Sony 135mm f1.8 G Master Lens Review | Best PORTRAIT Photography Lens?!

[@froknowsphoto]

Have you checked out FroPack 1 yet? NEW FroPack 1 Lightroom Presets froknowsphoto.com/presets/ (40% off) The sales going to end soon.

[@gabemtv]

You should do a FroPack 1 giveaway sometime! :)

[@hunterkaden2701]

you all probably dont care but does anybody know a way to log back into an instagram account? I was dumb forgot my account password. I appreciate any help you can offer me

[@treyjimmy3589]

@Hunter Kaden instablaster :)

[@hunterkaden2701]

@Trey Jimmy thanks so much for your reply. I got to the site through google and I'm in the hacking process atm. I see it takes quite some time so I will get back to you later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@hunterkaden2701]

@Trey Jimmy it worked and I finally got access to my account again. Im so happy! Thank you so much, you really help me out!

[@RealSebus]

When he said "because I work out" I reminded myself about LMFAO - Sexy and I know it

[@evenios2831]

is it me or in his later videos his face looks a tad chubby? lol

[@evenios2831]

maybe its just me.. i went ahead and removed my lens filter on my canon 85mm f1.8 at his suggestion he may indeed be right.. lol

[@XPoChangLinX]

17:15 So sharp you can see the Jared in her eyes drowning

[@alchemisthere]

One word for this lens: SHARP Thank you for always making good videos and providing the RAW photos for download and testing!

[@kennethwilliamsinc]

a1ch3mist37 a crispy butt? 😂

[@alchemisthere]

​@@kennethwilliamsinc I don't know man :D I don't have the right word for it, but look at his stories on IG please :D :D

[@JourneymanActor]

Really sharp. Nice images. Her eyes were really poppin'. 👍

[@RunNGunPhoto]

🔥 *I LOVE the 135mm focal length for portraits!!!* 🔥 My Canon 135 f/2 was my favorite portrait lens when I shot film, and I just had to adapt it an EF mount. It's an often overlooked lens that produces stunning shots.

[@The_Idea_of_Dream_Vision]

Jus bought it.... cam wait to test it when it gets here

[@RunNGunPhoto]

Good luck!!!

[@JungleCatImages]

I love my 135 F2L as much as or more than I love my wife hahahahaha.. Its great.. Magical really

[@jonathonpace6579]

The aperture ring I have on one of my 50mm 1.4 really helped me learn exposure control, when DOF wasn't very important in the photo and I was over or under exposed the ring helped remind me that each number is one stop of light I can control.

[@Arcaged]

"why you shoot at 1.8" i mean for the price you have to shoot at 1.8, or else you better go with the 70-200 f2.8, so yeah that's why we shoot at 1.8.

[@Got1Fishing]

The aperture ring makes a world of difference when run and gunning with video. It really makes that big of a difference. Especially when you’re using some sort of gimbal.

[@jimmoy4616]

Sony is killing it!

[@klackon1]

Cracking review. I have no application for the Sony 135mm f1.8 GM; but it looks so good I'm trying to think of one.

[@skydiver1x940]

Jared, I tried my gear vault but I found out it is only for professionals, and they would not cover me since I am an amateur photographer. You might want to make this clear when you push my gear vault.

[@PilotChris78]

skydiver 1x yeah same problem for me. I was told that they wouldn’t insure me until I had more than $10K / month photography income

[@PilotChris78]

@thopkins22 Lol you are absolutely right and my insurance is through PPA - great rates too! Thanks!

[@Stevie_jr]

That black and white photo is amazing

[@froknowsphoto]

thanks

[@propertylensnz]

2 points: Aperture wheel means you can adjust exposure so much quicker than any other option, such as when shooting an event or action and there's lots of different light areas (you lock in shutter speed, ISO, and adjust aperture to correctly expose). If you are comfortable using an aperture wheel it's the fastest way. Difference between good and bad bokeh becomes quite apparent when you shoot portraits with certain backgrounds, such as foliage, or messy backgrounds with lots of specular points. Bad bokeh will look busy, nervous, and distract from the subject. Good bokeh will be creamy, and provide complete separation. (not a comment on this particular lens)

[@screamingamishz]

Jared I'm buying the FroPack to fund future Sony gear videos. Keep up the good work.

[@JordanFMartin]

Hey Jared! Declicked aperture ring for smoooooooth manual exposure control, such as when you're exposed for indoors at maybe f2.8 then you go outside and you need to stop down to f16 (or vice versa) :)

[@randhyrodriguez8323]

Here is the reason for having the manual aperture. This lens can also be used for macro photography. Flip it around attached to an adapter then you can manually select your aperture and focus.

