AstrHori AF 85mm f/1.8
For Nikon Z and for Sony Full Frame
Sample Images Intro New Good Bad Missing
Specifications Performance Compared
AstrHori AF 85mm f/1.8 (72mm filters, 22.8 oz./647g, 3'/0.8m close focus, $249 for Nikon or $276 for Sony). bigger. I got mine directly from AstrHori for Nikon Z, where it also comes for Sony. I'd also get the Nikon version at Amazon, or the Sony version at B&H. It's also at eBay (How to Win at eBay).
This all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Thanks for helping me help you! Ken.
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Sample Images top
Sample Images Intro New Good Bad Missing
Specifications Performance Compared
More samples throughout this review at Bokeh, Falloff, Macro, Spherochromatism and Sunstars.
These are just snapshots; my real work is in my Gallery.
These are all shot hand-held as BASIC ★ JPGs; no tripods, NORMAL or FINE JPGs or RAW files were used or needed.
Chevrolet Corvette, 9:30 AM, Saturday, 08 June 2024. Nikon Z8 in square-crop mode, AstrHori AF 85mm f/1.8 at f/5.6 at 1/125 at Auto ISO 64, +0.7 stops exposure compensation (LV 12.6), Radiant Photo software. bigger.
Porsche Carrera 4S, 9:38 AM, Saturday, 08 June 2024. Nikon Z8, AstrHori AF 85mm f/1.8 at f/7.1 at 1/200 at Auto ISO 64, +0.3 stops exposure compensation (LV 13.9), Radiant Photo software. bigger or full resolution 25 MP JPG file.
1957 Strawberry Red Metallic Mercedes 300SL, 10:45 AM, Saturday, 08 June 2024. Nikon Z8, AstrHori AF 85mm f/1.8 at f/7.1 at 1/160 at Auto ISO 64 (LV 13.6), Radiant Photo software. bigger or camera-original 25 MP © 3.8 MB JPG file.
Mercedes 300SL Dashboard & Interior, 10:46 AM, Saturday, 08 June 2024. Nikon Z8, AstrHori AF 85mm f/1.8 at f/11 at 1/30 hand-held at Auto ISO 72, +0.7 stops exposure compensation (LV 12.3), Radiant Photo software. bigger or full resolution 25 MP JPG file.
BMW M850i Convertible, 6:55 PM, Thursday, 13 June 2024. Nikon Z8, AstrHori AF 85mm f/1.8 at f/5.6 hand-held at 1/30 at Auto ISO 80, +0.7 stops exposure compensation (LV 10.2), Radiant Photo software. bigger or 45 MP full resolution 7 MB JPG file.
Yellow Porsche, 9:44 AM, Saturday, 22 June 2024. Nikon Z8, AstrHori AF 85mm f/1.8 at f/9 at 1/320 at Auto ISO 64 (LV 15.3), Radiant Photo software. bigger or 25 MP full resolution 2.2 MB JPG file.
Here are 600 × 600 pixel (5.1× magnification as seen below) crops from each wheel. See how the right side is softer, even stopped down? This is a manufacturing defect typical in inexpensive lenses called decentering:
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Left Wheel. bigger. |
Right Wheel. bigger. |
If these crops are about 3" (7.5cm) wide on your phone, then the complete image printed at this same high magnification would be about 10 × 15" (0.9 × 1.3 feet or 39 × 39 cm).
If these crops are about 6" (15cm) wide on your iPad, then the complete image printed at this same extreme magnification would be about 20 × 30" (1.7 × 2.5 feet or 52 × 78 cm).
If these crops are about 12" (30cm) wide on your computer, then the complete image printed at this same extreme magnification would be about 40 × 60" (3.3 × 5 feet or 1.1 × 1.6 meters).
