Rokinon Series II 85mm f/1.4 85mm
Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD
What Buyers Say
Rokinon Series II 85mm f/1.4 85mm
The Rokinon 85mm f/1.4 manual lens offers exceptional value for astrophotography and portrait work, delivering sharp images and smooth bokeh at a fraction of the cost of autofocus equivalents. Users praise its center sharpness wide open and excellent performance when stopped down to f/2.8, especially for capturing stars. However, the purely manual focus and aperture can be fiddly, and build quality inconsistencies like a missing hood or accidental aperture ring bumps are noted. Overall, it's a highly recommended budget lens for those comfortable with manual operation.
Pros
- Sharp center wide open
- Smooth bokeh
- Excellent for astrophotography
- Great value for money
- Solid build quality
Cons
- Fiddly manual aperture ring
- Missing lens hood in some packages
- No autofocus
- Front-heavy with adapter on some cameras
- Accidental aperture ring bumps
Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD
The Tamron 28-300mm super-zoom wins praise for its lightweight design, versatile focal range, and solid image quality. Users appreciate the compact build and smooth zoom mechanism, but note the slow aperture and trade-offs in sharpness compared to more expensive zooms. Verified reviewers find it an ideal travel lens that pairs well with Sony bodies.
Pros
- Lightweight design
- Versatile 28-300mm focal range
- Smooth zoom ring operation
- Compact build for travel
- Good integration with Sony bodies
Cons
- Small maximum aperture (f/4-7.1)
- Reduced sharpness vs. premium zooms
- Not an internal zoom lens
- Slow autofocus at high fps on some bodies
Scores
Specifications
| Rokinon Series II 85mm f/1.4 85mm | Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | prime | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 85 mm | 28 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 85 mm | 300 mm |
| Elements | 9 | 20 |
| Groups | 7 | 13 |
| Aspherical Elements | 1 | 3★ |
| ED Elements | 1 | 2★ |
| Coating | Ultra Multi-Coating | fluorine coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/1.4 | f/4 |
| Min Aperture | f/1.4 | 4-7.1 |
| Constant | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 9 | 9 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Canon EF | Sony E |
| Format | full-frame | full-frame |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.54 kg★ | 0.59 kg |
| Filter Thread | 72 mm | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | manual focus only | VXD linear motor★ |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 1.00 m | 190 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 1:9 | 1:2.8 |
Pros & Cons
Rokinon Series II 85mm f/1.4 85mm
- Strong bokeh (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong aperture (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong social proof (76th percentile)
- Strong build (68th percentile)
- Below average af (14th percentile)14th %ile
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD
- Strong versatility (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong af (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong optical (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong user sentiment (91st percentile)91st %ile
Pricing
Rokinon Series II 85mm f/1.4 85mm offers 1.5x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 100 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 21 specs.
