Monday, June 8, 2026
HomeCamera GearGuide to the best Portrait Lenses - Sony A7/A9/A1 series

Guide to the best Portrait Lenses – Sony A7/A9/A1 series


Guide to the best Portrait Lenses – Sony A7/A9/A1 series

We summarize our experience with all the native E-mount and a few legacy lenses in the 85-200mm bracket for the Sony A7/A9/A1 series to give you a compact and independent resource for choosing the best portrait lens for your needs.

We also have a general guide to FE-lenses, 9-18mm ultra wide angle lenses, guide to 20-28mm wide angle lenses, 35mm lenses, 50mm lenses and macro lenses.

Unlike most other review sites we have no association with any lens manufacturer apart from occasionally loaning a lens for a review. No fancy trips and meals.

Before any short introduction we tell you how long we have used a lens and if we have borrowed it from a manufacturer. But in most cases we have bought the lenses new from retail stores or on the used market. 

If we have left any question unanswered please leave a comment or contact us on social media and we will do our best to answer it.

If you purchase the lens through one of the affiliate-links in this article we get a small compensation with no additional cost to you.

Last update: May 2026,  Meike 85mm 1.4 FF STM added, Viltrox AF 85mm 1.4 Pro added, Viltrox AF 85mm 2.0 Evo added, Sigma 135mm 1.4 DG Art added, Laowa 200mm 2.0 AF C-Dreamer added, Sigma 200mm 2.0 DG OS Sports added, Zeiss Otus 100mm 1.4 added, many additional changes

Thanks to Simeon Kolev for helping out with nice sample images!

Sony FE 85mm 1.4 GM II

Recommended

  • excellent sharpness from f/1.4 under any condition
  • bokeh (mostly)
  • very good Coma correction
  • very good CA correction
  • low distortion
  • build quality/handling
  • very fast AF (much better than predecessor)
  • smaller and lighter than the MK I version

Sony did here, what they always do with their MK II GM lenses: they increased resolution and contrast while making the lens lighter and smaller and adding more capable AF. For me the AF is the main selling point, as I personally prefer the MK I’s bokeh and don’t need this high level of resolution and contrast in a portrait lens.

640g | $1798 | Review | aperture seriessample images

buy from amazon.com | amazon.de | ebay.com | ebay.de | B&H (advertisement/affiliate links)

sony fe 85mm 1.4 gm mk ii 2 mark bokeh master sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma astrophotography z6 z7 z8 z9
Nikon Zf | Megadap ETZ21Pro | Sony FE 85mm 1.4 GM II | f/1.4

Sony FE 85mm 1.4 GM

  • Superior bokeh rendering thanks to optimized optical design (less cat’s eyes compared to competition) and XA elements (no onion ring structures despite usage of aspherical elements)
  • Slightly soft and gentle rendering at f/1.4, sharpens up considerably on stopping down to only f/1.6
  • Amazing contrast and resolution across frame stopped down
  • GM build quality with aperture ring, AF/MF switch and additional button
  • A bit big, heavy, quite expensive and not the fastest AF

This is not the highest resolving lens wide open on this list, but one of those with the most beautiful bokeh rendering.

825g | $1298 | Review | aperture seriessample images

buy from amazon.com | amazon.de | B&H | ebay.com | ebay.de (advertisement/affiliate links)

Sony FE 85mm 1.4 GM gmaster portrait bokeh sharpness a7rII a7rm3 a7riii 42mp review flare gegenlicht contralight backlit backlight uv light ultraviolet
Sony A7rII | Sony FE 85mm 1.4 GM | f/1.4

Sigma 85mm 1.4 Art DG DN

Recommended

  • Very high resolution and contrast already at maximum aperture (higher than Sony FE 85mm 1.4 GM and Sigma 85mm 1.4 Art DSLR version)
  • Great correction of color aberrations
  • Bokeh im some scenarios not as smooth as Sony FE 85mm 1.4 GM but comes very close
  • Comparably low weight and reasonable size

This might be Sigma’s best balanced f/1.4 Art prime so far. With a very complex design they managed to create a lens which is sharper yet almost 200g lighter than the Sony 85mm 1.4 GM. The bokeh connoisseur might still prefer one of the other options.

625g | $1089 | Review

buy from Amazon.de | B&H | ebay.com (advertisement/affiliate links)

Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art | f/1.4

Sigma 85mm 1.4 Art (former DSLR design)

  • Very high resolution and contrast already at maximum aperture (higher than Sony FE 85mm 1.4 GM)
  • Bokeh not as smooth as Sony FE 85mm 1.4 GM and Sigma 105mm 1.4 Art
  • Huge and heavy

Now that the mirrorless version (see entry above) has been released there is little reason to get this lens.

1130g | $1099 | Lenstip Review

buy from amazon.com | amazon.de | B&H | ebay.com | ebay.de (advertisement/affiliate links)


Samyang 85mm 1.4 AF MK I and MK II

  • high resolution and contrast from f/1.4 everywhere in the frame
  • smooth Bokeh but stronger cat’s eye effect than Sony FE 85mm 1.4 GM
  • good CA correction
  • low distortion
  • customizable button and switch (MK II only)
  • MK II is the lightest 85mm 1.4 AF lens for E-mount

Nicer bokeh than the FE 1.8/85 and sharper than the GM 1.4/85 in the center – this is a really attractive portrait lens. This lens has been updated to an MK II version with unchanged optics but improved mechanical design (lower weight) and electronics.