[@broben87]

but the aperture is electronically controlled... how can the camera control it if u flip the lens?

[@randhyrodriguez8323]

@@broben87 set it up first before you flip it. (You can get lots of videos on KZbin about this technique.)

[@kolapyellow7631]

Beautiful glass indeed. And very compact.

[@nickburry703]

the aperture ring is for video/filmmakers who pull aperture as well as focus (aka) going inside to outside

[@PbVeritas]

I own it already and holy christ this is a high performance glass. Combined with my A7 III it is crazy fast and sharp. I bought it mainly for wedding photography. It is a cheaper, more lightweight and faster than the Sony 70-200 2.8 (also a little less versatile). I love photographing with it

[@froknowsphoto]

own it? It's not out yet.

[@PbVeritas]

@@froknowsphoto It is in Austria. Pre-ordered it and got it last week. I can send you a photo of it if you don't believe me :)

[@nickhills8061]

I’ve had mine for over a week in the UK. I love the aperture ring, just like on my 85GM. Super fast to change aperture.

[@PbVeritas]

@@bngr_bngr It gets a lot better when you stop down to f2.8 but it is not really noticeable in real world situations. E.g city, park background.

[@PbVeritas]

@@bngr_bngr Well it depends: If the cat-eyed bokeh balls are a dealbreaker for your than don't get that lens. I found that in real life shooting the background blur is so smooth and soft like nothing I used before. And it is crazy sharp at 1.8

[@Noealz]

wow super close focus

[@ivankiefer3886]

Well i use the ring for the aperture in the lense and i assigns the iso to the back wheel. That is my set up for portrait.

[@matthewshort6625]

Another Great Review and Video.

[@adrianalvarez9069]

I guess the aperture ring comes down to personal preference. I personally love having the aperture ring, for me feels more natural than using the front and back dials for shutter speed and aperture, it feels more comfortable for me with the aperture ring. But again, personal preference I guess. Keep it up Jared! Loving your style! Cheers from Madrid!

[@darylnd]

I like being able to check or set exposure settings at a glance, even without turning on the camera. I also like depth-of-field scales.

[@masononemine1702]

the sharpness is absolutely fracking amazing, maybe a comparison with the sigma 105? I know they are different focal lengths but they serve very similar purposes.

[@cuuppaajoe]

You’re my favorite bro. The wind test was the best. +1 sub

[@thewildernesshiker-howtose4438]

The ring is good for shooting video outdoors. More so when the light is constantly changing, as in partly cloudy.

[@offworldtv2505]

If you are shooting only using the F stop, the off click is nice for keeping exposer with micro movements on the aperture.

Great review of an incredible lens, thanks Jared.

[@Avg_Vet]

I had the pleasure of playing with this lens a few times. As the video says, it's sharp and it is fast. My studio is small so I wouldn't get the full use out of it so I'm going to wait 6 months to a year before purchasing it because I can't justify the price right now. But definitely if you shoot outdoors or have a large studio space, it is a must have.

[@astraeusone]

Great passionate review, Jared. :-) So much exciting options to choose from. Good option for Sony system.

[@supiiischokobaer]

*The reason why SONY is better than SIGMA:* Better in nighttime and definitely better low light performance. (my favorite) SIGMA's AF has some difficulties with low light. Both are amazing at daytime and for portrait with a light source. They are almost identical, although I believe SONY is a tiny, little bit sharper.

[@Giggles63]

Jared you're in a super playful mood in this video and I love it. Very much enjoyed the focus ring spinning, and on the F stops you are in youw own world. Haven't smiled this much on one of your videos since the April Fools day edition a few weeks ago. Keep it up, best.

[@sebastianaguilar6835]

I own it. I love it. Fastest autofocusing lens I’ve ever used, and I’ve used quite a fee lenses.

[@PaulAtwood]

Great review. I would love to see a similar review on the 100mm STF GM.

[@AshvjeetMusic]

Lets suppose you wanna take a quick stealth shot, and your f/stop is say 1.8 but you want the background to be in focus, you can select continuous shooting and rotate the the aperture ring as you take each of those continuous shots and thus you will have a wide variety of f/stops in your images to choose from.

[@rhykko77]

Some GREAT photos in this video along with solid 'real world" tests !

