When it comes to portrait photography, the 85mm lens is a favorite, but it can be ludicrously expensive. Can this ultra-cheap option keep up?
Coming to you from Tom Jurjaks, this detailed video explores the 7Artisans 85mm f/1.8 lens. Priced at $299, this lens aims to compete with more established brands like Sony. Jurjaks highlights that while 7Artisans is still new to autofocus lenses, their offerings are appealing due to the cost. However, budget lenses often face challenges in quality control, which is evident in some aspects of this lens, such as the rattling lens hood.
Jurjaks discusses the lens' build quality, noting it feels solid and has an aperture ring, which is a rare feature in this price range. However, the ring lacks clicks, making precise adjustments more difficult. The lens also includes a focus ring with good resistance and an autofocus/manual focus switch. Despite the decent build, there's no weather-sealing, which might be a dealbreaker if you often shoot in challenging conditions. The video underscores that while the build is good for its price, some compromises are inevitable.
Testing the lens in real-life scenarios, Jurjaks took it to a private event during sunset. The autofocus performed well, and the lens produced pleasing images with good bokeh. However, when pixel-peeping, the sharpness at f/1.8 was not impressive, especially in the corners. Stopping down to f/4 improved the sharpness significantly, but it still wasn't the sharpest lens available. Compared to the Yongnuo 85mm, the 7Artisans lens falls short in sharpness but shows less chromatic aberration and fringing.
Jurjaks also tested the lens’ performance against backlight, where it exhibited considerable flaring, which might be aesthetically pleasing for some but a downside for others. Vignetting was present but correctable. One significant drawback is the lack of lens correction profiles in Lightroom, which means you'll have to manually correct distortions and vignetting.
Autofocus reliability is another crucial aspect. In real-life scenarios, autofocus worked well, but during burst shooting, it occasionally lost tracking, similar to the Yongnuo lens. The Sony 85mm lens outperformed both in autofocus reliability. Jurjaks noticed that while casual shooting felt fine, detailed analysis revealed some missed focus shots, especially in fast-moving subjects.
Jurjaks outlines three scenarios to help decide if this lens is right for you. If you're a casual shooter looking for an affordable option, the lens is worth considering, though the Yongnuo offers better sharpness. For pixel-peepers or demanding users, the lens may not meet your expectations, and you might be better off with Sony. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Jurjaks.
I bought a Yongnuo 85mm DF DSM for my full frame Sony with similar specs quite some time ago and it is absolutely one of the best lenses in my kit. I also got a Yongnuo YN50, which is a terrific lens on my old APSC. NOW, I could have paid ten times the price for some Sony GM lens that MIGHT slightly outperform them and would indeed have a ton of extra features. But I have zero regrets. Plus, if I bust them, I'm not going to cry myself to sleep for a week. I'll just buy them again. Finally, my Tamron 70-300 is so damn good it is scary. While not a fast tell zoom with a max of f4.5, the optics are impeccable. You can buy all three of these lenses and have a superb inexpensive set for less than ONE Sony G or GM lens. Price isn't everything and the Chinese companies are really pushing out some high quality optics lately. TTAetisans and 7Artisans also have very fine products.