BMW 2002, 10:17 AM, Saturday, 22 June 2024. Nikon Z8, AstrHori AF 85mm f/1.8 at f/6.3 at 1/160 at Auto ISO 64 (LV 13.3), Radiant Photo software. bigger or camera-original 25 MP © 4.9 MB JPG file.
Introduction top
Sample Images Intro New Good Bad Missing
Specifications Performance Compared
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This AstrHori AF 85mm f/1.8 is a very inexpensive, all-metal autofocus lens for Nikon Z and for Sony.
It feels great mechanically and it autofocuses very well if you set AF fine-tuning in your camera's menu system first.
As you've seen above, it has about the same contrast and color rendition as Nikon's own lenses, and it's plenty sharp for online and web use like Instagram, Facebook and X, however if you want to scrutinize it, its optical quality matches its low price. It does seem to have a very slight yellow tint to it, which auto white balance will probably cancel.
This AstrHori is for cheapskate portraits and bokeh shenanigans, but its sharpness is only fair in the center at large apertures and poor on the sides. It's swell for mood and soft people pictures, but skip it for astronomy, landscapes and things for which you want extreme sharpness corner to corner.
Compared to Nikon's own Z 85mm f/1.8 which sells for about three times the price, if you don't need space-grade optics to read the tail number off the International Space Station, your pictures will pretty much be the same.
Even Nikon's very first 85mm f/1.8 of 1964 is far superior optically, but it doesn't autofocus or have any electronic communication with a Z camera, which this AstrHori does.
Mine is much softer on the right side, showing that it suffered from sloppy manufacturing tolerances — what do you expect for $250 when the packaging and mechanics are so nice? It's certainly well worth the price considering how well it focuses and how nice it feels in-hand.
I got my AstrHori AF 85mm f/1.8 directly from AstrHori for Nikon Z, where it also comes for Sony. I'd also get the Nikon version at Amazon, or the Sony version at B&H. It's also at eBay (How to Win at eBay).
New intro top
Very inexpensiv and nicely made autofocus lens direct from China.
Good intro top
Very nice mechanics. Its all-metal body feels so much better than the plastic rubbish the camera makers push on us today.
Great bokeh.
Autofocus is reasonably fast and nearly silent.
Often sharp in the center, and sharp enough on the sides if stopped down and you don't know any better.
Swell contrast, resistance from ghosts and color rendition.
Great bokeh, which is why most people buy these.
Hood included.
USB-C jack on the mount for firmware updates.
Bad intro top
Soft at the sides, and softness is worse on the right side in my sample. (Sides sharpen up stopped down.)
Autofocus requires some fine-tuning on my Nikon Z8; I set it to -2 for best results with my particular sample.
Depth-of-field preview on my Z8 at f/16 results in an overexposed finder image.
Included rear cap, at least for Nikon Z, is poorly made and tends to jam. Throw it away and buy a real one.
No AF/MF switch.
No mounting index ball makes it weird trying to mount it. (There is a tiny red dot on the mount, but it's mostly invisible; I need to work by feel in the dark.)
Missing intro top
No mounting index ball makes it weird trying to mount it.
No AF/MF switch.
No aperture ring.
No Image Stabilizer.
No stabilizer switch for in-camera stabilization.
No case included.
No focus or depth-of-field scales.
No infra-red focus indices.
No focus lock buttons.
Will not work with any teleconverters.
Specifications top
Sample Images Intro New Good Bad Missing
Specifications Performance Compared
I got my AstrHori AF 85mm f/1.8 directly from AstrHori for Nikon Z, where it also comes for Sony. I'd also get the Nikon version at Amazon, or the Sony version at B&H. It's also at eBay (How to Win at eBay).
Name specifications top
AstrHori calls this the AF 85mm f/1.8.
Optics specifications top
9 elements in 8 groups.
Seems like an all-spherical design.
Diaphragm specifications top
AstrHori AF 85mm f/1.8. bigger.
9 rounded blades.
Electronically actuated.
Stops down to f/16.