MKI: 568g | $515 | Lenstip Review
MKII: 509g | $799 

buy from amazon.com | amazon.de | ebay.com | ebay.de | B&H (advertisement/affiliate links)


Sirui 85mm 1.4 Aurora

Budget Recommendation

  • very nice bokeh
  • good sharpness and contrast from f/1.4 at portrait distances and infinity
  • very good CA correction
  • handling with similar button layout as Sony’s GM lenses
  • AF performance and flare resistance could be better
  • one of the smallest and lightest 85mm 1.4 AF lenses

If you don’t need class leading autofocus and you are not shooting in backlight all the time, I don’t see a reason why you wouldn’t be happy with this lens though. Considering you can get this for 500 bucks new, it is quite the bargain actually.

539g | $499 | Review

buy from amazon.com | amazon.de | B&H | ebay.com | ebay.de (advertisement/affiliate links)

sirui 85mm 1.4 aurora fe af gm sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma astrophotography z6 z7 z8 z9
Sony A7III | Siriu 85mm 1.4 Aurora | f/1.4

Meike 85mm 1.4 FF STM

  • good sharpness except for the corners
  • nice bokeh
  • low distortion
  • good CA correction
  • nice sunstars
  • average Coma correction
  • average to slightly lower than usual vignetting
  • flare resistance leaves a lot to be desired
  • AF is accurate but a bit slow
  • AF/MF switch, lens button, aperture ring

This Meike 85mm 1.4 FF STM offers a solid performance at an affordable price, but I think most people looking for one of the not so pricey 85mm 1.4 lenses would be better off with the aforementioned Sirui 85mm 1.4 Aurora for being significantly smaller and lighter.

Meike already announced a successor to this lens, the Meike 85mm 1.4 MIX II

800g | $400 | Review

buy from MEIKE StoreAmazon (advertisement/affiliate links) 

Nikon Zf | Meike 85mm f/1.4 | f/1.4

Viltrox AF 85mm 1.4 Pro

  • very high sharpness from f/1.4 at portrait distances and infinity
  • nice bokeh
  • good CA correction
  • good flare resistance
  • low distortion
  • average Coma correction and vignetting
  • fast AF
  • nice build quality/handling
  • AF/MF switch, lens button, aperture ring

This Viltrox AF 85mm 1.4 FE Pro shows a performance which in many categories is on par with the Sony FE 85mm 1.4 GM II and it offers surprisingly good flare resistance. It is a bit bigger and heavier than some of the alternatives and doesn’t offer the smoothest bokeh though.

792g | $598 | Review

buy from manufacturer’s shop (use the code “BK85145OFF” for 5% discount) | amazon.com | amazon.de | B&H | ebay.com | ebay.de (advertisement/affiliate links) 

viltrox 85mm 1.4 lab fe pro af bokeh master gm sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma astrophotography z6 z7 z8 z9
Sony A7III | Viltrox AF 85mm 1.4 FE Pro | f/1.4

Sony FE 85mm 1.8

  • good sharpness from f/1.8
  • Bokeh is good but not excellent
  • Shows some purple fringing wide open in harsh light
  • very fast AF
  • Almost no distortion, ok vignetting & loCA correction
  • Small size and weight
  • AF/MF-switch, lens button and linear MF come in handy.

Good image quality combined with very fast AF and small size/weight made it an interesting option for Sony portrait photographers when it was released. In the meantime the competitors caught up though, so be sure to check out the Sirui 85mm 1.4 Aurora and the Viltrox 85mm 1.8 AF FE II.

371g | $498 | Review | aperture seriessample images | Shootout Sony 1.8/85 vs. 1.4/85 GM

buy from ebay.de | ebay.com | amazon.com | amazon.de (advertisement/affiliate links)

©Simeon Kolev

Zeiss Batis 85mm 1.8

  • very good resolution and contrast
  • low CA
  • very good flare resistance
  • average distortion and vignetting
  • larger than some other 85mm 1.8 lenses

Next to the latest 85mm 1.4 lenses (e.g. Sigma 85mm 1.4 DG DN Art, Sirui 85mm 1.4 Aurora, Samyang 85mm 1.4 AF II) this surely looks outdated and overpriced.

452g | $1249 | Review

buy from amazon.com | buy from eBay | B&H (advertisement/affiliate links)


Viltrox AF 85mm 1.8 FE II

Budget Recommendation

  • very nice bokeh for an 85mm 1.8 lens, better than Sony FE 85mm 1.8
  • good sharpness
  • comparably strong but easy to correct pincushion distortion
  • lacks controls compared to some of the other lenses
  • MKI also available relabeled as Tokina Firin 85mm 1.8

We reviewed the first version on Sony E and the second version on Nikon Z. This is a very strong performer as it combines good sharpness with very smooth and appealing bokeh. A good option for who is on a budget and still wants a portrait lens with great bokeh. The Sirui 85mm 1.4 Aurora is only $100 more, the same weight and offers the full set of controls, so be sure to check out that one as well.

