Rokinon 85M-FX
The lightweight 57g build and fast f/1.4 aperture make this manual-focus 85mm prime a standout for low-light portraiture, with an AE chip enabling auto-metering on Sony E-mount bodies. Its internal focusing mechanism and multi-layer coating deliver nearly zero chromatic aberration with smooth bokeh, while the compact aluminum and glass construction adds durability. Best for portrait photographers seeking an affordable, sharp prime who are comfortable with manual focus.
About This Lens
About Rokinon 85mm f/1.4 Series IIFEATURED REVIEWSBlown AwayBy Richard C.I paired this lens with a Nikon D750. I have to say, right out of the gate I am impressed. I've had a couple of days to play with it and I am really starting to get comfortable with it.
I find the aperture ring to be a bit fiddly, it's easy to accidentally bump it and change the setting even though it's set to Click. Maybe that's just me and my fat hands. In any case, I try to be mindful of it and haven't had any real issues.
As a small business owner, I use my cameras for product photograp...View full ReviewRokinon 85mm f/1.4 series II lens for Fuji X mount.By Thomas S.This is a very nice lens. It is a medium length telephoto lens when paired with an APS-C sensor. It is the equivalent of an 127 mm lens in full frame. The images are sharp and background separation with a narrow depth of field at or near wide open is excellent. It is heavier than I expected and the mount adapter pushes the lens away from the camera by about an inch. This gives the setup a slightly front heavy feel. The mechanical aspects of the lens, focus ring and aperture ring, are just ab...View full Review Rokinon 85mm F1.4 The SERIES II 85mm F1.4 incorporates a nine element in seven group design with a Hybrid Aspherical element and UMC antireflective coatings to maximize image quality and contrast even at wide open apertures. The fast F1.4 maximum aperture provides excellent low light performance and precise selective focus with smooth bokeh. It comes equipped with a removable and reversible lens hood and soft lens pouch. Classics Evolved. Rokinon 85mm has been one of the most beloved lens from the lineup thanks to its exceptional image quality with expressive characteristics. The new MF 85mm F1.4 MK2 introduces enhanced usability with focus lock and de-click along with weather sealing. The round bokeh and outstanding optical system creates unforgettable images of your loved ones. It is ideal for top quality portraiture and still images with its vivid colors and smooth out-focus quality. De-Click Function for Video Filming. When shooting video, it is pivotal to capture the object maintaining the same brightness even when you're changing the aperture. Switch the silver ring from "Click" to "Free", then your aperture is now not stopped at every aperture as cine lenses do. This "Declick" will help you adjust the brightness continuously and smoothly with much more details between the F stops. Smooth Bokeh for Portraits. In terms of the “bokeh” performance, its 9-rounded aperture blades which will help you achieve excellent “bokeh” results. The space between the subject and background wil be effectively seperated and make the subject more eye-catching. Its 9 aperture blades provide clearly defined sunstars when the aperture is stopped-down. Expressive Image Quality. The new MF 85mm F1.4 MK2 features a total of 9 elements in 7 groups. Rokinon uses 1 Hybrid Aspherical glass to minimize spherical and distortion aberration for sharp image quality. It will capture the detailed emotion of subjects in the most beautiful way. Warranty InformationThis product has a limited warranty of 12 months.https://rokinon.com/ - - CompatibilityDesigned for use with: Fuji X-T4,Fuji X-A1,Fuji X-A10,Fuji X-A2 andJoin VIP PROEarn 2X Points + Exclusive Perks!Request a CallbackChat one-on-one with an expertSell or Trade your GearGet started in 3 easy stepsKey FeaturesCapture stunning portraits with the Rokinon 85mm lens, designed for beautiful bokeh.Experience exceptional image quality with this prime lens, perfect for Fuji X mirrorless cameras.Enjoy smooth manual focus for precise control, ideal for creative photography projects.The f/1.4 aperture excels in low light, ensuring bright and clear images every time.Weather-sealed construction protects against the elements, making it great for outdoor shoots.Crafted with hybrid aspherical elements for sharpness, reducing aberrations in your photos.What's in the box:Series II 85mm f/1.4 Weather Sealed LensLens HoodLens CapsLens PouchRokinon 1 Year Limited Warranty
- Rokinon
- Fixed Length Lens
The 30-Second Version
4,415 reviewers can't be wrong: this thing is sharp. At around $229, it's one of the cheapest f/1.4 portrait lenses you'll find, with smooth manual focus and weather sealing. You'll miss autofocus and stabilization, but the image quality outclasses most zooms at this price.
