Great question. Both outstanding but i would say the Nikon 1.4 at 1.4 is just slightly better with less aberrations. The Zeiss 85 1.4 has a look at 1.4 that has the aberrations but it also gives some character , by 1.6 My Sony Zeiss is a razor though and equals the Nikon at 1.4.
So basically its maybe a 1/3 of a stop less sharp in the wide open area but by F2/ 2.8 they are outstanding. The zeiss has slightly more punch in file though as most Zeiss glass does. Now manual focusing on the A7 and A7r the Zeiss has a much better feel to it. Mechanically Zeiss just about wipes everyone up as they are designed for manual focus. BTW I find it much easier with a Zeiss lens with focus peaking as well. it just snaps in very nicely. Why most of my glass is Zeiss and a leica for the 19mm.
If your buying for the Sony only than i would go Zeiss or leica. One reason I still have the Nikon ZF.2 mount is if I ever need to go back to Nikon for some odd reason I have glass already in place. The Sony 85mm A and 55 FE would be the exception to that. I hope to switch the 85 A out someday when a FE replacement comes. Also the Zeiss 85mm 1.4 ZF.2 mount is basically the same as the Sony Zeiss A 85mm as they are the same optical formula so it holds true with the ZF.2 version as well.
Hope that was not too confusing
Thanks, great information, as usual.
I suspect that the (eventual) FE version of the 85 will not be f/1.4 as they seem intent on making the native lenses a bit more portable. If that is true then the FE lens would not be a direct replacement for me as I often shoot my 85 wide open.
I did try out a few A mount lenses on my A7 using the LA-EA4 adapter and I was favorably impressed with the performance. It is tempting to just get what I want in the A mount and use the adapter. That is a choice that Sony could make easier for me by releasing an official lens road map.
Well, no hurry, it's not like my Nikon gear sucks.
Thanks again,
Bill