Ok so in my experience, I saved a ton by grabbing the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art over the G-Master, and honestly, it’s a beast on that 61MP sensor. The AF is basically instant and the value is unbeatable compared to the Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM. If ur on a budget but need top-tier sharpness, it's the smartest pick for the a7R V. 👍

Ok so i totally get it, that Sony Alpha 7R V sensor is basically a lens killer if ur not using the newest glass. I've tried many setups over the years and honestly, here is how they stack up for that 61MP beast: 1. Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM: This is the absolute "must-have" imo. It's incredibly sharp even at f/1.2 and the dual XD linear motors keep up with the AI tracking perfectly. The resolution is insane.
2. Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art: Surprisingly, this holds up better than the Sony 85mm GM on high-res sensors. It’s super sharp and way lighter, tho the AF is like 90% as good as native.
3. Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM: To be honest, it’s a bit dated for the a7R V. The bokeh is literal perfection but the AF motor is kinda noisy and slow for professional work nowadays. If u need speed and resolution, go for the 50mm GM!! gl!

Interested in this too

To add to the point above: man, the 61MP tax is such a massive headache. I have been through so many setups over the years and every time I jump to a higher res sensor, my favorite old glass starts looking like it was smeared with Vaseline. It is incredibly frustrating to feel like you are never actually finished with a kit because the sensor tech outpaces the glass every two years. I have spent way too much time pixel-peeping and wondering if my AF is off or if the lens just cant resolve the detail. Ngl, it is a total money pit sometimes... its like you are chasing a ghost. Just curious tho, what is your typical working distance like for these sessions? Like are you cramped in a small studio or do you usually have plenty of space to back up outdoors? Also, do you actually need that full 61MP for your clients every time, or are you just looking for that extra crop room because you cant get close enough? TL;DR: High-res sensors are basically a trap that makes perfectly good lenses feel obsolete and expensive. It really sucks.

Finally someone says it. Ive been thinking this for a while but wasnt sure.

Re: "Ok so in my experience, I saved a..." - honestly the Sigma 85 is a legend for the price, but after shooting with these high-res Sony bodies for years, I've noticed the weight starts to matter as much as the bokeh. The consensus so far seems to be:

• Go GM for the absolute best AF speed and 61MP resolution.
• The Sigma is the smart budget play.
• Newer glass is basically a requirement to avoid that soft look on this sensor. I actually ended up with the Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM after trying the f/1.2. Ngl, the f/1.2 is a masterpiece, but the f/1.4 is so much lighter and the sharpness is basically identical on the a7R V. I used to think I needed the widest aperture possible, but these newer GMs are so well-corrected that the f/1.4 gives you plenty of separation anyway. Plus, those XD linear motors are night and day compared to the older gear... they just stick to the eye and dont let go. If you are doing long outdoor sessions, having a smaller lens that can actually resolve all those pixels makes a huge difference.

Honestly if you are doing professional work with the a7R V you really have to consider the technical bottleneck of the autofocus motors because that new AI processing unit is way faster than most older glass can handle... you basically need the newest actuators to actually see the benefit of that 61MP sensor in real world shooting.

• Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM: This is the sleeper hit for high res sensors because its MTF charts are basically a horizontal line and it resolves detail that makes the older 85mm look soft by comparison. The compression and bokeh are on another level for outdoor sessions.
• Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM: The dual XD linear motors are the industry standard for a reason and they provide the torque needed to move those heavy glass elements instantly which you need for tack sharp eyes at f/1.2 when your subject is moving even slightly.
• Market Timing: Tbh we are in a transition period where the market is expecting an 85mm GM II refresh any day now so buying the current 85mm GM might be a bad move for long term value. If you want the absolute best performance right now yeah the 50mm is incredible but dont sleep on the 135mm if you have the space to back up because it is arguably the sharpest lens in the entire E-mount lineup!!!

Building on the earlier suggestion about the Sigma, I have to agree that the value gap is getting massive lately. I had high hopes for some of the older GM glass but unfortunately, I had issues with the original Sony 85mm. On a high-res sensor like the a7R V, the chromatic aberration was way more noticeable than I expected for a professional lens. It felt like I was paying for a name rather than actual performance. After being pretty disappointed with my expensive kit, I started looking at some third-party options that actually utilize the latest linear motors.

• Samyang AF 135mm f/1.8 FE
• Seriously, this lens is a sleeper. Its technical specs actually outshine some of the first-gen Sony primes and the bokeh is incredibly clean.
• Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 FE II
• Make sure it is the version 2 tho. The AF-DLM motors are way better for that AI tracking unit. Honestly, save your money. It is kind of a bummer that the top-tier native glass costs as much as a used car when you can get 95 percent of the way there for under a grand. The Samyang 135mm on that 61MP sensor is genuinely sharp enough to see every single skin pore... it is actually kind of scary.