Overview
The Rokinon 85mm f/1.4 Series II arrives with a 4.3-star average across over 4,400 reviews—a social proof score that lands in the 91st percentile, making it one of the most community-approved portrait primes we've tracked. You get a fast f/1.4 aperture, a weather-sealed barrel, and an optical design with one hybrid aspherical element and Ultra Multi-Coating, all in a package that weighs 541g. Our database ranks its aperture in the 19th percentile, a quirk of how we categorize the max f/22 figure—in reality, that f/1.4 opening is a low-light champ and a background-melting machine. The 9-blade rounded diaphragm promises creamy bokeh, and while our bokeh percentile sits at a disappointing 22nd, actual owners consistently call it pleasant for portraits.
Don't let the middling optical percentile (49th) fool you. Real-world sharpness is this lens's calling card, especially when you stop it down from wide open. It's manual focus only—autofocus capability lands in the 14th percentile because it simply isn't there—so you'll need patience and maybe focus peaking. But if you can live without AF and image stabilization, this lens is a budget portrait powerhouse with a solid build (64th percentile) and a reputation that punches far above its price.
Performance
At the heart of this Rokinon is a 9-element, 7-group design with a hybrid aspherical element that cuts down distortion and spherical aberrations. Sharpness is where it shines brightest: owners in our user feedback pool rave about biting detail once you stop down to f/2 or f/2.8. Wide open at f/1.4, you'll see some contrast loss and purple fringing—common for budget fast glass—but that's easily fixed in post or by tightening the aperture ring a click. The manual focus ring is a standout. It's heavily damped and silky smooth, making critical focus a tactile joy rather than a chore. Just remember, there's no optical stabilization here (34th percentile), so keep your shutter speed above 1/125s on a full-frame body to avoid camera shake.
The 85mm focal length on full frame is a classic for headshots and medium portraits, and the 1.1m minimum focus distance keeps you at a comfortable working distance. The spec sheet claims a 0.9x maximum magnification, which would be nearly macro territory, but in practice you're not filling the frame with a postage stamp—expect a portrait-friendly field of view. The weather-sealed construction adds peace of mind for outdoor shoots, though at 541g it can feel a bit front-heavy on smaller DSLR bodies. No autofocus means no hunting, no motor noise, and no drained battery from AF systems, which might appeal to purists who prefer complete control.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness when stopped down, rivaling lenses many times the price 90th
- Smooth, well-damped manual focus ring that outclasses most budget glass
- Solid weather-sealed build at a price that usually buys plastic fantastic
- Fast f/1.4 aperture delivers beautiful subject isolation, despite what our aperture percentile says
- 91st percentile social proof—over 4,400 reviewers can't be wrong
Cons
- Strictly manual focus; autofocus sits at the 14th percentile because it doesn't exist 14th
- No image stabilization (34th percentile), so you'll need steady hands or a fast shutter 34th
- Lens cap is notoriously loose and likely to escape your camera bag 35th
- Visible chromatic aberration and contrast drop wide open at f/1.4 35th
- Sample variation can bite—a handful of users reported receiving soft copies
The Word on the Street
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | prime |
| Focal Length Min | 85 |
| Focal Length Max | 85 |
| Elements | 9 |
| Groups | 7 |
| Aspherical Elements | 1 |
| Coating | Multi-coated |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | 16 |
| Min Aperture | 1.4 |
| Constant | No |
| Diaphragm Blades | 8 |
Build
| Mount | Fujifilm X mount |
| Format | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | Yes |
| Weight | 0.8 kg / 1.8 lbs |
| Filter Thread | 72 |
AF & Stabilization
| AF Type | manual focus only |
| Stabilization | No |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 1006 |
| Max Magnification | 0.9x |
Value & Pricing
Pricing for this lens is a strange landscape. We've spotted it as low as $229 from reputable shops, while some marketplaces list it at a comical $55,334. Stick with the $230 ballpark and you're getting one of the best performance-per-dollar portrait lenses available. A weather-sealed 85mm f/1.4 with this level of sharpness usually costs well over a grand, so even when you factor in the missing autofocus and stabilization, the Rokinon is a screaming deal for stills shooters who value optical quality over convenience.
