Guy Mancuso
Administrator, Instructor
Well after the 24-70 test I am back at Big Broncos testing the 85 this morning . It was cloudy but I did find some break in the clouds to do a quick run through and make sure the lens is a good copy and it certainly is and it clearly is a outstanding lens but it has a few caveats as well. Now either I am going to start paying rent at this place or the are going to have to pay ME to advertise their store. LOL
Here we go. Full shot. My test included 1.4 and 1.6 and their is a very good reason for this at 1.4 as you will see their is veiling flair which on every 1.4 lens I have had going back years ago its always the same case. Its extremely rare I shoot at 1.4 but more at 1.6 or 1.8 and honestly your not giving up much bokeh at ask if you even notice it. Its just a cleaner , sharper looking image at 1.6 which is the case with this GM 85 and your going to see it mostly on center. Also you will see CA until about 2.8
Really gets going in the corners at 2.8 the CA is gone and its really getting sharp. You could almost say optimum at F4 its that good
Lets move onto the crops from the building and a side building. Really watch 1.4 and 1.6 you will see the veiling flare on the 1.4. Now there is nothing wrong with 1.4 if your are doing something that you may want more artistic looking for lack of a better word. Say its a childs face you may want that to look very soft but the beauty here is at 1.6 its really sharper so you kind of get 2 lenses in one. This is very common in 1.4 lenses and you just need to know what a lens will do to avoid it or use it.
So for landscape shooters even 2.8 to the corners would be good but I think F4 or lower would be safer. Portrait folks could care less about corners
Lens vignettes to about 2.8 than clears up nice and its a nice vignette.
I do have one small issue that has been reported and I have a metal to metal noise it sounds like from 3m to infinity both in AF and MF modes. To me its sounds like a grease issue but I did read somewhere it cleaned up after about 500 shots. Mine is not going back regardless.
I know the first question here better than the Batis and its a great question because I was impressed by the Batis 85 no question. I think its the better lens overall as I think it renders better both bokeh balls and onion rings but I need to do more testing on them. It is built beatifully and for ME the weight and bulk is far less a concern than my GM 24-70 which I do feel its one the camera. LOL
Here we go. Full shot. My test included 1.4 and 1.6 and their is a very good reason for this at 1.4 as you will see their is veiling flair which on every 1.4 lens I have had going back years ago its always the same case. Its extremely rare I shoot at 1.4 but more at 1.6 or 1.8 and honestly your not giving up much bokeh at ask if you even notice it. Its just a cleaner , sharper looking image at 1.6 which is the case with this GM 85 and your going to see it mostly on center. Also you will see CA until about 2.8
Really gets going in the corners at 2.8 the CA is gone and its really getting sharp. You could almost say optimum at F4 its that good
Lets move onto the crops from the building and a side building. Really watch 1.4 and 1.6 you will see the veiling flare on the 1.4. Now there is nothing wrong with 1.4 if your are doing something that you may want more artistic looking for lack of a better word. Say its a childs face you may want that to look very soft but the beauty here is at 1.6 its really sharper so you kind of get 2 lenses in one. This is very common in 1.4 lenses and you just need to know what a lens will do to avoid it or use it.
So for landscape shooters even 2.8 to the corners would be good but I think F4 or lower would be safer. Portrait folks could care less about corners
Lens vignettes to about 2.8 than clears up nice and its a nice vignette.
I do have one small issue that has been reported and I have a metal to metal noise it sounds like from 3m to infinity both in AF and MF modes. To me its sounds like a grease issue but I did read somewhere it cleaned up after about 500 shots. Mine is not going back regardless.
I know the first question here better than the Batis and its a great question because I was impressed by the Batis 85 no question. I think its the better lens overall as I think it renders better both bokeh balls and onion rings but I need to do more testing on them. It is built beatifully and for ME the weight and bulk is far less a concern than my GM 24-70 which I do feel its one the camera. LOL