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Samyang MF 85mm f/1.4 Lens (Canon RF)
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Samyang MF 85mm f/1.4 Lens (Canon RF)
£419.38 £272.60
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Additional information
| Product code | ACE-52129 |
|---|---|
| Barcode | 8809298885885 |
| Brand | Samyang |
| Colour | Standard |
| Model | Samyang MF 85mm f/1.4 Lens (Canon RF) |
Mxvng28 –
Kinda pricey Bought this by mistake. Wasnt exactly what I was looking for but I love it so Im keeping it Definitely my portrait lens.
Garrett –
There is nothing special about this lens. No extremely dreamy bokeh or super close focus. This is just a solid built, sharp, good focusing 85. Great bank for the buck.
Tom –
I am adding the Sony system to my Pentax that I have been using since my start in photography. I wanted to add to the Sony system but did not want to get into the GM lense series which are quite expensive. When Sony released the FE 85mm 1.8 it was a good way to add a lense to my A6000 at a reasonable cost. The lense has preform beyond my expectations. This is a full frame lens but I have not notice any problems using it on my crop sensor camera. The 85mm is sharp even at 1.8 and is very fast focusing on my A6000. This is a excellent lens for any Sony camera without getting in the GM lenses in my opinion.
Caleb –
This lens has lived up to the hype. Sharp as a tack, amazing for portraits, slight green and purple fringing wide open. You could spend three times more for the GMaster but I know I wont. Super solid lens. Ergonomics are great and it isnt too too big. Would definitely recommend.
Benji –
Hard to pass on quality glass at this price. Not worth upgrading to the 1.4 for three times the price in my opinion. 1.8 is plenty fast enough for most low light settings. Way better than the cannon 1.8 85mm
lpabou –
Its a small and lightweight lens for 85mm f1.8. The copy I got however had a lot of chromatic aberrations magenta tint around all edges, from corner to corner and was relatively soft in the corners. Its not a bad lens, but even stopped down at f4, those issues persist. For some shooters, I am sure they wont see a difference, but for my applications, it was just not practical.
Maddie –
Im a portrait photographer mainly doing seniors, general portraits, and sometimes engagements. I wanted a budget friendly 85 mm option and came across the Sony one. It does not disappoint one bit Its fairly lightweight in comparison to some other lenses I own, and its super sharp with beautiful bokeh. Pretty quick to focus as well. So far, I havent any issues with this lens and Im happy that theres a budget friendly 85 mm out there for Sony mount. Highly recommend
sunny –
I took this lens to Napa and Sonoma over the weekend and it turned out to be a great lens. I was bouncing between the zeiss 55 and this lens all weekend long. I do like how it bokeh balls look at 1.8 vs the zeiss 55, they look more round vs football. I couldnt post any portraits at 1.8 because my friend would like it but it does make it creamy soft when you look at it. I noticed that on my Sony A7II with face detect on, it would hunt for focus if the camera could not detect a face like if the person turns their head. It was not always the case but it did that a few times. Im hoping a software update will come out and address this issue. Otherwise its a fantastic little lens. Previously I was using the canon 85mm 1.8 on a fotodiox adaptor but the autofocus was worthless on that. In summary, I could have used my Zeiss 55 in crop mode to get to 85mm but this lens created great results and I am so glad i got it.
David –
One of the many complaints that I have with my a7rii is the size of the body, especially with the larger emount lenses. I was excited when this lens was announced because it was a prime focal length that I wanted but didnt need enough to spend Batis or GM money.I have been impressed enough with this lens that if Sony or Ziess came out with a similar 35mm, I would have it too. Weather sealed No, but in reality, neither is my a7rii. Functionally, its not going to disappoint, and the IQ, while not perfect, is about what is expected for an autofocus prime lens at this price. Perhaps Ill spring for the Batis in the future, but the money will have to be burning a hole in my pocket. This lens was money well spent. Both images below were shot at f1.8.
Wmchaz –
Fast focus, beautiful pictures. After multiple reviews and comparisons I went with this lens versus the GMaster I own the 135mm GM and the 100400MM GM I went with this lens at a third of the price and couldnt be happier.
Paul –
Purchased two weeks ago to accompany a new A7. Its an amazing lens Fast autofocus. Great lowlight results. Impressively sharp. Great build quality. And great value
Monte –
I recently switched my 90mm f2.8 to this.The focusing speed is insanely fast, even in low light havent updated firmware yet.This Is pretty tack sharp, but the character it adds to my portraits has been greatly appreciated. The Bokeh is a little football looking but not to the point that it is distracting.
Rohan –
This is one of the best 85 mm lenses for optical quality, size and focusing speed. The bokeh is also quite fabulous.And surprisingly the price is quite reasonableThis one of the few times you have a rare combination of great price and performance.Highly Recommended
Courtney –
Bokeh monster I love this lens For a while I was hesitant on ordering the 85mm. This focal length can be intimidating, but this is a must have for any photographer.
lejand19 –
The lens came in sooner than expected. The 85mm was practically new excellent condition. Ive always been skeptical buying used camera gear, but I was really happy with my purchase.
Jakob –
I am a landscape and travel photographer more so than a traditional portrait photographer. With that being said, this lens has been nothing short of terrific. The image quality and durability of this lens makes the purchase worth it alone. Not to mention the excellent bokeh and lightning quick auto focus paired with my A7iii. This lens is tac sharp, and in my opinion, worth every penny.Also, BH customer service and shipping gets two thumbs up
Curtis –
Theres no need to have anythig sharper than this Its an amazing little lens. If I lost mine, I would definitely purchase it again. Compared to the gmaster, it is a hell ton lighter and the performance is right next to it. Unless you absolutely need the 1.4 which most of us really dont then this should definitely be an automatic buy for any portrait photographer. You wont be disappointed
manuchehr.muhammad –
This is my first 85mm lens and I am quite happy with it. The focus is just amazing on it. It also does good in bokeh department. The creamy, blurred backgrounds are just out of this world Love it so far
Francois –
Sharp, great color, wide, amazing buttery bokeh, this lens is really good Im not putting 5 cause theres no weather sealing, and it doesnt provide eyeAF which is really bad considering its a native FE lens from sony, but the image quality is outstanding I definitely recommend this lens. the focal range is great for portraits, but not only. Im already in love
Christian –
This lens has been touted as one of the best native lens you can buy for your A7iii TRUE.Best portrait lens for A7iii TRUE.Very fast AF TRUE.Best cost vs benefit ratio TRUE.Great in low light TRUE, do you need to pay 3 x the price for the extra f1.2, and a strong arm to carry that extra weight No.Great in low light also TRUE Its a light sucker.
Akhilesh –
Sony 85mm lens has a good build, quality and size. Focusing speed is also good. Bokeh is also fabulous. This lens was within my price range. I highly Recommended this lens for portrait photography.
Kanaka808 –
Very slow AF and it is sensitive to slipping focus. Shooting surf photography this isnt a good lens. Recommend the 85mm Batis for closest in cost or the 85GM lens.
tony –
Very happy with my copy of the 85mm 1.8. I downgraded from the Sigma Art 85mm 1.4 after much hesitation about sacrificing that dreamy bokeh the Sigma gave. Unfortunately it was just so big and heavy that it never made it into my bag as much as it should. Now that Ive downgraded though, Im loving how much more use Im getting out of this focal length. Im not a technical shooter nor do I pixel peep, but I feel like this does a better job acquiring a quick focus overall, and its definitely quicker in low light than the Sig. Overall Im very happy with the change and am enjoying this lens
Adrian –
Very cool package deal… deducted 1 star because the pouch that came in bundle is too small for this lens with hood, must detach hood even then it needs to be squeezed in carefully squeezed out.
Tmo –
Its sharp, focuses well on my A7iii. F2 seems to be pretty good, 2.8 very sharp all the way out to F8 or so.Like the focus button on side, but feels a little weird using it on such a small lens. Might reprogram to be eye detect. Great bokeh during the day, but night shots have proven to be bummer In out of focus areas, Bokeh balls turn into cat eyes. Very irregularly shaped, would have taken onion syndrome over this. But for the price, it might be worth it.
DKQuinn –
The bokah on this thing is like none other. If you are looking for a portrait lens, this is the best one you can find in my opinion.The 85mm gives you enough zoom to not be right up in their face but not enough to feel out of place. I was contemplating the Sony F14 but I feel like this one gives you better bang for your buck.
Elizabeth –
The Sony FE 85mm F1.8 has been a great lens to shoot with on my new A7iii. I was previously a Canon shooter, and I am not sorry I made the switch to Sony Mirrorless. The 85mm in conjunction with the A7iii resolve an astounding amount of detail when zoomed in on the preview screen. I am sure that I would be even more amazed if it was G Master glass, however this F1.8 is a great choice in itself. I would recommend it to anyone in need of an 85mm for their Sony body.
MistaCB –
Probably best lens Ive owned so far Great for portraits… and recently got interested into street photography..this lens is perfect
Anonymous –
Even though it seems to be the trend, I will not give more stars just because the lens is more reasonably priced compared to other mirrorless glass. I am reviewing the glass and its picture quality, not my subjective feelings on its cost. I have tried 2 copies now so this is not a copy specific.. The lens suffers from pretty significant CA… not sure how the many reviewers commented so positively on this. It is heavy on CA wideopen. The lens is also somewhat soft wide open. It tightens up at 2.8 and at 4 its better but its not razor sharp, if ever. This is on a7rii The AF is great quick and fast. I am disappointed with all the reviewers across different sites as they seems to have blown this lens sharpness and CA resistance out of proportion. It takes nice shots but has its flaws.