Filters specifications top
Metal 72mm filter thread.
Coverage specifications top
Full frame and APS-C.
Angle of View specifications top
28.4º diagonal on full frame.
Autofocus specifications top
No external movement as focussed, so no air or dust is sucked in.
Focus Scale specifications top
No.
Not on lens, but may be displayed in-camera.
Infinity Focus Stop specifications top
No.
You have to focus somehow to get precise focus at infinity, just like at every other distance.
Depth of Field Scale specifications top
No.
Not on lens, but may be displayed in-camera.
Infrared Focus Index specifications top
No.
Close Focus (distance from subject to image plane) specifications top
2.95 feet (0.79 meters).
Image Stabilizer specifications top
NONE.
Caps specifications top
Front cap and crappy rear cap included.
Hood specifications top
AstrHori AF 85mm f/1.8. bigger.
The plastic bayonet hood is included.
Case specifications top
None.
Size specifications top
3.23" ø maximum diameter × 3.66" extension from flange.
82 mm ø maximum diameter × 93 mm extension from flange.
Weight specifications top
22.830 oz. (647.2 g) actual measured weight.
Rated 22.1 oz. (626 g).
Quality specifications top
Made domestically in China.
Announced specifications top
21 May 2024.
Price, U. S. A. specifications top
June ~ July 2024
$249 for Nikon Z at AstrHori and at Amazon.
$276 for Sony at AstrHori and at B&H.
About $199 ~ $249 at eBay (How to Win at eBay).
AstrHori AF 85mm f/1.8. bigger.
Performance top
Sample Images Intro New Good Bad Missing
Specifications Performance Compared
Overall Autofocus Manual Focus Breathing
Bokeh Distortion Ergonomics Falloff Filters
Flare & Ghosts Lateral Color Fringes
Lens Corrections Macro Mechanics
Sharpness Spherochromatism Sunstars
I got my AstrHori AF 85mm f/1.8 directly from AstrHori for Nikon Z, where it also comes for Sony. I'd also get the Nikon version at Amazon, or the Sony version at B&H. It's also at eBay (How to Win at eBay).
Overall performance top
Great mechanics and electronic communication, but oddly crummy optics. It's weird that this lens is so soft because 85mm f/1.8 lenses are usually very easy to make remarkably sharp, even with simpler classic designs from 60 years ago.
Autofocus performance top
Autofocus is fast enough and moves with just a quiet hum. You'll never hear it unless you're indoors in a very quiet place.
Mine required me to set a value of -2 for AF fine-tuning to get accurate autofocus (your sample will probably be different). Once set I never had a problem, but if I didn't set it, it always focused a little behind the subject, making it softer.
Manual Focus performance top
Manual focus is very strongly damped.
Manual focusing is entirely electronic; the manual focus ring isn't connected to anything other than a digital encoder.
There is no AF/MF switch; you have to set this in a menu.
Just grab this electronic manual focus ring for instant manual-focus override anytime the camera is awake. It works great in MF and AF-S, but sadly in AF-C my Z8 continues to try to focus rather than stay at my manually-set distance as Nikon's own lenses do.
The focussed distance reads correctly in my Z8 finder.
Focus Breathing performance top
Focus breathing is the image changing size as focused in and out. It's important to cinematographers that the image not breathe because it looks funny if the image changes size as focus gets pulled back and forth between actors. If the lens does this, the image "breathes" by growing and contracting slightly as the dialog goes back and forth.
The image from this lens grows significantly as focused more closely.
Bokeh performance top
Bokeh, the feel, character or quality of out-of-focus areas as opposed to how far out of focus they are, is excellent.
Here's a shot from 60 feet (18 meters) away focused on the BMW roundel on the hood, and the background is still nice and soft:
BMW M850i Convertible, Pacific Beach, California, 7:02 PM, Friday, 07 June 2024. Nikon Z8, AstrHori AF 85mm f/1.8 wide-open at f/1.8 at 1/160 at Auto ISO 64 (LV 9⅔), Radiant Photo software. bigger or camera-original 25 MP © 2.8 MB JPG file.