540g | 399$ | Review (MKI) | Review (MKII) | Sample images

buy from B&H | ebay.comebay.de (advertisement/affiliate links)


Viltrox AF 85mm 2.0 Evo

  • very good contrast and resolution at all distances from f/2.0
  • nice bokeh at close to mid distances
  • very good CA correction
  • good flare resistance
  • low distortion
  • average Coma correction and vignetting
  • fast and silent AF
  • small and lightweight
  • AF/MF switch, lens button, aperture ring

While this Viltrox 85mm 2.0 offers an impressive optical performance in a small package, for portraiture I would prefer the aforementioned Viltrox AF 85mm 1.8 II for its significantly more appealing bokeh rendering especially at longer distances.

338g | $275 | Review

buy from manufacturer’s shop | amazon.com | amazon.de | B&H | ebay.com | ebay.de (advertisement/affiliate links) 


Zeiss Loxia 85mm 2.4 (MF)

  • gentle and unobtrusive bokeh rendering
  • due to small lens diameter cat’s eyes are quite pronounced
  • Amazing contrast and resolution across frame at all apertures
  • Almost no distortion, good flare resistance, very nice sunstars
  • A bit on the heavy side and quite expensive, otherwise nice handling

Too heavy and expensive compared to the modern 85mm 1.4 lenses.

594g | $1449 | Review | aperture seriessample images

buy from amazon.com | amazon.de | B&H | ebay.com | ebay.de (advertisement/affiliate links)

carl zeiss loxia 85mm 2.0 sonnar sony a7 a7r a7r2 a7rm2 alpha alpha7 review portrait head shot black white
Sony A7rII | Zeiss Loxia 85mm 2.4 | f/2.4

Sony FE 90mm 2.8 Macro OSS

  • This is a very sharp lens. From wide open you will get excellent results wherever you place you subject.
  • Bokeh is very smooth without onion rings. Some won‘t like the stronger cat-eyes. You are of course limited in how much you can blur the background by the moderate speed.
  • One of the bigger and more expensive lenses on this list. AF isn’t the fastest.

This is a good choice if you want to cover a wide range of applications. It works well enough for portraits but if that is your main focus then some of the other lenses are probably a better choice.

602g | $1098 | Review

buy from Amazon.com | Amazon.de | Ebay (advertisement/affiliate Links)


Sony FE 100mm 2.8 STF OSS

  • This lens uses an apodization filter to progressively darken the bokeh balls like a neutral density filter farther away from center. If the effect is used efficiently, the bokeh won’t have any hard edges and will look like gaussian blur that was applied afterwards.
  • Although this lens has a bright aperture of f/2.8, it has a very bad transmission (T5.6) and will behave like a f/5.6 lens in exposure. Therefore, this lens is more limited to good weather applications or tripod work.
  • This lens is very sharp, most optical errors are well corrected and it offers a maximum magnification of 1:4.

This is a special purpose lens with unique bokeh. Check out the samples in our review to decide if the look is for you.

700g | $1498 | Review

buy from Amazon.com | Ebay.com | B&H (advertisement/affiliate links)


Sigma 105mm 1.4 Art (former DSLR design)

  • Similar design criteria to Sony FE 85mm 1.4 GM with emphasize on smooth out of focus rendering and therefore called “Bokeh Master” by Sigma
  • low optical vignetting
  • Extremely high resolution and contrast already at maximum aperture
  • Huge, heavy and expensive lens, make sure that 20mm more are worth it for you to choose it over one of the 85mm 1.4 lenses

If weight is no concern and you really want 105mm and not 85 have a closer look at this one. One of the few lenses combining extremely high contrast and resolution with very appealing bokeh rendering.

1640g | $1100 | Review

buy from amazon.com | amazon.de | B&H | ebay.com | ebay.de (advertisement/affiliate links)

sigma 105mm 1.4 art dg hsm bokeh master sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma astrophotography z6 z7 z8 z9
Nikon Zf | FTZ II | Sigma 105mm 1.4 DG HSM Art | f/1.4

Voigtlander APO 110mm 2.5 Macro (MF)

  • Since it is a manual focus macro lens, focus throw is a bit steep at portrait distances but still manageable.
  • Very smooth bokeh with average cat’s eyes. The aperture shape is decagonal stopped down.
  • One of the sharpest lenses in this guide. Not that it is important for a portrait lens.
  • Excellent CA correction.
  • Big, heavy and expensive.

Not a lens you buy first and foremost as a portrait lens but it can still be used for that purpose.

771g | $899 | Review

buy from B&H | amazon.com | amazon.de | ebay.com (advertisement/affiliate links)


Sigma 135mm 1.4 DG Art

Highly Recommended

  • amazing bokeh
  • very high contrast and resolution at portrait distances and infinity
  • very good CA correction 
  • very good Coma correction
  • very good Flare resistance
  • average vignetting
  • medium uncorrected pincushion distortion
  • fast and reliable AF
  • build quality/handling
  • size/weight surprisingly low for a 135mm f/1.4 lens

Simply an amazing lens. If you wanted to buy the Sony FE 135mm 1.8 GM, consider if you can carry around 400g more, and if so: buy this lens instead. 

