AstrHori has announced the release of an 85mm f/1.8 portrait lens for Sony E-mount full-frame cameras, promising high-end quality at an exceptionally low starting price.

The company did not disclose any information on the glass used in the lens’s optical construction or whether any unique optics, including aspherical lenses, were employed. The lens is made up of nine elements optically, which are grouped into eight groups. The 85mm f/1.8 lens is also devoid of any optical stabilization. Nevertheless, AstrHori does state that the lens includes a multi-layer coating to prevent flare and ghosting and enhance contrast in bright lighting settings.
The lens has a nine-bladed diaphragm and an aperture range of f/1.8 through f/16. The lens has a minimum focusing distance of 79 cm and a 28.4-degree angle of vision (about 31 inches).

The f/1.8 maximum aperture, according to the manufacturer, is perfect for taking pictures with a small depth of field or for working in low light. AstrHori continues by stating that it thinks the image quality is excellent even when the lens is fully extended.

The lens’s autofocus is powered by AstrHori’s Stepping Motor (STM), which the company claims is quick enough to keep up with Sony’s selection of face- and eye-tracking AF settings. The complete list of cameras that AstrHori claims to work with is provided below:

• Full Frame: A7, A7II, A7R, A7RII, A7S, A7SII, A7III, A7RIII, A7RIV, FS7, FS7M2, FS5, FS5M2K, A9, A9II, A7m3, etc.
• A6000, A5100, A5000, A6600, NEX-3, NEX-3N, NEX-3R, NEX-C3, NEX-F3K, NEX-5K, NEX-5, NEX-6, NEX-7, NEX-5N, ZV-E10, NEX-5A, NEX-5T, NEX-5C, NEX-5R, etc. are examples of APS-C cameras.

Here are some sample pictures: