| Image: Sirui |
Sirui, a company best known for its relatively inexpensive tripods and cinema lenses, has announced a lens that may appeal to photographers and videographers looking for an inexpensive portrait lens: a full-frame 85mm F1.4 with autofocus for Nikon Z-mount, Sony E-mount, and Fujifilm X-mount. On the latter it’ll provide a roughly 128mm full-frame equiv. focal length.
The company says the lens is part of its Aurora series, though it’s currently the only one bearing that nameplate; that does seem to suggest that we can expect more like it in the future.
The lens features an AF/MF switch, an autofocus lock button, and a switch to control whether the aperture ring is clicked or clickless. The company also claims it has “dustproof and waterproof construction” and a fluorine coating on the front element to help repel oils and water.
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| Image: Sirui |
The lens has 14 elements in 9 groups: 1 aspherical lens, 2 ED elements, and 3 HRI elements. It has a 15-blade aperture and a minimum focusing distance of 0.85m (2 ft., 9.5″). The E-mount version weighs 540g (1.2lb), while the X and Z-mount versions are 10 and 30g heavier, respectively.
The Aurora 85mm F1.4 has a 67mm thread and a USB-C port on the lens mount for updating its firmware.
While fast 85mm lenses with autofocus aren’t exactly rare – there’s even already another third-party 85 F1.4 for the notoriously locked-down Nikon Z mount from Meike – it’s nice to see another option hit the market, especially one with so many features. It’ll be interesting to see what the image quality is like, especially given the relatively affordable price point Sirui is selling it at; the lens will normally retail for $599, but the company is doing an ‘early bird’ pricing promotion until December 31st which knocks it down to $499 if you buy it directly from them.
Sirui Aurora 85mm F1.4 Specifications
| Principal specifications | |
|---|---|
| Lens type | Prime lens |
| Max Format size | 35mm FF |
| Focal length | 85 mm |
| Image stabilization | No |
| Lens mount | Fujifilm X, Nikon Z, Sony E |
| Aperture | |
| Maximum aperture | F1.4–16 |
| Minimum aperture | F1.4–16 |
| Aperture ring | Yes |
| Number of diaphragm blades | 15 |
| Optics | |
| Elements | 14 |
| Groups | 9 |
| Special elements / coatings | 1 aspherical, 2 ED, 3 HRI |
| Focus | |
| Minimum focus | 0.85 m (33.46″) |
| Maximum magnification | 0.1152× |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Motor type | Stepper motor |
| Distance scale | No |
| DoF scale | No |
| Physical | |
| Weight | 540 g (1.19 lb) |
| Diameter | 80 mm (3.15″) |
| Length | 102 mm (4.02″) |
| Sealing | Yes |
| Colour | Black |
| Filter thread | 67 mm |
| Hood supplied | Yes |
| Tripod collar | No |