{"id":7125,"date":"2017-04-09T21:59:37","date_gmt":"2017-04-10T02:59:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admiringlight.com\/blog\/?p=7125"},"modified":"2024-09-05T16:28:32","modified_gmt":"2024-09-05T21:28:32","slug":"review-sony-fe-85mm-f1-8","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/admiringlight.com\/blog\/review-sony-fe-85mm-f1-8\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Sony FE 85mm f\/1.8"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Sony full-frame E-Mount lens lineup is beginning to get crowded at the 85mm focal length, but Sony’s latest entry, the FE 85mm f\/1.8, is the first to come in at a relatively affordable price: $598.  The lens joins the existing Zeiss Batis 85mm f\/1.8<\/a> ($1199), the Zeiss Loxia 85mm f\/2.4 ($1399) and the Sony 85mm f\/1.4 GM<\/a> ($1798) at the 85mm focal length, and even shares the same f\/1.8 aperture as the Batis.  However, Sony has done fairly well with their lower cost prime lenses, and if this lens performs, it’ll make for an excellent option for many Sony shooters.  Let’s dive in!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Sony<\/a>
Sony FE 85mm f\/1.8 on the Sony A7 II<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If you haven\u2019t read my reviews before, I do not generally perform resolution tests or make charts to track quality measures.  I take a real world approach to my reviews and evaluate how a lens or camera handles and works in regular use.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Construction and Handling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The FE 85mm f\/1.8 fits into Sony’s lower-cost range for FE mount lenses, so the construction doesn’t feature the tank-like build of the GM line, nor the solid-all metal build of Zeiss’ Batis line, but it nevertheless feels very nice in the hand. The lens is constructed with a metal lens mount and a plastic exterior, though the smooth finish and tight tolerances make it difficult to distinguish from a metal barreled lens.  There is no flex and no movement anywhere on the lens body, and everything is very well put together. The 85mm f\/1.8 is fairly lightweight for a fast 85mm lens, and handles nicely on both my A7 II and the diminutive a6000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The broad ribbed focus ring turns very smoothly, and with a touch of damping, though it does move rather freely.  For manual focus use, Sony has nicely made this lens focus consistently and linearly in manual focus mode, with around a 180 degree turn to move from the fairly close 0.8m minimum focus to infinity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The<\/a>
The Focus Hold button and AF\/MF switch are nice additions at this price point<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There are two other controls placed on the left side of the lens barrel: an AF\/MF switch and a programmable button.  It’s nice to have a focus mode switch on the lens body, and it’s something I wish was present on more Sony lenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The programmable button, which is by default set to the Focus Hold function to keep the lens from refocusing between shots, has been present on a number of Sony lenses over the years, but usually only lenses in the ‘G’ or ‘GM’ series.  Sony has added it to the FE 50mm Macro lens, and now to the 85mm f\/1.8. While focus hold is the standard function, this can be changed to a number of different functions through the camera’s menu system.  I personally have it set to activate EyeAF.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sony states in their literature that the lens is sealed against dust and moisture, but has a caveat that it is “not guaranteed to be 100% dust and moisture-proof.” I take that to mean it should be fine for shooting in a light drizzle, but I wouldn’t trust it to anything beyond that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The<\/a>
The lens hood is thin plastic, but provides reasonable shielding and protection for the front element.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Sony includes a relatively thin plastic lens hood with the 85mm f\/1.8, which snaps on to the front bayonet.  The lens hood can be reversed for storage, and mine snaps solidly into place.  There’s nothing special about the lens hood, but there’s also nothing really bad about it either.  It provides nice shading of the front element and isn’t too large, though the thin plastic feels a bit flimsier than the hoods on some of Sony’s other lenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Autofocus<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The FE 85mm f\/1.8 features a dual-linear focus motor, and unlike the recent FE 50mm f\/1.8, the 85mm f\/1.8’s focus is quite quick and very quiet.  In good indoor light and outdoors, the lens focuses very quickly and in my experience, very accurately as well.  In dimmer light, at least on my A7 II and a6000, the focus can be a little more hit or miss, with occasional hunting, though I found these situations to be fairly rare.  It’s quick enough that the newer bodies with good tracking should have no issues with continuous autofocus in good light, and video users will also be quite satisfied with the very quiet motor.  Below is a shot captured with the subject in motion towards the camera.  I was able to accurately track her eyes, and capture this expression of concern of a potential collision between her scooter and the photographer.  No worries; the crisis was averted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Oh<\/a>
Oh No! – Sony A7 II with Sony FE 85mm f\/1.8 @ f\/2 (continuous AF)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The lens doesn’t feature an image stabilizer, which isn’t a big deal if you’re using a newer body such as the mark II bodies in the A7 series, or the recent a6500, as they all feature in-body image stabilization, but those with older bodies may lean toward’s the Zeiss Batis 85mm, which has an optical stabilizer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Continue: Image Quality<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Image Quality<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Given the very large price difference between the 85mm f\/1.8 and the other 85mm lens options for E-mount, I expected a fair degree of difference in optical performance from the higher priced optics, and while there are definitely some areas where the FE 85mm doesn’t quite perform up to the level of its more expensive counterparts, the compromises in optical quality are remarkably small.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sharpness<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

