One focal length, and usually the widest aperture the money buys · review
A light 75 mm f/1.8 portrait lens for Sony full frame and APS-C, with a nine-blade aperture and a video-friendly Custom Switch, sold by Amazon.com for about $314.
Samyang’s AF 75mm weighs 8.1 ounces, light for a portrait lens. f/1.8 and nine aperture blades give soft, round background blur.
A linear STM motor focuses quietly, and the Custom Switch turns the focus ring into a smooth aperture control.
Ten elements in nine groups, including three ED and two high-refraction elements, with UMC coating. It takes 58 mm filters, and a hood and case are included.
Amazon.com sold it at about $314.
Prices quoted in this text were read on November 2, 2026. The live price is at the top of the page.
| Mount | Sony E, full frame and APS-C |
|---|---|
| Focal length | 75 mm |
| Aperture | f/1.8 |
| Blades | 9 |
| Autofocus | Linear STM, quiet |
| Custom Switch | Sets the focus ring to control aperture, smoothly, for video |
| Optics | 10 elements in 9 groups (3 ED, 2 HR), UMC coating |
| Filter | 58 mm |
| Weight | 8.1 oz (230 g) |
| In the box | Hood, caps, case |
| Amazon reference | B087XVGY52 |
75 mm is a little wider, which helps in smaller rooms and for half-body portraits. Background separation at f/1.8 remains strong.
It lets the focus ring control the aperture smoothly, which avoids visible exposure steps when changing aperture on video.
Yes. Samyang lists full-frame and APS-C compatibility. An equivalent focal length is a calculation that describes the field of view on a full-frame camera; the engraved focal length never changes. On APS-C it frames like about 112 mm.
At $314, it is the 5 cheapest of the 8 models in this category published here.
8.1/ 10
A light, inexpensive portrait lens for Sony that also suits video. Choose an 85 mm if you mostly shoot tight headshots.
photo equipment from the same category, at nearby prices. Only what all of them publish is shown: a column with holes compares nothing.
| Model | Price | Mount | Focal length | Aperture |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samyang AF 75mm F1.8 FE | $314 | Sony E, full frame and APS-C | 75 mm | f/1.8 |
| Canon RF 45mm F1.2 STM | $429 | Canon RF, full frame | 45 mm | f/1.2 |
| Panasonic Lumix G 25mm F1.7 | $179 | Micro Four Thirds (Panasonic and Olympus/OM System) | 25 mm; Panasonic gives 50 mm equivalent | f/1.7 to f/22 |
| Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1.8G | $167 | Nikon F, FX (full frame); works on DX | 50 mm | f/1.8 |
This model is listed on Amazon.com, at ≈ $314 at the last reading. Listed is not the same as in stock: availability changes daily, and the buy box shows the live price.
Details checked on November 2, 2026.
Sony owners who want a light portrait lens for weddings, street and video.
Specifications: the manufacturer sheet for photo equipment and the matching Amazon product page. Prices and availability: Keepa. Every figure on this page names its source.
Canon RF, full frame · 45mm · f/1.2 · STM · one PMo aspheric element · digital distortion correction
Canon’s affordable f/1.2 standard prime for RF bodies, made possible by digital distortion correction, sold by Amazon.com for about $429.
Best for: Canon RF owners who want a bright everyday lens for low light and soft backgrounds.
≈ $429
Canon EF and EF-S mount · 85mm · f/1.8 · fully manual focus and aperture · no electronic contacts · 6 rounded blades · internal focus
A fully manual 85 mm f/1.8 portrait lens for Canon DSLRs at about $97. It has no electronic contacts, so the camera must be set to manual exposure.
Best for: Canon DSLR owners who want to try 85 mm portraits cheaply and are happy to focus by hand.
≈ $97
Nikon F, FX · 50mm · f/1.8 · 47° angle of view on FX · 0.45 m (1.48 ft) close focus · 0.15× · SWM · 58mm filter
Nikon’s classic 50 mm f/1.8 for F-mount DSLRs, with 10,193 ratings at 4.8 stars and a price around $167.
Best for: Nikon DSLR owners buying their first fast prime.
≈ $167