Tushar –
This is a great prime lens for its price. I also have Sony 50mm with same focal but and this is a welcome upgrade.. super sharp lens. If you are a bokeh fan, you wont be disappointed and portraits look very professional.
ALLEN –
This lens is so awesome Im sure all the other 85mm lenses are scared of dropping sales Or will be. Once the word gets out how fast it focuses, dreamy bokeh, and tack sharpness even wide open….every FE lens user will be using this I was so disappointed with the 50mm 1.8, that I was worried this lens would also have focus hunting problems and loud AF noise. Vey happy the 85mm 1.8 doesnt have these issues Also glad I didnt shell out the massive on the other 85s before trying this one
Anonymous –
I saw the reviews and comments about this lens everywhere saying it was an amazing bang for the buck, and boy were they right.This is an absolutely sharp lens, and produces astonishing images. My wife pulled it out of the box and her first impression was WOW is this lens light.It is a small and well balanced lens for my sony camera, focuses instantly and it is good for video too.What else could you ask for
Henry –
One of the first lenses I bought for my A7III Its a nice lense for the budget and its sharp. Very satisfied and definitely worth it Its a steal for the price.
HonestReviewer –
A bit disappointed by this lens. Its not as fast as I imagined. Just another 85mm lens to me. If youre into portraits, this is the lens for you. Other than that, you cant really use it in other situations. The built feels cheap but thats where the price point comes to play. You get what you pay for
Robert –
Gives great results in the right situations, mainly portraits. Focusing has had some hiccups here and there but is generally good, however surprisingly my 2870 3.55.6 kit lens focuses faster and more accurately. You need to use this lens as intended, its not general use by any means imo. My biggest concern is the issues with FRINGING. I took a video of a fountain in mid day sun and the water was purple in my viewfinder. Other highlight intensive scenarios have rendered similar results. The detail when wide open is nice and so is the background separation with a pleasant cream factor. Stop it down a bit, and detail is ridiculously good, so much so that you can see EVERY little detail in the clients skin when reviewing 11. Whether they will like that is another thing. Lastly, the minimum focusing distance is terrible. Its left me frustrated and wish a lens change wasnt necessary to get a bit closer than the design allows.Overall I love this lens. I really do.
Cristian –
Pros bright picture, ok quality, for this money, its easy.Cons I think plastic attracts too much dust.
Manny –
not a G Master but this lensglass is so good for the price really helps in low light situations with the 1.8 aperture. Definitely ones of my favorite portrait lenses to use.
Marie –
Absolutely love this lens Captures beautiful photos and has amazing bokeh This lens literally never comes off my camera
Anonymous –
Fantastic Camera and lens combination. The lens might be a bit soft at times, which can only be said when comparing this to more expensive lenses, not older ones, but the lens excels at capturing light and the bokeh is smooth
Anonymous –
Fast and silent focus, sharp and with a quick access button on the lens. Makes the 1.4f lenses kind of pointless due to their priceadded value vs this. It is not heavy but I wouldnt use it daily. For that I would go with the 50 mm1.8 that is lightersmaller but definitely not as good as this
Sqweegy –
This has become my favorite lens for the Sony A7iii. It never leaves my bag and usually remains on my camera. Great for portraits.
loloasadi –
The lens makes photos that far outweigh the price of the lens. The lens has such amazing bokeh, which makes the subject of the portrait stand out and look much more impressive than it would without the creamy or sometimes even sparky effects of the bokeh. I have never had a lens that did this before, and when you couple it with a Sony A7 camera, the lens is fast and detailed. I think it is just as good as the Zeiss lens I have. Even on automatic, the bokeh and details it provides makes it look like I have much greater knowledge of how to create images that have a memorable, different quality to them than I really do. Also, even though I assumed this lens would be best for portraits, it is also great for wildlife, as it did pretty well keeping up with marine life and leaving dolphins, despite the processing time.
Audio –
This lens is a game changer. Went from the Sony 50 1.8 to this and the depth of field and sharpness is so much better. Also the focus is spot on compared to the 50 I had
Suzy –
Great lens at an amazing price. Im just switching over from Nikon to Sony and needed to get a portrait lens. This one is great. The 85mm is perfect and the wide constant aperture is perfect. Bokeh is really nice for such an affordable lens. Its very sharp and light.
frankleeroberts –
This is probably the greatest value in the entire Sony lens line. This Price Vs Quality is unmatched in Sony Brand Lenses. If you are looking for a great short portrait lens and low on Cash, this is your BEST OPTION
Ryan –
Not much to say about this lens other than it is amazing. Superbly sharp, barely any distortion or vignetting, and lightweight. It rarely suffers from CAghosting. I read a review claiming that the 85 1.8 combined with Sonys Portrait Profile emulates film more specifically Kodak Portra, and man is that true. Stop it down to around 3.5 or 4 for perfect sharpness.
Andrew –
Such a fantastic lens for the price. The autofocus is pretty quick and id say its overall pretty sharp You wont regret buying it.
DerekNovaes –
LOVE THIS LENS I have a few GMaster series lens and didnt wanna fork out the huge bucks for this lens and boy was I surprised at the results I use with an A7riii and its a perfect fit for my portraiture work I am only used it once, but I know its gonna be a work horse for me Unless you are ultra picky over the top selective and feel better about spending the extra cash…this lens will be awesome
Anonymous –
I absolutely love this lens. Ive only been able to shoot with it once as I got it yesterday but the results I have gotten with it far exceeded my expectations. Eyes are so sharp with this and I can see every detail. The weight is beautifully balanced with my a7sii body. The manual focus ring is stiffer than I imagined but it makes it incredibly easy to find the perfect focal plane when shooting wide open. Ive never written a review before but this lens is so good I had to do it.
SonyDre55 –
Got this lens to paire it with my A7iii, Takes really beautiful crisp images while producing a very creamy Bohke. Its great size and it comes with Manual and Automatic focus. Great lens for the price. Definetely recommend.
David –
Right off I have to say the lens case I received with the kit was too small for the lens. lol I purchase the lens for portrait and product photography and prefer a 100mm. Sonys 100 was over twice as much, probably because of the OSS feature, so I decided to pass on it. On the positive side I like the fact you can set the lens to AF for sports photography and it works reasonably well. Id suggest anyone looking at this lens to consider the Laowa 105mm, if you can live without the autofocus. I tried it out and was very impressed with its sharpness and price.
intranuclear –
This is an incredible lens. It may not be the sharpest lens I now own, but it produces more reliable shots throughout the frame. I also recently got the Tamron 70180mm f2.8 and while the Tamron is sharper throughout the zoom range, it produces some blown colors off center which can be corrected later. This lens is just perfect all the way and super fast focusing on my second hand Sony a7s ii. The fact that the 85mm is much more compact than the Tamron is also a plus although not as versatile not being a zoom. Also for night photography having a fast lens is a huge plus.
Frank –
i own the 35mm 1.4 ZeissSony lens and this lens seems to be sharper, and that is saying a lot because the 35mm lens is known for its sharpness…and its 1000 more. used it for a wedding on the A7III on continuous focus to shoot about 10 groups of people walking up the isle and it missed the focus 1 time. ive been a Nikon shooter for years and still love my gear but it has limitations and the Sony system is really filling those gaps nicely
Mukul –
Perfect portrait lens I bought this as a bundle with my sonya7riv. The bundle saved me 100 bucks. The lens is great and i use it everyday.
Yerrr –
Amazing. Sharp. Precise. Light. Focus on point. Quick to mount. Definitely a must get
Norman –
This lens is amazing.Sure you can get a GMaster version or a Zeiss version…But those are thousands of dollars.This oneThe image quality is great, the price is right. Get this lens. period.note I dons think this lens has image stabilization, but most Sony Cameras have IBIS all of Sonys own full frames
Adil –
Bought it as my first lens after switching from Canon to Sony A7Riii. This lens has performed far better than I expected. The reviews on this website helped alot for the purchase. The details are simply outstanding. 85mm is that perfect length for portraits that speak out. A must have in your bag.
kai –
This lens has the best manual focus feedback of all the native lens I have tried. almost feel like a true manual focus. This feature is so valuable to video shooters. I do not see people brought this up. so I am write it down here.