1335g | $1899 | Review

buy from Amazon.com | Amazon.de | ebay.com | ebay.de | B&H (advertisement/affiliate links)

sigma 135mm 1.4 art dg aizu bokeh master sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma astrophotography z6 z7 z8 z9 zf a1 a1ii a9 a9ii l-mount
Nikon Zf | Megadap ETZ21pro | Sigma 135mm 1.4 DG Art | f/1.4

Sony FE 135mm 1.8 GM

Recommended

  • Very high resolustion and contrast
  • Samples show smooth bokeh, low CA and moderate cat’s-eyes
  • Better AF than the E-Mount Sigma 1.8/135, especially in low light
  • Flare resistance could be better

The 1.8/135 GM is an ultra high resolving lens with very fast autofocus. Bokeh is very good but not as butterly smooth as Sony FE 85mm 1.4 GM or Sigma 105mm 1.4 Art. Too expensive compared to some competitors, especially the aforementiond Sigma 135mm 1.4 DG Art.

950g | $2248 | Review

buy from amazon.com | amazon.de | ebay.com | ebay.de | B&H (advertisement/affiliate links)

Sony A7iii | Sony FE 1.8/135 GM | f1.8

Samyang 135mm 1.8 AF

Recommended

  • very high contrast and resolution (in the field same as Sony FE 135mm 1.8 GM)
  • very nice and smooth bokeh
  • very low amount of longitudinal CA
  • lower distortion and optical vignetting than the Sony FE 135mm 1.8 GM
  • Flare resistance could be better
  • lighter than the Sony FE 135mm 1.8 GM but similarly sized

A great option for those that cannot or do not want to afford the aforementioned Sony lens or simply don’t need its impeccable AF performance for sports applications

772g | $799 | Review

buy from B&H | amazon.comamazon.deebay.comebay.de (advertisement/affiliate links)

©Simeon Kolev

Sigma 135mm 1.8 Art (former DSLR design)

  • Class leading resolution and high contrast already at maximum aperture
  • Bokeh not as smooth as Sony FE 85mm 1.4 GM and Sigma 105mm 1.4 Art but still on a high level
  • Huge and heavy.

This is a slightly smaller option compared to the Sigma 105mm 1.4 and a cheaper option compared to the GM 135mm 1.8, but the Samyang 135mm 1.8 is a way more appealing option thanks to being designed for mirrorless cameras and not a DSLR lens with built-in adapter

1130g | $1085 | Lenstip Review

buy from amazon.com | amazon.de | B&H | ebay.com | ebay.de (advertisement/affiliate links)


Viltrox AF 135mm 1.8 FE LAB

  • nice bokeh in most situations with low optical vignetting (cat’s eyes)
  • good sharpness at all distances
  • very good CA correction
  • good coma correction
  • good build quality
  • too large and heavy compared to the competitors

For a little more money you can get a used copy of the Sony FE 135mm 1.8 GM, which performs better in several categories and offers outstanding AF. Then there is also the Samyang AF 135mm 1.8 FE. Its performance is pretty much on par with this Viltrox lens, yet it is way lighter. Therefore, despite being a good lens by itself, I find this Viltrox a bit hard to recommend.

1234g | $899 | Review

buy from manufacturer’s shop | Pergear | Amazon.com | Amazon.de | ebay.com | ebay.de | B&H (advertisement/affiliate links)

viltrox 135mm 1.8 lab fe pro af bokeh master gm sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma astrophotography z6 z7 z8 z9
Sony A7III | Viltrox 135mm 1.8 LAB | f/1.8

Zeiss Batis 135mm 2.8

  • Extremely sharp and contrasty across the frame and low aberrations from f/2.8.
  • Bokeh is good but not as good as larger faster 135s when stopped down
  • Silent, fast and reliable AF, OSS, weather sealed,
  • Flare resistance is good
  • Quite large compared to classic simpler f2.8 lenses, but not too heavy
  • No lens accessories like AF/MF switch, button or aperture ring, non linear MF

A premium lens with very good image quality in a relatively compact body. The very high price tag, the lack of switches/buttons and the moderate speed may take away some of its appeal.

614g | $1299 | Review

buy from amazon.com | amazon.de | ebay.com | B&H (advertisement/affiliate links)


Laowa 200mm 2.0 AF C-Dreamer

  • nice and a lot of bokeh
  • very good sharpness and contrast from f/2.0 at portrait distances and infinity
  • good coma correction
  • correction of longitudinal CA (barely)
  • low distortion
  • average vignetting
  • flare resistance leaves something to be desired
  • nice build quality
  • fully working rear filter drawer
  • fast AF
  • reasonable size/weight

Some lenses just have bad timing and this is one of those. Had Sigma not released the Sigma 135mm 1.4 DG Art at roughly the same time (and for $100 less even), I would have praised this Laowa as the “affordable” and portable long tele lens with 100mm entrance pupil. Now I have to say: for portraiture I would rather recommend the Sigma 135mm 1.4 lens, having roughly the same entrance pupil size but a more favourable working distance.

