Sony's G Master lenses are well known for their strong performance and image quality, but of course, with that comes a premium price tag. At the 85mm focal length, there is the budget-friendly f/1.8 lens in addition to the f/1.4 G Master, and it comes in at only about a third of the price. However, can it keep up with the more expensive option? This great video review compares the two to help you decide which is right for your work.
Coming to you from Julia Trotti, this great video review compares Sony's FE 85mm f/1.8 lens to the FE 85mm f/1.4 GM lens. No doubt, the G Master is an excellent lens, but at over $1,700, it is also a significant investment. On the other hand, the f/1.8 lens comes in at $549, over $1,000 less. In addition, because of the smaller aperture, it is much lighter, making it easier to work with over the course of a long day. That being said, you will not get the same extreme bokeh as the f/1.4 (though f/1.8 is no slouch), and there are other drawbacks, but you might be surprised by how well it performs, and it might be more than enough for your needs. Check out the video for the full rundown from Trotti.
I shoot the less expensive f/1.8 lens, being a hobbyist it just made more sense to spend less right now as I only recently started in the portrait genre. I would say that right now I haven't even really used anything below f/4.0. Maybe in the future I will need the f/1.4 but who knows. My camera is the A7ii so the eye autofocus dosen't really play a role either.
If using both lenses in a studio environment, I doubt if it matters much. If this is natural light, I expect "the luscious bokeh" of the shooting wide open to matter because you're going to be pixel pepping. Personally, I have the 85mm F1.8 and never really use it. Since I'm primarily studio focused, the 24-105mm GM is the only lens I choose.