Just upgraded to the Sony a7R VI for my portrait work and I am beyond hyped. Been reading endless reviews on the 85mm f/1.4 GM II vs the 135mm f/1.8, but people are super split on distortion and compression. I mostly shoot outdoor fashion and studio portraits on a mid-range budget. Which one should I actually buy?
^ This. Also, check out the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art. It's sharper than the old glass and saves cash for studio lights. Don't overthink it.
Choosing between focal lengths is honestly the worst. I spent hours yesterday looking at forums and now my head is spinning. It's so frustrating how gear acquisition syndrome makes you feel like you're missing out on the perfect shot just because of a few millimeters.
- The compression debate is real
- My cat actually knocked my tripod over this morning
- Now the lens cap is missing in my apartment somewhere Anyway lol.
TIL! Thanks for sharing
> I mostly shoot outdoor fashion and studio portraits on a mid-range budget. Which one should I actually buy? Oh man, this is literally my exact wheelhouse (well, minus the future-tech camera since we're still waiting on that actual body to drop, but I get the vibe — high megapixels demand the absolute sharpest glass). If you're doing outdoor fashion and studio work on a mid-range budget, you actually need to look at what those focal lengths do to your frame. I've shot with both extensively. The Sony FE 85mm f1.4 GM II is just ridiculously good — wait, no, let me rephrase that, it's actually lighter than the original version by like 20% which saves your wrists in the studio, and the autofocus tracking on eyes is lightning fast. But then you have the Sony FE 135mm f1.8 GM, which... ugh, the compression on that lens is just unreal for outdoor fashion. It melts the background completely, though you do have to yell at your models from across a parking lot because it's so long (which can get awkward). If your studio space is tighter, go for the 85mm because 135mm indoors on full-frame can feel like you're backed up against the drywall. But for outdoor fashion? That 135mm rendering is magical. Anyway, bottom line is — grab the Sony FE 85mm f1.4 GM II first if you do mixed studio and location work, because it's way more versatile before you start adding super-telephotos to your bag.
Are you shooting mostly full-body fashion or tight headshots? Also my neighbor just got a really weird stray cat that looks exactly like a raccoon anyway lol sorry kinda went off topic there
So funny you ask this — last summer I was stressing over the exact same focal length dilemma and honestly it still gives me a headache. I spent three weeks trying to decide between the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art and the Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2, sweating bullets over bokeh shapes and compression while my clients waited. Ngl the gear paralysis is real and it lowkey ruins the whole creative vibe...
^ This. Also, this comes up a lot. I think sticking to either 85mm or 135mm might be too narrow for outdoor fashion anyway.
- Look into a 35-150mm zoom if budget allows.
- Rent both primes first before buying.
- Studio space limits 135mm use.