Sony FE 85mm f/1.8: A Sharp, Affordable Portrait Lens Review

The Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 lens has become a favorite among portrait, wedding, and event photographers, as well as videographers, for its exceptional image quality, compact size, and relatively affordable price point. This lens is designed for Sony’s full-frame E-mount cameras but can also be used on APS-C models, where it provides an equivalent focal length of 127.5mm. In this comprehensive review, we will delve into the various aspects of the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8, exploring its features, performance, and overall value.

Key Features and Specifications

Before diving into the performance, let’s take a look at the key specifications of the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8:

• Focal Length: 85mm
• Maximum Aperture: f/1.8
• Minimum Aperture: f/22
• Lens Mount: Sony E-mount
• Format Compatibility: Full-Frame
• Angle of View: 29°
• Minimum Focus Distance: 2.62′ / 80 cm
• Maximum Magnification: 0.13x
• Optical Design: 9 Elements in 8 Groups
• Diaphragm Blades: 9, Rounded
• Image Stabilization: None
• Filter Size: 67 mm
• Dimensions (ø x L): 3.11 x 3.23″ / 78 x 82 mm
• Weight: 13.05 oz / 371 g

Build Quality and Design

The Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 boasts a robust and weather-sealed construction, making it suitable for various shooting conditions. The lens barrel is primarily made of high-quality plastic, which keeps the weight down without sacrificing durability. The focus ring is smooth and well-damped, allowing for precise manual focusing. The lens also features a customizable focus hold button, which can be assigned to various functions through the camera menu.

Image Quality

The Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 truly shines when it comes to image quality. It delivers exceptional sharpness, even at its widest aperture of f/1.8. Images are crisp and detailed across the frame, with minimal distortion or aberrations. The lens also produces beautiful bokeh, thanks to its nine-blade circular aperture, creating smooth and creamy backgrounds that help isolate the subject. Color rendition is accurate and pleasing, making skin tones look natural and vibrant.

Chromatic aberration is well-controlled, even in high-contrast situations. Vignetting is present at f/1.8 but quickly disappears as you stop down the aperture. Overall, the image quality of the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 is outstanding, making it a great choice for photographers who demand the best possible results.

Autofocus Performance

The Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 utilizes a double linear motor for autofocus, which provides fast, accurate, and silent focusing performance. The autofocus system locks onto subjects quickly and reliably, even in low-light conditions. It also tracks moving subjects effectively, making it suitable for capturing action shots. The silent autofocus operation is particularly beneficial for video recording, as it minimizes the risk of distracting noise being picked up by the microphone.

Performance in Different Shooting Scenarios

Portrait Photography

The Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 is an excellent choice for portrait photography. The 85mm focal length provides a flattering perspective, while the wide f/1.8 aperture allows for shallow depth of field, creating beautiful background blur and isolating the subject. The lens delivers sharp and detailed images with accurate color rendition, making skin tones look natural and pleasing. The fast and accurate autofocus system ensures that the subject is always in focus, even when they are moving.

Wedding and Event Photography

The Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 is also a versatile lens for wedding and event photography. Its compact size and lightweight design make it easy to carry around for extended periods. The fast aperture allows for shooting in low-light conditions without having to raise the ISO too high. The lens is also capable of capturing beautiful candid moments, thanks to its fast and accurate autofocus system.

Video Recording

The Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 is a great option for video recording as well. The silent autofocus operation ensures that the microphone does not pick up any distracting noise. The wide aperture allows for shooting in low-light conditions and creating shallow depth of field effects. The lens also delivers sharp and detailed video footage with accurate color rendition.

Alternatives to the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8

While the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 is a fantastic lens, there are other options available in the market that you might want to consider, depending on your budget and specific needs:

• Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM: This is Sony’s premium 85mm lens, offering even better image quality and bokeh than the f/1.8 version. However, it comes at a significantly higher price point. [See also: Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM Review]
• Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art: This lens is a popular third-party option, offering excellent image quality and a wide aperture at a competitive price. [See also: Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art Comparison]
• Rokinon/Samyang 85mm f/1.4 AF: This is a more affordable option, but it lacks the weather sealing and refined autofocus performance of the Sony and Sigma lenses.

Pros and Cons

Here’s a quick summary of the pros and cons of the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8:

Pros:

• Excellent image quality
• Fast and accurate autofocus
• Compact and lightweight design
• Weather-sealed construction
• Affordable price

Cons:

• No image stabilization
• Vignetting at f/1.8

Conclusion

The Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 is an outstanding lens that offers exceptional image quality, fast autofocus, and a compact design at a relatively affordable price. It’s a versatile lens that’s well-suited for portrait, wedding, event, and video photography. While it lacks image stabilization and exhibits some vignetting at f/1.8, these are minor drawbacks that are easily compensated for in post-processing or by using a tripod. If you’re looking for a high-quality 85mm lens for your Sony E-mount camera, the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 is an excellent choice. This lens is a great addition to any photographer’s kit and consistently delivers professional-quality results. The Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 provides exceptional value, making it a must-have for any serious photographer using the Sony E-mount system. This lens is a worthwhile investment, delivering high performance. The Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 is highly recommended.