1778g | $1999 | Review

buy from manufacturer’s homepage | ebay.com | ebay. de | B&H (advertisement/affiliate links) 

laowa af c-dreamer aura 200mm 2.0 f/2.0 super tele fast 2025 sport reportage press review 42mp sony nikon z 61mp z6 z7 z8 z9 a1 a9 a9ii a1ii a7riv a7rv contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting a7v ac7 zf
Nikon Zf | Laowa 200mm 2.0 AF C-Dreamer | f/2.0

Sigma 200mm 2.0 DG OS Sports

We didn’t get our hands on this one yet. From everything we have seen so far it looks like a very good lens and in terms of resolution and contrast even a step up from the already amazing 200mm 2.0 lenses released by Nikon and Canon during the (D)SLR era. As a portrait lens it is completely overshadowed by Sigma’s 135mm 1.4 DG Art (which was released a few months later) though, as that lens features the same entrance pupil size, but at a more useful focal length and can essentially be cropped to a 200mm 2.1 image with little optical vignetting. Seeing their pricing in relation to each other also still leaves me wondering what the hell Sigma was thinking here. 

1800g | $3299 | Lenstip Review

buy from Amazon.comebay.com | ebay.de | B&H (advertisement/affiliate links)


Tamron 70-180mm 2.8 Di III VC VXD G2

  • very good sharpness
  • nice bokeh in most situations
  • fast autofocus
  • versatilve minimum focus distance (now also with AF)
  • very good correction of longitudinal CA
  • comparably compact, lightweight and decently priced
  • compared to the predecessor controls and an optical stabilizer have been added

Nice bokeh, good sharpness, very good CA correction, a versatile minimum focus distance in a compact and still affordable package. Handling has been greatly improved compared to its predecessor. A worthy update that made an already great lens even better. If you buy new be sure to get this improved version.

853g | $1299 | Review

buy from amazon.com | amazon.de | B&H | ebay.com | ebay.de (advertisement/affiliate links)

tamron 70-180mm 2.8 di iii vc vxd g2 review sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting resolution 42mp 61mp 33mp a7iv a9 a1 a7c af auto focus
Sony A7III | Tamron 70-180mm 2.8 G2 | 150mm 2.8

Tamron 70-180mm 2.8 Di III VXD

  • really good image quality at portrait distances and infinity
  • focuses very close (but only in manual focus mode)
  • mostly smooth bokeh
  • comparably compact, lightweight and decently priced
  • lacks additional buttons (AF/MF switch, focus hold, focus limiter), OSS and features non linear manual focus

The updated MK II version is clearly the better lens, but this MK I can often be found at very attractive prices on the used market. If you are looking for a zoom on a budget and you don’t mind the lack of controls this is a great option.

805g | $700 (used) | Review

buy from amazon.com | amazon.de | B&H | ebay.com | ebay.de (advertisement/affiliate links)

tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 2.8 review comparsion sharpness resolution contrast 42mp 61mp test sony a7rIII a7rII a7riv distortion sunstars starburst
Sony A7rII | Tamron 70-180mm 2.8 | 180mm | f/2.8

Sony FE 70-200mm 2.8 GM OSS II

  • great image quality
  • very fast autofocus
  • very nice bokeh for a zoom lens
  • noticeably lighter than its predecessor but also more expensive

The professional fast telezoom the E-mount world deserves. If sports are your thing you will be very happy with the AF, for portrait applications I wonder if it is a bit over the top at almost three grand though.

1045g | $2798 | Review

buy from amazon.com | amazon.de | B&H | ebay.com | ebay.de (advertisement/affiliate links)

sony fe 70mm-200 2.8 gm g master oss mark ii mk 2 sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Nikon Zf | Megadap ETZ21pro | Sony FE 70-200mm 2.8 GM OSS II | 145mm | f/2.8

Sony FE 70-200mm 2.8 GM OSS

  • good image quality but not as good as its successor or some of the competition
  • mostly smooth bokeh but strong cat’s eyes and onion rings
  • very big and expensive
  • seems to have pretty poor reliability

Not nearly as good as the MK II version and way too expensive compared to the Tamrons. Not recommended.

1480g | $1898

buy from amazon.com | B&H | Amazon.de | ebay (advertisement/affiliate links)


Canon EF 85mm 1.2L II USM

  • thanks to the f/1.2 maximum aperture a lot of bokeh but more of the vintage type with lots of outlining
  • surprisingly good sharpness at f/1.2
  • bad CA correction
  • bad flare resistance
  • generally good build quality but focus-by-wire

Its design is from 1989 and it is surprisingly sharp for that. The bokeh is not very smooth at longer distances though, so it is more for those among you that are looking for a combination of vintage look with autofocus.

974g + adapter | $800 (used) | Review | aperture series

buy from amazon.com | amazon.de | B&H | ebay.com | ebay.de (advertisement/affiliate links)

review canon ef 85mm 1.2 l usm II mark 2 mk2 mkii 1.2l lens contrast resolution m10 42mp 24mp 61mp m6 analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Nikon Z6 | Megadap EFTZ21 | Canon EF 85mm 1.2L USM II | f/1.2

Canon EF 135mm 2.0L USM

  • Very well balanced lens with a good combination of sharpness,  contrast (already at maximum aperture) and bokeh
  • correction of longitudinal CA not as good as some of the newer 135mm lenses on this list
  • Decently priced 135mm portrait lens with a fast maximum aperture of f/2.0 and autofocus

Still a great deal today with more than enough resolution, very smooth bokeh and all that at a reasonable size and price.