JJ –
Top quality, amazing lens I recently made the switch from Canon to Sony a couple weeks ago and was looking for a great portrait lens to pair with my Sony. I am use to using Canons glass and great lenses such as the 50mm f1.2L, 85mm f.12L ii, the niftyfifty and the 35mm f 1.4L lens. Most of these lenses comes down to personal preference of the photographer and the goal heshe is trying to capture, but all these lenses take outstanding photos. After watching several YouTube videos, I bit the bullet, made the switch and purchased this 85mm f 1.8 lens. I couldnt be happier Compared to the GMaster version of this, SAVE YOUR MONEY, to me this lens is better than its more expensive counterpart. Sure the GMaster has some other features, but when it comes to sharpness, you cant tell which photo was taken with what lens. It is even better than the Batis version.Compared to the 85mm from Canon, it is not as sharp around the edges, bokeh is personal preference, I prefer the Sony, but overall for several hundred dollars less, the Sony is the best value.I am incredibly happy with this lens for my portrait shooting. I have not really tested this lens with any other types of photography just yet, but I cant see it disappointing me too much.The Sony Eye AF feature, is another great feature and paired with this lens, you get stunning, high detail photos.If you are looking for a high quality portrait lens, and you dont want to spend almost 1,000 or over 1,000, then this lens is for you
RICHARD –
Great prime lens. In the vein of the 551.8 Sony Zeiss. Its relative small size makes it an easy carry and fits the a7r ii well. Optically there is little more to want from it. It is an ideal portrait lens and does well for other situations that require a little magnification. The lack of OSS has never bothered me.
Holden –
Gift for an aspiring photographer that has opened up so many possibilities. The customer service was incredibly helpful in getting this item on time. Will definitely use BH for all future photography purchases
MartinDrummer –
Soooo freaking sharp I am truly impressed with how Sony managed to make a G quality perhaps even G Master lens for the price of a regular Sony FE lens. It is a no brainer for portrait photography, the bokeh with this lens is SO GOOD. And recently been doing some automotive photography and I have gotten some incredible results. Paired up with a good ND filter for sunny days, it is a killer lens Sony did a terrific job
Lopez –
I cant help but obsess over this lens. It takes such sharp images and the detail is beautiful along with my Sony A7R iii. It did take me awhile to get used to using manual but even the automatic focus is excellent. I prefer manual focus though so I can choose where to focus. Im in love with this lens. I hope the next future lens I add to my collection is a great as this one. Definitely will recommend to anyone purchasing it.
bchenx –
I wanted to get a portraitmid range telephoto lens and came upon the 85mm 1.8. Really sharp images and good bokeh. Im sure a 1.4 85mm GM is better but not worth nearly 3 times the price of this one. On a crop sensor this gives you a 127.5mm field of view.
jahue68 –
I have only had this for a short time, but I fell in love with it immediately. I used kit lenses prior to this one. The difference in sharpness and depth of field is so wonderful. This lens has outstanding value. The quality is far better than the price suggests.
Norman –
But for 13 the price of the 85 f1.4 GM its a steal. I guess it would be a bold statement to say that this is the best price to performance lens in sonys FF glass lineup. I do what i wantJust get it. Sonys GMs are great, but youll have to sell your organs to buy them. Sony rarely throws us a bone, as far as good lenses at reasonable prices. Just buy it.
Danny –
Great lens for the price for anyone looking to shoot portraits. Definitely recommend. Can shoot almost directly into the sun with minimal glarehaze. Perfect for backlit shots. if youre coming from older lenses youll be amazed by some of the shots you can get.
CfWheezy –
Very sharp lens. I use it on both a full frame a7ii and my new a6600. Great for portraits. Fast focusing. I would recommend this lens for anyones kit.
Bryan –
Especially considering this isnt a terribly expensive lens, it produces great shots with the fantastic bokeh I was looking for shooting portraits. That being said, its also great for street .photography and provides an interesting approach for landscape if youre looking for something a little different that then traditional wide angle shot
OgMario –
This lens is Pretty Sharp. Perfect for Portraits, but can do a lot of others things as well. I find myself using it to get my dog running, cars rolling a few other things
Paul –
Im giving this lens 5 stars because at the current price of just under 600 its one of the best values in the Sony system in my opinion, but just because its a great value doesnt mean its not optically an excellent lens. 85mm is probably my favorite focal length and I bought the Batis when it first came out. I loved the Batis and I just assumed that the Batis was much better lens than the Sony 85mm F1.8 since it was twice the price. The Batis has slightly better build quality and weather sealing, but in terms of image quality I dont see the difference. The AF on the A9 firmware v2.0 is very, very fast and quiet. I have shot 3 weddings since switching over to the Sony 85mm F1.8 and Im very pleased with it. I like to have the entire eyelash in focus so I dont usually shoot faster than F2. I dont really need F1.4 or F1.2 and I dont miss it former Canon shooter with 85L.Strengths Exceptionally sharp. AF is very fast. Light and compact.Weaknesses Dont shoot into the sun with it. It doesnt handle ghosting and flare like the Sony GM.I have only used the lens to photograph weddings and portraits and for those applications I can find no fault with the lens. The size and weight make it a pleasure to use for all day events.I sold the Batis and bought this Sony 85mm F1.8 and put the money towards the Sony 100mm STF.
Bsmart –
This lens does everything they claim it does Quiet, responsive, edge to edge sharpness and for what you will probably use this lens for, more than meets the need. Especially for the price. 1.8 is about a stop and a half faster than the 1.4 in real life terms. Most times you dont need it. Its one of Sonys better values. Buy it while you can. They always find a reason to get you to buy the new lens when what you have is perfectly good.
Looid –
Great product. Honestly not much difference from the ZEISS Batis 1.885mm. I mean if you have money to spend then go for it or get the G master when you have alot of money haha, but this is the best bang for your buck product.
BMunster –
The 85mm f1.8 is a musthave for the a7 iii Sony. Im super impressed with the clarity and sharpness of this lens. Super smooth bokeh, weather dust sealed, and the sale price of 549, you kind of cant beat it.Im super happy. BestBuy Montrose was a big help. Their full service camera department is the best
iPad –
I love this lens make it best for portraits but you can still use it on the task at hand just need to adjust to the environment. I also like the is compact and you can take it everywhere.
Jeff –
Its nice to see a budget fast prime so useable all the way from wide open. One can certainly go further down the rabbit hole with speed and BOKEH smoothness, but the financial and practical i.e. size and weight penalties are considerable. I got this even though I already have the 90mm macro. The macro is great for what it does, but for travel andor low light, the 851.8 was a worthwhile acquisition for me.
Anonymous –
This lens is brilliant. Exceptionally sharp wide open, quick to focus, holds focus tracking on moving subjects well, and gives a beautifully smooth background with excellent subjectbackground separation. Ive used a LOT of 85mm lenses including some that were much more expensive and this one, paired with my Sony A7mk3 so far is my favourite.
Cooper –
The low light capabilities, the beautiful bokeh. It all makes it so easy to take beautiful photos Super happy I bought this. Such a great deal and I really dont see what more I could have gained from the G master.
chris422 –
The images this lens captures are super crisp and sharp, rivalling that of the f1.4 GM, focusing is fast, accurate and silent, and at a fraction of the cost. The wide aperture of this lens creates great separation between your subject and background. The bokeh produced as a result is good, but tends to be more catseye than perfectly round, and does have sharp edges rather than a nice smooth blur. If considering this lens or the f1.4, I believe you would be hard pressed to justify the additional spend. This lens is almost on par with the 1.4 in almost every regard. The most notable drawback is the lack of weathersealing. If youre someone who does tend to shoot out in the rain a lot, you will probably destroy it. All in all, this lens is worth every dollar, and can save you a lot of your hard earned money if you need a great lens of this focal range.
Anonymous –
You exactly know what youre doing when you decide to buy this piece of glass. As a casual shooter, this fits my use cases and budget. Image quality is excellent no doubt. Compared to the more expensive G lens or Batis, well if you can afford those you wouldnt bother giving this a look but it can pretty much hold its ground against them.
Basil –
Chose this lens as a replacement for my aging Minolta 85mm 1.4 earlier returned the Zeiss Batis 85mm since I couldnt see enough difference between that and the Minolta, although the latter is 40 years old. This Sony is light, sharp and has the details I need in a modern Sony lens eye focus, focus hold button, quick autofocus and silent for video shooting. The IQ is extraordinary, and a real bargain at only A keeper as a portrait lens.
Jonathan –
Lets get the con out of the way first theres definite green and purple fringing when shooting wide open in situations where you might expect it and you will have to correct for that in Lightroom etc.That aside, this is a tack sharp lens with smooth bokeh and a superb portrait lens on the A7III. At this price youd be crazy not to get it.Jonathan
Stephen –
I really love this lens. The autofocus is fast and its silent. It lens also produces very nice and sharp images, and its overall a very nice value. Highly recommend it for portraits
paul –
I give this 5 stars when considering what I get for what I paid. I have a Sony A7r2 and am used to the Sony 24702.8 FE GM. This lens has a beautiful bokeh that really makes headshotsportraits beautiful as an image. The autofocus is not as fast or accurate as with my other lens, it is silent but tends to search a little now and then. Id guess 810 shots it works find and as hoped. 210 shots need a tiny bit more time to get itright, and thats ok for my usage. And this lens is VERY SHARP. I love its clarity. Oh, and it is lightweight. Thank you
Rich –
I rented both the Sony FE 85 1.8 and the GMaster 1.4, there are slight differences. For example, the bokeh on the FE lens is more cat eyed as where the GMaster is more circular. However, I didnt notice any onion rings in the FE lens, along with the fact that the fall of was just as good as its big brother the GMaster. If youre looking for a phenomenal portrait lens on a budget, get the Sony 85mm 1.8.You wont miss the extra 4 stops on the aperture. I highly recommend it.
