Zeiss Otus 85mm f1.4 Apo Planar T* Canon ZE and Nikon ZF.2 mount lens reviews: World’s best performing 85mm portrait lens?

Introduction

The original high-speed 55mm Zeiss Otus model garnered worldwide acclaim for its outstanding optical performance and impressive mechanical construction, but at a buck short of $4,000, perfection came at a price. Today, Zeiss has announced the second model in the range, a high-speed 85mm lens with similarly hefty price tag ($4,490) and equally promising performance. It has an unusually complex optical construction for a moderate telephoto comprising of 11 elements in total with no less than six of those made from anomalous dispersion glass (with characteristics similar to fluorite) for chromatic aberration suppression, one asphere to reduce distortion and a floating optical system to lessen spherical aberration at close range. Like the earlier model the new manual focus 85mm Otus adopts an equally uncompromising mechanical construction using an all-metal outer and a large rubberized focus ring with a long throw for precise focus and large high-visibility distance markings. Both Canon ZE and Nikon ZF.2 mount versions feature an electronic interface for full-aperture metering and exposure control.

Minimum focus is an inch shorter than most rivals at 2.62’ (0.8m) but with a 86mm filter thread and measuring 3.98 x 4.88″ (101 x 124 mm) and weighing 2.65 lb (1.2 kg) it’s as big and heavy lens.

The Zeiss Otus 85mm f1.4 Apo Planar T* is available for pre-order now now at $4,490.

Carl Zeiss Apo Planar T Otus 85mm F1.4 ZF.2 Nikon mounted on body Nikon D800E: Outstanding performance

With a DxOMark score of 49 points on the Nikon D800E (we didn’t have a D810 available) the 85mm Otus is an outstanding performer. It has excellent peak sharpness equating to close to the maximum theoretically possible from the D800E sensor in the center at f2.8 and with excellent uniformity from f4 onwards. Full aperture performance is very good with practically non-existent fringing (CA) though, unusually in a lens like this, the edges are marginally sharper than the center. It’s still good, very good, and by f1.8 the center is slightly ahead of the periphery, not that you would notice in real world use. Optimum performance across the field is achieved at f4. Transmission is good at 1.7TStops and while there’s a trace of distortion in our labs there’s no real practical effect in use. Vignetting is low, measured at -1.3EV though that is quite noticeable particularly in the extreme corners.

10 top DxO Mark prime score:

Nikon D800E	Carl Zeiss Distagon T* Otus 1.4/55 ZF.2 Nikon	3999	50
Nikon D800E	Carl Zeiss Apo Planar T* Otus 85mm F14 ZF.2 Nikon	4490	49
Nikon D800	Carl Zeiss Distagon T* Otus 1.4/55 ZF.2 Nikon	3999	45
Nikon D800E	Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.4G	2199	44
Nikon D800E	Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G	690	44
Nikon D800E	Carl Zeiss Apo Sonnar T* 2/135 ZF.2 Nikon	1600	44
Nikon D800E	Nikon AF-S Nikkor 200mm f/2G ED VR II	5899	44
Nikon D800	Carl Zeiss Apo Planar T* Otus 85mm F14 ZF.2 Nikon	4490	44
Nikon D800E	Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM A Nikon	899	43
Nikon D610	Carl Zeiss Distagon T* Otus 1.4/55 ZF.2 Nikon	3999	43

The best performing lens in our database is still is the 55mm Otus on the Nikon D800E but the new 85mm model isn’t far behind. Zeiss/Nikon occupy six of the top 10 places, while Nikkor/Nikon occupy just three places and Sigma/ Nikon one.

10 top P-Mpix prime score:

Nikon D800E	Carl Zeiss Apo Sonnar T* 2/135 ZF.2 Nikon	1600	36
Nikon D800E	Carl Zeiss Apo Planar T* Otus 85mm F14 ZF.2 Nikon	4490	35
Nikon D800E	Nikon AF-S Nikkor 200mm f/2G ED VR II	5899	34
Nikon D800E	Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II	5900	33
Nikon D800E	Nikon AF-S Nikkor 400mm F2.8G ED VR	8999	33
Nikon D800E	Carl Zeiss Distagon T* Otus 1.4/55 ZF.2 Nikon	3999	33
Nikon D800E	Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.4G	2199	30
Nikon D800E	Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM A Nikon	899	30
Nikon D800E	Carl Zeiss Distagon T 25mm f/2 ZF.2 Nikon	1700	29
Nikon D800	Carl Zeiss Distagon T* Otus 1.4/55 ZF.2 Nikon	3999	29

The sharpest lens in our database is a Zeiss but it’s not the new 85mm Otus, although it does come second to the firm’s Apo Sonnar 135mm f2 model. Note the 55mm Otus is in sixth place. Zeiss occupy five places out of the top 10.