708g + adapter | $500 (used) | Review | aperture series

buy from ebay.com | ebay.de | Amazon.com | Amazon.de | B&H (advertisement/affiliate links)

canon ef 135mm 2.0 l usm sony a7rii a7 7-series ilce-7 review detail bokeh portrait
Sony A7rII | Canon EF 135mm 2.0 L | f/2.0

Canon EF 200mm 1.8L USM

  • Absolutely gorgeous bokeh rendering and at the same time super high resolving
  • adapts well to Sony cameras, on gen 3 cameras you even have eye AF
  • super heavy, very expensive, unclear spare parts situation

An absolutely amazing portrait lens. Apart from the high weight and price the real issue is that these are hard to get repaired these days.

3020g + hood + adapter | $3000 (used) | Review | aperture seriessample images

buy from ebay.com (advertisement/affiliate links)

canon ef 200mm 1.8 l usm review sigma mc 11 mc-11 sony a7r2 a7rii a7rm2 mark2 markII
Sony A7rII | Canon EF 200mm 1.8 L | f/1.8

Canon EF 200mm 2.0L IS USM

  • Maybe the highest resolving lens I ever used on my camera
  • Great bokeh
  • adapts well to Sony cameras, on gen 3 cameras you even have eye AF and the in lens IS is very effective
  • heavy (still light compared to the competition), very expensive

An absolutely amazing portrait lens. This is a 1/3rd of a stop slower than its predecessor but in my opinion the better lens in the end. If you are not rocking a (D)SLR anymore be sure to have a closer look at the Laowa 200mm 2.0 AF C-Dreamer and the Sigma 200mm 2.0 DG OS Sports.

2520g + hood + adapter | $3500 (used) | Review | aperture seriessample images

buy from amazon.com | B&H | ebay.com | ebay.de (advertisement/affiliate links)

canon ef 200mm 2.0 l is usm sony 42mp high res review 1.8 comparison sharpness bokeh resolution brenizer
Sony A7III | Canon EF 200mm 2.0 L IS | f/2.0

Nikon AF-S 200mm 2.0G IF-ED VR

nikon af-s 200mm 2.0 g vri vr if ed f/2.0 super tele fast sport reportage press review 42mp sony nikon z 61mp z6 z7 z8 z9 a7riv a7rv contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting
Nikon AF-S 200mm 2.0G IF-ED VR via Monster LA-FE1 on Sony A7rII
  • spectacular bokeh
  • excellent sharpness and contrast everywhere
  • very good correction of longitudinal CA
  • good coma correction
  • very fast AF
  • flare resistance could be better (MK II version with nano coating allegedly better)

In my opinion Nikon found the ideal balance of high contrast and resolution in the focal plane and beautiful out of focus rendering here and they managed to do so with a perfect correction of longitudinal CA. For portrait applications my favorite out of these super fast 200mm lenses still designed for (D)SLRs. These days be sure to first have a closer look at the Laowa 200mm 2.0 AF C-Dreamer and the Sigma 200mm 2.0 DG OS Sports though, as these are significantly lighter.

2910g + hood  | $2500 (used) | Review

buy from ebay.comebay.de | B&H (advertisement/affiliate links)

nikon af-s 200mm 2.0 g vri vr if ed f/2.0 super tele fast sport reportage press review 42mp sony nikon z 61mp z6 z7 z8 z9 a7riv a7rv contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting
Nikon D800 | Nikon AF-S 200mm 2.0G VRI | f/2.0

Using manual focus for portraits requires some skill and won’t work for any subject, but you can save a lot of money or get special lenses if it works for you.


Samyang 85mm f1.2 XP

  • beautiful bokeh
  • very good sharpness from f/1.2 at all distances
  • good coma correction
  • decent CA correction
  • average vignetting figures and flare resistance
  • very big and heavy with 86mm filter thread

There is no lens with actually bad bokeh on this list, but this is definitely one of those standing out for looking particularly appealing. As it is a heavy manual focus only lens most people will be better off with one of the 85mm 1.4 AF lenses though.

925g | $799 | Review

buy from amazon.com | B&H | ebay.com | ebay.de (advertisement/affiliate links)

samyang 85mm 1.2 xp premium mf canon ef sony a7r 42mp review sharpness bokeh coma vignetting contrast a7riii a7riv a7rv z6 z7 z8 z9 zf z7ii z6iii
Nikon Zf | Fringer EF NZ II | Samyang 85mm 1.2 XP | f/1.2

Canon FD 85mm 1.2 Aspherical

  • At f/1.2, the center has usable sharpness, the midfield and the edges are not sharp. Because of spherical aberrations contrast is quite low.
  • The whole image sharpens up a lot at f/1.6, the center is very good as is the contrast from this aperture.
  • The bokeh is smooth at typical portrait distances but gets a bit nervous at longer distances
  • Flare resistance is bad.
  • Large size and weight, very good build quality.
  • The FD L is optically the same with one aperture blade less and coatings might be better.

It was a revolutionary lens in it’s day but today it is a little hard to recommend unless having an f/1.2 lens is very important to you.
The original Aspherical version depicted in the picture sells for several thousands of dollars these days, the optically same later nFD 85mm 1.2 L can be found < $1000, there is no reason to get the super expensive one.

