This Affordable 85mm Lens Is a Hidden Gem

The market is saturated with a wide array of 85mm lenses, ranging in price from a couple hundred to well over $2,000. While one might assume a direct relationship between cost and quality, there are exceptions offering outstanding image quality at a fraction of the price. The Yongnuo 85mm f/1.8S DF DSM is one such lens, and this detailed video review showcases the performance and image quality it offers in use.

Coming to you from Toms Jurjaks, this awesome video review takes a look at the Yongnuo 85mm f/1.8S DF DSM lens for Canon RF, Nikon Z, and Sony E full frame cameras. Offered at under $400, the 85mm f/1.8 is certainly on the more affordable side of such lenses, which makes it an intriguing option for portrait and wedding shooters, more so when you consider the impressive image quality it offers for the price. Although the f/1.8 aperture of this lens is narrower than the typical f/1.4 found in many 85mm lenses, it's crucial to note that the difference is less than a full stop. Given the advanced ISO performance of contemporary cameras, this disparity is essentially negligible. In terms of depth of field, the f/1.8 aperture is more than adequate, providing a sufficiently narrow focus plane along with abundant bokeh. Check out the video above for Jurjaks' full thoughts on the lens. 

Alex Cooke's picture

Alex Cooke is a Cleveland-based portrait, events, and landscape photographer. He holds an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and a doctorate in Music Composition. He is also an avid equestrian.

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