RANKING

Rank 30 out of 49 Summarized in this category Rankings based on: • Pros-to-cons ratio • Number of reviews • Category average

Sony

FE 85mm F1.8

Name: FE 85mm F1.8
Brand: Sony

around $599

All prices are estimates and may vary from actual prices.

339 Pros

70%
30 reviews (4h 11m)

148 Cons

Versatile full-frame portrait lens for Sony E-mount, budget-friendly with excellent autofocus for video....

Summary of pros and cons from human reviewers, put together by AI

81%

97 vs 23

Build Quality

68%

71 vs 33

Image Quality

66%

51 vs 26

Autofocus

90%

44 vs 5

Value for Money

59%

30 vs 21

Focal Length/Range

Reviewer verdict

Across 30 YouTube reviews, the Sony FE 85mm F1.8 earns an Index score of 3.8/5, ranking #30 among Lenses. Reviewers most often praise its build quality, image quality, autofocus, while the most common criticisms concern image quality, autofocus.

The Sony FE 85mm F1.8 is overwhelmingly praised for its exceptional value, delivering performance that punches far above its price tag. Reviewers consistently highlight its outstanding image quality, with impressive sharpness from corner to corner even when shooting wide open. The lens produces beautiful, creamy bokeh, making it a fantastic choice for portraiture. Its autofocus system is fast, quiet, and reliable, performing well with Sony's Eye AF for both stills and video. This excellent optical performance is housed in a compact, lightweight, and well-built body, which includes practical features like a customizable focus-hold button and an AF/MF switch, making it a highly recommended prime lens.

The most significant drawback is the lens's pronounced focus breathing, which is a major issue for video applications involving focus pulls. Another common complaint is the questionable weather sealing; despite claims of dust and moisture resistance, the absence of a visible rubber gasket on the mount makes many users cautious in inclement weather. The lens also lacks in-lens optical image stabilization (OSS), relying entirely on the camera's in-body stabilization. Finally, the 'focus-by-wire' manual focus ring is a point of contention for those who prefer a more precise, mechanical feel for manual adjustments.

Analysis based on 30 YouTube reviews (4h 11m of video) with 339 pros and 148 cons extracted.

Pros (339)

Build Quality (97)

Compact, small length—easy to carry, can fit in pants pockets which is great for street/travel photography ▶ Sony 85mm 1.8 Worth it? My Honest Review @ 1:52
67mm filter thread (more affordable with step-down rings) ▶ Sony 85mm 1.8 Worth it? My Honest Review @ 3:47
Lightweight/compact compared with the f/1.4 GM version—more likely to be taken everywhere ▶ Sony 85mm 1.8 Worth it? My Honest Review @ 8:17
All-metal construction ▶ My belated review of the Sony 85mm F1.8 Fe Lens for the A7RI @ 0:35
Dust and moisture resistant (has gasketed sealing) ▶ My belated review of the Sony 85mm F1.8 Fe Lens for the A7RI @ 2:21
Very good build quality: well made, nice tight tolerances, smooth dampened focus ring, metal mount, 72mm filter thread, 9-blade aperture. ▶ A Budget 85mm Portrait lens that doesn't SUCK! - Sony A7iii @ 4:30
67 mm filter thread (standard filter size) ▶ Is the Sony 85mm f/1.8 the Best Budget Portrait Lens? @ 0:00
Relatively lightweight at 371 g ▶ Is the Sony 85mm f/1.8 the Best Budget Portrait Lens? @ 0:12
Super lightweight and compact ▶ Sony 85mm f1.8 Review @ 0:23
67mm filter thread (common/standard) ▶ Sony 85mm f1.8 Review @ 1:00
Solid build and ergonomics with full metal body ▶ Sony 85mm f1.8 Review @ 1:22
Smooth, well-damped focus ring with good grip (when new) ▶ Sony 85mm f1.8 Review @ 1:27
Small, compact and lightweight (about 371 g / 13 oz) — easy to travel with and good balance on Sony mirrorless bodies. ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 lens | In Depth Long Term Review @ 0:41
Well-made, feels sturdy; matte black finish looks sleek and professional. ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 lens | In Depth Long Term Review @ 1:07
Mostly plastic to cut down weight with a layer of metal on the outside. ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 lens | In Depth Long Term Review @ 1:11
Focus ring is pretty smooth with some resistance (decent manual feel). ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 lens | In Depth Long Term Review @ 2:13
Comfortable manual focus with good focus ring resistance (suitable for manual focusing) ▶ SONY 85MM 1.8 REVIEW | IS IT A GOOD LENS? | BOKHE MEDIA @ 1:04
67mm filter diameter ▶ SONY 85MM 1.8 REVIEW | IS IT A GOOD LENS? | BOKHE MEDIA @ 1:26
Weather/dust resistant (not fully waterproof) ▶ SONY 85MM 1.8 REVIEW | IS IT A GOOD LENS? | BOKHE MEDIA @ 1:30
Compact, small, and lightweight build with good perceived durability ▶ SONY 85MM 1.8 REVIEW | IS IT A GOOD LENS? | BOKHE MEDIA @ 2:53
Built to a high standard with metal barrel and metal lens mount ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 Review by Darren Miles @ 1:16
Relatively light (just over 13 ounces) and easy to manage for all-day shoots ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 Review by Darren Miles @ 1:29
Focus ring is thick, ribbed, offers fair resistance and is easy to manipulate ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 Review by Darren Miles @ 1:41
Aperture ranges from f/1.8 to f/22 and uses a common 67mm filter thread ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 Review by Darren Miles @ 2:35
Dust and moisture resistant design ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 Review by Darren Miles @ 2:44
High build quality rating (9.5/10 for build) ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 Review by Darren Miles @ 2:56
Weather sealed (mentioned as a positive compared to some cheaper alternatives) ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 | Still Great in 2024? @ 3:55
Built well (combination of metal and plastic) ▶ Sony FE 85mm f1.8 - Long Term Lens Review @ 2:19
Incredibly lightweight (332 g), great on mirrorless bodies ▶ Sony FE 85mm f1.8 - Long Term Lens Review @ 2:50
Includes useful features: programmable focus-hold button and AF/MF toggle switch ▶ Sony FE 85mm f1.8 - Long Term Lens Review @ 3:12
Well packaged with lens hood and manuals included ▶ Perfect Portrait Lens: Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Review @ 0:23
Smooth, large, well-made focus ring ▶ Perfect Portrait Lens: Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Review @ 1:52
Looks good on camera; not overly cumbersome or bulky ▶ Perfect Portrait Lens: Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Review @ 2:46
Manual focus ring feels good despite electronic focus ▶ Perfect Portrait Lens: Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Review @ 5:50
Metal (primarily) build that feels professional ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Lens Review (CREATIVE BEAST IN 2020) @ 1:45
Very light and compact (around 0.65 pounds), good for travel ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Lens Review (CREATIVE BEAST IN 2020) @ 1:57
Has an AF/MF switch on the lens for quick switching ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Lens Review (CREATIVE BEAST IN 2020) @ 2:19
Smooth, grippy focus ring (likely metal) good for focus pulling and accurate manual focus ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Lens Review (CREATIVE BEAST IN 2020) @ 2:50
Beautiful build and large front element / impressive optics ▶ SONY FE 85mm f1.8 | Sony full frame lens review @ 0:33
Premium feel (looks like metal) despite being plastic ▶ SONY FE 85mm f1.8 | Sony full frame lens review @ 1:47
Metal bayonet mount ▶ SONY FE 85mm f1.8 | Sony full frame lens review @ 2:03
Programmable button ▶ SONY FE 85mm f1.8 | Sony full frame lens review @ 2:27
AF/MF switch for quick manual focus ▶ SONY FE 85mm f1.8 | Sony full frame lens review @ 2:34
Lightweight (371 grams) and well balanced on camera ▶ SONY FE 85mm f1.8 | Sony full frame lens review @ 2:56
Includes lens hood ▶ SONY FE 85mm f1.8 | Sony full frame lens review @ 3:23
Great build quality — feels durable and lightweight for an f/1.8 ▶ Wildly Underrated | Sony 85mm f/1.8 FE Review @ 1:56
Smooth focus ring, MF/AF switch, focus hold button, and weather sealing (acceptable for light drizzle/dust) ▶ Wildly Underrated | Sony 85mm f/1.8 FE Review @ 2:10
Compact and lightweight compared to competitors; diminutive size and dimensions ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Review | 4K @ 1:37
Sturdy-feeling body (lightweight metal/alloy) ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Review | 4K @ 1:57
Listed as having weather sealing (sealed body per literature) ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Review | 4K @ 2:05
Includes lens hood and common 67mm filter thread ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Review | 4K @ 2:38
Has AF/MF switch on barrel ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Review | 4K @ 2:52
Has a programmable focus hold button ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Review | 4K @ 4:39
Small and light compared to some 85mm primes, making it discreet and easy to carry ▶ The king of lenses! Sony FE 85mm f1.8 @ 5:22
Lightweight and compact (371 grams) with a clean, minimalistic design ▶ Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 Lens Review | A Budget Portrait Beast! @ 4:04
Metal casing and metal mount; feels durable and solid ▶ Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 Lens Review | A Budget Portrait Beast! @ 3:53
Has AF/MF switch and a programmable button (useful customization) ▶ Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 Lens Review | A Budget Portrait Beast! @ 4:22
Smaller and more convenient (size/weight) compared to the heavier G Master alternative ▶ Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 Lens Review | A Budget Portrait Beast! @ 9:56
Has dedicated AF/MF switch and a focus hold button (handy feature) ▶ Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 lens review with samples (Full-frame and @ 1:54
Comes with lens caps and a nice hood ▶ Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 lens review with samples (Full-frame and @ 2:33
Includes a lens hood in the box (some lenses don't) ▶ Sony 85mm f1.8 Unboxing | First Impressions @ 1:22
Has a focus-hold (customizable) button on the side ▶ Sony 85mm f1.8 Unboxing | First Impressions @ 1:38
Has an autofocus/manual focus switch (useful and missed from previous lens) ▶ Sony 85mm f1.8 Unboxing | First Impressions @ 1:42
Good build quality ▶ Sony 85mm f1.8 Unboxing | First Impressions @ 7:38
Compact size (not top-heavy like some 1.4 alternatives) ▶ Sony 85mm f1.8 Unboxing | First Impressions @ 7:52
Secure-fitting lens cap (stays on better than some alternatives) ▶ Sony 85mm f1.8 Unboxing | First Impressions @ 8:39
Metal lens mount and solid build quality for the price ▶ SONY 85mm F/1.8 Full Frame Mirrorless Lens Review @ 0:13
Plastic body and focus ring are acceptable for a ~£400 lens (good value) ▶ SONY 85mm F/1.8 Full Frame Mirrorless Lens Review @ 0:12
Lens hood twists on and clicks into place with a solid, satisfying click ▶ SONY 85mm F/1.8 Full Frame Mirrorless Lens Review @ 0:24
Smooth focus ring with near 180-degree throw ▶ SONY 85mm F/1.8 Full Frame Mirrorless Lens Review @ 1:18
Includes AF/MF switch and a customizable function button (useful ergonomics/features) ▶ SONY 85mm F/1.8 Full Frame Mirrorless Lens Review @ 2:23
Small and light — very portable and convenient as a single walkaround lens ▶ SONY 85mm F/1.8 Full Frame Mirrorless Lens Review @ 3:43
Lightweight — the lens is described as lightweight and makes the setup feel light ▶ Bought the Sony 85mm 1.8 Lens and WHY YOU SHOULD TOO! @ 0:55
Feels good in use and performs well overall (general positive handling and performance comments) ▶ Bought the Sony 85mm 1.8 Lens and WHY YOU SHOULD TOO! @ 2:32
Compact size and low weight (371 g) — easy to carry, mount on gimbals, and convenient for video use ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Opinion For Video @ 1:40
Weather-sealing gasket around the mount (dust and moisture resistant) ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Opinion For Video @ 4:50
Feels solid for a non-flagship lens — build quality acceptable for the price ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Opinion For Video @ 4:23
Focus hold button (customizable) ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Opinion For Video @ 3:52
Overall user experience is slick — pleasant to use and pairs well with modern Alpha cameras ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Opinion For Video @ 6:06
Well-built, reassuringly dense and sturdy for the price ▶ You DON'T NEED the G Master! | Sony 85mm f/1.8 Lens Review @ 0:36
Comes with lens caps and a lens hood in the box ▶ You DON'T NEED the G Master! | Sony 85mm f/1.8 Lens Review @ 0:51
Large, smooth focus ring ▶ You DON'T NEED the G Master! | Sony 85mm f/1.8 Lens Review @ 0:56
Physical AF/MF switch and customizable focus hold button (useful on bodies with few custom buttons) ▶ You DON'T NEED the G Master! | Sony 85mm f/1.8 Lens Review @ 1:02
Sony claims dust and moisture resistance ▶ You DON'T NEED the G Master! | Sony 85mm f/1.8 Lens Review @ 1:24
Much lighter than the G Master (371 g vs 820 g) — better for travel ▶ You DON'T NEED the G Master! | Sony 85mm f/1.8 Lens Review @ 5:01
Nice build/weight/feel (you have nice paper weight) ▶ Sony 85mm 1.8 | BEST Lens for the Money @ 3:43
Compact, small and light; doesn't make setups front-heavy and balances well on mirrorless bodies. ▶ Sony 85mm 1.8: Great Lens For The Money, But I’m Selling It @ 0:54
Easier to run on a gimbal compared to larger/heavier lenses. ▶ Sony 85mm 1.8: Great Lens For The Money, But I’m Selling It @ 5:34
Lightweight and feels good in the hand (one of the lightest lenses). ▶ 3 Surprising Reasons Sony's 85mm f/1.8 Lens is a Must-Have G @ 0:15
Includes lens hood and lens cap. ▶ 3 Surprising Reasons Sony's 85mm f/1.8 Lens is a Must-Have G @ 0:19
Has a custom button and AF/MF switch for control. ▶ 3 Surprising Reasons Sony's 85mm f/1.8 Lens is a Must-Have G @ 0:25
All-metal build with a nice smooth focus wheel. ▶ 3 Surprising Reasons Sony's 85mm f/1.8 Lens is a Must-Have G @ 0:37
Compact, lightweight and balances nicely on small camera bodies (371 g / ~13 oz) ▶ The Best Budget Portrait Lens For Sony - 85mm F1.8 @ 2:40
Has an AF/MF switch — convenient for Sony cameras ▶ The Best Budget Portrait Lens For Sony - 85mm F1.8 @ 2:48
Advertised weather/dust/moisture resistance and has performed fine in light rain (per reviewer) ▶ The Best Budget Portrait Lens For Sony - 85mm F1.8 @ 7:26
Has a 67mm filter thread which matches the user's Tamron 17-28, avoiding the need for extra ND filters or step-up rings ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 | My thoughts on why I bought it in 2023? @ 1:55
Lightweight (~330–350g) — easier to carry and better for long walkaround use compared to the heavier G Master 1.4 ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 | My thoughts on why I bought it in 2023? @ 2:41

