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Sony

FE 85mm F1.4 GM II

Sony E Mount

FE 85mm F1.4 GM II — 85mm f/1.4 for Sony E, a popular choice in the sony lineup.

$1,999

Launch price

Released Sep 2024

vs

Sony

FE 85mm F1.8

Sony E Mount

FE 85mm F1.8 — 85mm f/1.8 for Sony E, a popular choice in the sony lineup.

$599

Launch price

Released Feb 2017

FE 85mm F1.4 GM II is 7.5 years newer.

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Wins

2categories

FE 85mm F1.4 GM II

PortraitSports & Action

Wins

2categories

FE 85mm F1.8

PortraitSports & Action

4 categories tied

TL;DR — Key differences

FE 85mm F1.4 GM II wins 2 categories·FE 85mm F1.8 wins 2 categories
  • BFE 85mm F1.8 has lower Weight (371 g vs 642 g)
  • BFE 85mm F1.8 has lower Length (102 mm vs 140 mm)
  • AFE 85mm F1.4 GM II has lower Max aperture (Wide) (f/1.4 vs f/1.8)
  • AFE 85mm F1.4 GM II has lower Max aperture (Tele) (f/1.4 vs f/1.8)

Key specs at a glance

FE 85mm F1.4 GM IIFE 85mm F1.8
Focal Length85 mm85 mm
Max Aperturef/1.4f/1.8
MountSony ESony E
CoverageFull FrameFull Frame
StabilizationNoNo
Weight642 g371 g
Min Focus30 cm30 cm
Filter Size77 mm77 mm

Use-case scoring

Which one for what?

Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class

Use caseFE 85mm F1.4 GM IIFE 85mm F1.8
Portrait
9.5Excellent
9.0Excellent
Sports & Action
6.5Good
6.5Good
Video & Hybrid
4.5Fair
3.5Limited
Landscape
4.0Fair
1.0Limited
Travel
3.5Limited
4.0Fair
Wildlife
3.0Limited
1.0Limited
Macro & Close-up
1.5Limited
1.5Limited

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose the FE 85mm F1.4 GM II

  • Special elements

    Adds ED

  • Weather sealing

    Only FE 85mm F1.4 GM II supports it

  • Control ring

    Only FE 85mm F1.4 GM II supports it

  • Custom function button

    Only FE 85mm F1.4 GM II supports it

  • Max aperture (Wide)

    f/1.4 vs f/1.8 — lower is better

  • Max aperture (Tele)

    f/1.4 vs f/1.8 — lower is better

Reasons to choose the FE 85mm F1.8

  • Weight

    371 g vs 642 g — lower is better

  • Length

    102 mm vs 140 mm — lower is better

Shared specifications

Min focus distance

Both 30 cm

Max magnification

Both 0.15 ×

Internal focus

Both support internal focus

Diameter

Both 81 mm

Pros & cons at a glance

Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.

FE 85mm F1.4 GM II

Pros

  • Bright f/1.4 aperture for low light and subject separation
  • Prime design typically delivers strong sharpness and lighter weight
  • Weather-sealed construction for outdoor shooting

Cons

  • Third-party or older alternatives may offer better value

FE 85mm F1.8

Pros

  • Prime design typically delivers strong sharpness and lighter weight
  • Lightweight design easy to carry all day
  • Native Sony E mount compatibility

Cons

  • Third-party or older alternatives may offer better value

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the FE 85mm F1.4 GM II and FE 85mm F1.8 at major authorized retailers.

Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Cameraegg earns from qualifying purchases. Cameraegg may also earn commission from B&H links, at no extra cost to you.

Full specifications

= category winner

FE 85mm F1.4 GM II
FE 85mm F1.8
Focal length (Min)
85 mm
85 mm
Focal length (Max)
85 mm
85 mm
Max aperture (Wide)
f/1.4+0.7 stops wider
f/1.8
Max aperture (Tele)
f/1.4+0.7 stops wider
f/1.8
Elements
14
14
Groups
11
11
Special elements
Aspherical, ED
Aspherical
FE 85mm F1.4 GM II
FE 85mm F1.8
Min focus distance
30 cm
30 cm
Max magnification
0.15 ×
0.15 ×
Autofocus motor
Linear / Stepping Motor
Linear / Stepping Motor
Internal focus
Yes
Yes
FE 85mm F1.4 GM II
FE 85mm F1.8
Optical stabilization
No
No
OIS effectiveness
0 stops
0 stops
FE 85mm F1.4 GM II
FE 85mm F1.8
Weight
642 g
371 g−271 g less
Length
140 mm
102 mm−38 mm less
Diameter
81 mm
81 mm
Filter thread size
77 mm
77 mm
Weather sealing
Yes
No
Diaphragm blades
11
11
FE 85mm F1.4 GM II
FE 85mm F1.8
Lens mount
Sony E
Sony E
Format coverage
Full Frame
Full Frame

Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.