Im looking for a new prime lens for my A7III mainly for outdoor portraits. Ive seen people rave about the 85mm f1.8 but then others swear by the 50mm f1.2 GM for bokeh. I dont have 2k to drop though. Ideally id like to keep it under 800 bucks. What should I get?
> I dont have 2k to drop though. Ideally id like to keep it under 800 bucks. Listen, save your money. Honestly, the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 is a total beast for the price. I've been shooting portraits with it for years and it rarely leaves my bag. The bokeh is super creamy and you just cant beat that sharpness at this price point. Save the extra cash and put it toward a solid lighting setup or maybe a nice trip to actually use the gear. Ive tried the super expensive GM lenses but for outdoor portraits, this little prime punches way above its weight. Just grab the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 and dont look back. You wont miss that extra grand, trust me.
Honestly, I was in the same boat last year. I ended up grabbing the Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD because of the zoom flexibility, but for pure primes, the Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 FE is a total steal if you can find it.
- Samyang: super creamy background, tiny bit bulky.
- Sony 85mm f/1.8: lighter, crazy fast autofocus. Basically, don't overthink it. Both are solid choices and honestly way better than burning cash on a GM lens.
Re: > I dont have 2k to drop though... Totally agree with the 85mm choice. If you want something sharper or different, look into these:
- Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art is often found used near your budget and the low light performance is insane.
- Sony FE 50mm f/1.8 is super cheap if you want to save cash for a tripod or lights. Personally, the Sigma is way more bang for your buck if you can find a deal.
Honestly, if you want reliability for outdoor portraits without spending a fortune, just get the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8. I had issues with some third-party glass autofocusing in low light, unfortunately, and it really ruined a few shoots for me. The native Sony focus is just way more consistent. Save the rest of your budget for a good quality circular polarizer if you're shooting outside. It makes a bigger difference in portrait quality than chasing that f/1.2 look, which can actually be pretty soft and frustrating to nail focus with anyway. Just get the 85mm and enjoy the sharpness.
