NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 Svs A1
Nikon
NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S
Starting from £699 new
Best for Portraits & professional headshots
View NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S
Sony
A1 (2021)
Starting from £5999 new
Best for Professional sport, wildlife, portrait & hybrid shooting
View A1
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Portraits & Professional Headshots — NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S: Optically, this is one of the finest 85mm lenses you can buy at any price. The Z-mount's large diameter allows Nikon's designers to create glass that outperforms many f/1.4 lenses from competing systems. If you own a Z-mount body and shoot portraits, this lens is the answer.
Professional Sport, Wildlife, Portrait & Hybrid Shooting — A1 (2021): 50MP, 30fps, 8K — the Sony A1 is the most complete professional camera ever made.
Who should buy what
NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S
- Nikon Z-mount portrait and wedding photographers
- Professional headshot photographers who demand the sharpest results
- Video creators shooting interviews or narrative content
- Photographers upgrading from DSLR 85mm glass to the Z system
A1 (2021)
- Professional photographers who need resolution and speed without compromise
- Sports and wildlife photographers demanding the absolute fastest Sony
- Studio and fashion photographers who also shoot sport or events
- A9 III or A7R V owners who want a single body that does everything
Quick take: The nikkor z 85mm f/1.8 s is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S | A1 (2021) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £699 | £5,999 |
| Sensor | — | 50.1MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS |
| Resolution | — | 50.1MP |
| Video | Compatible with all Nikon Z-mount cameras | 8K/30p, 4K/120p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Stepping motor (STM) — near-silent for stills and video | Real-time Tracking, AI subject recognition — 759 phase-detect points |
| Stabilisation | None (relies on body IBIS) | IBIS — up to 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | — | 30fps electronic with full AF/AE |
| Battery Life | — | ~430 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 470g | 737g (with battery) |
| Dimensions | 75mm × 99mm | 128.9 × 96.9 × 80.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | — | EVF, 9.44M dots, 0.90× magnification, 240fps |
| Screen | — | 3.0" fully tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Nikon Z-mount (full-frame and APS-C compatible) | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | — | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | — | USB-C, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, Ethernet, HDMI |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S | A1 |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Video | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Wildlife | ||
| Sports | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Wedding | — |
More comparisons with NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S
Camera family history