[@mjphotos]

just picked this up for dance sport... it should hive me perfect eye focus no matter the situation.. on my A7rV

[@6gwilliams]

Thanks so much Jared. I have pre-ordered one for my A9 and A7RIII. Cheers

[@EdEddnEddyonline1]

you know your early when the video is under 1k views

[@admin92706]

Great video Jared! Love the bokeh commentary. So many people go nuts over this & I agree that at this pro level lens that should be the least of your concerns! 👍

[@DavidSornbergerFilms]

Really useful and practical tips. Thanks! 😊 I’m thinking I should reflect on this on my photography channel.

[@paul-barbera]

Absolutely love the aperture ring. As a full-time professional working photographer I find it incredibly useful, and very fast, my Zeiss wide-angle lens doesn’t have it and when shooting interiors on a tripod it would make my life so much easier to have that aperture ring. It’s very fiddly to use it on the camera body, and not to mention on my Sony a7r3 it seems very slow / delayed.

[@fluxcapacitor3273]

I've this lens and it's just amazing at all areas.af speed in dim light is way faster than gm85 in sunlight, sharpness is amazing at F1.8 and you can get close to your model so close that only eye and nose can fill the frame..that close.what a heck of a lens..Sony nailed with this one.

[@kolapyellow7631]

I like the Aperture ring sound.

[@IAmAaronEdwards]

I think the reason for the Aperture ring is for timelapse it would remove flicker from the camera checking the aperture after each shot.

[@MrSunamo]

I love my 85 GM lens, but seeing the performance of Sony's new 135 makes me think twice. Great review Jared!

[@maciekphotos7692]

I would be really interested Jared to see how is your AF set up on A7/A1.

[@DennisMoncla]

Loved it and this lens! It's tops on my "want" chart right now!

[@kanaporis1]

thank you for the FREE VIDEO!!!!!!!

[@8020Alive]

135 mm SONY GM woooooow!

[@IamIvanStan]

where are the recent comments? mine has disappeared... about APERTURE RING - it is there so you can control it with a motor when the camera is on a gimbal or in a rig...

[@awolphotos]

As far as I know, the reason the aperture ring on the outside is helpful is for video. It allows you to transition from a very dark situation to a very bright one as well as quickly switch depth of field. It's supposed to allow for a seamless transition, but if the aperture ring has clicks it kind of becomes useless.

[@hajmanek]

I love 135mm lenses, actually I sold all AF lenses and I am using now old manual, as I am not sport photographer. For eg I have 135 2.8 from Vivitar with OM mount and this lens is stunning, with 2.8 is very sharp and bouqeh very artistic. Thanks for this review.

[@vladimirivanov6353]

Fantastic review....Thanks for RAW file....definitely your deserve beer...So Sigma 135mm f1.8 ,also is amazing i will be happy to compare ...which Sigma is more cheaper...and i want to buy Sigma!

[@bogfinken]

Actually a very god review, thumbs up! The kettle bell swing shots were just impressive! I never really trusted AF for close-up pictures, always used and enjoyed manuel focus with stationary subjects. But this might change my mind..

[@derrickmilimo]

Hey Jared please do a review of 70-200 2.8 Nikon FL & 70-200 2.8 Sigma sport.

[@davidshaw5979]

Now one L lens alliance too rule them all? Jared Sharpest images I have seen for a long time. Did you have any missed shots on the shoot?

[@6gwilliams]

David, DXO just tested this Sony 135mm f1.8 G-master lens and say it is the SHARPEST lens they have EVER tested in over 300 lenses tested. Wow !

[@codyrobinson22]

Lensrentals already concluded this is the sharpest lens they’ve tested period over a month ago. DXO is old news lol www.lensrentals.com/blog/2019/03/sony-fe-135mm-f1-8-gm-early-mtf-results/

[@BLUSQUAD812]

Wait until they test the 105 1.4 Sigma

[@constellationshots3893]

In deep sky ap, when using dedicated cooled cameras, they are controlled through computer software and unlike a dslr you can’t change the aperture so this is why it might be needed, if you use a lot of adapters for dslr lenses to ap camera.

[@JM-le3wn]

manual aperture ring, mainly good for getting rid of flickering during time lapse photos. as the aperture is sometimes a little inconsistent between photos.

[@keithbrown454]

Damn, that lens is very sharp! Or, should that be partly attributed to the auto-focusing system?? By the way, that photographer/model is beautiful. Awesome video.

[@6gwilliams]

Keith, DXO just tested this Sony 135mm f1.8 G-master lens and say it is the SHARPEST lens they have EVER tested in over 300 lenses tested. Wow !

[@keithbrown454]

@@6gwilliams I see why. The outstanding sharpness was very obvious right off the bat. Thanks for that bit of information.

