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Brightin Star AF 85mm f/1.8
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Brightin Star · 85 mm · f/1.8 · Sony E, Nikon Z mount

Brightin Star AF 85mm f/1.8

From $269.99 — 1 offer
KEY FACTS
BrandBrightin Star
Announcement dateJan 2025
Released2025
Production started2025
Production statusIn Production
What We Like
+Excellent value at approximately $300 MSRP with exceptional build quality for the price
+Outstanding bokeh rendering with smooth, creamy out-of-focus areas and clean specular highlights
+Solid center sharpness, especially when stopped down to f/2.8 with minimal purple fringing
+Reliable autofocus with face and eye detection suitable for portraits and video work
+Professional controls including AF/MF switch, custom function button, and USB-C firmware updates
+Compact and handleable design, considerably smaller than f/1.4 alternatives
Worth Knowing
−Softer corners on high-resolution full-frame sensors, even when stopped down
−Aperture ring turns too easily and can slip out of auto setting without resistance
−Autofocus/manual focus switch feels cheap compared to rest of lens and less reliable
−Autofocus not super fast and occasionally requires patience, unsuitable for sports photography

General

Brand
Brightin Star
Announcement date
ⓘ
Refers to the date the manufacturer publicly announced the upcoming release and general specs of this camera.
Jan 2025
Released
ⓘ
Refers to the year this camera was officially made available for sale.
2025
Production started
2025
Production status
ⓘ
Current status of lens manufacturing (e.g., in production, discontinued).
In Production
Read our notes on general
The Brightin Star AF 85mm f/1.8 is a solid entry into autofocus portrait lenses, offering good build quality and image quality suitable for most applications. With excellent value at roughly $300, it compares favorably against costlier options, though corners stay softer on high-resolution full frame bodies even when stopped down. For portraits and calm scenes, the autofocus speed is absolutely sufficient.

Optical

Minimum Aperture
f/16
Lens Elements
10 elements in 7 groups
Special Elements
3 high refractive elements, 2 low dispersion (ED) elements

Autofocus

Type
STM (Stepper Motor)
Detection
Face and eye detection
Video Tracking
AI subject tracking

Aperture

Blade Count
11 blades
Diaphragm Type
Round for smooth bokeh

Mount

Mount Design
Weather-sealed with electronic contacts

Build

Size
79 × 89mm
Material
Metal construction
Controls
AF/MF switch, custom function button, de-clicked aperture ring

Image quality

Coating
Multilayer coating

Connectivity

Firmware
USB-C port for firmware updates

Optics

Min focal length
85 mm
Max focal length
85 mm
Focal range
ⓘ
Shortest to longest focal length of the lens (zoom range start - end )
85 mm
Zoom lens
ⓘ
Zoom allows you to vary the focal length, change between long shots and close-ups
No
Max aperture wide
1.8
Max aperture zoom
1.8
Autofocus mode
Yes

Physical

Lens mount
ⓘ
The lens mount will tell you what type of lens range you can fit onto the camera body. Often the same camera company will have different lens ranges for different cameras.
Sony E, Nikon Z
Lens weight
510 g

Features

Weather sealing
ⓘ
Weather sealing capabilities will give you more confidence when shooting in unfavourable conditions.
Yes