The rumored Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4 is now a reality with its official announcement today. This uncompromising premium lens, available for both Canon and Nikon mounts, is the second offering in the Otus line-up following the well-received Zeiss 55mm. Carrying the price tag of $4,490, the Otus 85mm is a nod to professional photographers who require impeccable image quality and lens construction.
Following the same design playbook as the current offerings of the Otus product line, the 1.4/85 is a metal-barrel manual-focus lens with an electronic interface. The electronic interface allows for camera-based adjustments, such as aperture changes. The rubberized long-throw manual-focusing ring rotates 261 degrees for high precision focus. The lens also has an inset dial window, as well as depth-of-field and distance scale markings.
Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4 Apo Planar T* ZF.2 Lens
The Planar internal design of the Otus 85mm uses one aspherical element and six anomalous partial dispersion elements for better color accuracy, greater clarity, and to suppress chromatic and spherical aberrations throughout all focal and aperture ranges. Overall, there are eleven lens elements in nine groups. The floating element design also makes use of a Zeiss T* anti-reflective coating applied to each individual lens element. The lens has a focusing range of 2.6’ to infinity and a rounded nine-blade diaphragm for eye-pleasing bokeh.
Pre-orders on the Nikon mount and Canon mount Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4 Apo Planar T* ZF.2 lens start today, with expected availability on September 16th, 2014.
Maybe it's just me...but I'm getting kind of tired of Zeiss thinking they can sell us $4,000+ lenses without autofocus
I agree. With my eyes, autofocus is a must. I just don't see like I used to.
Totally agreed, though is it really so super that it is so different than the high brand glass quality ? I had the 35mm Zeiss for awhile, although its really sharp and contrasty, but it can be achieved by the high end Canon and nikon lens and i have tried the 35mm nikon f/1.4. its amazing piece of glass too
A certain audience will want this lens BECAUSE it is $4,000+ without autofocus. Classic luxury branding.
Agreed....this is how you do luxury branding.
Most real photographers have no need for this though.
Their market is sooo small, and that tiny market is willing to pay that cost for just access to the lineup from Zeiss. If Zeiss was smarter growth in marketing and branding (which they already great at the branding) they should have an AF lineup and this would grow a nice amount of new customers. Simply cause a lot of photographers that are willing to spend the money on a Zeiss lenses cant simply cause it doesn't have AF. No AF means a lot of specialized photographers in any motion based photography like sports or kid photography or any type of candid photography are not able to use manual focus lenses.
I tend to disagree. Zeiss market is anything but small, specialised but not small....maybe in the photography sector but they are certainly at the top of their game when it comes to high end motion picture glass. Which is exactly where they positioned themselves and are happy to stay. Its the same reason why car manufacturers like Ferrari or Maserati have no interest in releasing a sub 100K car, why should they ? You think $4000,- for a lens is a lot ? Try 30K+ for a single Zeiss Master or Ultra Prime and the wait on these lenses can be up to 8 months because a lot of people and rental houses buy them. Or look at the extremely small but specialised German manufacturer HAWK who manufacture anamorphic lenses....65.000$ per single prime lens.
Agreed. I don't think I've ever seen a video of a Ferrari owner/reviewer complaining about manual transmissions.
Actually, I'm getting tired of Zeiss selling any lens of this ilk for $4000. The medium telephoto range of optics are not rocket science. It's quite easy to make a quality medium telephoto lens, even without special glass no less. No doubt modern glass and coatings can make for a better lens, but we all know this is standard operating procedure in this day and age.
Alas, there's a sucker born every minute. Hope Sigma makes a Art 85 just to stick it to them. ;-)
Come on sigma ... release a 85mm sigma art :D
ho yes ! please Sigma send a new 85 killer as good as the 50mm :D
(with AF plsease)
useless for photographer who, like me, wear glasses !
And useless for most of the average photographer's income to !
I kinda want to see where things will go now, We've finally had the Sigma 50mm Art lens turn up in my shop today and I haven't been able to put it down, all the customers I've shown it too haven't been able to put it down either. Now if Sigma have managed to get a 50mm with such an industrial build quality thats customisable and Zeiss are just doing the same old thing for a shed load of money then slowly it's just going to be the die hards left who will go for this. I know it's two different leagues but the gap is really closing between them.
Sure this is nieche and probably a bit daft, but damn I want that glass.
I'm such a huge fan of Zeiss glass and love this Otus line-up - just wish I still had a DSLR to play with them (may borrow one just to demo these). I've had all their lenses at one point or another - and maybe it's a soft spot in my heart - but they have a quality that calls to me. Some think it's only in my head, but it's what makes me want to get out there and shoot - and that's what matters.
As an aside, their M-Mount (ZM) glass is so amazing that I actually sold my Leica Summilux-M lenses (35 & 50) to swap over to the Zeiss C Sonnar (50) and Biogon (35) lines. Those are at a great price point, nearly 1/4 the cost of the Leica's and easily on par with quality. The Otus line is up there in price, I agree, and not targeted at the Leica group.
Are the Zeiss designs for everyone? Absolutely not. But Zeiss optics and design are for me. I like where Zeiss is positioning themselves in this market with the Otus lineup and would demo without hesitation if I had a DSLR - possibly purchase once I got over the sticker shock. Like someone said, it's a nice luxury item (some collect cars or fine art, I collect fine glass) and aimed at a photographer that looks for a specifically crafted lens (IE- no AF, built like a tank - no compromises to quality).
They wouldn't do this price point if there wasn't a market. They aren't after the photographers that look at the price tag first, quality second.
In addition to the lack of AF, I found the size and weight of the 55mm Otus to be a bit too much. The 55mm Otus is larger and heavier than a Canon F2.8L 24-70mm and even heavier than the already monstrous F1.2L 85mm (cheaper & faster w/ AF!)... how much heavier will the 85mm Otus be?
For me, this relegates the Otus line to tripod or studio-use only.
I'll take the Sigma.
Strange hybrid...
No aperture ring, no autofocus, no M mount.
It seems designed just for dslr's, but
I'm very interested in this lens but the only drawback is the weather sealing. Now I'm mostly using my 400mm f/2.8 for portraits in the city to achieve spectacular results even in boring locations. Still waiting for a used one to pop up in my area or I'll simply have to hunt some more work to get it.
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