Image Quality (71)

Beautiful bokeh—excellent background blur, great for portraits ▶ Sony 85mm 1.8 Worth it? My Honest Review @ 4:50
Very sharp for portraits (handles high-resolution sensors well) ▶ Sony 85mm 1.8 Worth it? My Honest Review @ 5:29
Very sharp, excellent image quality ▶ My belated review of the Sony 85mm F1.8 Fe Lens for the A7RI @ 1:24
Bokeh comparable to the Zeiss 85mm f/1.8 (indistinguishable side-by-side) ▶ My belated review of the Sony 85mm F1.8 Fe Lens for the A7RI @ 1:28
Color rendition is spot-on (good for color-matched shoots/studio work) ▶ My belated review of the Sony 85mm F1.8 Fe Lens for the A7RI @ 2:08
Excellent sharpness corner-to-corner, even wide open ▶ My belated review of the Sony 85mm F1.8 Fe Lens for the A7RI @ 3:47
Chromatic aberration is easy to correct and not noticeable in most situations ▶ My belated review of the Sony 85mm F1.8 Fe Lens for the A7RI @ 4:30
Vignetting is minor and well controlled (very good overall) ▶ My belated review of the Sony 85mm F1.8 Fe Lens for the A7RI @ 5:20
Good flare control (improves when stopped down to f/4) ▶ My belated review of the Sony 85mm F1.8 Fe Lens for the A7RI @ 6:46
Bokeh is creamy and smooth; possibly better/more pleasing than the Sony 85mm f/1.8. ▶ A Budget 85mm Portrait lens that doesn't SUCK! - Sony A7iii @ 6:55
Vignetting and chromatic aberration are mild and largely correctable in post or with profile corrections ▶ Is the Sony 85mm f/1.8 the Best Budget Portrait Lens? @ 2:21
Produces good final images for portraits (example maternity shot looked good after corrections) ▶ Is the Sony 85mm f/1.8 the Best Budget Portrait Lens? @ 3:42
Great image quality ▶ Sony 85mm f1.8 Review @ 0:24
Lens hood recommended — reduces ghosting and maximizes contrast ▶ Sony 85mm f1.8 Review @ 1:44
Produces pleasing bokeh and flattering portrait results with low distortion ▶ Sony 85mm f1.8 Review @ 3:21
Beautiful bokeh at 85mm f/1.8; 9-bladed aperture produces nice round highlights. ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 lens | In Depth Long Term Review @ 3:57
Includes an ED element to reduce chromatic aberration (rarely noticeable CA). ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 lens | In Depth Long Term Review @ 4:21
Great bokeh with smooth transition from foreground to background due to nine-blade circular aperture and good spherical aberration ▶ SONY 85MM 1.8 REVIEW | IS IT A GOOD LENS? | BOKHE MEDIA @ 0:30
Clear separation between subject sharpness and background ▶ SONY 85MM 1.8 REVIEW | IS IT A GOOD LENS? | BOKHE MEDIA @ 0:39
Sharp lens with good detail — suitable as a go-to for night/street and moody portrait work ▶ SONY 85MM 1.8 REVIEW | IS IT A GOOD LENS? | BOKHE MEDIA @ 4:09
Nine rounded aperture blades for smooth pleasing out-of-focus bokeh rendering ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 Review by Darren Miles @ 2:19
Excellent optics — very sharp center performance and well-controlled chromatic aberrations ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 Review by Darren Miles @ 4:36
Chromatic aberration is easy to fix in post (Lightroom) ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 Review by Darren Miles @ 5:10
Vignetting can be corrected with lens profile corrections in Lightroom ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 Review by Darren Miles @ 5:33
Can produce great video (usable for 120fps b-roll and video portraits) ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 | Still Great in 2024? @ 2:09
Optically amazing / super sharp images ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 | Still Great in 2024? @ 2:53
Very good at isolating subject due to f/1.8 (strong background blur / shallow depth of field) ▶ Sony FE 85mm f1.8 - Long Term Lens Review @ 1:23
Excellent for video work and b-roll thanks to shallow depth of field and autofocus ▶ Sony FE 85mm f1.8 - Long Term Lens Review @ 1:40
Impeccable performance around f/4; can max out resolution on high-res bodies (e.g., A7R III) with flash ▶ Sony FE 85mm f1.8 - Long Term Lens Review @ 4:01
Bokeh is wonderful and can render background almost completely blurred; characteristic swirly/radial bokeh (pleasant to reviewer) ▶ Sony FE 85mm f1.8 - Long Term Lens Review @ 4:35
Very sharp images; creamy bokeh and excellent image quality ▶ Perfect Portrait Lens: Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Review @ 6:02
Sharp wide open at f/1.8; flaring well controlled and little to no distortion ▶ Perfect Portrait Lens: Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Review @ 6:28
Great colors and pleasing headshot results ▶ Perfect Portrait Lens: Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Review @ 6:36
Known for being amazing for portrait photography and similar uses ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Lens Review (CREATIVE BEAST IN 2020) @ 0:07
Creative capabilities for video portraits and unique filming shots ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Lens Review (CREATIVE BEAST IN 2020) @ 0:14
Aperture down to f/1.8 enables strong bokeh, shallow depth of field and subject isolation ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Lens Review (CREATIVE BEAST IN 2020) @ 5:11
Performs very well when used in planned/creative circumstances ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Lens Review (CREATIVE BEAST IN 2020) @ 6:32
9-blade circular aperture for smooth bokeh ▶ SONY FE 85mm f1.8 | Sony full frame lens review @ 3:36
Beautiful, smooth bokeh and pleasing bokeh balls at f/1.8 ▶ SONY FE 85mm f1.8 | Sony full frame lens review @ 3:47
Excellent image quality and sharpness ▶ Wildly Underrated | Sony 85mm f/1.8 FE Review @ 2:48
Very minimal purple fringing wide open (corrected well by Sony A7S III) ▶ Wildly Underrated | Sony 85mm f/1.8 FE Review @ 2:51
Nice out-of-focus areas / pleasing bokeh (though not the best ever) ▶ Wildly Underrated | Sony 85mm f/1.8 FE Review @ 3:23
Minimal vignetting that’s easy to correct (camera often corrects automatically) ▶ Wildly Underrated | Sony 85mm f/1.8 FE Review @ 4:02
Only very minor longitudinal chromatic aberration in some situations ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Review | 4K @ 8:37
Optical performance overall is very good and competitive with only minor differences vs rivals ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Review | 4K @ 9:24
Creates very shallow depth of field and creamy bokeh ▶ The king of lenses! Sony FE 85mm f1.8 @ 2:18
Excellent image quality compared to zoom lenses (primes are noticeably better) ▶ The king of lenses! Sony FE 85mm f1.8 @ 6:57
Wide aperture (f/1.8) produces creamy blurred background (bokeh) that isolates subject and makes them pop. ▶ Sony FE 85mm f1.8 - The MUST HAVE Wedding Photography Lens @ 1:52
85mm compression and optics render backgrounds pleasingly and help remove distracting elements. ▶ Sony FE 85mm f1.8 - The MUST HAVE Wedding Photography Lens @ 2:09
Small/shallow depth of field produces aesthetically pleasing images. ▶ Sony FE 85mm f1.8 - The MUST HAVE Wedding Photography Lens @ 2:35
Produces pleasing bokeh (not the smoothest compared to f/1.4 but still nice) ▶ Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 Lens Review | A Budget Portrait Beast! @ 5:34
Good corner-to-corner contrast, color rendering, color accuracy and saturation ▶ Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 Lens Review | A Budget Portrait Beast! @ 6:39
Excellent image quality on full-frame (very sharp, performs well even on 42MP camera) ▶ Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 lens review with samples (Full-frame and @ 2:44
Minimal distortion on full-frame ▶ Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 lens review with samples (Full-frame and @ 4:27
Produces pleasant, smooth background blur (nice bokeh) ▶ Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 lens review with samples (Full-frame and @ 5:21
Low chromatic aberration (controls CA well when backlit) ▶ Ultimate Sony 85mm Lens Battle! New 85mm f1.4 GM II @ 5:02
Bokeh looks good (described as "chef's kiss") ▶ Ultimate Sony 85mm Lens Battle! New 85mm f1.4 GM II @ 5:23
Fantastic overall image quality and bokeh; great for portraits, product photography, crisp b-roll/detail shots ▶ SONY 85mm F/1.8 Full Frame Mirrorless Lens Review @ 3:00
Produces strong subject separation and pleasing shallow depth of field / bokeh at f/1.8, excellent for portraits ▶ Bought the Sony 85mm 1.8 Lens and WHY YOU SHOULD TOO! @ 4:18
Lovely out-of-focus rendering (smooth bokeh) thanks to nine rounded aperture blades ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Opinion For Video @ 3:20