Here's a photo from headshot distance wide-open. I'm focused on the DAVIS logo. Click any for the © camera-original file:
Made-in-U. S. A. Davis 6357 Wireless Sensor Suite (use with WeatherLink console), 12:23 PM, Wednesday, 12 June 2024. Nikon Z8, AstrHori AF 85mm f/1.8 at f/ 1.8 at 1/2,500 at Auto ISO 64, +0.7 stops exposure compensation (LV 13.6), Radiant Photo software. bigger or camera-original 45 MP © 4.1 MB JPG file.
As always, if you want to throw the background as far out of focus as possible, shoot at f/1.8 and get as close as possible.
Distortion performance top
This lens has a moderate amount of pincushion distortion, and there is no in-camera correction for it.
I never noticed it except when I went looking for it.
Use a correction factor of -2.60 in Photoshop's lens correction filter when shot at 10 meters (30 feet) and it corrects easily.
Ergonomics performance top
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AstrHori AF 85mm f/1.8. bigger. |
AstrHori AF 85mm f/1.8. bigger. |
Once set up, it feels great in hand and manual and auto focus work very well.
Having no AF/MF switch is a bother. We have to set this in a a menu in our cameras instead.
Having no mounting index ball makes it more cumbersome to mount.
Falloff performance top
Falloff is not a problem. My Z8 can correct just a little of it, and even uncorrected it's no bother.
I've greatly exaggerated the falloff by shooting a gray field and placing these on a gray background; it will not look this bad in actual photos of real things:
Falloff on full-frame at infinity, correction at its default of NORMAL on a Z8:
© 2024 KenRockwell.com. All rights reserved. |
If you shoot raw data rather than JPG images, whatever software you use to create visible images from raw data may or may not correct this as is done in-camera as JPGs. You're on your own there; I don't bother with raw data.
If you go out of your way to turn off the correction, this is what you get:
Falloff on full-frame at infinity, correction turned OFF:
© 2024 KenRockwell.com. All rights reserved. |
Filters, use with performance top
There's no need for thin filters. I can use quite a stack of standard 72mm filters with no vignetting at any setting on full-frame.
Go ahead and use your standard rotating polarizer and grad filters.
Flare & Ghosts performance top
There are few ghosts. This is better than usual performance for domestic Chinese lenses.
See examples at Sunstars.
Lateral Color Fringes performance top
There are no lateral color fringes as shot on Nikon cameras as JPG, which by default correct for any that may be there.
If you shoot raw and then use non-manufacturer software to process that data into images then there is the possibility that there might be some, but I doubt it.
Lens Corrections performance top
There is no correction data for this lens.
My Z8 actually does correct a bit for falloff, but can't do anything about distortion
The Z9, Z8, Z7 II, Z6 II, Zf, Z7, Z6, Z5, Z fc, Z50 and Z30 always correct for lateral color fringes (lateral chromatic aberration). This is part of Nikon's secret sauce and never appears in any menu.
Macro Performance performance top
Even after 60 years, oddly this lens still has the same close-focus distance as Nikon's first 85mm f/1.8 of 1964.
This is as close as it gets:
Wide-open at f/1.8
It's not that sharp and loaded with spherochromatism wide-open:
Casio G-Shock Solar Atomic Watch at close-focus distance, Wednesday, 12 June 2024. Nikon Z8, AstrHori AF 85mm f/1.8 at f/1.8 at 1/5,000 at Auto ISO 64, +1.3 stops exposure compensation (LV 14.6), Radiant Photo software. bigger or camera-original 45 MP © 3 MB JPG file.
1,200 × 900 pixel (6.88× magnification) crop from above. bigger orcamera-original 45 MP © 3 MB JPG file.