756g | $900 used | Review

buy from ebay.com (advertisement/affiliate link)

©Simeon Kolev

Samyang 85mm f1.4 MF MKI and MKII

  • Good enough sharpness from wide open
  • Very smooth bokeh
  • Average flare resistance
  • Below average build quality (MKI)
  • Very affordable

If you feel like you need a f/1.4 lens and are on a limited budget this might be your lens since it offers a good price/performance ratio.
Interestingly this lens has been rereleased in 2020 with improved mechanical design, but that version is too expensive compared to some of the modern AF lenses on this list.

480g | $250 (MKI) $400 (MKII) | comparison MKI with other 85mm lenses | photozone review on Canon FF 

buy from B&H | amazon.com | amazon.de | ebay.com (advertisement/affiliate link)

©Simeon Kolev

Jupiter-9 85mm 2.0

  • Small low cost rangefinder portrait lens
  • Smooth Sonnar out of focus rendering (vintage like)
  • Sharp enough for portraits but not that great contrast and across frame resolution
  • Watch out for lens flares (or make use of them in your pictures)

Cheap, small, very smooth bokeh. But if you are looking for high resolution, high contrast and good flare resistance this is not for you.

318g + adapter | $140 | Review | aperture series

buy from ebay.com | ebay.de (advertisement/affiliate links)

jupiter 9 85mm 2.0 soviet bokeh portrait sony a7 review e-mount leica
Sony A7s | Jupiter-9 85mm 2.0 | f/2.0

TTArtisan 90mm 1.25

  • Nice bokeh and a lot of it for the money
  • Good sharpness at portrait distances at wider apertures, stopped down good enough for infinity shooting, too
  • Bad flare resistance
  • Big and heavy but nice build quality

A lot of blur for the money, but being a heavy lens without autofocus this is mostly suitable for staged portrait scenarios

~1000g | $458 (E/Z/R/L-mount) / $648 (M-mount) | Review | aperture seriessample images

buy from the manufacturer’s shop, amazon.com, ebay.com/ebay.de or B&H (advertisement/affiliate links)

ttartisan 90mm 1.25 f/1.25 review test comparison leica m m10 m10r m9 sony a7rii 42mp 24mp contrast bokeh sharpness
Sony A7III | TTArtisan 90mm 1.25 | f/1.25

Leica Summicron 90mm 2.0 pre Asph

  • Very nice contrast and resolution across most of the frame already wide open, corners need stopping down to f/5.6
  • Bokeh generally very nice, but not as smooth as some modern lenses (“Mandler bokeh”), slightly stopped down “crown cork” shaped highlights
  • Nicely balanced on mirrorless cameras
  • A bit on the expensive side due to red Leica dot

It is a bit expensive for what it is, but it is a joy to use and has very high contrast for such an old design.

475g + adapter | $850 | Review | aperture seriessample images

buy from ebay.com | ebay.de (advertisement/affiliate links)

bokeh summicron 90mm 2.0 sony a7 review 42mp leica m10 24mp sharpness contrast
Leica M10 | Leica Summicron 90mm 2.0 pre-Asph | f/2.0

Zeiss Otus 100mm 1.4 Apo Sonnar

  • sharpness at all distances
  • bit swirly bokeh
  • decent CA correction
  • average Coma correction and distortion
  • very strong vignetting at f/1.4 to f/2.0
  • flare resistance should be better
  • generally nice build quality but sticky rubber on the focus ring
  • huge and heavy

The Sigma 105mm 1.4 DG HSM Art has even higher resolution and contrast (except for the minimum focus distance), it corrects CA and Coma better, it distorts less, it vignettes less and in my opinion also draws a more appealing bokeh. Now consider that it also offers autofocus and only costs a fraction, and not a lot of reasons remain to take the plunge for this Zeiss Otus. 

1310g | $4000 | Review coming soon

buy from amazon.com | amazon.de | B&Hebay.com | ebay.de (advertisement/affiliate links) 


Olympus OM 100mm 2.0

  • Sharp across the frame with good contrast from f/2 so you can place your subject anywhere in the frame
  • Average flare resistance
  • Very smooth bokeh
  • Moderate size and weight, very good handling
  • Rather rare and pretty expensive

If you enjoy manual focus for portraits then this could be your lens. It gives excellent results and is very enjoyable to handle since it is very well balanced. Because it is a bit of a collector’s item it is way too expensive compared to many modern options.

520g | $700 used | Review | aperture series

buy used from ebay.com (advertisement/affiliate link)


Zhong Yi Mitakon 135mm 1.4 Speedmaster

zhong yi mitakon 135mm 1.4 bokeh bokehpanorama brenizer fast ultra fast portrait speedmaster review sharpness sony 42mp 61mp portrait
Zhong Yi Mitakon 135mm 1.4 Speedmaster on Sony A7rII
  • Wonderful bokeh rendering
  • good sharpness and contrast across most of the frame
  • almost apochromatic correction
  • hard to operate due to being a manual focus lens with a lot of weight on the helicoid
  • super heavy, very expensive and extremely rare

Now that we have the Sigma 135mm 1.4 DG Art – which weighs half and costs way less this – lens is only for people that absolutely need a manual focus 135mm 1.4 lens for whatever reasons.