Includes an extra low-dispersion element to reduce aberrations and increase contrast ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Opinion For Video @ 3:06
Pleasant, creamy out-of-focus roll-off (nice bokeh quality overall) ▶ You DON'T NEED the G Master! | Sony 85mm f/1.8 Lens Review @ 2:00
At f/1.8 gives good subject separation and works well wide open for portraits ▶ You DON'T NEED the G Master! | Sony 85mm f/1.8 Lens Review @ 2:33
For video provides cinematic-looking images due to compression and wide aperture ▶ You DON'T NEED the G Master! | Sony 85mm f/1.8 Lens Review @ 3:14
Good performance in various conditions (performance and weather/cities/ethnic) ▶ Sony 85mm 1.8 | BEST Lens for the Money @ 4:07
Provides reach, compression and pleasing background blur (bokeh) ideal for separating subject from background. ▶ 3 Surprising Reasons Sony's 85mm f/1.8 Lens is a Must-Have G @ 0:55
Circular 9-blade aperture gives beautiful bokeh. ▶ 3 Surprising Reasons Sony's 85mm f/1.8 Lens is a Must-Have G @ 2:36
Very flattering short telephoto for portraits (thins subjects, flattering to faces) ▶ The Best Budget Portrait Lens For Sony - 85mm F1.8 @ 1:22
Nice background bokeh and very sharp ▶ The Best Budget Portrait Lens For Sony - 85mm F1.8 @ 3:30
Usable for video in some situations (e.g., filming from distance like comedy clubs) ▶ The Best Budget Portrait Lens For Sony - 85mm F1.8 @ 3:59
Produces sharp images, pleasing skin tones and strong portrait results ▶ The Best Budget Portrait Lens For Sony - 85mm F1.8 @ 6:32

Autofocus (51)

Has a customizable function button (useful for eye tracking/eye focusing) ▶ Sony 85mm 1.8 Worth it? My Honest Review @ 2:50
Smooth, very usable focus (good for video) and smooth focus ring ▶ Sony 85mm 1.8 Worth it? My Honest Review @ 3:37
Fast and reliable autofocus for its class; focuses smoothly in video without hunting ▶ Sony 85mm 1.8 Worth it? My Honest Review @ 4:25
Has manual focus/auto focus switch and focus lock (handy for locking focus and recomposing) ▶ My belated review of the Sony 85mm F1.8 Fe Lens for the A7RI @ 0:50
Extremely handy focus lock implementation ▶ My belated review of the Sony 85mm F1.8 Fe Lens for the A7RI @ 1:14
Autofocus is quiet and generally good ▶ My belated review of the Sony 85mm F1.8 Fe Lens for the A7RI @ 6:15
Autofocus (eye/face AF) is very fast and snappy; works well and is comparable to Sony in many situations. ▶ A Budget 85mm Portrait lens that doesn't SUCK! - Sony A7iii @ 5:12
Autofocus motors are smooth and relatively quiet. ▶ A Budget 85mm Portrait lens that doesn't SUCK! - Sony A7iii @ 5:31
Performs well for center tracking and general face detection in video. ▶ A Budget 85mm Portrait lens that doesn't SUCK! - Sony A7iii @ 3:17
Fast and reliable autofocus that quickly grabs subject (demonstrated in focus test) ▶ Is the Sony 85mm f/1.8 the Best Budget Portrait Lens? @ 0:42
AF/MF switch and focus hold button (programmable) ▶ Sony 85mm f1.8 Review @ 1:15
Autofocus performs really well and is fast (good on Sony bodies) ▶ Sony 85mm f1.8 Review @ 1:56
Eye autofocus works very well and stays locked on moving/changing subjects ▶ Sony 85mm f1.8 Review @ 2:20
Has AF/MF switch for quick switching without menus. ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 lens | In Depth Long Term Review @ 2:32
Includes one programmable focus lock button. ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 lens | In Depth Long Term Review @ 2:53
Autofocus is snappy, fast and reliable across bodies (A6500, A7 III, A7R III). ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 lens | In Depth Long Term Review @ 4:51
Good face-detect and tracking performance, works well even backlit. ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 lens | In Depth Long Term Review @ 5:04
Autofocus is quiet — useful for video and event work like weddings. ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 lens | In Depth Long Term Review @ 5:28
Autofocus/manual focus switch and a customizable focus button ▶ SONY 85MM 1.8 REVIEW | IS IT A GOOD LENS? | BOKHE MEDIA @ 0:54
Quiet autofocus system with minimal audible motor noise ▶ SONY 85MM 1.8 REVIEW | IS IT A GOOD LENS? | BOKHE MEDIA @ 3:32
Fast, decisive and very accurate autofocus with Sony's double linear AF motor ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 Review by Darren Miles @ 3:06
AF performs especially well on newer A7 bodies and is stunningly accurate with IAF ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 Review by Darren Miles @ 3:11
AF tracking works exceptionally well with A7R Mark III for video ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 Review by Darren Miles @ 3:30
Adequately fast for most real-world situations and good for action when shutter speed is sufficient ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 Review by Darren Miles @ 3:42
Autofocus worked flawlessly for portrait subjects ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 | Still Great in 2024? @ 1:34
Autofocus performance is excellent and reliable for both stills and video ▶ Sony FE 85mm f1.8 - Long Term Lens Review @ 5:08
Autofocus is silent, super fast and very accurate (works well on a6000 and a6500) ▶ Perfect Portrait Lens: Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Review @ 5:27
Autofocus quicker than Sony 50mm f/1.8 and comparable to Sony 35mm f/1.8 ▶ Perfect Portrait Lens: Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Review @ 5:39
Fast and reliable autofocus, even in darker situations and on non-human subjects — likely faster on people ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Lens Review (CREATIVE BEAST IN 2020) @ 7:29
Fast, accurate autofocus (including AF-C) — very quiet and suitable for video ▶ SONY FE 85mm f1.8 | Sony full frame lens review @ 4:27
Accurate autofocus (not super fast but reliable and not annoyingly slow) ▶ Wildly Underrated | Sony 85mm f/1.8 FE Review @ 3:53
Autofocus in video is accurate and fast enough, no problems reported ▶ Wildly Underrated | Sony 85mm f/1.8 FE Review @ 5:11
Good manual-focus aids (focus magnification and electronic distance readout); damping decent ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Review | 4K @ 3:24
Excellent autofocus performance for tracking action and eye AF; very consistent ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Review | 4K @ 5:26
Strong results in action tracking (high proportion of well-focused frames) ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Review | 4K @ 6:02
Video AF: quiet, fast, confident and strong for focus pulls; very good everyday AF ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Review | 4K @ 7:07
Works well with Sony A7 III face detection and performs well in lower light ▶ Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 Lens Review | A Budget Portrait Beast! @ 5:13
Smooth focus ring (electronically coupled) and responsive autofocus (silent and accurate) ▶ Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 lens review with samples (Full-frame and @ 2:09
Smooth focus ring ▶ Sony 85mm f1.8 Unboxing | First Impressions @ 8:20
Super silent and very fast autofocus ▶ Ultimate Sony 85mm Lens Battle! New 85mm f1.4 GM II @ 2:52
Video autofocus performed incredibly; didn't miss during testing (paired with FX6) ▶ Ultimate Sony 85mm Lens Battle! New 85mm f1.4 GM II @ 4:41
Autofocus is extremely quiet and extremely fast — great for both video and photo ▶ SONY 85mm F/1.8 Full Frame Mirrorless Lens Review @ 1:39
Faster autofocus for video — faster autofocus performance than the G Master counterpart due to a double linear autofocus motor ▶ Bought the Sony 85mm 1.8 Lens and WHY YOU SHOULD TOO! @ 1:35
Sony double linear autofocus system — fast, silent, accurate focusing ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Opinion For Video @ 3:28
Focus motor is silent — useful when recording with on-camera microphones ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Opinion For Video @ 5:28
Quiet, reliable, and very fast autofocus useful for keeping subjects sharp in video ▶ You DON'T NEED the G Master! | Sony 85mm f/1.8 Lens Review @ 3:38
Has autofocus (mentions auto Focus works / in either auto Focus) ▶ Sony 85mm 1.8 | BEST Lens for the Money @ 2:43
Autofocus is still pretty decent on modern Sony cameras (good enough for most things). ▶ Sony 85mm 1.8: Great Lens For The Money, But I’m Selling It @ 0:37
Quiet linear motor for focusing (very quiet, no noise). ▶ 3 Surprising Reasons Sony's 85mm f/1.8 Lens is a Must-Have G @ 2:26
Reliable, fast and accurate autofocus with no hunting. ▶ 3 Surprising Reasons Sony's 85mm f/1.8 Lens is a Must-Have G @ 3:23
Focus breathing is not too bad ▶ The Best Budget Portrait Lens For Sony - 85mm F1.8 @ 3:40