[@Bayonet1809]

@@6gwilliams DXO have not (yet) tested this lens. Could you be thinking of Roger Cicala at Lens Rentals, because he has?

[@PhotoTubeUK]

The lens is sharp (but then it would be, wouldn't it) but some people will dislike the cats eye bokeh. However, the thing that impressed me most: The eye AF demo of the A7R3. I'm still not a Sony convert but that eye AF is something else!

[@Dumplingu]

I used my new Sigma 105mm f/1.4 on a shoot last week and I was giddy the whole damn time. Absolutely the most indulgent lens I've ever used.

[@nyambe]

Loved the review. Love positive minds

[@EduardoMaradiaga-s5w]

It would be great if you share with us the brand of the lights you used and the colored lights too, I would love to make a scenario like this for my models.

[@rizz97pl]

Wow Jared I think unlocked some historical information broski! Absolute genius 🧐

[@jeongdenis4091]

Hello Jared, the images are stunning! I can't wait to see a comparaison with other brands lenses. I Always heard that the Canon 15mm f/2 was a great lense, it looks like this focal length is becoming the Master for portraits. Great video again, have a nice day.

[@jeongdenis4091]

@@bngr_bngr that would be a good test. However I think the Sony AF might be faster...

[@chromaticvisuelle]

Sony is incredible again !

[@RealRaynedance]

The de-clicked aperture actually really is useful for video if you want a lens with one that also has autofocus for when you want it. Maybe there are other options that are 135mm with that, but I don't know of any off the top of my head. (Someone tell me of some if you know of any.) And then you basically have the "I like manual things." mentality that I kind of share. I like using old lenses with aperture rings, so when I don't need speed, I'd probably use the aperture ring just because.

[@cypherdk85]

I think the aperture ring is mostly for people that will use it for cine. People shooting video usually want the manual control, instead if changing aperture on the camera. Though many use gears on their aperture and focus, which they will have to add to the lens, so I'm not 100% sure, but it's my best guess.

[@orendo]

The programmable buttons are not programmable separately. They both trigger the same function. By default they are both programmed to Focus Hold.

[@zoetmoments5625]

@Jared Polin The de-clicked aperture ring is for video use when shooting and your subject is moving from a bright scene and into a dark scene your want the transition from F11 or f7.1 to F1.8 to look as smooth as possible without your viewer noticing this in you final footage. For photography it a pointless feature to be honest, but for cinematography is a very much a required feature hence why all cinema lens are de-clicked with long focus throw. hence the need of a follow focus wheel.

[@alexanderlevy2538]

agree with "when shooting and your subject is moving from a bright scene and into a dark scene" but disagree for stills. I shoot in clubs (dancers) where there are bright spots and dark spots on the stage. It's the same principal as cinematography.

[@mohamedyazidbitam]

just ordered it.thanks for your advice?

[@thebeardedphotographer1595]

"One lens to rule them all, One lens to find them, One lens to bring them all and in the darkness bind them."

[@fotomats8651]

Here in Germany it is 1.200 (Sigma) and 2.000€ Sony so i don't regret buying the Sigma since month... 😉

[@ThePixelitomedia]

af fast? eye af working?

[@fotomats8651]

@@ThePixelitomedia Yes... Faster than some native glass!

[@eyeeyeoh]

I thought all Germans use Leica.

[@kungfool69]

my 135mm lens is one of my fav lenses to use!! Makinon 135mm F2.8, P mount adapted to my Lumix GX8 m43!

[@AndrewPowerTower]

Going from F1.8 to F22 (to be extreme) is done in one smooth motion of the hand instead of a dozen twirls of the dial controlling the aperture on the camera. There are 7 full stops between F2 and F22, or 21 1/3 stops (I'm bad at math)...that's a lot of thumb movement and time spent spinning the dial! The aperture ring is much more useful if you were shooting action, like street or sports or wildlife, where you need to quickly change your aperture to get the shot. So having it on this particular lens, which is geared toward portrait photography, is...questionable. The non-clicked aperture ring is for video, as you pointed out, but the clicked is so you can feel the number of stops up/down without having to look...though you'd see the changes through the EVF so that's a moot point.

[@thegreatvanziniphotos5976]

For some of us, we grew up with clicky aperture rings & we liked it that way damn it. We also had long lines at the bank when we cashed our checks & we liked it that way too damn it!

[@akirafan28]

Great review! Thank you for doing this for us :). To satisfy my curiosity, it would be really nice to se a comparison between the various presets. Perhaps of the same image.