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 3" (7.5cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at a large 14 × 21″ (35 × 55 cm) at this same high magnification.
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 6" (15cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at a huge 27½ × 41¼″ (70 × 105 cm) at this same high magnification.
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 12" (30cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at a mammoth 55 × 82½″ (1.4 × 2.1 meters) at this same extremely high magnification.
At f/8
Like every lens, it's plenty sharp at f/8:
Casio G-Shock Solar Atomic Watch at close-focus distance, PM, June 2024. Nikon Z8, AstrHori AF 85mm f/1.8 at f/8 at 1/400 at Auto ISO 64, +0.7 stops exposure compensation (LV 15.3), Radiant Photo software. bigger or camera-original 45 MP © 3.8 MB JPG file.
1,200 × 900 pixel (6.88× magnification) crop from above. bigger or camera-original 45 MP © 3.8 MB JPG file.
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 3" (7.5cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at a large 14 × 21″ (35 × 55 cm) at this same high magnification.
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 6" (15cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at a huge 27½ × 41¼″ (70 × 105 cm) at this same high magnification.
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 12" (30cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at a mammoth 55 × 82½″ (1.4 × 2.1 meters) at this same extremely high magnification!
Mechanical Quality performance top
AstrHori AF 85mm f/1.8. There's a USB-C jack on the mount for firmware updates. bigger.
It's all metal and feels great.
Finish
Black anodized aluminum
Hood
Plastic bayonet.
Front Bumper
None.
Filter Threads
Metal.
Hood Bayonet Mount
Metal.
Barrel Exterior
Metal.
Focus Ring
Knurled metal.
Identity
Laser engraved around front of lens and on top of the barrel.
Internals
Seems like plastic and metal.
Dust Gasket at Mount
No.
Mount
Chromed metal.
Markings
Laser engraved.
Serial Number
Laser engraved around front of lens.
Date Code
None found.
Noises When Shaken
Only the tiniest clicking.
Made in
Made domestically in China.
Sharpness performance top
Lens sharpness has nothing to do with picture sharpness; every lens made in the past 100 years is more than sharp enough to make super-sharp pictures if you know what you're doing. The only limitation to picture sharpness is your skill as a photographer. It's the least talented who spend the most time worrying about lens sharpness and blame crummy pictures on their equipment rather than themselves. Skilled photographers make great images with whatever camera is in their hands; I've made some of my best images of all time with an irreparably broken camera! Most pixels are thrown away before you see them, but camera makers don't want you to know that.
People worry waaaaay too much about lens sharpness. It's not 1968 anymore when lenses often weren't that sharp and there could be significant differences among them; ever since about 2010 all new lenses are all pretty much equally fantastic — except this one.
See my full-resolution and camera-original files at my Sample Images and gauge for yourself.
AstrHori's claimed MTF at 10 cyc/mm and 30 cyc/mm. Solid lines: sagittal (radial), dotted lines: meridional (tangential).
Spherochromatism performance top
Spherochromatism, also called secondary spherical chromatic aberration or "color bokeh," is an advanced form of spherical and chromatic aberration in a different dimension than lateral chromatic aberration. It happens mostly in fast normal and tele lenses when spherical aberration at the ends of the color spectrum are corrected differently than in the middle of the spectrum. Spherochromatism can cause colored fringes on out-of-focus highlights, usually seen as green fringes on backgrounds and magenta fringes on foregrounds. Spherochromatism is common in fast lenses of moderate focal length when shooting contrasty items at full aperture. It goes away as stopped down.
It has pretty strong spherochromatism:
Mondaine A132.30348.11SBB at close-focus distance, 12:30 PM, Wednesday, 12 June 2024. Nikon Z8, AstrHori AF 85mm f/1.8 at f/1.8 at 1/8,000 at Auto ISO 64, +1.3 stops exposure compensation (LV 15.3), Radiant Photo software. bigger or camera-original 45 MP © 3 MB JPG file.
