Biotar 75mm f/1.5 II

The Meyer-Optik Biotar 75mm f/1.5 II is a manual focus portrait prime that nails the vintage swirly bokeh look. Center sharpness is excellent and the 15-blade aperture renders creamy backgrounds. It's expensive and lacks any modern conveniences, but if you want that unique rendering, there's nothing else quite like it.

The Biotar 75mm f/1.5 II is a modern take on a 1930s classic. Meyer-Optik Görlitz dusted off the old blueprints and rebuilt it for Nikon Z mirrorless with better coatings and sharpness, but left the soul intact. That means a manual focus, all-metal lens that's laser-focused on one thing: character. And at f/1.5, it delivers character in spades.

The star of the show is that swirly bokeh. Highlights in the background get twisted into a vortex, making your subject pop like a 3D cutout. It's not for clinical sharpness corner-to-corner. This lens is for portraits and creative work where the rendering matters more than MTF charts.

Sharpness in the center is genuinely impressive, and it ranks at the 99th percentile for bokeh and 91st for aperture speed. The 15-blade aperture helps keep out-of-focus highlights nice and round even when stopped down. But the edges are soft wide open, and there's noticeable vignetting. Manual focus is smooth and well-damped, but no AF means it's slow to nail focus on moving subjects. Our optical quality score is a lowly 1st percentile, which reflects just how specialized this lens is. It's not about technical perfection, it's about a specific look.

Pricing is all over the map. We've seen it listed from $1300 to an insane $27731 across vendors. At around $1300, it's a tough sell against autofocus portrait lenses like the Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 S, which delivers better overall sharpness and modern features. But if you're chasing that vintage look without hunting down a 70-year-old copy, $1300 might be justifiable. Just shop carefully and don't pay a cent over the lowest price you can find.

Put it next to a Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 S and the choice is clear: the Z 85 is sharper across the frame, focuses instantly, and costs less. The Biotar wins on character alone. Compared to other vintage-inspired lenses like the Lensbaby Velvet 85, the Biotar is more refined and sharp in the center, but the Velvet is much cheaper. If you want that swirly bokeh and don't mind manual focus, this is the premium option. The Viltrox 85mm f/1.8 is another budget autofocus alternative that makes the Biotar look absurdly expensive for what you get.

Skip this if you need autofocus for moving subjects or fast-paced shooting. Also pass if you want edge-to-edge sharpness or plan to use it for landscapes. It's a one-trick pony, and that trick is expensive. Get a modern 85mm instead if versatility matters.

Portrait photographers who love the swirly bokeh aesthetic and are willing to trade autofocus and modern conveniences for it. It's a specialty lens, not a daily driver. If you shoot in controlled environments and want that unique rendering, you'll enjoy it. If you need a reliable portrait lens for events or quick work, look elsewhere.