Rollei 85mm f/1.8 AF in the test
A strong start into a new era
Rollei is now making Lens? What sounds surprising at first glance turns out on closer inspection to be an exciting step that Rollei is taking right at the start with an 85mm f/1.8 AF. Will the brand's first Lens deliver what the specs promise? We took a closer look at the new 85mm and tested it in practice.
Table of contents
The most important features at a glance
- 85 mm focal length, classic for portraits
- Fast aperture f/1.8
- 0.85m closest focusing distance
- fast STM autofocus
- HFT-X multi-coating for high contrast & reduced flares
- AF/MF switch & freely assignable FN button
- Firmware updates via USB-C
- EXIF transfer & automatic correction profiles
- Available with Sony E & Nikon Z mount
Design & feel - solid, high-quality, professional
What is immediately noticeable: The Rollei 85mm f/1.8 is not a budget solution. Instead of a cheap plastic housing, users can expect a high-quality metal housing that is packed with technically and visually impressive components. The robust full metal housing sits comfortably in the hand and conveys confidence without appearing unnecessarily heavy. The focus and aperture rings are also very easy to grip, which prevents accidental adjustment and guarantees safe operation. There is one small drawback, however, as the aperture ring is only infinitely adjustable. Alternatively, locking stops would be desirable here. Rollei has given the Lens an orange design accent on the front to suit all Sony users.
The operation is particularly successful:
- The focus ring runs smoothly and precisely
- The AF/MF switch can be operated with a single hand movement
- The FN button on the Lens can be freely assigned (e.g. with focus lock or magnifier function)
By the way, the firmware of the Lens can be easily updated via the integrated USB-C port.
Image quality: Sharpness with character
The Rollei delivers what you would expect from an 85mm f/1.8 and even goes beyond in some areas.
The image results are:
- Impressively sharp, even at open aperture
- Gently cropped, with natural, creamy bokeh
- True to color & rich in contrast, even in difficult lighting situations
This is ensured not only by the high light intensity, but also by the optical inner workings:
- Two ED lenses minimize chromatic aberration
- Two HR elements suppress magenta flare
- The HFT-X coating reduces ghosting & flares by up to 42%
This makes the Lens ideal for available light, backlighting and portraits with a natural light gradient and soft vignette. However, if you are looking for a perfectly corrected lens with as little character as possible, you should take a look at the specialized premium lenses from Sony or Nikon. The Rollei 85mm naturally has its optical characteristics here and there, which many either don't even notice or don't mind.
How does the Rollei compare?
In the competitive 85mm Lens market, Rollei competes against established giants such as Canon, Nikon, Sony and Viltrox. The newcomer makes an impressive start, especially in terms of price. Even the popular Viltrox 85mm f/1.8 is almost 100€ more expensive.
Conclusion
With the new 85mm f/1.8 Rollei has introduced a really impressive price/performance ratio that is hard to beat. You get a super versatile Lens for little money, especially for portraits. The new Rollei 85mm f/1.8 AF should be at the top of the wish list, especially for photo enthusiasts who are just taking their first steps towards open aperture fixed focal lengths.