Value for Money (44)

Excellent value for price (~$580–$600) given sharpness and portrait performance ▶ Sony 85mm 1.8 Worth it? My Honest Review @ 6:56
Good value—affordable compared to alternatives while delivering excellent performance ▶ My belated review of the Sony 85mm F1.8 Fe Lens for the A7RI @ 2:49
More budget-friendly at about $399 (around $200 cheaper than Sony's 85mm f/1.8). ▶ A Budget 85mm Portrait lens that doesn't SUCK! - Sony A7iii @ 0:36
Affordable price (just under $600) ▶ Is the Sony 85mm f/1.8 the Best Budget Portrait Lens? @ 0:17
Affordable price (~$550) ▶ Sony 85mm f1.8 Review @ 0:54
Very good value for the performance ▶ Sony 85mm f1.8 Review @ 3:16
Great value for money (~$600). ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 lens | In Depth Long Term Review @ 0:30
Used successfully for professional events, product photography, weddings. ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 lens | In Depth Long Term Review @ 0:33
Very impressive image quality for the price; rivals higher-end Sony primes. ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 lens | In Depth Long Term Review @ 3:42
Considerably cheaper, smaller and quieter than the G Master 85mm 1.4 while being more reliable AF in the reviewer’s experience. ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 lens | In Depth Long Term Review @ 5:55
Overall trusted in the reviewer’s kit; versatile and reliable for many shoots. ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 lens | In Depth Long Term Review @ 7:52
Affordable price for the specs and quality (example: ~800 CAD / ~650–700 USD) ▶ SONY 85MM 1.8 REVIEW | IS IT A GOOD LENS? | BOKHE MEDIA @ 3:11
Optically similar to the more expensive 85mm f/1.4 GM for most client-visible uses ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 Review by Darren Miles @ 4:39
Strong overall value for Sony system — cheaper than some alternatives and good overall value (9.5/10 for value) ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 Review by Darren Miles @ 10:16
Recommended for portrait photographers switching to Sony; good optics and decent build for $599 ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 Review by Darren Miles @ 11:26
Affordable (new $599, commonly much cheaper used; reviewer bought for $350) ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 | Still Great in 2024? @ 0:31
Great value for Sony full-frame E-mount cameras (high quality for price) ▶ Sony FE 85mm f1.8 - Long Term Lens Review @ 0:11
Exceptional value compared to more expensive alternatives (cheaper than Zeiss, GM, Sigma equivalents) ▶ Sony FE 85mm f1.8 - Long Term Lens Review @ 6:20
Good value for money; image quality exceeds price; future-proof for full-frame upgrade ▶ Perfect Portrait Lens: Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Review @ 9:11
Affordable price (~$600) for an 85mm lens and offers excellent value vs more expensive 85mm f/1.4 alternatives ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Lens Review (CREATIVE BEAST IN 2020) @ 7:55
Very sharp (highly sharp image quality) and excellent value for price (~$600) ▶ SONY FE 85mm f1.8 | Sony full frame lens review @ 1:40
Excellent value for money compared to more expensive G Master lenses ▶ Wildly Underrated | Sony 85mm f/1.8 FE Review @ 5:22
Strong value: great combination of value, optical performance and build ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Review | 4K @ 0:18
Bought the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 and really likes it (personal endorsement). ▶ Sony FE 85mm f1.8 - The MUST HAVE Wedding Photography Lens @ 0:21
Budget-friendly compared to other 85mm options (much cheaper than Sony 1.4 G Master, Sigma, Zeiss Batis) ▶ Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 Lens Review | A Budget Portrait Beast! @ 1:49
Comparable performance to more expensive 85mm lenses for most real-world uses; offers great value/price-to-performance ▶ Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 Lens Review | A Budget Portrait Beast! @ 6:50
Affordable/least expensive 85mm option in Sony lineup (around $550) ▶ Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 lens review with samples (Full-frame and @ 0:18
Good value for budget-conscious buyers; still a phenomenal lens if on a budget ▶ Ultimate Sony 85mm Lens Battle! New 85mm f1.4 GM II @ 9:18
Good value: offers premium-like quality without a premium price tag ▶ SONY 85mm F/1.8 Full Frame Mirrorless Lens Review @ 3:02
Affordable — significantly cheaper than the G Master version (good value around $500 mentioned) ▶ Bought the Sony 85mm 1.8 Lens and WHY YOU SHOULD TOO! @ 2:22
Better choice for video than the more expensive G Master 85mm (explicit claim) ▶ Bought the Sony 85mm 1.8 Lens and WHY YOU SHOULD TOO! @ 7:40
Great value for money ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Opinion For Video @ 11:08
Entry-level 85mm prime that's excellent value for most users ▶ You DON'T NEED the G Master! | Sony 85mm f/1.8 Lens Review @ 0:00
Significantly cheaper than the G Master; excellent cost-to-performance (RRP much lower; can be found on sale) ▶ You DON'T NEED the G Master! | Sony 85mm f/1.8 Lens Review @ 5:29
Good value for the money / best value for money ▶ Sony 85mm 1.8 | BEST Lens for the Money @ 0:34
Affordable / Times affordable ▶ Sony 85mm 1.8 | BEST Lens for the Money @ 1:00
Very good price-to-performance; one of the best value Sony full-frame lenses (~$600). ▶ Sony 85mm 1.8: Great Lens For The Money, But I’m Selling It @ 0:08
Affordable price point (around £500 new, ~£300 used) — good value. ▶ 3 Surprising Reasons Sony's 85mm f/1.8 Lens is a Must-Have G @ 4:02
Excellent value for Sony full-frame — inexpensive (on sale $550, regular $600) for full-frame glass ▶ The Best Budget Portrait Lens For Sony - 85mm F1.8 @ 0:16
Punches way above its weight — really good deal ▶ The Best Budget Portrait Lens For Sony - 85mm F1.8 @ 0:29
Holds up very well compared to the more expensive G Master 85mm f/1.4 in side-by-side comparisons ▶ The Best Budget Portrait Lens For Sony - 85mm F1.8 @ 2:22
More affordable than the G Master 1.4 — better value for the user's needs ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 | My thoughts on why I bought it in 2023? @ 3:45
Generally described as a phenomenal lens for the price — lightweight, affordable, and makes the user happy ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 | My thoughts on why I bought it in 2023? @ 4:26
Used-buy option included a filter (bought secondhand) — added value ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 | My thoughts on why I bought it in 2023? @ 4:18

Focal Length/Range (30)

