Honestly, I had such a frustrating time with the Sony FE 85mm f1.4 GM when I first got my high-res body. Everyone hyped it up as the king of portraits, but unfortunately, it felt sluggish and just didnt have that biting sharpness I expected for the price. I used it for a rehearsal dinner last year and half my shots were slightly soft because the older motor just couldnt keep up with people moving around. It was super disappointing considering the cost. If you want that every eyelash look, skip the old 85 GM. I eventually tried the Sigma 85mm f1.4 DG DN Art and it actually resolved way more detail on my sensor for way less money. Quick tip: definitely prioritize newer glass like the Sony FE 50mm f1.2 GM because that sensor is ruthless and reveals every tiny flaw in older lens designs.

To add to the point above: yeah, the old 85 GM is a classic but it definitely struggles to feed that 61MP sensor what it needs. Quick question tho—how much space do you usually have at your typical venues? If youre doing indoor stuff in tight spots in Seattle, that 135mm is basically a telescope and you'll be backing into walls trying to frame people.

• Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM is likely the lens you actually want. Its stupid sharp even wide open and the autofocus motors are way more advanced and reliable than the older 85mm.
• Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art is the best value for pure resolution. Its noticeably sharper than the Sony 85 GM and saves you a ton of cash for other gear.
• Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM is the scary sharp one you heard about, but its a very niche specialist tool for a full wedding day. Maybe try renting the 50mm for a weekend before the big shoot? Its way cheaper than making a 2k mistake.

To add to the point above: yeah, the old 85 GM is a classic but it definitely struggles to feed that 61MP sensor what it needs. Quick question tho—how much space do you usually have at your typical venues? If youre doing indoor stuff in tight spots in Seattle, that 135mm is basically a telescope and you'll be backing into walls trying to frame people.

• Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM is likely the lens you actually want. Its stupid sharp even wide open and the autofocus motors are way more advanced and reliable than the older 85mm.
• Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art is the best value for pure resolution. Its noticeably sharper than the Sony 85 GM and saves you a ton of cash for other gear.
• Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM is the scary sharp one you heard about, but its a very niche specialist tool for a full wedding day. Maybe try renting the 50mm for a weekend before the big shoot? Its way cheaper than making a 2k mistake.

To add to the point above: yeah, the old 85 GM is a classic but it definitely struggles to feed that 61MP sensor what it needs. Quick question tho—how much space do you usually have at your typical venues? If youre doing indoor stuff in tight spots in Seattle, that 135mm is basically a telescope and you'll be backing into walls trying to frame people.

• Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM is likely the lens you actually want. Its stupid sharp even wide open and the autofocus motors are way more advanced and reliable than the older 85mm.
• Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art is the best value for pure resolution. Its noticeably sharper than the Sony 85 GM and saves you a ton of cash for other gear.
• Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM is the scary sharp one you heard about, but its a very niche specialist tool for a full wedding day. Maybe try renting the 50mm for a weekend before the big shoot? Its way cheaper than making a 2k mistake.

> Does anyone actually use the original 85mm GM on the R5 or is it showing its age now that we have these insane sensors? Like someone mentioned, the older glass is definitely the weak link now. I learned the hard way that if the autofocus misses by even a millimeter, that 61MP sensor shows the error immediately. Be careful with the original Sony FE 85mm f1.4 GM... those old motors just can't keep up with the A7RV tracking. I've had sets where the eye looked fine on the small screen but was slightly soft on my monitor because the lens was lagging behind the sensor. It is super frustrating. For your Seattle shoot, you might want to consider the Sony FE 50mm f1.2 GM. I switched to it for the speed alone. It uses XD linear motors which are way more reliable for tracking bridal movement. I would suggest being wary of the Sony FE 135mm f1.8 GM for indoors tho. It is clinically sharp, basically scary sharp, but the focal length is a nightmare in tight rooms. Stick with the 50mm or the Sigma 85mm f1.4 DG DN Art imo. Reliability is everything when you have a client watching.

Late to the party but I've been using my current setup for almost two years and honestly I'm very satisfied with how it handles that high-res sensor. When I first upgraded, I was terrified of missing focus because of how demanding the 61MP files are, but my gear has been rock solid for every wedding since. What really helped me decide was looking at a few specific resources:

• MTF charts on sites like The-Digital-Picture to see actual resolving power.
• Real-world RAW file downloads from reviewers like Dustin Abbott to check the bite on skin textures.
• Looking at autofocus speed tests on YouTube specifically filmed with the newer AI-tracking bodies. Ngl I used to obsess over the charts but finding a lens that just works every time was the real win. It's better to have a slightly less clinical shot that's perfectly in focus than a sharp one where the eye is blurry because the motor was too slow. Check those raw samples before you drop the cash... it really helps clear up the confusion.

Ok adding this to my list of things to try. Thanks for the tip!