Ron –
This complements my FE 35 1.8 perfectly. Both of these lenses are sharp and have almost instant focus. I bought the 85 for portraits and at that it excels. A word of advise for newbies like me. I have lenses with bigger apertures but the thing about that is You really have to be in aperture priority to use them as you end up with such a small field focus At f1.4 so you can end up with soft images. When I am out with the kids with this lens I can throw the camera into auto and not worry about only getting there nose in focus. I say too sharp because you can see the pores in someones face not exactly flattering easy fix in photoshop. Love the colors straight out of my A7III With this lens. I personally like how bright and natural Sonys new colors are. Its not the perfect Pro lens But the perfect enthusiast family portrait lens.
Marlon –
So my job bought this for me made them order it from BH I trust these guys and they are amazing people. Focus hold is super clutch. AF and MF switch is great but if you have something like the a7iii you can set one of your customs as the switch from AF to MF.OKAY so back to the topic of these lens. Jason Vong made a very very great video showing the difference between this and the F1.4 GM and my friend has the GM if you are super super super … superx1000 pixel peeper then you might notice the difference but for something thats about 3x the price. Id rather keep my money for other lens. If I was rich then sure go with the GM. Im getting the 1635GM so I have the money but i can NOT justify that 3x price difference. Sigma is coming out with an 85 f1.4 for double the price curious to see what they bring to the table Hope this helps
Foamcutter –
Having bought a A7 III, after changing from Nikon, I was looking for a prime lens that I didnt already have, taking into account using my existing lenses with a Commlite NikonSony adapter.The 85mm F1.8 has given me impressive image results at an affordable cost. The very fast auto focus and great low light capabilities of the camera and lens meant I didnt need to look at the more expensive 1.4 option. Also previous reviews convinced me that the 1.8 was a very capable, this has been proven to be the case for me. It is lightweight and has been a welcome and well used addition to the camera bag
John –
This lens is awesome. Sharp as a tack. I bought this prime full frame lens for my Sony a6500. I love the look. On my APS crop sensor, it around 127.5mm. I shot some headshots that were fantastic quality. I plan on purchasing a Sony a7III. This lens will be a great lens for that camera too. I recommend this lens.
Dante –
This lens is great This can compete very well with its GM brother at 13 of its cost. If you are not really going to use 85mm professionally this could be a great buy for you.
Barbara –
What caught my attention was the price, a full frame prime lens I could afford. Im finding the 85mm 1.8 to be pretty darn sharp. The bokeh is fantastic. The size and weight dont overwhelm my Sony a7 making the combination comfortable to carry around. I look forward to using this lens on my bicycle travels along with my wide angle.
Anonymous –
The focal length with f1.8 coupled with sony eye af this is the holy trinity of best combination possible. Very sharp and very quick lens. In love with it totally, specially for the compression i get out of this, its mind blowing.
Christopher –
Preordered the lens, and received the lens the day of release. Initial impressions were that the build quility was excellent. It feels great in my hand and on my Sony a7. Focusing ring turns smoothly. Initially, I was skeptical of the sharpness at 1.8, when compared to my 35 2.8 and 70200 f4, I felt that wide open, or even at 2.8 it was not as sharp. However, once I took in on the first shoot, a car photoshoot, all doubt disappeared. Bokeh is excellent, and sharpness is great, and autofocus is quick. Sometimes, I find myself not being able to get focus correctly, but I have not used the lens enough to say definitively that the autofocus hunts quite a bit.For now, I can say that the autofocus is quick and responsive 90 of the time.For 600 bucks, it is definitely a bargain especially considering other sony 85s are 1000 dollars or more.I would recommend this lens to anyone looking at the 85 batis, but not willing to shell out the full grand for a lens.
Geoffrey –
I was originally considering buying the 85mm f1.4 G Master for doing head shots and other portraits, but for I figured I would try this first. Now, I am no longer considering buying the G Master lens. This lens is tack sharp, the autofocus is very snappy it hunts a slight bit in low light from time to time, but most lenses do, and the difference between f1.4 and f1.8 is negligible at best unless you are doing astrophotography. If you dont have this in your kit, get it… now.
LBuster –
I utilize this lens on a Sony APSc A6000. This was purchased to give me more flexibility than the standard kit Lens for portraits. Autofocus is quick and accurate and Auto Eye focus works very well. Plan to use this lens on a Full Frame Sony in the future perhaps a Sony A7 III.
Anonymous –
definitive one of best Sony lens for Emount Camera for this price. couple of years ago, it was no brainer to chose this lens but lately there are couple of interesting lens in the market. like much cheaper Viltrox FX85MM STM and F1.4 Samyang AF 85mm F1.4 FE. But I still buy this lens over others. Just because Native lens are performing best and it has dedicated AFMF Button, that I love to use.
Robert –
This was my first 85mm lens purchase for my Sony mirroless camera and I love it it is great for my portrait work and very versatile for other types of photography. I highly recommend this lens if your looking for a great lens for a fair price definitely worth it
Dung –
Pros lightweight, very reasonable price, gorgeous bokeh, multifunctions, autofocus working very well.Cons No weather shield.Plus point Personally, I gave one plus point for this lens because it has the same filter diameter as my sigma 16mm f1.4 which is used for landscape photogprahy. Thus, I dont have to spend more money on filters.Conclusion This is one of the lenses you should own if you start doing photography.
Matthew –
Ive owned many 85s….My favorites have been the Canon 85LmkII and more recently the Sony GM and Batis…The Problem is, I dont use 85 that often but need one in the bag for portraits.I first sold the GM for the Batis as I didnt like the GMs AF, images were great, AF sucked. Then I put the Batis up head to head vs the FE 851.8…While I liked the Bais, the FE is better in some ways programmable button for EyeAF and MF switchThe Batis might have a little advantage when it comes to flare and CA, but not much…Also the FE is smaller and faster AF than the Batis…My conclusion was to keep the FE 851.8 as I like the features and its 12 the price of the Batis without much if any hit on IQ….i actually think center sharpness is better on the FE.
George –
I bought this lens to get a little more distance than what I can with my 551.8 for receptions, however this lens has surprised me I was expecting it to be an OK lens, but its performance is excellent both optically and functionally. First, I never thought I would use this for video because it is focus by wire. To my surprise, it manual focuses extremely well It works much better than my 55 in this respect because the 55 gives inconsistent focusing when using manual depending on the speed at which you turn the focus ring. This one does not exhibit this quality at all I also was surprised at how fast it auto focuses for photography. No problems in dimly lit receptions even with people moving about. The 551.8 is faster, however this one is no slouch Optically, this lens is on par with the 55. The bokeh is similar as well, so if cat eye is a problem, this lens does have this effect I believe the G Master has less of this effect. Another nice thing about this lens is that it is small and light. I am amazed at what Sony has done with their lenses. Optically, a lot of Sony lenses are among the best, yet they are low weight and very small. My EMount kit is now 282, 551.8 and 851.8 and I love all three lenses. I highly recommend this lens to people wanting to take great portraits or if you need a little more reach and the extra light from this bright lens.
JB02 –
I purchased this lens as the first Emount lens for my recently purchased Sony A7Rii to be able to take advantage of the eye auto focus feature. The auto focus is quiet and fast for capturing those movements. This lens is very sharp and gives you that pleasing, out of focus background for portraits when wide open. The 85mm is great for outdoor portraits or those tight head and shoulder shots in studio. Dont let the price frighten you. This is a very sharp lens and having the detail in a 42MP file only enhances that
Nsulli –
The best bang for your buck 85mm native Sony lens. Lowprofile, sleeping dragon of a lens. AF is crazy quick in photo and video. Probably the best value 500 purchase Ive made in my camera kit. It wont disappoint. Period.
elijfern –
All its chopped up to be A sharp, fast, budget prime lens for full frame or crop Sony emount. An incredible value for the money for sure. I have gone through the whole range of budget Sony lenses and this one is a keeper.
Josh –
The FE 1.885 is a fantastic lens. Its fast, sharp and incredibly light weight. This is a great lens. The filters that come with this kit are great. The other things like the lens cleaner and the like are decent throw ins.
Jordan –
Im not sure whats going on with some of the other reviews here, but I can only assume they received a lemon of a lens. At f1.8, this thing is absolutely razor sharp across around 80 of the frame, with a bit of softening at the edges. Stopped down, its excellent across the frame. Compared to the Batis 85mm, this lens is at least as sharp in my testing. There is some longitudinal CA at wide apertures, but its no worse than the vast majority of fast 85mm lenses and only at certain focus distances can it be a little distracting. In most situations its not an issue at all. Bokeh has some contrast and can have a slight ring outline in certain situations, but overall is quite nice. AF is very quick in good light, and a bit slower in low light. On the A7 II, there can be a bit of hunting in very low light, but nothing out of the ordinary for FE lenses. In all, I find it to be an outstanding lens for the price, and even not considering price its really very good.
John –
Great quality lens at an affordable price An awesome option for someone just entering the industry that is trying to get a foothold without breaking the bank. Backgrounds melt away and the focus is crisp.
Donald w –
Received this lens and immediately took some great closeup shots with beautiful blurred background and nicely rendered colors. Lens worked flawlessly shifting between auto and manual focus. Fast, sharp, easy to use and carry. What more could you ask for. Bought the lens to use as a portrait lens while traveling. Shoot with a Sony A7M3.
