Sony

Sony SEL85F18/2 85mm F/1.8 Telephoto Prime Lens

4.8 (790 reviews)
F/1.8

Elevate Your Portrait Photography with the Sony 85mm F1.8 Lens The Sony SEL85F18 is a compact and lightweight 85mm mid-telephoto prime lens, perfect for capturing stunning portraits with beautiful background bokeh. Its wide F1.8 aperture and advanced optical design deliver sharp, clear images wit...

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Overview

Elevate Your Portrait Photography with the Sony 85mm F1.8 Lens

The Sony SEL85F18 is a compact and lightweight 85mm mid-telephoto prime lens, perfect for capturing stunning portraits with beautiful background bokeh. Its wide F1.8 aperture and advanced optical design deliver sharp, clear images with exceptional detail.

Specifications:

  • Brand: Sony
  • Model: SEL85F18/2
  • Focal Length: 85mm
  • Aperture: F1.8 - F22
  • Mount: Sony E-Mount
  • Format: Full-Frame
  • Aperture Blades: 9 (Circular)
  • Optical Design: ED glass element
  • Focus System: Double Linear Motor
  • Maximum Magnification: 0.13x
  • Angle of View: 29 degrees
  • Filter Diameter: 67mm
  • Weight: 10.4 ounces

Key Features

Wide F1.8 maximum aperture enables beautiful defocusing effects

9-Blade circular aperture creates beautiful round defocused bokeh

ED glass element for corner-to-corner sharpness

Double Linear motor system for fast, quiet and precise focusing. The maximum magnification ratio is 0.13 and the angle of view is 29 degree

Direct control w/ customizable focus hold button and AF/MF switch.35 mm equivalent focal length (APS-C):127.5

Specifications

Focal Length
85mm
Maximum Aperture
F/1.8
Minimum Aperture
F/2.0
Aperture Blades
9-Blade Circular
Optical Elements
ED glass element
Motor System
Double Linear motor
Maximum Magnification Ratio
0.13
Angle of View
29 degrees
Focus Features
Customizable focus hold button, AF/MF switch
35mm Equivalent Focal Length (APS-C)
127.5mm

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

  • The wide F1.8 maximum aperture allows for beautiful defocusing effects, ideal for isolating subjects.
  • A 9-blade circular aperture helps create smooth, aesthetically pleasing circular defocused bokeh.
  • Equipped with an ED glass element, contributing to corner-to-corner sharpness across the image frame.
  • Double Linear motor system provides fast, quiet, and precise autofocusing for both stills and video.
  • Direct control via a customizable focus hold button and an AF/MF switch enhances usability during shooting.

👎 Cons

  • As a prime lens, it lacks the versatility of a zoom lens, requiring the photographer to physically move to adjust framing.
  • The telephoto 85mm focal length may be too long for shooting in confined spaces or for wide-angle perspectives.
  • While excellent for bokeh, the f/1.8 aperture might introduce some chromatic aberrations at its widest setting.
  • The 0.13 maximum magnification ratio indicates it is not designed for macro photography or extremely close-up subjects.
  • Its 29-degree angle of view is specific to its telephoto nature and may not be suitable for all photographic needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

This lens features a 9-blade circular aperture, which is designed to create beautiful, round, and smoothly defocused bokeh, enhancing the aesthetic appeal of background blur.
An ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass element is incorporated into the lens design to help achieve corner-to-corner sharpness by minimizing chromatic aberrations.
The lens utilizes a Double Linear motor system, which provides fast, quiet, and precise focusing performance, beneficial for both still photography and video recording.
Yes, it includes a customizable focus hold button and an AF/MF (autofocus/manual focus) switch, offering direct and convenient control over focusing modes.
When mounted on an APS-C camera, the 85mm focal length of this lens provides a 35mm equivalent focal length of 127.5mm, offering a more magnified telephoto perspective.
With a maximum magnification ratio of 0.13, this lens is not primarily designed for macro or extremely close-up photography.