2525g (lens) + 255g (hood) + 175g (tripod collar) | ~$3000 | Review | aperture series

buy from ebay.com/ebay.de (advertisement/affiliate links)

zhong yi mitakon 135mm 1.4 bokeh bokehpanorama brenizer fast ultra fast portrait speedmaster review sharpness sony 42mp 61mp portrait woman
Sony A7III | Zhong Yi 135mm 1.4 | f/1.4

Carl Zeiss APO Sonnar 135mm 2.0

  • Superbly sharp and ultra low CA at every aperture. When first released many thought it the  best  full frame lens for any mount. Still very competitive.
  • Beautiful lower contrast bokeh in comparison to focal plane.
  • Low optical vignetting for a 135mm lens
  • Good flare performance. Milvus version of the same design is even better in this regard, but probably not worth the extra money.
  • Nice handling, though not light.
  • Best purchased used.

Due to Sony FE 135mm 1.8 GM and Samyang 135mm 1.8 AF this is mostly interesting for the true Zeiss fans these days

930g | from $1000 used

buy from eBay | amazon.com | B&H (Milvus version) (advertisement/affiliate links)


Samyang 135mm 2.0 MF

  • At f/2 already very sharp, almost no chromatic aberrations
  • Good bokeh despite of some cat eyes wide open
  • Quite prone to flare
  • Different color cast compared to Sony or Zeiss lenses (slightly warmer)
  • I never heard of broken samples due to bad quality (In contrast to the Samyang 2.8/14) but the build quality still feels not great.
  • Excellent lens. Optically, you get 90% of the Zeiss Batis 2.8/135 performance at a very low price. Keep in mind that AF is useful for some portrait scenarios.

A lens with high performance but also very big and heavy and therefore not that much fun to use. It seems many people only use it as a step stone before getting a portrait lens with AF.

830g + adapter (native 900g) | $400 | Review | sample images

buy from ebay.com | ebay.de| Amazon.com | Amazon.de (advertisement/affiliate links)


Carl Zeiss Jena Visionar 168/183mm 1.9

projection lens projector cinema carl zeiss jena czj row rathenower optische werke kino 168mm 1.9
Carl Zeiss Jena Visionar 168mm 1.9 on Sony A7rII
  • Amazing bokeh rendering
  • no aperture diaphragm, no focus ring (see reviews for further information)
  • portrait specialist and great choice for Brenizer/Bokehpanorama
  • somewhat rare but comparably cheap

The handling needs getting used to, but these lenses offer bokeh rendering of lenses usually 10 times as expensive

2500-3000g | $300 (used) | full Review 168/183 | sample images 168/183

buy from ebay.com (advertisement/affiliate link)

carl zeiss jena visionar 183mm 1.9 projector lens cinema sony a7rii a7rm2 review sharpness bokeh supertele fast cheap
Sony A7rII | Carl Zeiss Jena Visionar 183mm 1.9 | f/1.9

Nikon 200mm 2.0 IF-ED Ai

nikon 200mm 2.0 ai ai-s if ed f/2.0 super tele fast 1977 sport reportage press review 42mp sony nikon z 61mp z6 z7 z8 z9 a7riv a7rv contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting
Nikon 200mm 2.0 IF-ED on Sony A7rII
  • very nice bokeh
  • good sharpness at portrait distances
  • good coma correction
  • mediocre flare resistance and CA correction
  • great build quality (no electronics)
  • minimum focus distance only 2.5 m

The bokeh this lens creates sure is still great 40 years later, but the optical performance is no match to the Nikon AF-S 200mm 2.0G VR or Canon’s super fast 200mm lenses. In the F-mount world I would rather get Nikon’s AF-S 200mm 2.0 for a little more money and as mirrorless shooter the Laowa 200mm 2.0 AF C-Dreamer or the Sigma 135mm 1.4 DG Art for roughly the same price.

2472g  | $1800 (used) | Review

buy from ebay.com | ebay.de (advertisement/affiliate links)

nikon 200mm 2.0 ai ai-s if ed f/2.0 super tele fast 1977 sport reportage press review 42mp sony nikon z 61mp z6 z7 z8 z9 a7riv a7rv contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting
Nikon Z6 | FTZ II | Nikon 200mm 2.0 | f/2.0

Yes, we didn’t include a bunch of interesting lenses. We have reviewed many lenses but there are far more lenses we haven’t reviewed yet and we prefer to know what we are talking about. So with time the list will grow, but have some patience with us 🙂

Articles like this require many hours of work. If you found it helpful, you can support us by:

  • Using one of our affiliate links if you buy a lens (or anything else, diapers for example), won’t cost you anything extra but helps us a lot.
  • If you own an interesting and/or exotic lens and you would be willing to part with it for a few weeks for us to write a review just leave a note.
  • It also helps a lot if you share this article on social media and with your friends.

Thanks!

Support Us

Did you find this article useful or just liked reading it? Treat us to a coffee!
via Paypal

This site contains advertisement/affiliate links. If you make a purchase using any of the links marked as advertisement/affiliate links, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps support the creation of future content.

The following two tabs change content below.

This is an article at least two members of the Team worked on.

RELATED ARTICLES

Most Popular

Recent Comments