+Roger I own the 135, which is an incredible bit of glass, but they are all very good lenses. I do agree that the 100M is the most flexible tool in the bunch. It gives you the shallow DOF and light gathering of f/2 along with the macro capabilities. Any of the three is going to give you something you don’t have in your current kit, but I think your 100M choice may be the wisest.
Dustin, I also looked at your reviews on the Zeiss 135mm 2.0 Milvus and Classic lenses. I have seen a mixture of reviews saying the the image quality is the same or the Milvus is better. Have you done a comparison? As you know a big price difference. I am looking forward to buying my first Zeiss lens. Thanks
They both share the same optical formula, though there are some minor optimizations and coating improvements on the Milvus version. The Milvus upgrade is mostly about build and handling improvements.
are they going to make a sony version ? for FE
Zeiss/Sony branded lenses tend to be a separate line than what Zeiss makes for Canon and Nikon.
How would you rate the Milvus versus OTUS?
Both are optically exceptional. I feel like the Otus lenses had just a hair more "specialness", though I've not shot them side by side. You certainly aren't giving up much with the Milvus, and you are picking up the gain of weather sealing.
beautiful test, your wife rocks!!
Thanks all around. She was a sport to pose for me in that kind of weather!
what about the sigma art 85 1.4 compare to this lens?
The Sigma is equally sharp (if not sharper), but doesn’t have as good of contrast, has more CA, and has poorer color rendition.
how good is that bow-kuh
+oiboiii I take it that is tongue in cheek. Well, the bow-kay is more than o-kay!
xox
Do Carl Zeiss Milvus have Image Stabilization just like other NIKON or Canon lenses provide ?
It does not.
Equivalent first party lenses do not have image stabilisation either, you don't need or want it in most fast prime lenses anyway.
+Christopher O'Grady I agree with your first statement, but not necessarily with your last. As camera bodies move to higher and higher megapixel counts, image stabilization becomes more and more important
Hi Dustin, I love your reviews but I don't understand why your avatar is a photo of an evil magician! Do you have a second career in the works as The Great Dustini? ;-P
+mavfan1 LOL. That's mostly called laziness. I haven't changed it since launching my channel.
I think the 85 is a better value over the 135 f2 because of the more usable focal length ,the 1.4 ,and the low light capabilities.
Fair enough.
Definitely it did clarified many things, but I am still struggling between Otus and Milvus xD Hehe
+Mateusz M That's a rough place to be :)
I like your self portait :). very nice! are you using a full frame camera or crop sensor?
ohhh the 6D! I stopped just before you mentioned it! great review thanks for making it! I can see Why you love it! :)
I know he uses a Canon 6D which was the reason I found this channel. I searched for that and I found the BEST youtube reviewer out there!
+Kieran Wright Photo It's my favorite body for MF glass. Easy to change out the focus screen and a great sensor.
+Henrik Karlsson High praise. Thank you!
it would be a lot easier doimg a selfie with an 85 on a fullframe then on a crop sensor! but I wouldn't think you could hand-hold it, that would be far too close!
Sorry. Just drooled down my t-shirt. I covet this lens.
I know the feeling!
Hi Dustin,
Love your videos. I am an amateur, just shoot my wife and daughter during vacation. I shoot both Canon and Fuji. Along with the zooms, I also have a Canon 35mm 1.4 II and a 100mm 2.8 IS. The macro isn't that good for my wife: she is 39. Considering Fuji 90mm, Canon 85mm( 1.2 or 1.8) and the zeiss 85mm( otus or milvus). I dont want to carry a lot of lenses. And I don't shoot a lot of head and shoulder portraits, only the environmental portraits. I will appreciate if any advice.
By the way, my camera: 5d iv and X-t10, lens: 16-35 f4, 24-70 2.8, 70-200 2.8 II, 40mm STM, 35mm 1.4 II, 100mm 2.8 IS. Fuji 18-55mm, 55-200mm
I guess my question is: the Canon 85mm got 3d effects, even the 1.8, while the Zeiss, not so sure. I looked at the sample pics, some have the 3d effects, some don't. I don't print big pics. Only looking for the best overall feel of the pics. so zeiss or Canon?
If you are shooting a lot on the 5D IV, it isn't the best platform for MF lenses. The Otus is the absolute best, but if you want a good, versatile, and lighter 85mm option go for the Tamron 85mm f/1.8 VC. It focuses very well, has an image stabilizer, and has good contrast and sharpness. It is what I have in my bag right now.
Thank you, it's such a compelling option. Never thought about it before.
Exceptional review as always Dustin! Please keep up the great work. Would love for you to review the ZEISS Milvus 2/35 whenever you get the chance.
P.S. - I had the great honor of having you comment on one of my Flickr images a year ago. Thank you! www.flickr.com/photos/bombatron/4671888978/in/datetaken-public/
+Bombatron It must have caught my eye!
new Canon 85mm f1.4 L IS is almost milvus with auto focus and image stabilisation. Source: the-digital-picture.com
We'll see. I'm starting my review of it today.
i am very pleased to hear that :)
So you are judging lens quality from medium JPEG? Why not from RAW?
That's a legitimate question, and most all of these images ARE RAW files, but when I do the aperture comparison series I shoot JPEGs without any correction for any lens. That gives you a look at what comes right out of camera without any software correction. I shoot RAW almost exclusively personally, but I shoot a mix of JPEGs and RAWs during reviews as that reflects what people are shooting and I want to see how the lens does with both.
zeiss 85mm 1.4 Planar = 6 elements
85mm zeiss Milvus = 11 elements
(glass is evil). more glass = less micro-contrast
+Theoria Apophasis I don't agree. It isn't nearly so simple. The Otus 85 has 11 elements and has more microcontrast than any lens I've ever seen. Most modern lenses are more optically complex, and most all of them have more microcontrast at wide apertures than older lenses. If you compare the 85mm Planar and the Milvus side by side it is easy to see which has more contrast and microcontrast: www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=481&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=0&API=0&LensComp=1000&CameraComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=0
+Dustin Abbott It seems obvious where their specialty lies (wide aperture shooting). But closed down at ideal apertures and above, their differences are reversed.
I hope I'll have time to acquire and compare them on a more "scientific" setting but here's what I got out of the 28mm.
yannickkhong.com/blog/2016/2/12/extra-credits-applying-the-micro-contrast-test-onto-an-otus-lens
Dustin Abbott
more microcontrast compared to WHAT???
I own 13 (or so) 85mm lenses. :)
+Dustin Abbott
No, no no, .....that link is to a BLACK AND WHITE LPMM chart. :/ :/
That will not tell anything about inter-tonal rendition of a genuine image.
Ive used the Zeiss Otus 85mm and 55mm, theyre only sharp, their lack of color saturation and microcontrast is bad.
:)
yes, it does
сделайте обзор на русском пожалуйста
the samyang is better
Wow - I'm not sure how you can conclude that. Not my opinion at all.
The samyang 135mm f2 is about as good incredibly, but not their 85mm f1.4. I mean it's better from a value standpoint being about 10x less expensive used...