NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 Svs A7 IV

GearFrame · Updated March 2026

Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S From £699 Best for Portraits & professional headshots View NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S
VS
Sony A7 IV Sony A7 IV (2021) From £2299 Best for Portrait & wedding photography View A7 IV

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.

Portrait & Wedding Photography — A7 IV (2021): The full-frame portrait benchmark — 33MP, AI Eye AF, and exceptional skin-tone rendering in a pro-grade hybrid body.

↓ Full specifications below

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

A7 IV (2021)

  • You want a high-resolution full-frame all-rounder for portraits, weddings, or travel
  • You're stepping up from APS-C or a DSLR and want the best all-round full-frame body under £3,000
  • You shoot a mix of stills and video and need a single body that handles both seriously
  • You want access to the widest lens ecosystem in the mirrorless market

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 SA7 IV (2021)
Price £699 £2,299
Sensor 33MP Full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS
Resolution 33.0MP
Video Compatible with all Nikon Z-mount cameras 4K/60p oversampled, 10-bit internal, S-Log3, S-Cinetone
Autofocus Stepping motor (STM) — near-silent for stills and video 759-point phase-detect, AI subject recognition
Stabilisation None (relies on body IBIS) 5-axis IBIS, 5.5 stops
Burst Rate 10fps mechanical, 30fps electronic
Battery Life ~580 shots (CIPA)
Weight 470g 659g body only
Dimensions 75mm × 99mm 131.3 × 96.4 × 79.8mm
Weather Sealed Yes Yes
Viewfinder EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification
Screen 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen
Mount Nikon Z-mount (full-frame and APS-C compatible) Sony FE (full-frame E-mount)
Memory Cards Dual slots: CFexpress Type A + SD UHS-II
Connectivity USB-C (3.2 Gen 2), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
⚡ Compare specs side by side NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S prices → A7 IV prices →

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