Boss1 –
I found out with my Sonys a 7ii the Lens is what really makes the performance of the camera more effective. This lens help me to appreciate the technical work that went to building the camera and lens. I dont know why the manufacture doesnt offer a better kit lens to go with the camera . They will sale more. That why I dont buy the camera with the kit lens . I love this lens . I love the Modesto store there Camera department is above average the time ,effort and patience. Thanks to G.M . Josh
Anonymous –
What I like Extremely Sharp even wide open Creamy Bokeh Size and Weight Complement A7series Well made Focus Hold Button and dedicated AFMF Switch Excellent Price Fast, Accurate Focus What I dont like Focus Ring is tactilely unpleasant Cat Eye Bokeh around center is unpleasing point light sources GMaster f1.4 Bokeh is creamier and rounder The lowdown The sharpness is simply amazing Its got to be right up there with the GMaster. I love the size, too. Big enough to comfortably hold, but small enough that the camera doesnt feel front heavy. The fit and finish are excellent, but the paint is a bit glossier than my A7rii. My GMaster lens definitely matches the cameras matte finish better. The focus ring is gnarled like the rubber GMater lens, but metal like the Sony Zeiss branded lens unfortunately, is not as comfortable as either. Outoffocus light sources like light bulbs and sun reflection have an unpleasant in my opinion cat eye shape to them that gets worse toward the edges of the frame. Fortunately, I take pictures of people and landscapes, not Bokeh balls. Ive heard complaints of CA and purple fringing with the lens. I cant say that Ive ever noticed any. This is likely due to me shooting wide open with this lens, when I shoot stopped down which is worse for CA, I typically use a zoom lens. Others have mentioned that its unfair to rate this lens so highly just because of the price, and they are right, images that Ive taken with the 85mm f1.4 GMaster are creamier and have a pleasantly rounder for the most part Bokeh. But the differences are truly quite small, especially compared to the 1,200 savings you get with this lens. If you can afford a more expensive lens, and dont mind the extra weight, Id recommend the GMaster. For those on a tighter budge, and like a smaller form factor, you cant go wrong with this lens. I just got it and its already my top 2 lens I shoot with.
RobLW –
This lens performs extremely well, and at this price I would recommend every photographer had their own copy of this lens.With everyones aim of trying to get smaller and lighter, it doesnt fit that bill, but if you are looking for crisp sharp images, great for portrait, useful in mountain landscape, you cannot go wrong with this lens.
Andy –
Shooting a volleyball match with fast moving action in a poorly lit high school gym is challenging. It got a lot easier when I put this lens on my A6000. Even on this older model APSC body, this lens does an amazing job.Like others have said, this is one of the best value for the dollar lenses Sony sells.Most of the shots from this album are with the FE 85mm 1.8 httpswww.flickr.comphotosdeskhikeralbums72157701609034725
Douglas –
I use the 85mm f1.8 on my a6400. I use this lens for walk around people work. I gets me close without being invasive. I shoot the fun not official school portraits and recently took shots of a softball game from within the dugout. The results in the infield under the lights were fantastic. I am very pleased and do not envy the other 1400 rivals.
Daniel –
This is perhaps the best 85mm lens for the price. Pictures are beautiful, sharp, with excellent bokeh.Very quick.Highly recommended.
Sean –
This lens has an awesome build qualitycompact, buttery focus ring, hard black shell. It is sharp. Thing is It has terrible chromatic aberration issues, esp. wide open which is how I usually shoot portraits. The CA cannot be fixed easily post processing in Lightroom. I tried it. Plus, of the two Sony 85 FE 1.8s I purchased and quickly returned, one had debris inside of the aperture and the other had a slight smudge on the inner element, indicating terrible QC by Sony. I returned both lenses immediately. In the end, I payed the additional money for the Batis 85 and am very happy with the purchase. From the unboxing to photographing, the Batis does not dissapoint. I placed a plant in the window and photographed it with the Batis, as I do with all my lenses out the box, to check for CA. With the Batis, there was a bit of CA on the edge of one leafthats it. On the Sony 85FE, there was CA on virtually every leaf. Plus, dont forget the Batis is stabilized and weathersealed and SUPER SHARP. I own the Zeiss 55, 24, and the 90mm macro, and this Batis is sharper than all of them only a little sharper than the 55 imo. I highly recommend you pay the extra bucks for the Batis. In the longrun you wont be disappointed
tbc51550 –
Ive used the Sony fixed 50 mm f1.8 lens for many years. I bought the 85 mm version as an upgrade and couldnt be more pleased. Its a great lens for shooting portraits, or I use it to shoot sports, specifically basketball because it is so fast. While its not a wide angle lens for basketball, if youre able to anticipate or focus on one area, you can get extremely highquality photos. I shoot sports all the time and this is one of the lenses I use now regularly.
Thomas –
My wife and I are artists and we photograph landscapes and people for translation to paintings and to display as large images on canvas and other media. This lens is excellent. After purchase from BH I gave it a basic sharpness test by photographing a newspaper taped to the wall. Not the best way to test, but adequate. The results from this lens compare well to the Ziess 55mm f1.8 Sonnar, so Im happy. The lens fits my A7R perfectly in weight and balance. Its a really nice combination for sharp, unobtrusive shots. The bouquet and color rendition are great. Its currently my favorite.
Myxo –
This lens is serious. The autofocus is faster than anything ive seen in a long time, and the motor is completely silent. Pictures are crystal clear and everything is well built and feels like solid metal. The lens also has a afmf toggle, and a button that i have not explored in depth yet, but so far this has not disappointed.
MOORE1 –
I was skeptical of purchasing an open box lens but at the time the price was just right and it seemed to be in good shape. Although I wouldnt really know until I attached it to my camera and use it. No complaints so far. Love it, I use it for short films, music videos etc. the depth of field is incredible.
Eric –
It tackles the big three expected from a portrait lens. 1. Good low light performance. 2. Sharp in focus. 3. Pleasing fall off and bokeh. Then it adds surprises. Dust and and water sealed. Fast and silent focus. After the martial arts low light performance i a looking forward to trying more sports. That is something I have never, ever said about a portrait lens before. Consistently accurate focus. Small and light. Here it is next to a recent film acquisition with a nifty 50 attached.Another benefit of this is that it does not scream, Hey, I have a really expensive lens over here, which is a plus unless you want the attention that brings. It cost 599. The real news here is that this is not the real news. Not once in this article have I uttered for the price. I paid way more for other factory 85mm lenses and really liked them. But none can hold a candle to this. Is the G Mater variant worth the extra cost Not being facetious, but it must be or why would it exist. But after a few days would I want a larger, heavier, more expensive Honestly no.
Edgar –
I purchased this lens to replace my Rokinon 85mm f1.4 with manual focus. There was nothing wrong with the Rokinon. I learned a lot from it by shooting manual and focusing manually but I needed that auto focus. I wanted to be a little faster during my photoshoots and I was a little exhausted of defringing almost every photograph I took when I was shooting wide open. Thats where the Sony FE 85mm F1.8 came into play. Its got beautiful Bokeh and images are sharp even when shooting wide open. I Know it doesnt have OSS but I never ran into any issues when paired with the Sony A6000. Both cost and built quality are appealing to me so I definitely recommend this lens. Ill just leave you with some images so that you can see what its capable of.
flip –
I was using the 85mm A mount with the laea3 and while it was performing well it was just not as sharp as I wanted for a portrait session I had coming up. So I ordered the Sony FE 85mm 1.8 and I am so happy I did. The lens is well balanced on my A7ii and the optical performance is very good Sharpness was great and bokah was very good. While there may be other lenses that may score higher, for the money this lens is hard to beat.
Dan –
Let me start out by saying that this lens takes very nice photos and is very fast on my A7iii. That being said, last night while on a shoot, I took a bunch of photos and then out of the blue when I powered my camera back on, the screen was black, and the SD card icons were flashing. I could do nothing with the camera. When powering on the camera I would hear a bunch of rapid clicks coming from the lens and then the same thing would happen.The camera worked fine with no lens on and I didnt have my other lens with me to troubleshoot.I did some experimenting and when the viewfinder was blacked out and blinking, if I started to take the lens off the body, the screen would come back on.After about 45 minutes of screwing with it, it started working again and I was able to finish the shoot. I didnt do anything, it seems completely random to me that is just decided to start working again.I spoke with Sony and they are having me send the lens in for repair or replacement, as it sounded like the auto focus gear inside the lens were malfunctioning. This was a brand new used a couple times lens.I hope the replacement works fine as everyone sings the praise of this lens, and the shots that I did take were very good. I wanted to write this review in hopes that maybe it would help someone else if they had the same issue in the future.
blackluiscypher –
I brought this for a Sony A7R4, and on that camera it isnt fast… might be a lot to ask of it for the camera but is only my experience with it… if youve a fast camera… buy the fastest cards… it makes a difference..
