Late to the party but I wanted to jump in! Regarding what #2 said about "Like someone mentioned, those massive gallery prints need..." I actually have a slightly different perspective! I'm always super cautious with my gear choices because I hate the idea of wasting money on something that doesn't deliver, and honestly, that 61MP sensor is so scary for sharpness. I love finding things that are super reliable and sharp without needing the absolute most expensive GM glass every single time! For my sessions, these have been absolutely amazing for keeping the edges crisp:

• Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS
• Seriously, this lens is legendary for a reason! It's probably the sharpest thing I own and the built-in stabilization is such a fantastic safety net when I'm shooting.
• Sigma 65mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary
• I know it's a bit of an oddball focal length but the sharpness is just incredible for the price.
• Sony Zeiss Batis 85mm f/1.8
• It has such a unique look and feels so solid and professional. I really think that 90mm macro is a sleeper hit for portraits tho. It captures every single tiny detail which is exactly what you need for those big gallery prints in Chicago! Plus it leaves you with extra cash in your budget for other gear which is always a plus. Just trying to be helpful and share what worked for me! I'm sure your gallery opening is gonna be fantastic!

Look, if youre hitting 61MP and doing big prints for a gallery, you gotta stop looking at the 85mm range for a second. The Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM is legit the sharpest lens I have ever put on my camera. It is a beast, honestly. The resolving power even at the corners is night and day compared to the older f/1.8 youre using. It handles that A7R IV sensor with ease. If you want something a bit different or more modern for your kit, here are two options:

• Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM
• Since you mentioned the 85mm GM AF issues, this one is the opposite&linkCode=osi&tag=5422-20" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored">opposite. Its way more modern, the focus is instant, and its arguably better corrected for high-res sensors. Its basically the pinnacle of the lineup right now.
• Voigtlander 65mm f/2 Macro APO-Lanthar
• If you dont mind manual focus for your gallery work, this lens is clinically sharp. Because its an APO design, you get zero fringing which helps a lot when youre blowing things up for a massive print. I would personally grab the 135mm GM. It fits your budget perfectly and the AF is lightyears ahead of the 85mm GM because it uses those dual XD linear motors. You just gotta be okay with standing further back. The 85mm GM is due for a refresh, but who knows when that actually happens... dont wait around for a version II when the 135 is already perfect for what you need.

Like someone mentioned, those massive gallery prints need serious glass. I'm super satisfied with:

• Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art
• Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art These honestly kill it tho.

Honestly, you really just need to stick with the Sony G Master line if you are chasing that absolute peak sharpness for your gallery prints! I have been using their high-end prime lenses for my portrait sessions lately and the results are truly amazing. When you are dealing with a high-resolution sensor like yours, the quality of the glass makes a massive difference in those fine details. Just get any of the premium native primes from Sony and you will be set. The edge-to-edge clarity is fantastic and it really handles the resolution without any of that corner mushiness you mentioned. I have found that staying with the official flagship lineup provides the best consistency for professional work. Seriously, go with their top-tier glass and you will see a huge jump in performance immediately!

To add to the point above: look, shooting on a 61MP sensor is basically playing on hard mode for your lenses. I have been doing this a long time and you really need to be careful because what looks okay on a screen will look like absolute hot garbage when it is blown up for a gallery wall in Chicago. Honestly, you should just do a deep dive on some specific sites because the data is already out there if you look for it. I would suggest doing these three things before you spend your cash:

• Head over to YouTube and search for high resolution lens tests Sony A7RIV. There is a really good channel that does nothing but technical lab tests with actual charts... I think it is the one with the guy who has the really dry voice but he is super thorough.
• Check out the lens rental blogs. They do these massive teardowns and MTF charts that show exactly how sharp a lens is from the center all the way to the edges.
• Just search sharpest portrait lens for 60mp on Reddit or the Fred Miranda forums. People there are obsessed with edge-to-edge detail and have probably already compared the 135 and the 85 version two rumors. I saw a video about this a few weeks back that basically settled the debate but I cant find the link right now. Just search around, it is definitely the top result on Google for high-res lens comparisons. Better to be safe and spend an hour reading than to end up with mushy corners on a four-foot print, ngl.