sooo i went through this last year when i realized i spent all my cash on the body and had almost nothing left for glass that was actually worthy of it lol. i really wanted to make the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 work cuz it is so light and cheap, but unfortunately, it just wasnt as good as expected on those 61MP files. see, when you have that much resolution, any tiny bit of chromatic aberration or glow at f/1.8 gets magnified. the purple fringing in backlit outdoor sessions was actually pretty distracting... i mean, it is sharp enough in the center, but the edges just dont hold up when you start cropping. i also tried the older Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM like the first reply mentioned, and i had issues with the focus speed too. it literally sounds like a clunk every time it shifts, and it felt like it was fighting the new AI tracking system rather than working with it. definitely a disappointment given the premium price tag. it just doesnt resolve the fine detail as cleanly as the newer mirrorless-native designs do. i basically realized that to get that clinical sharpness without spending two grand, the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art is usually the gold standard for value, but i actually tested the Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 FE II too. it handles flare way better than the sony 1.8 and the eye-af is surprisingly snappy. if youre worried about long shoots and weight, either the sigma or that samyang are way better value than the old GM. just my two cents after a very long and expensive year of testing glass... good luck!

yo! honestly, i feel u on this one. upgrading to the Sony Alpha 7R V Mirrorless Camera is a game changer, but yeah, it basically exposes every tiny flaw in your glass. i have tried many lenses over the years, and in my experience, the older Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM Lens is just too slow for the newer AI autofocus system. it is a legendary lens for bokeh, but those older AF motors kind of struggle to keep up with the insane eye tracking on the R V... it can be frustrating. for your situation, i would suggest going with the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art Lens for Sony E. honestly, it is lowkey the best balance for that 61MP sensor right now. it is incredibly sharp—like, clinically sharp—which is what you need for those detailed studio headshots. i mean, you can literally count the skin pores at 100 percent zoom. here is what i recommend for your specific needs:

• the sigma resolves the full 61 megapixels way better than the budget Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 Lens
• it is much lighter and more compact for those long outdoor lifestyle sessions
• the coating handles backlight and flare really well when ur shooting at sunset tbh, the sony f/1.8 is a great value, but you might regret the purple fringing on a high-res body like yours. the sigma basically feels like it was built for these newer bodies. ur gonna love the results. good luck!!

Just found this thread! I went through this last year and honestly, those older AF motors felt kinda sluggish with the AI tracking, so I switched to the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art cuz it resolves those 61MP files beautifully. Quick tip: to really nail Eye-AF at high res, keep ur firmware updated! Have u checked out the Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 FE II yet?