NICK –
I preordered this lens and received it on the day it was released from Adorama. It was great timing because I had an engagement shoot two days later. I had planned on using my Canon 85mm 1.8 with an adapter on my Sony A7rII, but I was happy to use this instead. It was a pleasure to use. It autofocused quickly, and the eyelock on autofocus worked great as long as you werent too far from the subject. When I uploaded the pictures to my computer, I couldnt believe how sharp it was, wide open. I did the whole shoot at 1.8 and the hit rate was very high…very few shots were out of focus, and the ones that were in focus were fantastic. I havent pixelpeeped, but I think this lens is probably sharper than my Sony 70200 f4, and its on par with my Zeiss 55mm 1.8.The bokeh is about what you would expect from a 1.8 lens. Its not bad, but its not buttery smooth either. Youd have to spend a lot more to get butterysmooth bokeh, unless you want to get the SamyangRokinon 135mm f2, and thats a manual focus and heavy beast. This lens is not too heavy, and balances well on the A7rII. All things considered, this lens is an absolute bargain. Highly recommended.
Tomika –
Must have lens. You get very good depth of field and crisp pictures. Very Fast focusing. I use this a lot with portraits.
PN74 –
I love this lens. Great for portraits and landscape photography. Over 1,000 cheaper than the 85mm 1.4 for pretty much the same quality. Highly recommended
Marcello –
The idea of an 85mm prime lens might seem odd, but I would say this lens is an incredible addition to any Sony kit. The lens is an immense value considering its sharpness, aperture range, and onlens button control while also being full frame. Its a true stunner.
aldente –
This is a lens of an extremely good value for money. Being an 85mm prime lens with F1.8 aperture in the nonmarque range, it does not compromise itself to bring photos with good contrast and sharpness from edge to edge. It does not skimp but comes with a focus hold button. It allows you to assign functions like EyeAF to suit your handling preference. AF is very fast and quiet. When switching between AF and MF, you can use the physical AFMF switch on the lens. The rib wide enough of the focus ring is made of a metallic material, instead of rubber, which is a pleasure to handle. Bokeh is not very impressively good in my opinion. It can come out as quite busy or nervous depending on the subject, but it may be a bit too much to ask for decent bokeh at this price. Overall, this item is something I would highly recommend as a musthave prime lens for many genres, not just a traditional portrait street, still life, nature, travel, etc. because of its accessible price and high quality product design.
Paula –
This is a great lens that gives a beautiful light to portraits. I havent had it for long nor am I a professional, but I have obtained some lovely portraits with it. It works particularly well in low light situations. The automatic focus is extremely precise and needs a little getting used to. Photos are sharp yet soft in their lighting. I am very satisfied with it.
CATHRYN –
This is my first fixed aperture lens, and with it I am enjoying learning a new way to see. So far, I have only exercised the lens with using a very specific focus point and am delighted with the crystal sharp clarity of the designated point of focus and how the bokeh drops off so dramatically. I do not know enough about vignetting, flare, etc. to commentnor have I used the lens outdoors. I purchased the lens in order to do some macro or quasimacro work that my walkaround zoom does not allow, and I am confident that this 85mm will do what I intend.
Zhan –
Great lens for Portrait. Generate really nice Bokeh. This is my first prime lens for my A7iii. No complains.
Dem Crumblies –
Great lens for portrait work. Good bokeh, already updated the the most current firmware when I checked. Great fullframe lens and great subject and background separation.
zakcobra –
Sony 85mm f1.8 is affordable, Pics are sharp,crisp and bokeh is cream .In short telephoto range of prime lenses this is the best prime lens for its price.Very light and durable, It is not weather sealed.It performs well in dim light and indoor outdoor portraiture photography. BE AWARE on EBAY some sellers from other countries are HIKING up the price . If you have patience you can find a very good deal on a new one on ebay within a week or two. Best lens should be in every sony e mount full frame shooters arsenal.
Robert –
Excellent lense. Bought this until the 85MM GM V2 drops. I didnt wanna buy the V1 GM hoping there might be a V2 of it coming with all the lenses sony is dropping. Perfect complimemt to the 35mm GM
Evans –
The lens is light weight and the pictures some out very sharp. It does well in low light, I was able to bump my iso up to 1600 and still get a picture that was not too noisy. This lens is great for portraits and the focus is sharp and the auto focus is quick. I use this lens with and Sony A7ii
newrider –
I shoot a lot of local horse shows many of them indoors with very poor lighting. Made the switch to Sony a few years back and gave up my Canon 85 1.8 in the process. Sony released the Batis and GMaster 85s but they are a bit rich for me. Was using a Sony 50mm 1.8 on my A6300 but the reach wasnt there. Tried this lens yesterday at a show. Conditions were terrible. Indoors, dark and damp. I was amazed with the results. Very little AF hunting, sharp, clean photos with a 95 keeper rate. Now if Sony would release a 100 or 135 mm 1.8 every parent whos kids play basketball, volleyball etc. would buy their cameras.
Bigstubs1 –
Wow love this Sony 85mm f1.8It has become my go to lens.Been looking for my preferred lens for a long time I had many others. But this focal length is my style. Did a run n gun BD party for fun and was blown away by the quality of video. Outstanding Picture.
Vince –
The lens is sharp. When comparing it to my Canon, 85mm F1.8, there is a clear difference. After photographing several inanimate objects plants, rocks, magazine covers and food items, I noticed the Sony clearly edged out my Canon 85mm prime lens in contrast, clarity with letters and textures and even color saturation and temperature. Had I not had both lenses I would have been been obviously and completely satisfied with my Canon lens. However, having both cameras and comparing the images side by side makes me realize how dated my unedited Canon 85mm F1.8 images looked on my Canon 6D, compared to those taken with my Sony a7iii camera and lens.I then decided to compare the Sony 85mm with my Sigma 70200mm F2.8 lens made for Canon the nonsports version with an MC11 adapter. I know people are going to say you cannot compare an F1.8 lens to an F2.8 lens. And, my opinion is you can if you compare stops with similar stops, which is what I did. Ive personally found that most budget lenses labeled as F1.8 dont even get super sharp until you stop down to about F2.8. And, the Sony 85mm lens, in my opinion, was no exception. When I shot something at F1.8, it was plausible in the center, but extremely soft along the edges. Comparing each stop beginning at F2.8, though, I noticed that my 70200 lens and the Sony 85mm lens were neck in neck and the only difference was when I performed a few head shots, at which point the winner was my 70200 lens but the differences were so minuscule, Im talking about hair texture and skin pores being slightly more pronounced. Inanimate objects appeared to be the same. Additionally, the color saturation appeared to be the same with both lenses.So, for those who have a 70200mm lens, but do not want to carry around a 3.5 pound lens while shooting or for those who are on a budget and want something sharp, light weight and portable, then this lens is ideal.
A former physicist –
Im not a professional. Im using the lens on a A7Rii and already had the 2470 f4 and 70300 G and 35 f2.8. Why would I need this I borrowed the 85 Zeiss Batis and liked the results but the price was more than I wanted to spend on a lens that wont get much use. But since the price point on the sony was so appealing I decided to get it and determine once and for all whether I needed an 85 f1.8. Soon after getting the lens I was asked to photograph the staff of a non profit portraits for their website and a great opportunity to see what the lens could do. Again, Im not a professional but to my eye, the portraits were the best Ive done and when the results were submitted to the subjects, their response was extremely enthusiastic. So I discovered I did need this lens no portraits Ive done previously looked as good. Ill leave it to others to comment on all the image quality fine points and the construction.
CocoLab –
Amazing lens. I would recommend this to anyone over Sonys pathetic FE 50mm 1.8, which hunts for focus in low light and is NOISY. This quiet, lightweight lens produces stunning images and beautiful portraits effortlessly.
NICHOLAS –
Quite possible the best lens I own. I have been using mirrorless cameras for a year or after I switched from Canon mirrored cameras. I never quite found the right lens till I found this one. The bokeh that is produced with this lens creates a dramatic contrast which is extremely important to me and the style of photos I take. The focused objectperson remains Chrystal clear and the background has a creamy consistent blurred effect with little fringing. The only thing I dislike about it is the focusing ring is very loose so it makes focusing a little difficult, so take it slow.
Shimeng –
Recently just bought the SONY A7III camera, and this is the first lens I purchased for it. Taking closeup and midshot portraits and objects are amazing. The bokeh is amazing, with 85mm, it can clear out the messy background and make sure your model stands out. Autofocus is great in terms of photo taking and video recording, the lens body is light can compact, definitely will recommend to photography beginners.
David –
I have been eyeing a native portrait lens for a while for my A7r2. I took a chance after watching the previews before the lens was actually released. I am very happy with this purchase. The lens is very quite and focuses fast even under moderate lighting. The bokeh is exquisite. This lens has premium substance based on its material selection, feels heavy but not too heavy. People looking for a lens in that focal length and speed should seriously consider it. Adorama shipped mine next day, I cant complain.
