Handling and Features
Performance
Verdict
Specification

Sony introduces the FE 85mm f/1.8 lens, a lower cost option for the full frame FE series. This new lens is suitable for the A7 series of full frame mirrorless cameras, and of course can also be employed on the APS-C models, where it gives a “35mm format” equivalent of 127.5mm. There are some stunning 85mm lenses on the market, so let's see how this new Sony lens performs, reviewed here using the Sony Alpha A7R II.

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Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 Handling and Features

The Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 is a chunky lens, but fairly light at 371g. A round bayonet lens hood fits precisely, surrounding a 67mm filter thread. The electronic focusing ring lies immediately behind and is silky smooth in operation. Focusing is down to 0.8m, or 2.63 feet. This gives a maximum magnification of 0.13x, which is sufficiently close for a good close portrait. This is important as 85mm is the classic portrait focal length. As the lens features DMF (Direct Manual Focus) the AF can be tweaked at any time using the manual focusing ring.

Focusing is accurate, swift and silent, thanks to the double linear motor system, a silent direct drive that eliminates the need for gearing.

Closer to the camera body there is the AF/MF switch and a button that holds focus when using AF. And that's it, there are no further adornments or controls. This means there is no focusing scale, nor is there a depth of field scale.

Lens construction is 9 elements in 8 groups, including one ED (Extra Low Dispersion). This somewhat simpler than many current designs. There are 9 circular aperture blades, aiming to create an aperture circular as possible. This should improve the bokeh of the lens, another important point for portraiture in particular. Construction is also dust and moisture resistant, always welcome in any lens.

Although we can achieve an 85mm focal length with many zoom lenses, there is something special about the view of the world through a wide aperture 85mm optic. Subject distance means a perspective ideal for portraits and other close work where a defocused background can be employed to isolate the main subject. As far as faces go, it is a very flattering working distance, yet still close enough to maintain proper communication with the subject.

This 85mm lens handles beautifully in every respect.

Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 Performance

Sharpness is amazing, and well up to anything we could expect from a classy 85mm lens. At the centre, results are already excellent wide open at f/1.8. Also excellent at f/2.8, the lens pushes into being outstanding from f/4 to f/8. It is still excellent at f/11 and f/16, reducing slightly but very good at f/22.

The edges give the centre a run for its money, being excellent from f/1.8 through to f/11. It is still very good at f/16 and only drops at f/22 where edge sharpness is fairly soft.

Clearly, sharpness is up there with the best and the simpler optical design has involved no obvious compromises at all.

Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 MTF Charts

CA (Chromatic Aberration) is very well controlled at the centre of the field but is visible at the edges. For many subjects, this is hardly noticeable, but if necessary it can, of course, be handled in software.

Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 Chromatic Aberration Charts

Flare is perhaps the Achilles heel of the lens. Shooting into the light, contrast falls off dramatically and quite easily. There are no particular signs of internal reflections or image artefacts, but certainly, against the light, we lose the quality and the image becomes hazy.

The lack of distortion is amazing, with the drawing of the lens being virtually perfect. If we are being ultra picky, then distortion can be measured at 0.01% pincushion, but this is as near to zero as makes no difference. Architectural photographers will be well served indeed.

Bokeh is the quality of the out of focus areas in an image. Portraits, flower studies, any subject where a sharp object can be enhanced by a smooth out of focus background. All of these areas are well served as the lens performs so well, with a gorgeously smooth bokeh.

There is no Steady Shot employed within the lens as this is catered for in the latest Sony camera bodies. With this lens and the Sony Alpha A7R II body only a couple of stops advantage seems reliable and predictable. 85mm is a fairly modest telephoto, so most of the review did not use Steady Shot, but did use a tripod where appropriate.

Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 Sample Photos

Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 Other sample images

Value For Money

Most of the 85mm lenses on the market are f/1.4 designs, which are big, heavy and expensive. Sony has produced here a much lower cost option, the FE 85mm f/1.8 being priced at £599. By comparison, the Zeiss Batis 85mm f/1.8 costs £909.

If we look at what the DSLR users have available, there are few 85mm f/1.8 designs. Canon offers the Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM (£339), Nikon the AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G (£430) and Tamron the SP 85mm f/1.8 Di VC USD with image stabilisation (£749).

The new Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 looks good value against most of these, especially when we consider the excellence of its performance.

For more options have a look at the Best Sony E / FE Mount Lenses, or have a look at the Top 27 Best Portrait Lenses.

Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 Verdict

The Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 lens is superb to use, and also superb in many ways in terms of its performance. The lower cost compared to most 85mm lens does not seem to have reduced the performance at all. So full credit to Sony for achieving this. The one weakness is the tendency to flare against the light, which is a shame, but it need not be a deal breaker, depending on the sort of image making we do.

To summarise, an excellent performance from a well-priced lens and one that can easily be Highly Recommended.

Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 Specifications

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