Sony FE 85mm 1.8

Moderately fast (as opposed to insanely fast) 85mm or 100mm lenses are generally an easy choice unless something went terribly wrong during the design phase. Still, honours where honours are deserved - the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 is an epic lens. It combines outstanding sharpness with a buttery bokeh which is a quite rare combination actually. Lenses that are pushing sharpness are usually not quite as smooth when it comes to the quality of the bokeh. Lateral CAs, as well as image distortions, are low. In terms of weaknesses, we'd list the bokeh fringing - albeit it isn't any worse than the competitors, a fairly high RAW vignetting at f/1.8 and a reduced quality at very close focusing distances (if that matters in this lens class). The build quality of the lens is surprisingly high considering the fact that the lens is primarily targeting the consumer market. It's a tightly assembled, all-metal construction and it's weather-sealed, too. Manual focusing (by wire) works nicely and the auto-focusing speed is above average. And to complete the nice story, all that is available at a very affordable price. Therefore, unless you really need that extra speed of a 85mm f/1.4 (and most don't really), we finish with ... highly recommended!

The Sony FE 85mm f1.8 is the smallest, lightest and cheapest large aperture 85mm prime lens that autofocuses on Sony mirrorless bodies. It performs quite well and gives you the reach and distinct Bokeh of a 85mm f1.8 lens which is ideal for portrait and street shooters. Should the photographic subject require highest sharpness or lower longitudinal CAs it's easy to achieve by stopping the lens down to f2.8 or f4.0 - which is helped in many situations by the three stop benefit of the image stabilization provided by the Sony A7 bodies. All in all the Sony FE 85mm f1.8 clearly earns a Recommended!