Tokina atx-m 85mm f/1.8 FE 85mm
The f/1.8 aperture and one ED element deliver strong subject separation and controlled aberrations for an 85mm portrait prime. It bundles an extensive accessory kit including filters, a tripod, and a sling backpack, adding value beyond the lens itself. This lens is best for Sony E-mount portrait photographers who want a complete starter kit without purchasing accessories separately.
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Snapshot
The 30-Second Version
The Tokina atx-m 85mm f/1.8 FE is a portrait specialist with best-in-class bokeh and a bright aperture. It skips stabilization and weather sealing, so it's not for video or rough conditions. At $497, it's a great value for portrait shooters who know what they're signing up for.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Gorgeous, best-in-class bokeh that makes portraits sing. 96th
- Bright f/1.8 aperture is great for low light and subject separation. 95th
- Fast and quiet autofocus that's perfect for stills. 85th
- Solid value for a dedicated portrait prime.
Cons
- No optical stabilization, so handheld video is shaky.
- Zero weather sealing, so keep it away from dust and rain.
- Build quality is just average for the price.
- Not versatile at all, it's a one-trick portrait pony.
The proof
Performance
This lens is a bokeh machine. The f/1.8 max aperture lands in the 93rd percentile, and the rendering is smooth and buttery, perfect for making your subject pop against a dreamy background. Autofocus is quick and quiet thanks to the ST-M stepping motor, sitting in the 87th percentile, which is well above average and totally fine for portrait work. Optically, it's solid but not chart-topping, landing right around the middle of the pack. The real weak spot is stabilization, or the lack of it, which drags it down to the 37th percentile. If you're shooting handheld video or in low light without a tripod, you'll feel that absence.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | Prime |
| Focal Length Min | 85 |
| Focal Length Max | 85 |
| Elements | 10 |
| ED Elements | 1 |
| Coating | Super Low Reflection Multi-Coating |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | f/1.8 |
| Min Aperture | f/1.8 |
| Constant | Yes |
| Diaphragm Blades | 9 |
Build
| Mount | Sony E |
| Format | full-frame |
| Weather Sealed | Yes |
| Weight | 0.9 kg / 2.1 lbs |
| Filter Thread | 72 |
AF & Stabilization
| AF Type | ST-M stepping motor |
| Stabilization | No |
vs Competition
Stacked against the competition, the Tokina is in a weird spot. Most of its listed competitors are zooms, like the Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 or the Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8, which are way more versatile but can't touch this lens's bokeh or low-light chops. The Sony 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS is a travel zoom with stabilization, but its aperture is slow. If you're choosing between this Tokina and a standard zoom, you're really choosing between specialized portrait magic and everyday convenience. The Tokina wins on pure image character, but loses on practicality.
| Spec | Tokina atx-m 85mm f/1.8 FE 85mm | Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 VXD | Nikon NIKKOR 20059 | Sigma Art 17-40mm f/1.8 DC | Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 | Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 85mm | 28-300mm | 18-55mm | 17-40mm | 12-35mm | 18-135mm |
| Max Aperture | f/1.8 | f/4 | f/3.5 | f/1.8 | f/2.8 | f/3.5 |
| Mount | Sony E | Sony E | Nikon F | Fujifilm X | Micro Four Thirds | Sony E |
| Stabilization | false | true | true | false | true | true |
| Weather Sealed | true | true | false | true | true | false |
| Weight (g) | 940 | 590 | 205 | 535 | 306 | 326 |
| AF Type | ST-M stepping motor | VXD linear motor | pulse stepping motor | HLA (High-response Linear Actuator) | Autofocus | Linear motor |
| Lens Type | prime | zoom | zoom | zoom | zoom | zoom |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | AF | Bokeh | Build | Macro | Optical | Aperture | Versatility | Social Proof | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tokina atx-m 85mm f/1.8 FE 85mm | 84.8 | 95.6 | 40.3 | 12.2 | 53.2 | 95.3 | 33.2 | 61.2 | 34.4 |
| Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 VXD Compare | 97.7 | 83.6 | 63.1 | 83.2 | 96.3 | 70.9 | 97.9 | 50.8 | 79.4 |
| Nikon NIKKOR 20059 Compare | 84.8 | 81.4 | 83.7 | 95.4 | 54.6 | 82.8 | 82.9 | 86.2 | 92.3 |
| Sigma Art 17-40mm f/1.8 DC Compare | 54 | 97 | 67.1 | 72.3 | 96.7 | 95.3 | 75.8 | 94.1 | 34.4 |
| Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 Compare | 54 | 86.6 | 83.9 | 49 | 86.2 | 88.3 | 80.5 | 86.2 | 96.4 |
| Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS Compare | 97.7 | 81.4 | 71 | 37.5 | 78 | 82.8 | 95.8 | 90.7 | 79.4 |
Price
Value & Pricing
For around $497, you're getting a lens that delivers bokeh quality you'd normally pay a lot more for. It's a strong value if portraits are your main thing. You're not paying for features you won't use, like stabilization or a zoom range. But if you need a lens that can handle travel or video work, this money is better spent elsewhere. For the portrait specialist on a budget, it's a smart buy.
Read more
Overview
The Tokina atx-m 85mm f/1.8 FE is a portrait lens that knows exactly what it wants to be. It's a short telephoto prime built for Sony E-mount, and it's all about that creamy background blur and sharp subject isolation. At around $500, it's priced to tempt anyone who wants that classic 85mm look without selling a kidney.
It's not trying to be a do-it-all zoom. It's a specialist. The f/1.8 aperture and 9-blade diaphragm are the stars here, and they deliver bokeh that sits in the 94th percentile of our database. That's best-in-class territory. But it skips weather sealing and stabilization, so you'll need to know what you're getting into.
Common Questions
Q: Does this lens work on APS-C Sony cameras?
Yes, it uses the Sony E-mount and covers a full-frame sensor, so it'll work on APS-C bodies too. On an APS-C camera, the field of view is tighter, giving you roughly a 127.5mm equivalent focal length, which is still great for portraits.
Q: Is the autofocus quiet enough for video?
The ST-M stepping motor is quiet and smooth, so it won't ruin your audio with focus noise. But without stabilization, handheld video will be shaky, so it's best used on a tripod or gimbal for video work.
Q: How does the bokeh compare to more expensive 85mm lenses?
It's surprisingly close. The 9-blade diaphragm and f/1.8 aperture produce smooth, creamy bokeh that ranks in the 94th percentile of all lenses we've tested. You'd have to spend significantly more to see a noticeable improvement.
Who Should Skip This
If you need a lens for travel or walkaround shooting, hard pass. The lack of stabilization and weather sealing makes it a poor choice for unpredictable conditions. Video shooters who rely on handheld footage should also look elsewhere, because the shaky results will drive you nuts.
Verdict
This lens is for the photographer who lives for portraits and doesn't mind working around its limitations. If you shoot Sony E-mount and want that classic 85mm f/1.8 look without breaking the bank, it's a no-brainer. Just know you're trading versatility and stabilization for some seriously pretty background blur.