Good minimum focusing distance for isolation (80 cm) and strong subject isolation ▶ SONY FE 85mm f1.8 | Sony full frame lens review @ 3:47
Reasonable minimum focus distance (0.8m) that worked well in practice ▶ Sony 85mm 1.8 Worth it? My Honest Review @ 4:04
Maximum aperture of f/1.8 (good low-light capability and shallow DOF) ▶ Is the Sony 85mm f/1.8 the Best Budget Portrait Lens? @ 0:05
Reasonable close focus distance of 2.63 ft (usable for portraits) ▶ Is the Sony 85mm f/1.8 the Best Budget Portrait Lens? @ 0:14
Works well in Super 35 mode to emulate a 135mm look (useful option) ▶ Is the Sony 85mm f/1.8 the Best Budget Portrait Lens? @ 5:13
Fast aperture f/1.8 (lets in lots of light, good in low light) ▶ Sony 85mm f1.8 Review @ 1:03
Friendly focal length for portraiture (natural facial rendering) ▶ Sony 85mm f1.8 Review @ 3:30
Fits well on full frame and pretty well on APS-C bodies. ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 lens | In Depth Long Term Review @ 0:51
Medium telephoto prime (85mm) ideal for portrait work and subject isolation ▶ Sony FE 85mm f1.8 - Long Term Lens Review @ 0:23
Fits well in most kits and complements other Sony primes (fills kit nicely) ▶ Sony FE 85mm f1.8 - Long Term Lens Review @ 10:24
Ideal focal length for portraits (85mm); great subject separation ▶ Perfect Portrait Lens: Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Review @ 2:55
Prime 85mm focal length provides a narrow field of view ideal for portraits and product photography ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Lens Review (CREATIVE BEAST IN 2020) @ 4:09
Good for portraits, low-light, and sports photography ▶ SONY FE 85mm f1.8 | Sony full frame lens review @ 6:59
Good for full-body portraits with blurred backgrounds thanks to 85mm focal length ▶ Wildly Underrated | Sony 85mm f/1.8 FE Review @ 3:31
Versatile — not limited to portraits (can be used creatively for landscapes) ▶ Wildly Underrated | Sony 85mm f/1.8 FE Review @ 3:43
Good close-focus performance (minimum focus distance 80 cm) and excellent image quality by f/2.8 ▶ Wildly Underrated | Sony 85mm f/1.8 FE Review @ 4:10
Lens has a wide f/1.8 aperture allowing a lot of light in ▶ The king of lenses! Sony FE 85mm f1.8 @ 2:01
Versatile for many situations — portrait, street, event photography and video (b-roll, interviews) ▶ The king of lenses! Sony FE 85mm f1.8 @ 1:44
85mm focal length offers pleasing compression and sits between wide and telephoto ▶ The king of lenses! Sony FE 85mm f1.8 @ 3:38
Particularly good for b-roll and close-up interview angles ▶ The king of lenses! Sony FE 85mm f1.8 @ 4:34
Telephoto focal length lets you shoot across the room without being intrusive; people are less likely to notice you. ▶ Sony FE 85mm f1.8 - The MUST HAVE Wedding Photography Lens @ 2:43
Great focal length for flattering portraits, background compression, and useful for street/landscape/video work ▶ Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 Lens Review | A Budget Portrait Beast! @ 0:59
Reasonable close focus distance of 0.8 meters (2.6 feet) for this focal length ▶ SONY 85mm F/1.8 Full Frame Mirrorless Lens Review @ 1:20
Extremely versatile — good for portraits, landscapes, and street photography ▶ You DON'T NEED the G Master! | Sony 85mm f/1.8 Lens Review @ 2:13
For landscapes and street, allows focusing in on details and offers a pleasing perspective ▶ You DON'T NEED the G Master! | Sony 85mm f/1.8 Lens Review @ 2:49
Full-frame coverage with f/1.8 aperture at 85mm for shallow depth of field and subject isolation. ▶ Sony 85mm 1.8: Great Lens For The Money, But I’m Selling It @ 0:25
85mm focal length is very pleasing for many types of shots and great for isolating subjects. ▶ Sony 85mm 1.8: Great Lens For The Money, But I’m Selling It @ 1:49
Good for podcast/studio use and some close-ups (with consideration of minimum focus distance). ▶ 3 Surprising Reasons Sony's 85mm f/1.8 Lens is a Must-Have G @ 0:50
Preferred focal length (85mm) — matches user's shooting style and backstory from using equivalent focal length on crop sensor ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 | My thoughts on why I bought it in 2023? @ 0:21
Great for b-roll and vlogging when needing more reach/less obvious shooting compared to 50mm ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 | My thoughts on why I bought it in 2023? @ 1:21

Other (27)

Lightweight for its size — feels lighter than expected ▶ Perfect Portrait Lens: Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Review @ 1:59
Compact size — pairs well with small bodies like the A7C2 ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 | Still Great in 2024? @ 0:10
Great bokeh and background blur at f/1.8 with 85mm — excellent for portraits ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 | Still Great in 2024? @ 4:11
Very thin, razor‑thin focus plane (excellent subject separation) ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 | Still Great in 2024? @ 4:29
Still a great lens in 2024 — excellent image quality and very serviceable for portraits ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 | Still Great in 2024? @ 5:27
Very sharp — excellent resolution even wide open; one of highest-ranked lenses on DxOMark ▶ Sony FE 85mm f1.8 - Long Term Lens Review @ 3:40
Nice front coating and large glass — lets in a lot of light ▶ Perfect Portrait Lens: Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Review @ 2:21
On crop bodies equivalent to ~130mm — good for outdoor/stepped-back portraits ▶ Perfect Portrait Lens: Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Review @ 2:58
Produces nicer images than Sony 50mm f/1.8 in reviewer’s opinion ▶ Perfect Portrait Lens: Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Review @ 6:50
Compact and lightweight for an 85mm — easy to carry on trips ▶ Perfect Portrait Lens: Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Review @ 8:53
Weather sealed — resisted sand/dust in outdoor use ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Lens Review (CREATIVE BEAST IN 2020) @ 3:28
Good value — available secondhand at significantly lower price than new or G Master alternative ▶ The king of lenses! Sony FE 85mm f1.8 @ 0:30
Affordable — can be picked up for just under £500 (UK). ▶ Sony FE 85mm f1.8 - The MUST HAVE Wedding Photography Lens @ 0:30
Great for ceremony moments — vows, speeches, and moments where the couple is the center of attention. ▶ Sony FE 85mm f1.8 - The MUST HAVE Wedding Photography Lens @ 3:07
Author would happily use it for a large portion (~85%) of the ceremony — reliable choice for wedding photography. ▶ Sony FE 85mm f1.8 - The MUST HAVE Wedding Photography Lens @ 3:36
Autofocus performs very well — fast, accurate, nailed focus repeatedly (including on moving subjects) and quiet ▶ Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 Lens Review | A Budget Portrait Beast! @ 4:39
Very quiet AF — good for video and quiet events ▶ Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 Lens Review | A Budget Portrait Beast! @ 5:01
Excellent image quality and sharpness — very sharp even wide open; razor-sharp stopped down ▶ Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 Lens Review | A Budget Portrait Beast! @ 6:14
Good build quality — metal construction, feels solid with a nice finish ▶ Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 lens review with samples (Full-frame and @ 1:46
Sharpness remains excellent across apertures until diffraction (~f16) ▶ Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 lens review with samples (Full-frame and @ 3:14
On APS-C still very sharp in the center and performs well stopped down (sweet spot f5.6–f8) ▶ Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 lens review with samples (Full-frame and @ 3:31
Good overall handling of bright lights — average, not too bad (controlled contrast loss and limited flaring) ▶ Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 lens review with samples (Full-frame and @ 5:06
Highly recommended overall — great optics and build for the price ▶ Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 lens review with samples (Full-frame and @ 5:36
Good value for the price — getting a lot for your money compared to more expensive 1.4 options ▶ Sony 85mm f1.8 Unboxing | First Impressions @ 1:07
Good physical size for an 85mm — compact and complements the A7III body ▶ Sony 85mm f1.8 Unboxing | First Impressions @ 1:31
Very quiet/silent autofocus — great for video and gimbal use ▶ Sony 85mm f1.8 Unboxing | First Impressions @ 8:23
Reasonable weight — not heavy for an 85mm ▶ Sony 85mm f1.8 Unboxing | First Impressions @ 7:38

Sharpness (10)

Sharp wide open at f/1.8 for portraits — holds up similarly to the Sony 85mm f/1.8. ▶ A Budget 85mm Portrait lens that doesn't SUCK! - Sony A7iii @ 5:42
Sharpness can be improved by stopping down (sharpest around f/4, optimal performance near f/8) ▶ Is the Sony 85mm f/1.8 the Best Budget Portrait Lens? @ 1:39
Great sharpness in the center; usable edge sharpness (improves stopped down) ▶ Sony 85mm f1.8 Review @ 2:37
Nearly as sharp as much more expensive 85mm f/1.4 lenses ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Lens Review (CREATIVE BEAST IN 2020) @ 8:29
Almost perfect edge/corner sharpness ▶ Wildly Underrated | Sony 85mm f/1.8 FE Review @ 3:04
Very sharp from f/1.8; sharpens further when stopped down ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Review | 4K @ 8:32
Relatively sharp in the center and out to the corners (optically very good for its class) ▶ Ultimate Sony 85mm Lens Battle! New 85mm f1.4 GM II @ 7:41
Very good image sharpness and detail, even wide open at f/1.8 ▶ Bought the Sony 85mm 1.8 Lens and WHY YOU SHOULD TOO! @ 3:17
Excellent image quality and detail — outperforms some higher-end alternatives in sharpness ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Opinion For Video @ 11:25
Fantastic optical performance — super sharp, especially in the center ▶ You DON'T NEED the G Master! | Sony 85mm f/1.8 Lens Review @ 1:45

