Sirui Sirui Sniper 75mm f/1.2 Autofocus Lens (Sony E, Review
The Sirui 75mm f/1.2 is a bokeh monster built for one job: making your portraits look incredible. Just don't ask it to do much else.
Overview
If you shoot portraits on a Sony APS-C camera and want that dreamy, creamy background blur, this lens is basically cheating. The Sirui Sniper 75mm f/1.2 gives you an insane f/1.2 aperture on a crop sensor, which translates to a 112.5mm full-frame equivalent focal length. That's a classic portrait setup, but with a depth of field so shallow you could lose your subject in it. Just know going in: this is a one-trick pony, and that trick is making faces look absolutely gorgeous.
Performance
The bokeh is the star of the show, and it scores in the 100th percentile for a reason. The 15-blade aperture keeps the out-of-focus areas smooth and buttery, even when you stop down a bit. The surprise, honestly, is the autofocus. It's fine for portraits where your subject isn't moving much, but scoring in the 47th percentile means it's not the fastest or most reliable. Don't expect to track fast-moving kids or pets with perfect consistency. For posed shots, it gets the job done.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- The f/1.2 aperture creates absolutely stunning, professional-grade background separation. 100th
- Bokeh quality is top-tier and incredibly smooth. 96th
- Surprisingly compact and light for such a fast lens at 465g. 78th
- Great value for the level of portrait-specific image quality you get. 71th
Cons
- Autofocus is just okay. It's not slow, but it's not snappy or great for action.
- No image stabilization, so you'll need good light or a steady hand for video.
- Minimum focus distance of 700mm means you can't get very close for detail shots.
- It's a specialist. Terrible for travel and not versatile at all.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Focal Length Min | 75 |
| Focal Length Max | 75 |
| Elements | 13 |
| Groups | 9 |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | f/1.2 |
| Min Aperture | f/16 |
| Diaphragm Blades | 15 |
Build
| Mount | Sony E |
| Format | APS-C |
| Weight | 0.5 kg / 1.0 lbs |
| Filter Thread | 67 |
AF & Stabilization
| AF Type | Autofocus |
| Stabilization | No |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 700 |
Value & Pricing
At $319, it's a steal for the portrait image quality alone. You're paying for that f/1.2 magic, and you get it in spades. Just don't buy it expecting an all-around lens.
vs Competition
Compared to the Viltrox 35mm f/1.7, you're trading versatility for extreme background blur. The Viltrox is a more general-purpose lens, but it can't touch the Sniper's portrait rendering. Against the Meike 55mm f/1.8 Pro, you're looking at a full-frame lens that's more versatile and has better autofocus, but it's also more expensive and doesn't offer the same f/1.2 wow factor on an APS-C body. If portraits are 90% of your work, the Sirui wins. If you need one lens for everything, look at the Viltrox or Meike.
Verdict
Buy this lens. But only if you shoot a lot of portraits on a Sony APS-C camera and you live for that creamy bokeh. It's a niche tool, but in its niche, it punches way above its price. For anyone else, its limitations will be frustrating.