Sony FE 85mm F1.8 E-mount lens review by QuietOC
 QuietOC#44491 date: Apr-3-2020 | |
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| sharpness: 4 color: 4 build: 3 distortion: 4 flare control: 4 overall: 3.8 | tested on:
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| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | Lensbaby Twist 60 F2.5 Sigma 65 F2 DG DN C Sigma EX 70 F2.8 DG Macro Samyang 75 F1.8 Samyang AF 85 F1.4 Tamron SP 85 F1.8 USD Canon EF 85 F1.8 USM Minolta MD 85 F2 Sony 85 F2.8 SAM Tamron SP 90 F2.5 Macro Canon EF 100 F2 USM Minolta AF 100 F2 Minolta MC 100 F2.5 Minolta AF 100 F2.8 Soft Focus Minolta AF 100 F2.8 Macro D Minolta AF 100 F2.8 Macro RS |
| price paid: | 398 USD (used) |
| positive: | Quiet 30 FPS tracking Lens Compensations Hood included Sealing? |
| negative: | Axial CA/purple fringing Busy backgrounds AF-S problems on A7III Focus breathing Lack of distance scale Metal surfaces Plastic filter threads Wide - 82.1 to 81.4 mm according to DXOMark |
| comment: | After lugging the Tamron SP 85mm F1.8 around last week I decided to make an offer for this lens. This was the most I've even spent on a single lens so far. This came out the same year as the Tamron and is $150 cheaper than that lens--suggesting a lower end lens. Canon has discounted their EF 85mm F1.8 USM to less than half the price of this Sony. First copy was "Made in Vietnam" like Tamron's OSD primes. The second copy is "Made in CHINA". Unfortunately, I had AF-S issues using this lens on the A7III. Often the camera will confirm focus and not move when given an out-of-focus scene. It spends a good deal of time racking focus in AF-S on both the A7III and A6000. It is quicker in AF-C. It did work better in AF-S on the A7RII. Adapted 85mm F1.8's lock focus much quicker in AF-S. There are currently no firmware updates for the lens. I purchased a second used copy of this lens after being disappointed with the AF-C performance of the Samyang 85 F1.4 on the A7RIV. This lens seems optically similar to the previous copy despite originating from a different country. Sony Fast Hybrid AF-C performance is the big selling feature of this lens. This lens continues the styling of the early FE lenses like the 1.8/55 Sonnar instead of the newer G and GM primes. The anodized black finish looks nice when brand new. However the parts that extend out the front are plastic. I prefer soft control surfaces and metal filter threads. The redundant MF switch is a nod to cheap SLR lenses of the past, and it has a focus hold button like 1988 Minolta lenses. While it is plenty sharp wide-open there is a high amount purple fringing--like the older Canon while backgrounds are busier and less blurred. The majority of users however rank this lens highly. I would say it has nicer rendering the later Sony FE primes like the compact G's and 1.8/35. I prefer the rendering of the lowly FE 50 F1.8. Some of the native competition has similar optical issues with slower focusing. The Samyang 75 F1.8 at least had much less purple fringing. I prefer the even shorter Sigma 65mm F2 DG DN C. |
rating summary
- total reviews: 15
- sharpness: 4.90
- color: 4.93
- build: 4.47
- distortion: 4.80
- flare control: 4.67
- overall: 4.75