Low Light Performance (6)

Works well indoors when opened wide at f/1.8 for well-lit situations ▶ Sony FE 85mm f1.8 - Long Term Lens Review @ 1:55
Great for video when paired with in-body stabilization or a gimbal — isolates subject and produces pleasing movement ▶ Wildly Underrated | Sony 85mm f/1.8 FE Review @ 4:21
Performs well in low light, letting you keep ISO lower ▶ The king of lenses! Sony FE 85mm f1.8 @ 2:32
f/1.8 provides a very wide aperture useful for low-light shooting without pushing ISO/shutter too far. ▶ Sony FE 85mm f1.8 - The MUST HAVE Wedding Photography Lens @ 1:01
Wide f/1.8 aperture allows strong background separation and good low-light performance ▶ Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 Lens Review | A Budget Portrait Beast! @ 5:26
Large maximum aperture (f/1.8) with T-stop matching f/1.8 — good low-light performance ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Opinion For Video @ 2:24

Distortion (1)

No noticeable barrel distortion (with lens corrections off) ▶ My belated review of the Sony 85mm F1.8 Fe Lens for the A7RI @ 5:14

Durability (1)

Great lens — reviewer uses it all the time and has kept it for six years ▶ Sony 85mm f1.8 Review @ 0:19

Overall (1)

Great pairing with Sony A7 IV (A74) for photography and video ▶ Bought the Sony 85mm 1.8 Lens and WHY YOU SHOULD TOO! @ 6:26

Cons (148)

Image Quality (33)

Slight chromatic aberrations in harsh, high-contrast bright sunlight (noon daylight) ▶ My belated review of the Sony 85mm F1.8 Fe Lens for the A7RI @ 1:40
Some lens distortion present ▶ Is the Sony 85mm f/1.8 the Best Budget Portrait Lens? @ 2:21
Chromatic aberration visible, especially in center and some areas (but removable in post) ▶ Is the Sony 85mm f/1.8 the Best Budget Portrait Lens? @ 2:21
Vignetting noticeable at higher f-stops/corners (though mitigated with profile corrections) ▶ Is the Sony 85mm f/1.8 the Best Budget Portrait Lens? @ 2:23
Some 'cat eye' in bokeh (edge distortion of highlights). ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 lens | In Depth Long Term Review @ 4:05
Possible issues with perceived color and bokeh rendering (muted colors and somewhat harsh bokeh with A7R Mark III) ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 Review by Darren Miles @ 5:47
Some green fringing shows up in out-of-focus background areas ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 Review by Darren Miles @ 5:10
Cat's-eye bokeh in the background and some so-so out-of-focus bokeh rendering (subjective) ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 Review by Darren Miles @ 5:22
Vignetting present, especially at f/1.8 (though fixable in post) ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 Review by Darren Miles @ 5:30
Some chromatic aberration present in certain shots (not usually image‑ruining) ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 | Still Great in 2024? @ 1:55
Prominent radial 'cat's eye' / swirly bokeh characteristic may be noticeable and you have to live with it ▶ Sony FE 85mm f1.8 - Long Term Lens Review @ 4:47
Cannot create quite as much background isolation/creaminess of bokeh as 85mm f/1.4 lenses (less background blur/isolation) ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Lens Review (CREATIVE BEAST IN 2020) @ 8:29
Out-of-focus areas can become a bit busy depending on the background (bokeh not the absolute best) ▶ Wildly Underrated | Sony 85mm f/1.8 FE Review @ 3:23
Some vignetting wide open (though easy to correct) ▶ Wildly Underrated | Sony 85mm f/1.8 FE Review @ 4:02
Center contrast at f/1.8 may be a little lower than top performers (e.g., Sigma or GM) ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Review | 4K @ 8:06
Some geometric deformation (cat-eye/lemon-shaped bokeh highlights) toward edges; bokeh slightly less refined than best in class ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Review | 4K @ 8:46
Slightly less micro-contrast and color than Zeiss Batis in direct comparisons (minor differences) ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Review | 4K @ 10:29
Bokeh not as smooth as f/1.4 or f/1.2 lenses (less background blur/smoothness) ▶ Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 Lens Review | A Budget Portrait Beast! @ 5:55
Noticeable vignetting (dark corners) at wider apertures, though reduced stopped down ▶ Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 Lens Review | A Budget Portrait Beast! @ 8:31
Some purple fringing / color fringing on high-contrast edges (visible especially on APS-C and close-ups) ▶ Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 lens review with samples (Full-frame and @ 2:56
Not the smoothest bokeh ever (very nice but not the absolute smoothest) ▶ Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 lens review with samples (Full-frame and @ 5:30
Some chromatic aberration (not as well controlled as the newer GM Mark II) ▶ Ultimate Sony 85mm Lens Battle! New 85mm f1.4 GM II @ 9:21
Bokeh/circle rendition can be cat-eye-ish in the corners (not perfectly round) ▶ Ultimate Sony 85mm Lens Battle! New 85mm f1.4 GM II @ 6:21
Not optically as perfect as the GM Mark II (inferior edge/CA control and overall optical performance) ▶ Ultimate Sony 85mm Lens Battle! New 85mm f1.4 GM II @ 9:28
Some chromatic aberration (purple/green fringing) visible in extreme crops ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Opinion For Video @ 7:47
Slight vignetting wide open ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Opinion For Video @ 12:30
Bokeh can sometimes be distorted or produce funky shapes, especially toward edges ▶ You DON'T NEED the G Master! | Sony 85mm f/1.8 Lens Review @ 1:53
Fewer aperture blades (9 vs G Master's 11) — bokeh may be less consistently round and pleasing ▶ You DON'T NEED the G Master! | Sony 85mm f/1.8 Lens Review @ 4:15
Lacks nano texture coating on front element (more prone to ghosting/glare under harsh light compared to G Master) ▶ You DON'T NEED the G Master! | Sony 85mm f/1.8 Lens Review @ 4:32
Optical quality is limited: glass isn’t great — not particularly sharp or clean compared to more expensive lenses. ▶ Sony 85mm 1.8: Great Lens For The Money, But I’m Selling It @ 2:21
Pronounced chromatic aberration / magenta fringing on high-contrast edges. ▶ Sony 85mm 1.8: Great Lens For The Money, But I’m Selling It @ 2:32
Vignetting when wide open. ▶ Sony 85mm 1.8: Great Lens For The Money, But I’m Selling It @ 3:16
Not as optically 'creamy' (bokeh) as the G Master 85mm f/1.4 — the improvement may not justify the price/weight ▶ The Best Budget Portrait Lens For Sony - 85mm F1.8 @ 1:50

Autofocus (26)

Fly-by-wire focus (electronic focus ring) — reviewer dislikes it; no mechanical aperture ring ▶ My belated review of the Sony 85mm F1.8 Fe Lens for the A7RI @ 0:40
Loses focus more often than the Sony 85mm f/1.8 during high-speed continuous shooting (noticeable frame loss). ▶ A Budget 85mm Portrait lens that doesn't SUCK! - Sony A7iii @ 5:26
Autofocus can struggle when the subject leaves the frame — it can 'freak out' and take time to recover. ▶ A Budget 85mm Portrait lens that doesn't SUCK! - Sony A7iii @ 3:27
Significant/heavy focus breathing in video, which is very noticeable and unattractive for video work. ▶ A Budget 85mm Portrait lens that doesn't SUCK! - Sony A7iii @ 8:42
Focus is 'focus-by-wire' — not ideal for precise manual focus in photo or video. ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 lens | In Depth Long Term Review @ 2:17
No manual aperture ring, which some shooters prefer. ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 lens | In Depth Long Term Review @ 3:10
Focus ring is electronic (for digital focus) and does not have hard stops, which may be a change for users accustomed to mechanical focus rings ▶ SONY 85MM 1.8 REVIEW | IS IT A GOOD LENS? | BOKHE MEDIA @ 1:02
Focus mechanism is fly-by-wire so manual focus isn't precise and response depends on rotation speed (no distance meter feel) ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 Review by Darren Miles @ 1:45
AF still not quite as fast as Canon ultrasonic or Nikon AF-S motors ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 Review by Darren Miles @ 3:42
Lack of an aperture ring (major bummer to the reviewer) ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 | Still Great in 2024? @ 2:58
Unknown/untested performance on fast‑moving subjects — reviewer only tested on static portrait subjects ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 | Still Great in 2024? @ 1:43
Autofocus is not super fast ▶ Wildly Underrated | Sony 85mm f/1.8 FE Review @ 3:53
Focus-by-wire manual focus has no hard stop and requires camera power/connection to operate ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Review | 4K @ 3:05
Manual focus requires several full rotations for major changes (not quick) ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Review | 4K @ 4:26
Pet AF can interfere with human subject AF if not turned off (watch out to disable) ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Review | 4K @ 5:46
Some focus breathing ▶ Ultimate Sony 85mm Lens Battle! New 85mm f1.4 GM II @ 9:23
Noticeable focus breathing — problematic for video ▶ SONY 85mm F/1.8 Full Frame Mirrorless Lens Review @ 1:51
Not included in Sony's focus-breathing-compensation approved lenses (so compensation not available on compatible bodies) ▶ SONY 85mm F/1.8 Full Frame Mirrorless Lens Review @ 2:04
Does not have Sony's newer XD linear motor (uses double linear motor instead), so lacks the latest motor tech ▶ Bought the Sony 85mm 1.8 Lens and WHY YOU SHOULD TOO! @ 2:02
Significant focus breathing — noticeable change in field of view when focusing (problematic for video) ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Opinion For Video @ 6:50
Focus-by-wire feel for manual focus — may be disliked by manual-focus users ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Opinion For Video @ 3:41
No autofocus (explicitly says 'do you get no auto Focus') — conflicting with other statement about autofocus ▶ Sony 85mm 1.8 | BEST Lens for the Money @ 4:19
Manual focus is by-wire and not linear; focus ring isn't smooth — poor for manual focus pulls in video. ▶ Sony 85mm 1.8: Great Lens For The Money, But I’m Selling It @ 3:49
Noticeable focus breathing, and cameras' focus-breathing compensation reserved for higher-end G/G Master lenses so cannot be used for this lens. ▶ Sony 85mm 1.8: Great Lens For The Money, But I’m Selling It @ 4:28
Autofocus not as good as newer or more expensive lenses (noticeably inferior in some situations). ▶ Sony 85mm 1.8: Great Lens For The Money, But I’m Selling It @ 0:40
Focus breathing is present (some visible breathing); may affect autofocus use — reviewer suggests manual focus to avoid wobbling ▶ The Best Budget Portrait Lens For Sony - 85mm F1.8 @ 3:44