One area where optical quality does not lack is in image sharpness.  The FE 85mm f\/1.8 is a stunningly sharp lens.  At the widest f\/1.8 aperture, the lens is exceptionally sharp over around 80% of the frame when focused closer up and in the general range of portraiture.  The lens is definitely optimized for these focus distances, as the lens softens a bit at wide apertures as you focus further out.  However, performance is again strong near infinity, especially stopped down a bit. At smaller apertures, the FE 85mm f\/1.8 is very sharp across the entire frame, with only some slight softening at the extreme corners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"At<\/a>
At the window – Sony A7 II with Sony FE 85mm f\/1.8 @ f\/1.8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When wide open at portrait distances, the FE 85mm f\/1.8 looks every bit as sharp as the Zeiss Batis wide open, and might even be slightly sharper.  It provides tremendous pop to the eyes, while fading gently away to the background, lending a nice three-dimensional effect to the images. Here is a 100% crop<\/a> of the image above, taken at f\/1.8.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bokeh<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

85mm lenses are generally a go-to focal length for portraiture, and especially portraits with blurred backgrounds, so the quality of the out of focus rendition is quite important.  The FE 85mm f\/1.8’s bokeh is often very pleasing, though it isn’t perfect.  In most situations, the backgrounds are rendered with a lovely softness, though perhaps with a bit more contrast you may be used to.  There can be some bright-ring outlining at further focus distances in the right circumstances, but these generally aren’t distracting.  There is some mechanical vignetting, which leads to an elongation of specular highlights, but whether this is an issue is personal preference.  There are many samples with different backgrounds in the image samples, so be sure to check those out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Arch<\/a>
Arch of Blossoms – Sony a6000 with Sony FE 85mm f\/1.8 @ f\/1.8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In all, I think the bokeh is rather reminiscent of the bokeh of the Batis 85mm.  It’s reasonably smooth, but isn’t super creamy like the backgrounds rendered by the 85mm f\/1.4 GM.  Still, I think the bokeh is generally quite nice out of the lens.  One area where bokeh does suffer is at distances of around 15-20 feet, where highlights can take a green fringe and look rather unpleasant if the background is busy and high in contrast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Color, Contrast and Chromatic Aberration<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The FE 85mm f\/1.8 produces images with quite high contrast right from f\/1.8.  Images are crisp and vibrant, without being overbearing.  Color is neutral and clean.  Compared to the Batis 85mm, the Sony produces images with a touch less saturation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One area where the FE 85mm f\/1.8 does fare a bit worse than the more expensive 85mm lenses is in chromatic aberration control.  Wide open, lateral CA is fairly well controlled, though lateral CA increases a bit as you stop down.  Still, this type of chromatic aberration is easily corrected with most RAW converters, and in the JPEG files, so its real world impact is minimal.  There is also some longitudinal CA that shows up as a magenta fringe in front of the subject and a green fringe behind.  In some cases, generally at further focus distances, the longitudinal CA can be rather visible, though it’s reasonably well controlled at portrait and closer focus distances. Longitudinal CA is similar to or even slightly better than most lower cost short telephoto lenses from other manufacturers, but it is definitely something that will be visible in many circumstances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Purple fringing on very high contrast edges can also sometimes appear at wide apertures.  Again, this may require correction in some cases, but overall it isn’t out of line with other lenses of this type.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Distortion, Flare and Vignetting<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The FE 85mm f\/1.8 controls distortion quite well.  Uncorrected files show perhaps a touch of barrel distortion, but this isn’t really field relevant, and you’re unlikely to notice it in day-to-day shooting, even when shooting architecture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lens has mixed performance against bright light.  I found shots shooting into bright light with minimal ghosting, and yet in others ghosting can show rather significantly depending on the position of the bright light source.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The<\/a>
The Stare Down – Sony A7 II with Sony FE 85mm f\/1.8 @ f\/2.2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There is also some loss of contrast when shooting something backlit, though post-processing can make up for a lot of this. You can see some of this contrast loss in the image above, taken with the sun to the top right out of frame.  The lens shows a bit of vignetting at wide apertures, but nothing major, and quickly moves to negligible shading as you stop down the lens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In all, I find the optical quality of the FE 85mm f\/1.8 to be on a very high level.  The color and contrast are excellent, the bokeh is generally pleasing and the lens is capable of exceptional sharpness, even wide open.  Considering the reasonable price tag, it’s quite excellent and compares favorably to the Batis 85mm f\/1.8 in most ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Continue: Conclusion and Image Samples<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pros<\/h4>\n\n\n\n