[@jackhaddow9785]

Good video - really like the real world examples. What about a comparison with the Zeiss Batis 135mm f2.8? The f1.8 aperture almost seems overkill at that focal length - the depth of field can appear too shallow for head shots in particular.

[@SupremePhotoVideo]

Thanks

[@MichaelWayneChapel]

Mine will always be the ZEISS 135mm f/2 Apo Sonnar...to rule them all!

[@timmcmillan2417]

Why may I ask

[@alainfoure5958]

I realy like to have the aperture ring on the lens because so I have left hand holding the lens and managing aperture, right index on the speed wheel and right thumb on the rear autofocus button / focus nipple / iso wheel.

[@alainfoure5958]

@@bngr_bngr I'm not saying you should. Just I like it. I like this film camera feeling, I like using both hands.

[@markdbey]

This looks amazing! But I'll keep my Sigma 135mm art... It's also... Amazing! 😎

[@MrRandomatom]

Great video as usual. Any rumors on when Sony will be rolling out the Fro-AF in their firmware update?

[@alphakaka6155]

Eye AF is coming for Nikon Z cameras on May 16 .. please then do a review of Nikon 105 on Z with Eye AF.

[@LouisPrudhomme]

Absolute MASTERPIECE. I mean, if we’re looking at the peak of what a prime lens can be, am I the only to think $1900 is a pretty fair price? I mean it will probably never get any sharper than this. I just wish I could afford a full move to mirrorless (I’m not a pro). Sure, the Sigma is cheaper. But that Sony AF, working flawlessly with the World-leading AF system of Sony cameras... no brainer. Especially if you only do portraits... I mean think about this : if you do portraits exclusively, I bet you won’t need a better lens for easily 20 years. Like seriously, did you see those portraits in 4K? How could they ever be any better than that? 🙌

[@motoxcal249]

Just for my sel135f18gm. And I absolutely love it already

[@ReneJongbloed]

Good shirt color for today's Kingsday

[@NetGawker]

I really feel like this lens is just an update to the Sony Zeiss 135mm f1.8. The lens hood especially seems IDENTICAL to the Zeiss A-mount inspired lens.

[@NripanNath]

The aperture ring would be useful if the lens is adapted to some other setup where the camera isn't talking to the lens. Or an all manual cinema setup, perhaps. I could br wrong though.

[@mk0x55]

For the comparison, it would be nice to see something like the Zeiss Milvus 2/135 in the mix! :)

[@RealRaynedance]

@@bngr_bngr The Milvus, no, but Zeiss do make a 135 f/2.8 that autofocuses. Costs more than the Sigma 135 f/1.8, though.

[@colemowery]

yea. it's more expensive, but it's also small enough to get into events and stuff where they don't want the audience to have telephoto lenses because it's under 5". @@RealRaynedance

[@RealRaynedance]

@@colemowery Barely, but true.

[@mk0x55]

@@bngr_bngr The Milvus is manual focus, but the Zeiss Batis 2.8/135, which is its counterpart for Mirrorless Sony cameras has autofocus.

[@mk0x55]

For some applications, the manual focus could be a downside, but I believe that rather a minor one. Reasons: (1) Modern cameras tend to have focus peaking that helps; (2) You can get a better focusing screen (focusingscreen.com) that helps if you shoot DSLR and wish to use OVF; (3) the Milvus lenses are much easier and nicer to manually focus than most lenses designed for autofocus - they have way longer focus throw, smoother operation, and are easier to focus precisely. I's pretty addictive.

[@gabrielviero]

having an aperture ring is good with follow focus

[@Anderson_Anderas]

beautiful model!

[@nunoviotti]

Yep, it's a wonderful lens! Taking photos with it for 2 weeks on the a7iii and it's a charm :D

[@purenupe1]

That on lens aperture ring might be useful if the G master lens is ever adapted to a different mount.

[@s1301950]

Where do u get that tetris blocks

[@Bayonet1809]

Fyi Jared, the photo "FRO00737" in the supplied dngs has significant motion blur. Apart from that the photos are wonderful, and a real testament to the impressive qualities of this lens. If I shot portraits it would be top of my list.

[@adden2242]

awesome images from the g master, I use the sony a6400, but that 135mm its just soo bloody expensive!!

[@mynala110]

Decent bokeh. Slightly above average, although for the price point I might be inclined to lean towards a more spherical bokeh with a more consistent curvature. That being said, the bokeh on this lens offers a unique tonal blending when various colors bleed into one another. Conclusion: Not sure...would have to perform a bokeh comparison test!