AstrHori AF 85mm f/1.8 II 85mm

Fast autofocus and a low price, but the bokeh is a buzzkill for a portrait lens. Buy it cheap or don't buy it.

The autofocus is the real surprise here. It's quick, quiet, and tracks faces and eyes without hunting around, which puts it well above average for this class. The STM motor keeps things smooth for video too. Sharpness is solid in the center, and the 10-element design with 2 ED elements keeps chromatic aberration mostly in check. But the bokeh is a letdown. With an 11-blade diaphragm you'd expect creamy backgrounds, yet our data puts it dead last. The rendering can get busy and nervous, especially at mid-distances. For a lens built around subject isolation, that's a problem.

The AstrHori doesn't have a direct budget 85mm autofocus rival at this price, so the real competition is more practical. The Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN gives you a zoom range and better overall versatility for similar money, though you lose the 85mm reach. The Panasonic LUMIX S Full Frame options are sharper and better built but cost significantly more. If you need one lens that does everything, the Sigma zoom is the smarter buy. If you specifically want an 85mm portrait prime on a tight budget, the AstrHori is basically your only autofocus option.

Pricing is all over the place. In the US you'll see it anywhere from USD 199 to USD 329 depending on the seller, and Amazon currently has listings at the lower end of that range. In Canada the spread is even wider, from CAD 199 to CAD 455. If you're buying, shop around and don't pay more than the low end. At USD 199 this is an interesting budget option. At USD 329 it's a harder sell when used first-party lenses start appearing in that range.

The AstrHori AF 85mm F1.8 II is a budget portrait prime that gets the basics right but stumbles where it matters most. You get autofocus, a bright aperture, and a classic focal length for a fraction of what the big brands charge. But our database shows this lens lands in the bottom percentile for bokeh and aperture performance, which is a weird place for a portrait lens to be. The headline here is simple: it's cheap, it focuses, and it's sharp enough. Just don't expect it to hang with lenses costing three times as much.

If you're serious about portrait photography and care about bokeh quality, this isn't your lens. The background rendering is the weakest part of the package, and that's the whole point of an 85mm f/1.8. Save up for a used first-party 85mm or look at the Sigma zoom if you need flexibility. This is for budget shooters who want autofocus and can live with compromises.

The AstrHori AF 85mm F1.8 II is a budget lens with budget compromises. The autofocus is genuinely good, and the sharpness will satisfy most hobbyists. But the bokeh quality is a real disappointment for a portrait lens, and the lack of weather sealing limits where you can shoot. If you can find it at the low end of the price range and you specifically need an autofocus 85mm, it's worth a look. Otherwise, save your money for something better.