vs Competition
Stacked against Nikon's own AF-S 85mm f/1.4G (often $1,500+), the Rokinon delivers maybe 90% of the sharpness for a sixth of the price—the trade-off being all manual focus. The modern Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 S is sharper across the frame and has creamy AF, but at three times the cost, it's a different budget class. For older Nikon F-mount shooters, a used Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D comes close in price but lacks weather sealing and gives up some subject isolation at f/1.8. If you shoot events or anything that moves, the Rokinon's manual ring will frustrate you; for deliberate portraiture, it's the best value in its class.
| Spec | Rokinon 85M-FX | Tamron Di III 28-75mm F/2.8 Di III VXD G2 | Sirui Sniper 56mm Autofocus | Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM | 7Artisans AF 24mm F1.8 | Sigma Contemporary 56mm f/1.4 DC DN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 85mm | 28-75mm | 56mm | 18-135mm | 24mm | 56mm |
| Max Aperture | 16 | f/2.8 | f/1.2 | f/3.5 | 1.8 | f/1.4 |
| Mount | Fujifilm X mount | Nikon Z | E Mount | Canon EF-S | Nikon Z | Canon EF-M |
| Stabilization | false | false | true | true | true | false |
| Weather Sealed | true | true | false | false | false | true |
| Weight (g) | 839 | 550 | 880 | 515 | 830 | 280 |
| AF Type | manual focus only | VXD linear motor | STM | STM | STM | stepping motor |
| Lens Type | prime | zoom | prime | zoom | standard | prime |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Af | Bokeh | Build | Macro | Optical | Aperture | User Sentiment | Versatility | Social Proof | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rokinon 85M-FX | 13.9 | 34.8 | 43 | 36.3 | 48.2 | 42.2 | 62.7 | 34 | 89.9 | 34.7 |
| Tamron Di III 28-75mm F/2.8 Di III VXD G2 Compare | 98 | 80.8 | 63 | 84 | 87.9 | 78.7 | 79.9 | 78.6 | 89.9 | 34.7 |
| Sirui Sniper 56mm Autofocus Compare | 85.8 | 97.9 | 18.4 | 97.9 | 73.6 | 97.9 | 62.7 | 34 | 89.9 | 80 |
| Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Compare | 85.8 | 68.1 | 46.9 | 34.1 | 80.4 | 71 | 0 | 96.3 | 89.9 | 92.5 |
| 7Artisans AF 24mm F1.8 Compare | 85.8 | 94.1 | 19.9 | 97.6 | 79 | 90 | 0 | 34 | 89.9 | 80 |
| Sigma Contemporary 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Compare | 85.8 | 95 | 83.8 | 51 | 61.6 | 94.8 | 79.9 | 34 | 89.9 | 34.7 |
Common Questions
Q: Does this lens work with autofocus on my Nikon DSLR?
No, it's fully manual focus. You'll rely on your camera's electronic focus confirmation chip or live view magnification. The focus ring is buttery smooth, so many portrait shooters actually prefer it for precise control.
Q: What aperture gives the sharpest results for portraits?
Most users report a sweet spot around f/2.8 or f/4, where sharpness peaks and the 9-blade bokeh stays smooth. Wide open at f/1.4, expect some chromatic aberration and softer contrast—stopping down to f/2 clears up most issues.
Q: Is the Rokinon 85mm f/1.4 weather resistant?
Yes, this Series II model boasts weather sealing, which is rare at this price. It can handle light rain and dusty conditions, making it a reliable choice for outdoor portrait sessions.
Who Should Skip This
If your work involves fast action, sports, or wildlife, move along. The autofocus score sits in the 14th percentile because it's nonexistent, and image stabilization is a bottom-third performer at the 34th percentile. You'll struggle to nail focus on moving subjects, and the 85mm focal length demands a steady hand or higher ISOs. Also, if you can't tolerate stopping down to f/2 for clean images—or you expect flawless wide-open performance without post-processing—budget for a more modern Nikkor Z prime instead.
Verdict
If you're willing to give up autofocus, the Rokinon 85mm f/1.4 Series II is a steal for portrait photographers on a budget. Its sharpness and build quality blow away expectations at this price, and the overwhelmingly positive user feedback—4,415 reviews and a 4.3 average—backs up the numbers. Just keep a spare lens cap in your bag and plan to stop down to f/2 for critical work. For slow, intentional shooting, it's one of the best manual primes you can buy without emptying your wallet.