Amer –
I have an a7R III and the a7 II. I purchased the Sony FE 85mm f1.8 lens and the Sony FE 85mm f1.4 Lens, as I was not sure which one would serve my purpose better. I shoot FashionPortraits. This is the comparison 85mm f1.8 vs 85mm f1.41. Silent focus Noisy focus2. Medium size and weight Twice the size, three times the weight3. Very fast focus in good light Very fast focus in good light4. Very fast focus in poor light Slower focus in poor light5. Very rarely focus hunts Focus hunts in poor light6. Sharp center image at f1.8 Razor sharp center image at f1.47. Semi blurred edges at f1.8 Sharp and detailed edges at f1.4Conclusion The Ultra Sharp 85mm f1.4 has far superior optics when seen at 100, making it the perfect choice when photographing anything that requires edge to edge sharpness.The average sharpness of the 85mm f1.8 make it the perfect lens for Mid to Full portraits as it does not enhance the imperfections in the human skin. The edge softness can be overcome by shooting at a smaller aperture if required.For everything else……………….theres Photoshop
Jaime –
I bought this lens to use with my Sony Alpha a9. I needed a tighter portrait lens that was prime, sharp, and lightcompact for travels run gun shooting.This was the best solution. I shoot fashion, beauty, and artistic portraits and this lens has been AWESOME for that. What I love about this lens is that for a lens of its class of focal length, it keeps the weight down. There seems to be NO compromise in sharpness. Tack sharp, even at F1.8, I pack this with my Sony FE T Carl Zeiss Sonnar 55mm F1.8 ZA Sony FE 28mm F2.8 lenses, both with are lightweight with heavy sharpness. Coming from Canon back to Sony, I must say that the sharpness of this lens makes me feel like Im shooting with Lglass sharpness. The autofocus in my experience has been quick, snappy, and accurate, especially with the Sony A9s Eye AF.The only challenge for Eye AF might be lowlight, but using focus points, it can still find focus in the dark. I do enjoy the MFAF switch as well as the additional Focus Hold button that you can program with another custom lens function in your camera settings. For the price, quality, and performance, this is a nobrainer for your kit.
Anonymous –
The quality of this lens is spectacular. It feels sturdy and well built, the optical quality is very much on point. Previously I would shoot with Canon glass but to have blazing fast auto focus even eye AF is a game changer in and of itself. I was blown away with how sharp the lens is and by how it really separates the subject from the background.Catseye are present in the Bokeh, but given the outstanding quality i couldnt be bothered to nitpick on such small things
Maria –
Shoots beautifully with a nice blur in the background. Great for portraits and particular shots. Works great on the A7iii
JASON –
Was a lifelong Nikon nerd until last year since switching over to Sony Im moving it. This lens is so crisp, and just the right size as I like a body lens thats got substance to it. If you want point shoot, get the right phone. For a true photographic experience you cant go wrong with this lens.
arrakisprods –
Fast AF both for stills and video, sharp with good color rendering. Works great with my A7III although it suffers from banding under certain artificial lighting scenarios. Lightweight and pleasing bokeh in the center with cats eye shape near the edges. 1.8 aperture is more than enough for a nice compressed background and great subject separation. Excellent lens
Caleb –
This lens has lived up to the hype. Sharp as a tack, amazing for portraits, slight green and purple fringing wide open. You could spend three times more for the GMaster but I know I wont. Super solid lens. Ergonomics are great and it isnt too too big. Would definitely recommend.
nicknametaken –
The differences between this lens and the 85mm f1.4 gm are very minimal. Though the 1.4 has slightly better picture quality, this lens is cheaper and more portable making it a better lens for newer portrait photographers
Tech3200 –
Fantastic, light, super sharp, and great new addition to my kit. This lens takes wonderful portraits and is good for anyone shooting for fun all the way up to professionals
Maryc –
This lens was a purchase for my son and he loves it. Great quality right out of the box. There will be many pictures taken with this quality lens.
pnero01 –
Lens feels very solid focus ring is wonderfully smooth AFMF slider is crisp and nicely tactile practically silent autofocus. This lens has wonderful rendering with beautiful colors and bokeh. I have not used the G or Batis 85s, but this lens does an amazing job, especially for the price If you are in the market for a fast 85mm prime, on the A series cameras, this is a must buy.
Anonymous –
The best budget lens to walk around with. I use it for street and portraits. I havent gotten a better deal for my A7iii. If Sony would have made it weather sealed, it would have been the best. The autofocusing on this is simply superb. Definitely on par with the g master line up. Would highly recommend to someone starting out
Kyan –
Nice build quality, extremely sharp lens. Pretty great for video, would definitely choose this over the GM version, for now. Only problem so far has been with occasional autofocus inconsistencies. Sometimes it will have problems with focusing on certain things for no apparent reason. However, the autofocus is excellent most of the time. Overall, insane value for the money.
Aystub –
Just get it. If youre looking for a fast 85mm lens for fullframe you will be very happy. Honestly not sure why youd buy the GMaster lens over this one. Its razorsharp, AF is very snappy, its small and lightweight. The build quality is solid, certainly feels cheaper than the GM but the GM is basically a tank. So is build quality, a focus hold button, AFMF switch, and an aperture ring worth a 3x cost increase to you Certainly werent for me.
KobeMamba24 –
Sharp, sharp, sharp.Im glad I went for this lens. Wanted the Zeiss class for double of what I paid for but this lens turned out to be an amazing lens. Super sharp great bokeh
Chris –
While 85mm prime doesnt seem like a standard, but Ive been enjoying this lens as a daily carry. It makes you think slightly different, but so far the photos are coming through really interesting.Has replaced my 50mm primes spot in my camera bag.
Joshua –
The performance of this lens for the price point makes me not even want to think about the 85mm GM f1.4. Fast, efficient AF. Sharper images than the GM alternative. Ill take it any day at the trade off of the smallest bit of added distortion and chromatic aberration for the 1,200 it leaves in my pocket.This lens is in a class of its own at this price to performance ratio.
MATHIAS –
Sharp and fast af. The bokeh is pleasing but I wish it had more micro contrast and color profiles to make post processing easier.This a great tool for pros needing a solid portrait lens or a telephoto street lens. My favorite use was putting it on a crop sensor body or using the 35mm crop mode for amazing shots at 135mm. I found myself preferring my sigma primes for the skin color rendering, sharpness and portability.
smashington –
I bought this as my first lens. Even after owning and trying out other lenses, this is still my favourite. I use it for portraits, dance and action photography. Great for low light. Bokeh is beautiful. The customisable button on a side of the lens is very useful.
Aristotle –
After doing extensive research, this is probably the best budget native lens identical to G master quality at this focal length. Recently release a year ago.
Anonymous –
Bought for my Sony A7R3 and images are tack sharp. Excellent eyeaf and quick focusing. If you are looking to save money or use the savings to buy another lens, this 85mm f1.8 will not disappoint. It is comparable to its big broth 85mm f1.4 GM in sharpness. Bokeh is great and you really have to be picky to notice the difference between this and the GM f1.4. You can buy yourself a 90mm macro or a other primes and still pay less then the 85mm f1.4 GM.
Fjbean –
Best value for portraits. These lens is very sharp and provides excellent portraits in door and outside. The focal range is a bit tight so consider the area were you are taking pictures. You will have to stand back from your subject to get full body portraits, great for head shots.
85mmBeast –
So far so good.. buy it, its sharp, light and great for low light. Nice focal length if you dont want to shoot with a heavy 70200mm.
tesfbaruc0 –
This kens is great for the price. I wish I could get it cheaper but I am not disappointed at all. I use it for portraits. Its sharp and the bokah is nice.
Chris –
This lens is incredibly sharp for the price. Ive used this lens on the A7, A7Rii and A7iii. I owned the Sigma Art 85mm 1.4 which was my sharpest lens until I rented this lens. Sharpness wide open is on par with the Sigma if not better. I just could not justify keeping the Sigma which weighs nearly 3 pounds and requires a 86mm filter not cheap and is a 1200 lens. I sold my Sigma Art and purchased the Sony instead. No regrets whatsoever. You cant beat the value of this lens for the price you pay.
CHRISMARTIN.TV –
Recently switched platforms from Canon to Sony and decided I didnt want to play the adapter game so that meant switching glass to comparable lenses. Had the Canon 85mm 1.8 and opted for this as the comparable but it definitely isnt. It excels over the Canon option. Build quality is solid. It just feels well constructed. Not plastic like the Canon. Ive been superbly happy with the image quality and AF speeds. I considered the G Master version but just dont see a justification for me to pay the difference for the red square on the side of the lens a slightly shallower DoF. Id recommend this lens without hesitation.
Jehan –
For not being a G master lens, you would think it is. AF fast. Build quality, stellar. Bokeh has that vintage, swirly look but I like it And its Sharp. Sharp. SHARP. Just get this lens, you wont regret it. Why are you still reading this Buy it
Gabrielle –
Amazing for head shots. Great bokeh Pretty fast AF with hardly any noise. Would recommend to anyone who wants a lowlight beast in their arsenal for a reasonable price.
NICK –
Ill start by saying Im not a pro user, but I like to shoot with quality glass. This is the first native Sony lens I purchased after switching from Canon to an Ar7ii, and so far Ive been very pleased with it.ProsIts extremely sharp, produces nice bokeh, focuses extremely quick, and is light weight.ConsThis is just a Sony thing, but I HATE how I have to shoot in MDF or have the lens on MF to make any adjustments. There are been very few occasions when AF misses, but when they do its frustrating having to switch focus modes to get my shot. I wish Sony glass would allow to use MF during AF.Coming from shooting a canon 135 f2 I feel the color rendering could be better on this lens, but comparing it to the 135 is almost unfair.Overall, is this a 1.4 lens Nope, but if youre looking for an excellent portrait lens, itll do the job. I considered picking up the 1.4 as I do some paid jobs on the side, but at the end of the day in the eyes of my clients this lens is 99 as good as a 1.4
Kyle –
Forget about this being a great lens for the money. Its simply a great lens Very sharp wide open. It doesnt need to be stepped down to gain sharpness the way many other lenses do. Bokeh is very smooth with nice round balls at light points. Its not heavy and balances well on my a7ii.