10 top DxO Mark prime score for the Nikon D800E:

Carl Zeiss Distagon T* Otus 1.4/55 ZF.2 Nikon	3999	50	33
Carl Zeiss Apo Planar T* Otus 85mm F14 ZF.2 Nikon	4490	49	35
Carl Zeiss Apo Sonnar T* 2/135 ZF.2 Nikon	1600	44	36
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 200mm f/2G ED VR II	5899	44	34
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.4G	2199	44	30
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G	690	44	27
Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM A Nikon	899	43	30
Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T 100mm f/2 ZF2 Nikon	1840	40	23
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 400mm F2.8G ED VR	8999	39	33
Samyang 85mm f/1.4 Aspherique IF Nikon	328	39	23

In terms of overall optical performance (not just sharpness) the original 55mm Otus remains in the number one position, but the new 85mm is in second place (albeit with a slightly higher peak sharpness). While it’s close, the original Otus has more uniform sharpness across the field.

Carl Zeiss Apo Planar T Otus 85mm F14 ZE Canon mountedon body Canon EOS 5D Mark III: Sharpness limited by sensor

Measured on the Canon EOS 5D Mk III the ZE version behaves much the same with the obviously lower sharpness due to the lower pixel count 22.3-Mpix sensor the Canon. The sensor is a great performer and one of the most efficient but sharpness is limited by it (as it is with the Nikon D800E). At full aperture the Nikon and Canon combination are about equal in the centers but the Nikon is sharper in the outer field. Thereafter the Nikon pair continues to offer higher sharpness (acutance) at any given aperture setting. Distortion, transmission even chromatic aberration all measured the same as the ZF.2 version (and all very well controlled), however, vignetting was a little higher mounted on the Canon.

10 top DxO Mark prime score for the Canon EOS 5D Mark III:

Carl Zeiss Apo Sonnar T* 2/135 ZE Canon	1600	38	22
Carl Zeiss Distagon T* Otus 1.4/55 ZE Canon	3999	38	21
Carl Zeiss Apo Planar T* Otus 85mm F14 ZE Canon	4490	38	21
Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM A Canon	949	35	21
Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM Canon	969	35	20
Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM A Canon	899	34	19
Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM	850	33	20
Canon EF 100mm f/2 USM	440	33	16
Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM	6599	32	22
Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T 100mm f/2 ZE Canon	1840	32	20

Like the Nikon D800E, the Zeiss Apo Sonnar T* 135mm is the best performing model on the Canon EOS 5D Mk III, and the new 85mm Otus comes joint second narrowly missing that top slot (though to be fair a higher resolution sensor would likely reveal greater differences between the top three models).

Zeiss Apo Planar T* Otus 85mm F14 ZF.2 Nikon versus competition

Against the current 55mm Otus model and the Apo Sonnar 135mm, the new Otus performs very well indeed, nearly matching the overall optical performance of the former and sharpness of the latter. At full aperture the 85mm Otus is behind both the 55mm Otus and the Apo Sonnar 135mm in sharpness, at least centrally, although all three are similar in the outer field. One stop down from maximum and all three perform similarly, although the 55mm and 135mm have a slight lead in the lab, mostly in the periphery. To be fair it would be difficult to tell them apart in real world use, all three have outstanding sharpness (in excess of 80% acutance). Distortion is virtually negligible between them and vignetting is least noticeable on the new model, even if the figures suggest the Apo Sonnar 135mm to be ahead. Chromatic aberration suppression is very low on all three though the new 85mm Otus is probably the best balanced across the field.

Zeiss Apo Planar T* Otus 85mm F1.4 ZE Canon versus competition

Although the DxOMark scores are lower on the Canon EOS 5D Mk III all three models perform sublimely well; sharpness is in excess of 70% and as we’ve already seen the new Otus has very consistent sharpness across the field (as indeed do the two other models). However, all three lenses are limited by the 22.3-Mpix sensor: with a higher resolution sensor we would expect significantly higher sharpness scores (and overall DxOMark scores). Be that as it may the results are spectacular; distortion, chromatic aberration and vignetting are well very controlled on all three models, and sharpness excels practically any lens from Canon (with the exception perhaps of the amazing EF 300mm f2.8L IS II USM).

Conclusion

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.