Build Quality (23)

Not as heavily weather-sealed as the GM f/1.4—user is cautious about exposing it to water ▶ Sony 85mm 1.8 Worth it? My Honest Review @ 6:07
Slightly heavier than the Sony 85mm f/1.8. ▶ A Budget 85mm Portrait lens that doesn't SUCK! - Sony A7iii @ 4:32
Likely lacks weather sealing (no rear gasket). ▶ A Budget 85mm Portrait lens that doesn't SUCK! - Sony A7iii @ 4:56
Mostly plastic construction (though with metal layer) — implies lower-tier materials compared to higher-end lenses. ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 lens | In Depth Long Term Review @ 1:11
Sony claims moisture/dust resistance but lens lacks a gasket at mount — raises concerns about weather sealing. ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 lens | In Depth Long Term Review @ 3:29
Not waterproof — heavy rain or submersion can damage the lens ▶ SONY 85MM 1.8 REVIEW | IS IT A GOOD LENS? | BOKHE MEDIA @ 1:52
Heavier than many other 85mm f/1.8 offerings from Canon and Nikon ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 Review by Darren Miles @ 1:31
Lacks convincing weather sealing (no rubber gasket); reviewer skeptical about weather resistance ▶ Sony FE 85mm f1.8 - Long Term Lens Review @ 2:30
Body and focus/filter rings are plastic (not metal) ▶ SONY FE 85mm f1.8 | Sony full frame lens review @ 1:53
No weather sealing ▶ SONY FE 85mm f1.8 | Sony full frame lens review @ 2:03
67mm filter thread is small/annoying to thread (can be a nightmare) ▶ SONY FE 85mm f1.8 | Sony full frame lens review @ 2:20
Weather sealing likely not as good as G Master lenses (cheaper lens compromises) ▶ Wildly Underrated | Sony 85mm f/1.8 FE Review @ 2:18
Weather sealing/gasket not obvious or robust; no external evidence though literature claims sealed body ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Review | 4K @ 2:05
Lens hood can block access to the focus ring, making manual focus difficult when hood is attached ▶ SONY 85mm F/1.8 Full Frame Mirrorless Lens Review @ 0:52
Misses some premium features (implied by plastic parts and omitted advanced features) ▶ SONY 85mm F/1.8 Full Frame Mirrorless Lens Review @ 3:00
Compared to the G Master 85 (heavier and bigger) — implies this lens is smaller but suggests GM is larger (not strictly a con of 85mm f/1.8 but mentions size difference) ▶ Bought the Sony 85mm 1.8 Lens and WHY YOU SHOULD TOO! @ 1:25
Construction uses plastic and could be better (not flagship/G Master build) ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Opinion For Video @ 4:13
Not fully weather-sealed (no rubber gasket on mount) — avoid heavy rain/bad weather ▶ You DON'T NEED the G Master! | Sony 85mm f/1.8 Lens Review @ 1:24
Minimal features compared to higher-end lenses (no aperture ring, fewer buttons — entry-level feature set). ▶ 3 Surprising Reasons Sony's 85mm f/1.8 Lens is a Must-Have G @ 0:37
No aperture ring; aperture must be controlled via the camera. ▶ 3 Surprising Reasons Sony's 85mm f/1.8 Lens is a Must-Have G @ 2:11
Not as fast or feature-rich as the G-Master II (G-Master II offers f/1.4, more weight, aperture ring, more buttons). ▶ 3 Surprising Reasons Sony's 85mm f/1.8 Lens is a Must-Have G @ 2:47
Weather resistance is limited — reviewer wouldn't trust it in heavy rain/monsoon despite some resilience ▶ The Best Budget Portrait Lens For Sony - 85mm F1.8 @ 7:26
Less premium (build/weight/possibly features) compared to the G Master version — trade-off for lighter weight and lower price ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 | My thoughts on why I bought it in 2023? @ 2:41

Focal Length/Range (21)

Minimum focus distance is 80 cm, limiting close-up work. ▶ 3 Surprising Reasons Sony's 85mm f/1.8 Lens is a Must-Have G @ 1:22
85mm focal length is relatively tight / less versatile (not ideal as an all-purpose lens) ▶ Sony 85mm 1.8 Worth it? My Honest Review @ 6:37
Close focusing distance is limited (27 inches) — not suitable as a macro lens ▶ My belated review of the Sony 85mm F1.8 Fe Lens for the A7RI @ 6:32
Minimum focus distance prevents getting extremely close—can't focus closer than about 2.63 ft ▶ Is the Sony 85mm f/1.8 the Best Budget Portrait Lens? @ 1:12
Single-purpose lens with limited flexibility — not ideal for adventurous/versatile use ▶ Sony 85mm f1.8 Review @ 4:01
Often swapped out for a 70–200 when versatility is needed (despite being lightweight) ▶ Sony 85mm f1.8 Review @ 4:06
Behaves like ~127.5mm on APS-C, becoming quite tight for framing on crop bodies. ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 lens | In Depth Long Term Review @ 1:56
Relatively long minimum focus distance (0.8 m / 2'7") — not great for very close work. ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 lens | In Depth Long Term Review @ 4:32
Relatively long minimum focus distance (2.63 ft), not ideal for close-up/food or product photography ▶ SONY 85MM 1.8 REVIEW | IS IT A GOOD LENS? | BOKHE MEDIA @ 2:09
85mm focal length is not very versatile — requires being a certain distance to fill the frame ▶ Sony FE 85mm f1.8 - Long Term Lens Review @ 0:46
Not very useful indoors for some situations because you must be far from your subject ▶ Sony FE 85mm f1.8 - Long Term Lens Review @ 1:09
Minimum focus distance is 80 cm, making close-up/product and some indoor work difficult ▶ Sony FE 85mm f1.8 - Long Term Lens Review @ 4:13
Difficult to use indoors for wider shots on crop bodies due to 130mm equivalent field of view (very zoomed in) ▶ Perfect Portrait Lens: Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Review @ 5:10
Cannot get very close to subjects (longer minimum focusing distance) compared with some competitors (e.g., Tamron), limiting close-up detail ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Lens Review (CREATIVE BEAST IN 2020) @ 6:40
Not as fast as some alternatives (it's f/1.8 rather than f/1.4 like the G Master) ▶ The king of lenses! Sony FE 85mm f1.8 @ 1:06
Less light-gathering compared to f/1.4 lenses (one stop difference vs f/2.8 highlighted) ▶ The king of lenses! Sony FE 85mm f1.8 @ 3:26
In small rooms you'd have to back up or get into awkward positions (tiptoes/corners) to frame shots. ▶ Sony FE 85mm f1.8 - The MUST HAVE Wedding Photography Lens @ 4:22
Aperture is f/1.8, not as wide as f/1.4 (lower maximum aperture) ▶ Sony 85mm f1.8 Unboxing | First Impressions @ 7:30
Not a true close-focus/macro lens compared to competitors (e.g., Tamron) with much closer minimum focus ▶ SONY 85mm F/1.8 Full Frame Mirrorless Lens Review @ 1:26
Not everyone will prefer an 85mm prime — may be too tele for those who favor wider primes like 24/35/50mm ▶ Bought the Sony 85mm 1.8 Lens and WHY YOU SHOULD TOO! @ 7:16
Close focus distance is long (80 cm), preventing tight detail or macro-style shots. ▶ Sony 85mm 1.8: Great Lens For The Money, But I’m Selling It @ 3:26

Other (16)

Poor manual-focus feel/performance: focus-by-wire with very little resistance on ring — easy to accidentally misadjust ▶ Sony FE 85mm f1.8 - Long Term Lens Review @ 5:29
No optical stabilization (OSS) — requires steady hands or tripod on non-IBIS bodies ▶ Perfect Portrait Lens: Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Review @ 6:58
Manual focus is electronic only — lacks tactile/mechanical focus feel ▶ Perfect Portrait Lens: Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Review @ 7:24
As a full-frame lens on crop bodies you're using only the center portion — not ideal for some optical performance expectations (tight framing indoors) ▶ Perfect Portrait Lens: Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Review @ 7:49
Prime 85mm is limiting — can't be used for everything and can be restrictive for dynamic wide-ranging filming ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Lens Review (CREATIVE BEAST IN 2020) @ 5:55
Plastic front filter thread — be careful when screwing filters ▶ SONY FE 85mm f1.8 | Sony full frame lens review @ 2:08
Edges/s corners improve when stopped down — some corner softness wide open ▶ SONY FE 85mm f1.8 | Sony full frame lens review @ 5:31
Not ideal for prep/shooting in tight or busy spaces — too telephoto/zoomed in. ▶ Sony FE 85mm f1.8 - The MUST HAVE Wedding Photography Lens @ 3:44
Because it's telephoto, it can be intrusive for informal group/engagement shots where you want to be up close and engage with people — wider lenses (24/35) are preferable there. ▶ Sony FE 85mm f1.8 - The MUST HAVE Wedding Photography Lens @ 3:50
Implied trade-off: f/1.8 chosen to reduce missed focus risk compared with faster lenses (f/1.4, f/1.2) — suggests shallower DOF of faster lenses may increase focus errors. ▶ Sony FE 85mm f1.8 - The MUST HAVE Wedding Photography Lens @ 1:04
Not a luxury-feeling lens and uses some plastics (build not top-end); not fully weather sealed — caution in rain/snow ▶ Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 Lens Review | A Budget Portrait Beast! @ 3:41
Color fringing (purple/green chromatic aberration) noticeable at f/1.8 and f/2.8; reduces by f/4–f/8 ▶ Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 Lens Review | A Budget Portrait Beast! @ 8:50
No optical image stabilization (OSS); shake amplified at 85mm especially for video — depends on camera body IBIS ▶ Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 Lens Review | A Budget Portrait Beast! @ 9:14
Autofocus motor not very fast (especially in video — a bit slow), though silent and accurate ▶ Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 lens review with samples (Full-frame and @ 2:17
Vignetting noticeable at f/1.8 (needs stopping down to f/2.8–f/4 or in-camera correction) ▶ Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 lens review with samples (Full-frame and @ 4:31
Minimum focus distance ~85 cm — not particularly close for close-up work; close-up image quality softer ▶ Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 lens review with samples (Full-frame and @ 4:47