Anonymous –
If this lens was price 200 Higher I was say Most people should pass on it. With that said for the price is really does make the Batis 85 an over priced lens. I found this lens very sharp and the Bokeh is Nice has a similar onion swirl on the edges like that batis Basicly if you are were looking to buy the 85mm Batis..Just save your money and get this Len it is so similar its kinda crazy. Its No 85mm GM, but I think you will see this lens in alot of Pros gear bag Love the afmf switch and focus hold button I was happy they added this to a budget lens My cons… I found the first time I Mounted it to the A7rii it was alittle tight now it seems ok. holding the len on its own it doesnt feel cheap or like a 600 lens so thats good however the lens hood feels extra cheap even for sony but real not that big of a deal All in All 5 star for the price
Czrxx –
This lens was an awesome option for portraits and you can get a great bokeh effect with this. Not to mention the price you can get this for compared to other Sony lenses.
Dre1906 –
One of the best lenses that Sony makes that isnt in the GMaster class. This thing is TACK sharp, FAST when put in the proper situations, especially with portraits with the 1.8 aperture. If youre looking for a great, simple, versatile lens that wont break the bank, THIS IS IT.
HockeyMom –
This lens works very well for thingspeople that are far away. I purchased it to take photos from the stands of my boys playing hockey. It does an amazing job The reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is because it is a great lens, but the limitation is you cant use it for any close photos. It is a very expensive lens for being used primarily for only 1 purpose. Wish it was a little more versatile.
Aaron –
This lens is just amazing. After watching countless reviews and comparison videos online, I was convinced to give this lens a try and I could not be happier with the results. This lens is tack sharp and for 600 it is easily the best value you can get for a lens. The auto focus is amazingly fast. There is not enough good I can say about the lens.
John –
We only use it for close up shots, almost like a macro, and it really captures lovely images. Bokeh is smooth, focus is quiet. Good lens.
MrJacobT –
I switched from canon to Sony in hopes the hype train was right however I am back to Canon with the r6 as Sony features just werent enough. the things you lack in Sony are in Canon, trust me, the stabilization is a different game, the IS in sony is a joke. Worth looking into. This lens was used for many weddings but I am happy when I saw I gave it away on offer up just to get rid of it.
Preston –
Im shooting street portraits not video and compared the Samyang 85mm f1.4 with this Sony 85mm f1.8. The lighter weight of the Sony makes it a winner for me. I dont find enough of a difference between f1.4 vs. f1.8 to warrant the Samyang. However, if youre shooting video, you may want the faster lens. The Samyang is excellent, just a little bigger and heavier..Also, I dont like the fact that the Samyang has to use a separate dock an additional 60 to get firmware updates.The Sony lens is updated automatically through the Sony camera body.I havent used either lens for astrophotography, so I cant offer an opinion about coma chroma aberration. For portraits, the lens is excellent and I see no problems.My particular Sony lens seemed to have some initial connectivity problems with my a7r3. The camera was not recognizing the lens. But, when I remounted it, it was fine. Will keep an eye on this issue. Otherwise, I love it
ROBERT –
This lens has already impressed me. I sold my G Master 85mm and bought this instead. The sharpness and color are amazing. Im very happy with it. I use it for professional freelance video. Skip the G Master and get this one. Its value for the money is among the best Sony has to offer.
Suzy –
So glad I bought this lens. Its a nice sharp lens with a wide open aperture of 1.8 . Im using it for my portrait business and its a go to when I pack my bag.
KBahn –
This is a perfect lens for both the amateur and professional shooter alike. Super sharp at all apertures, and light enough to pack in a messenger bag too. If you are looking for a great portrait lens for your Sony A Series camera, look no further
MattInGA –
Great sharpness for a great price. Build does fee a little plasticy but thats to be expected with the price. Produces great bokeh wide open.
Nicholas –
I have tried the gmaster 85 1.4, owned the Viltrox 85 1.8, and the samyang 85 1.4 and this lens is by far the best 85mm for money for the Sony emount full frame. The samyang comes with a 1.4, and the Viltrox has great bokeh but you will never get the same af you get with the native Sony 85mm, and af is one of the main reasons you bought a Sony alpha full frame camera. The gmaster is more than twice the price as this lens, and just like everyone says on YouTube the gmaster is not as sharp and youll find yourself stopping down to 1.8 anyways. I highly recommend this 85mm for Sony emount full frame.
LifeThroughGlass –
This is an amazing lens for the value and performance. Very sharp lens and produces beautiful bokeh background. I would definitely recommend adding this lens to your Sony kit.
biggles007 –
Functional. Takes good pictures, but a tad over priced imho when compared to the competition. If SONY really wants penetration into the market, they need to review their pricing. They have become the Apple of the camera world.
Jordan –
I am baffled at how good this lens is for the money. Eyelashes are tack sharp wide open. Hard edges look like razorblades, yet the bokeh is very pleasing. Coming from Fuji I thought I would miss the 56mm f1.2, but I dont thanks to this lens. I have spent much more money on lenses that didnt perform nearly as well as this one. It would be great even at a higher price, but in this price range its a nobrainer.
JOE –
On Sony A7rII, the lens refuses to lock focus at f10 to F22 even in bright sunlight. It just vibrates in and out of focus two or three times a second. It sometimes does this at wider fstops, too. It is unusable. I cant comment on its image quality because it is impossible to use. The only good thing I can say is that it has a nice quality feel to it. Obviously, it will be returned. Not sure if I will try another one or buy a different 85mm.
STEVE –
Sony, thank you This lens is amazing and definitely holds its own with the higher end 85mms such as the Batis.Buttery backgrounds and beautiful bokeh along with tack sharp eyes makes this lens my new headshot and portrait go to Fellow pros you will not be disappointed. At 1.8 it delivers Only 548.00 here at Adorama…
David –
At around 550, at this quality of sharpness and focus ability, I grabbed this after getting a great deal from a friend on his used A7rii. A really nice match, with great bokeh, sharpness edgetoedge wide open and a nice wide aperture. Now, if they can build some other primes with this great quality at the same price point yes, I know theres the 50mm f1.8 Ill be able to round out my lens collection without breaking the bank. Great work and a nobrainer for anyone with a Sony FF mirorless or even APSC, for that matter…
Frank –
I have this lens mounted to my Sony a7III and it is still mindblowing to me what kind of pictures this lens is capable of taking would definitely recommend this to anyone just getting started. I would, however, suggest getting a zoom lens as the fact that it is fixed does get in the way at times. But never the less great first lense The lens performs well in low light and the different focus modes are very welltuned buy Sony.
WARREN –
The 85mm 1.8 is a quaint lens. The build is lightweight, but it feel like a quality contrition. The focus ring is smooth if you wish manually focus. The lens is silent so it would be good for video.Image quality at 1.8 I see vintageing. An easy fix in Lightroom. Widening the aperture will remove this as well. I do see ca. Which is not harsh but noticeable. And again an easy fix.The images as beautiful. The bokeh is pretty but not as smooth as the more expensive 85mm lenses out there. For the price the quality is outstanding. The images Im creating as wonderful.I would recommend this lens.
voiceofsticks532 –
Incredible value of a lens. Razor sharp across the frame, compact and inexpensive. Great color rendering to boot
GDawg –
I dont use this lens as much as my 35mm prime. I only put this lens on my a7iii for dedicated portraiture work. The look and build quality is great. The image quality is excellent.
Terry –
The lens is compact and light for its size. It delivers sharp results in most lighting conditions but there are some chromatic aberrations when shooting in backlit conditions. Highly recommend this lens.
Lane –
Im using this mostly for portraits and tightened up headshots. Optically it performs really well, the fast aperture gives you really great range and itz razor sharp at f8 because of it. Even at 1.8 it is still optically sound, making minimal reason to get the f1.4 version unless youre needing some inherit feature of the GM class of lenses.In my opinion the f1.8 actual usage does seem limited for its target application of portraits because the DoF is so shallow that actually using anything under f4 for shots like this feels impractical when youre getting so close. Backing up to the torso framing space it becomes a little more practical to use lower apertures, but you need more studio spacedepth or onlocation gap between the subject, so keep that in mind when considering the application of it and what youre trying to accomplish with the lens if you were perhaps specifically looking to take advantage of the aperture floor of f1.8.The main appeal of this lens is the strong focal length for portraits with excellent optical quality, fantastic aperture speed all for an incredibly attractive price point.
Anonymous –
Takes sharp photos on my a7ii with great detail. Autofocus is quite quick, when it works. The first copy of the lens I got had a terrible autofocus issue where it would get stuck at a certain point. After RMAing that copy and getting a new one, the autofocus works the majority of the time, but I have had it freeze on my once or twice already in the past couple of weeks. Hopefully this is an issue fixable via firmware update.
Dennis M –
WOW I didnt know a lens could be this sharp and this fast. It focuses instantly and is razor sharp. I used it on a senior photo shoot with my new A7iii and was amazed at the pictures it was producing. The bokeh quality was beautiful If you want a great lens that doesnt break the bank look no further