NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 Svs A1 II
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 II (2025)
Starting from £6500 new
Best for Professional sports, wildlife & high-resolution studio work
View A1 II
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 Sports, Wildlife & High-Resolution Studio Work — A1 II (2025): The most complete camera ever made — 50MP, 30fps, 8K, and the world's best EVF in a single flagship body.
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 II (2025)
- Professional sports and wildlife photographers who need 30fps, 50MP, and the best AF available
- Commercial and advertising photographers who demand 50MP resolution alongside pro video specs
- Photojournalists who need a single body capable of handling every assignment
- Sony system shooters ready to invest in the absolute best
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 II (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £699 | £6,500 |
| Sensor | — | 50.1MP full-frame stacked BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | — | 50.1MP |
| Video | Compatible with all Nikon Z-mount cameras | 8K/30p, 4K/120p 10-bit, 4K/240p super slow-motion |
| Autofocus | Stepping motor (STM) — near-silent for stills and video | AI subject recognition — human, animal, bird, insect, vehicle, aircraft, train |
| Stabilisation | None (relies on body IBIS) | 8.5-stop IBIS (with in-lens OSS) |
| Burst Rate | — | 30fps electronic (with full AF/AE), 10fps mechanical |
| Battery Life | — | ~530 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 470g | 743g body only |
| Dimensions | 75mm × 99mm | 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | — | EVF 0.9× 9.44M-dot — the highest resolution EVF available |
| Screen | — | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen, 2.1M dots |
| Mount | Nikon Z-mount (full-frame and APS-C compatible) | Sony E-mount (full-frame) |
| Memory Cards | — | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | — | USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, Wi-Fi 6GHz, Bluetooth 5.3, HDMI full-size |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S | A1 II |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Video | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Wildlife | ||
| Sports | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Travel | — |
More comparisons with NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S
Camera family history