Low Light Performance (14)

Being 85mm, handheld run-and-gun requires IBIS, gimbal, or good stabilization to avoid shake. ▶ 3 Surprising Reasons Sony's 85mm f/1.8 Lens is a Must-Have G @ 1:34
No in-lens image stabilization (unlike some Zeiss alternative) ▶ My belated review of the Sony 85mm F1.8 Fe Lens for the A7RI @ 8:25
Does not have image stabilization (relies on camera body IS) ▶ Sony 85mm f1.8 Review @ 1:06
No in-body stabilization (IBIS) in the lens itself ▶ SONY 85MM 1.8 REVIEW | IS IT A GOOD LENS? | BOKHE MEDIA @ 2:30
No optical image stabilization (OSS) ▶ SONY FE 85mm f1.8 | Sony full frame lens review @ 4:04
No optical image stabilization in the lens ▶ Wildly Underrated | Sony 85mm f/1.8 FE Review @ 2:32
Lacks optical image stabilization (OSS) which the Zeiss Batis offers; may matter on bodies without IBIS ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Review | 4K @ 9:35
No image stabilization (unlike the Zeiss 85mm 1.8 option) ▶ The king of lenses! Sony FE 85mm f1.8 @ 0:59
Does not feature optical image stabilization (OSS) ▶ Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 lens review with samples (Full-frame and @ 0:48
Performance in low light/daylight limited by winter/poor shooting conditions during testing (user couldn't get ideal photos) ▶ Sony 85mm f1.8 Unboxing | First Impressions @ 3:21
Less low-light/subject-separation capability compared to f/1.4 G Master (wider aperture advantage) ▶ You DON'T NEED the G Master! | Sony 85mm f/1.8 Lens Review @ 3:58
No optical image stabilization in the lens ▶ The Best Budget Portrait Lens For Sony - 85mm F1.8 @ 7:17
Not as fast (wider aperture) as the G Master 85mm f/1.4 — implies less shallow depth-of-field and lower light-gathering than 1.4 ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 | My thoughts on why I bought it in 2023? @ 2:39
Potentially misses some shots due to aperture (implied: 1.4's characteristics) — user felt 1.4 might cause missed shots ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 | My thoughts on why I bought it in 2023? @ 4:04

Sharpness (7)

Not at its sharpest wide open at f/1.8 (so images at f/1.8 are not the lens's maximum sharpness) ▶ Is the Sony 85mm f/1.8 the Best Budget Portrait Lens? @ 1:33
Some users may find Sony lenses (including this) too sharp when stopped down (personal preference) ▶ Is the Sony 85mm f/1.8 the Best Budget Portrait Lens? @ 2:05
Edge sharpness falls off a tiny bit at widest apertures ▶ Sony 85mm f1.8 Review @ 2:42
Peak sharpness is around f/5.6–f/8; performance drops at very small apertures (e.g., f/16) ▶ Sony 85mm f1.8 Review @ 3:01
Some edge dullness at f/1.8; edges improve by f/4 ▶ Sony FE 85mm f1.8 - Long Term Lens Review @ 3:53
Not the strongest performer in the corners at wide apertures ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Review | 4K @ 8:08
Corners a little soft on APS-C at wider apertures (improves when stopped down) ▶ Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 lens review with samples (Full-frame and @ 3:44

Value for Money (5)

$599 price is a premium (~20% higher) compared to DSLR competition from Sigma/Canon/Nikon ▶ Sony 85mm f/1.8 Review by Darren Miles @ 10:20
Optical/bokeh performance is close to competitors like Viltrox and Samyang, which may be cheaper or offer f/1.4 advantages ▶ Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Review | 4K @ 10:46
More expensive than typical 85mm f/1.8 lenses, though offers more in return ▶ Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 lens review with samples (Full-frame and @ 5:57
Can be redundant in a kit if you own higher-quality alternatives (e.g., 85mm G Master) or zooms that cover similar focal length. ▶ Sony 85mm 1.8: Great Lens For The Money, But I’m Selling It @ 4:53
G-Master II is much more expensive (almost four times the cost) which may make upgrades less justifiable. ▶ 3 Surprising Reasons Sony's 85mm f/1.8 Lens is a Must-Have G @ 2:54

Overall (3)

Not tested extensively yet — reviewer hasn't fully reviewed or used in all conditions (limited first impressions/testing) ▶ Sony 85mm f1.8 Unboxing | First Impressions @ 3:10
Some disadvantages / people around note disadvantages (general mention of disadvantages) ▶ Sony 85mm 1.8 | BEST Lens for the Money @ 3:49
Can be overwhelming / confusing (can be overwhelming) ▶ Sony 85mm 1.8 | BEST Lens for the Money @ 0:31

Review sources

Sony 85mm f/1.8 Review by Darren Miles by Darren Miles — 17 pros, 8 cons
Sony 85mm f/1.8 lens | In Depth Long Term Review 17 pros, 7 cons
Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Review | 4K by Dustin Abbott — 14 pros, 10 cons
Sony 85mm f1.8 Review 16 pros, 5 cons
Sony FE 85mm f1.8 - Long Term Lens Review by Shane Bethlehem — 14 pros, 7 cons
Perfect Portrait Lens: Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Review by Arthur R — 16 pros, 4 cons
Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 lens review with samples (Full-frame and APS-C) by Christopher Frost — 12 pros, 8 cons
You DON'T NEED the G Master! | Sony 85mm f/1.8 Lens Review by Arran Brown — 15 pros, 5 cons
SONY FE 85mm f1.8 | Sony full frame lens review by Phillip Skraba — 13 pros, 6 cons
Wildly Underrated | Sony 85mm f/1.8 FE Review by Joris Hermans — 14 pros, 5 cons
Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 Lens Review | A Budget Portrait Beast! by Rudy Visuals — 14 pros, 5 cons
My belated review of the Sony 85mm F1.8 Fe Lens for the A7RIII, A9 and a6500 14 pros, 4 cons
Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Opinion For Video by Harv Video/Audio Stuff — 12 pros, 5 cons
3 Surprising Reasons Sony's 85mm f/1.8 Lens is a Must-Have Gem! 10 pros, 6 cons
Is the Sony 85mm f/1.8 the Best Budget Portrait Lens? 10 pros, 6 cons
Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Lens Review (CREATIVE BEAST IN 2020) 13 pros, 3 cons
SONY 85mm F/1.8 Full Frame Mirrorless Lens Review 10 pros, 5 cons
The Best Budget Portrait Lens For Sony - 85mm F1.8 by Mark Bennett's Camera Crisis — 11 pros, 4 cons
SONY 85MM 1.8 REVIEW | IS IT A GOOD LENS? | BOKHE MEDIA 10 pros, 4 cons
Sony 85mm f1.8 Unboxing | First Impressions 11 pros, 3 cons
Sony 85mm 1.8: Great Lens For The Money, But I’m Selling It by Remy Leonard — 6 pros, 8 cons
Sony FE 85mm f1.8 - The MUST HAVE Wedding Photography Lens by Danny Bligh — 9 pros, 4 cons
Sony 85mm 1.8 Worth it? My Honest Review by Pierre T. Lambert — 10 pros, 2 cons
A Budget 85mm Portrait lens that doesn't SUCK! - Sony A7iii by Lee Zavitz — 7 pros, 5 cons
Sony 85mm f/1.8 | Still Great in 2024? 9 pros, 3 cons
The king of lenses! Sony FE 85mm f1.8 9 pros, 3 cons
Bought the Sony 85mm 1.8 Lens and WHY YOU SHOULD TOO! by Sidney Diongzon — 8 pros, 3 cons
Ultimate Sony 85mm Lens Battle! New 85mm f1.4 GM II by Jason Morris — 6 pros, 4 cons
Sony 85mm f/1.8 | My thoughts on why I bought it in 2023? by Mark Friday — 7 pros, 3 cons
Sony 85mm 1.8 | BEST Lens for the Money 5 pros, 3 cons

Frequently asked questions

Is the Sony FE 85mm F1.8 worth buying?

Based on 30 independent YouTube reviews, the Sony FE 85mm F1.8 scores 3.8/5 with 339 positive and 148 negative points mentioned by reviewers, placing it #30 in the Lenses category.

What do reviewers like most about the Sony FE 85mm F1.8?

The most praised aspects are build quality, image quality, autofocus — Build Quality (97 mentions), Image Quality (71 mentions), Autofocus (51 mentions).

What are the most common complaints about the Sony FE 85mm F1.8?

Reviewers most frequently criticize image quality, autofocus — Image Quality (33 mentions), Autofocus (26 mentions).

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