1,200 × 900 pixel (6.88× magnification) crop from above. bigger or camera-original © JPG file.
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 3" (7.5cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at a large 14 × 21″ (35 × 55 cm) at this same high magnification.
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 6" (15cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at a huge 27½ × 41¼″ (70 × 105 cm) at this same high magnification.
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 12" (30cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at a mammoth 55 × 82½″ (1.4 × 2.1 meters) at this same extremely high magnification!
Sunstars performance top
With a 9-bladed rounded diaphragm, I get 18-point sunstars on brilliant points of light mostly at the smallest apertures.
Ignore the crazy rainbows at small apertures; these are sensor artifacts.
Click any to enlarge:
Click any to enlarge.
Compared top
Sample Images Intro New Good Bad Missing
Specifications Performance Compared
I got my AstrHori AF 85mm f/1.8 directly from AstrHori for Nikon Z, where it also comes for Sony. I'd also get the Nikon version at Amazon, or the Sony version at B&H. It's also at eBay (How to Win at eBay).
Versus the Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8
Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8.
Nikon's mostly plastic Z 85mm f/1.8 weighs less than this metal AstrHori lens.
Nikon's Z 85mm f/1.8 sells for about three times the price.
Nikon's Z 85mm f/1.8 has space-grade optics good enough to read the tail number off the International Space Station, while for most online use this lens' technically inferior optics should be fine as you can see above.
Versus the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8
Sony FE 85mm f/1.8.
The Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 is the lightest of these lenses. It costs less than the Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 but still more than this AstrHori.
The Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 is mostly plastic, and has flawless optics just like the Nikon.
Recommendations top
Sample Images Intro New Good Bad Missing
Specifications Performance Compared
I got my AstrHori AF 85mm f/1.8 directly from AstrHori for Nikon Z, where it also comes for Sony. I'd also get the Nikon version at Amazon, or the Sony version at B&H. It's also at eBay (How to Win at eBay).
This is an entertaining lens for folks who'd like to experiment with a fast, short tele. If you don't look at every image with a microscope and don't care about ultrasharpness, give it a shot.
Personally I look at things long-term so this isn't my choice of lens, but don't let me spoil your fun if you like the idea of an 85mm f/1.8 that autofocuses well for a fraction of the price of the real thing.
I use a clear (UV) protective filter instead of a cap (exactly like an iPhone) so I'm always ready to shoot instantly. I only use a cap when I throw this in a bag with other gear without padding — which is never. The UV filter never gets in the way, and never gets lost, either.
The very best protective filter is the 72mm Hoya multicoated HD3 UV which uses hardened glass and repels dirt and fingerprints.
For less money, the B+W 72mm 010 MRC MASTER, Hoya 72mm NXT Plus and even the most basic Hoya 72mm multicoated UV all work great to protect this lens with varying degrees of environmental toughness, while the Hoya HD3 is the toughest and longest-lasting in the field.
Filters last a lifetime, so you may as well get the best. The Hoya HD3 stays cleaner than the others since it repels oil and dirt.
All these filters are just as sharp and take the same pictures, the difference is how much abuse they'll take and stay clean and stay in one piece. Since filters last a lifetime or more, there's no reason not to buy the best as it will last you for the next 40 years. Filters aren't throwaways like digital cameras which we replace every few years, like it or not. I'm still using filters I bought back in the 1970s!
This all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Thanks for helping me help you! Ken.
Thanks for helping me help you!
Ken.
More Information top
Sample Images Intro New Good Bad Missing
Specifications Performance Compared
I got my AstrHori AF 85mm f/1.8 directly from AstrHori for Nikon Z, where it also comes for Sony. I'd also get the Nikon version at Amazon, or the Sony version at B&H. It's also at eBay (How to Win at eBay).
AstrHori's page for the Nikon version and AstrHori's page about the Sony version.
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