My name is Libby Penman, a Scottish filmmaker who directs and shoots for primetime TV and has shot online content with millions of views. For the majority of my work, I focus on wildlife and outdoor adventures. As a wildlife filmmaker I typically use the Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS on a tripod, and for my documentary TV work, which is very reactive and, on the fly, I tend to use a zoom lens like a 70-200mm, so I can respond to changing situations. So, for this assignment for Sony, shooting on an 85mm prime was something a bit different for me, but wow what a lot of fun I had!

The FE 85mm f/1.4 GM II is ergonomic and sturdy and when you use it, you feel totally at ease that it will be robust in the field. I recently used the lens in a variety of different and quiet testing situations, including skating fast while shooting another skateboarder.  I loved that I didn't have to compensate or change my regular stance on the board because the lens is really well balanced and shaped. The new lens is also weather sealed which was ideal for when I was shooting in a rainy forest, or off the back of a boat with sea spray and even underneath a waterfall. The aperture ring is also perfectly positioned for a smooth control of exposure, and from an ergonomic perspective, it is easy to manually pull focus and simultaneously adjust the exposure if necessary. This new lens is a very considered piece of kit, it is definitely a lens that is designed to work with you.

I was using the lens paired with the Sony Alpha 9 III and the autofocus of the lens was nothing short of remarkable, especially when considering I was often shooting wide open at f/1.4 and even with a fast-moving subject like a dog in the water or a skateboarder, the camera and lens were able to keep the focus locked on the subject, all the while keeping the ultra-shallow depth of field, producing a stunning cinematic feel. I frequently used the lens with an ND filter so I could control the light but still take full advantage of the f/1.4 stop.

As amazing as the autofocus response from the lens was, I come from a TV background and typically shoot in manual focus therefore I also loved how smooth the focus ring was while pulling focus in manual focus mode. I was also pleased to see how suppressed the focus breathing in this lens is.

I was mostly using the camera to shoot video but capturing stills on this lens was also dreamy. An 85mm prime is of course a classic, ‘go to' portraiture lens and it certainly lives up to that. However, the lens is so refined and detailed that using it unconventionally to capture some wide landscapes shots was also great fun - let’s just say the lens makes you want to physically take those extra steps back and capture the scene you would typically reach for the 50mm or 24mm for, you are going to want to move and keep shooting on the 85mm.

Conversely, the reach is also great for getting those detailed moments; the raindrops and details of spray from the waterfall I shot were so sharp and defined, it almost looks like a macro in moments. Which I felt was another instance to illustrate just how versatile this lens actually is.