Name: Tokina atx-m 85mm F 1 8 FE
Brand: Tokina

Technical Specifications of Tokina atx-m 85mm F 1 8 FE

Overall score

7.1

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Popularity

What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the camera lens.

When it matters: When you want to see which camera lenses attract the most buyer attention and review activity.

Mount & Format

1.0

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Lens type

What it is: The optical category that indicates whether the lens is a prime, zoom, macro, fisheye, or another design.

When it matters: When you are choosing between a prime, zoom, macro, or specialty lens for the kind of subjects you shoot.

Importance: LOW

prime

Lens mount

What it is: The mechanical and electronic interface that determines which cameras the lens can be attached to.

When it matters: When camera compatibility and access to the right lens ecosystem are central to your buying decision.

Importance: LOW

Sony E

Sensor format coverage

What it is: The largest sensor size the lens is designed to cover without severe vignetting.

When it matters: When you need the lens to fully cover your camera sensor without heavy corner darkening.

Importance: LOW

Full-frame

Filter thread size

What it is: The diameter of the front filter thread used for screw-in filters and compatible accessories.

When it matters: When you plan to use screw-in filters such as polarizers, ND filters, or protective glass.

Importance: LOW

72 mm

Teleconverter compatibility

What it is: Whether the lens can be used with compatible teleconverters to extend focal length.

When it matters: When you want to extend reach for wildlife or sports without changing to a different long lens.

Importance: HIGH

Optics & Aperture

8.2

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Minimum focal length

What it is: The shortest focal length the lens can provide, which determines its widest framing.

When it matters: When wide framing matters for landscapes, interiors, architecture, or travel shots.

Importance: LOW

85 mm

Maximum focal length

What it is: The longest focal length the lens can reach, which determines its telephoto reach.

When it matters: When you need more reach for wildlife, sports, stage events, or distant details.

Importance: LOW

85 mm

Optical zoom

What it is: The ratio between the longest and shortest focal lengths available in the lens zoom range.

When it matters: When you want one lens to cover a broader range of compositions without swapping glass.

Importance: LOW

Maximum angle of view

What it is: The widest scene the lens can capture at its shortest focal length.

When it matters: When you need to fit more of a room, skyline, or landscape into the frame.

Importance: LOW

28.5 °

Minimum angle of view

What it is: The narrowest scene the lens captures at its longest focal length.

When it matters: When you want tighter framing on faraway subjects without moving closer.

Importance: LOW

28.5 °

Focus & Controls

5.5

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Focus motor

What it is: The autofocus drive system responsible for moving lens elements into focus.

When it matters: When fast, quiet autofocus matters for video, wildlife, street shots, or moving subjects.

Importance: LOW

STM

Minimum focus distance

What it is: The shortest distance at which the lens can focus on a subject.

When it matters: When you like shooting details, food, flowers, or products from a very short distance.

Importance: MEDIUM

Maximum reproduction ratio

What it is: The highest magnification the lens can achieve when focusing at its closest distance.

When it matters: When close-up magnification matters for macro work, textures, or small product details.

Importance: MEDIUM

Full-time manual focus

What it is: The ability to adjust focus manually without leaving autofocus mode.

When it matters: When you want to fine-tune focus instantly without switching out of autofocus.

Importance: HIGH

Internal focusing

What it is: A focusing design in which internal elements move while the outer barrel length stays unchanged.

When it matters: When you use polarizers, gimbals, or close-up setups that benefit from a lens that does not extend while focusing.

Importance: HIGH

Stabilization

4.2

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Optical image stabilization

What it is: A hardware system that shifts optical elements to counteract camera shake and reduce blur.

When it matters: When you want steadier handheld shots and less blur, especially in low light or at longer focal lengths.

Importance: HIGH

Stabilization effectiveness (CIPA stops)

What it is: The rated stabilizer benefit, measured in stops, under CIPA testing standards.

When it matters: When you are comparing stabilized lenses and want to know how much handheld shutter-speed advantage they offer.

Importance: HIGH

Build & Handling

7.2

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Weight

What it is: The total mass of the lens, affecting portability and handling balance on the camera body.

When it matters: When you carry a lens all day for travel, hiking, or event coverage and want to keep your kit manageable.

Importance: HIGH

Lens length

What it is: The physical length of the lens body from mount to front edge.

When it matters: When bag space, balance, or front clearance matters in a compact travel or video setup.

Importance: HIGH

Lens diameter

What it is: The widest outer diameter of the lens barrel.

When it matters: When grip comfort, filter size, or fit inside a tight camera bag matters to you.

Importance: MEDIUM

Weather sealing (splashproof)

What it is: Protective sealing intended to resist splashes, dust, and light environmental exposure.

When it matters: When you often shoot outdoors in light rain, dust, or changing conditions.

Importance: HIGH

Metal mount

What it is: A lens mount made of metal rather than plastic for greater durability at the camera connection point.

When it matters: When durability matters because you change lenses often or use heavier gear for work.

Importance: HIGH

Lab Scores

9.0

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DxOMark overall score

What it is: The combined DxOMark lens rating based on lab-tested optical performance.

When it matters: When you want a quick lab-based summary of overall optical performance before comparing lenses in detail.

Importance: HIGH

DxOMark sharpness score

What it is: The DxOMark subscore that reflects how much detail the lens can resolve across the frame.

When it matters: When fine detail matters for landscapes, product work, or high-resolution cameras.

Importance: HIGH

DxOMark transmission

What it is: The measured light transmission of the lens, expressed as T-stop rather than nominal f-number.

When it matters: When real light loss matters for exposure consistency in studio, cinema, or mixed-lens shoots.

Importance: MEDIUM

DxOMark distortion

What it is: The DxOMark metric that measures how much the lens bends straight lines away from their true shape.

When it matters: When straight lines matter in architecture, interiors, copy work, or product photography.

Importance: MEDIUM

DxOMark vignetting

What it is: The DxOMark measurement of corner darkening relative to the center of the image.

When it matters: When even corner brightness matters for skies, studio backdrops, or clean product shots.

Importance: MEDIUM

Tokina atx-m 85mm F 1 8 FE vs the average camera lens

Why is Tokina atx-m 85mm F 1 8 FE better than the average camera lens?

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1 lower f-number at telephoto end
Tokina atx-m 85mm F 1 8 FE has a brighter maximum telephoto aperture than the average camera lens (f/1.8 vs f/2.8). The average lens has a maximum telephoto aperture of f/2.8.
What it is: The widest aperture available at the long end of the zoom range, affecting light intake and background blur.
When it matters: When you shoot at the long end in low light or want stronger background blur for portraits and sports.
Importance: HIGH
Tokina atx-m 85mm F 1 8 FE has a brighter maximum telephoto aperture than the average camera lens (f/1.8 vs f/2.8). The average lens has a maximum telephoto aperture of f/2.8.1.8 vs 2.8
Has fluorine coating
Tokina atx-m 85mm F 1 8 FE has a fluorine coating, the average camera lens does not. 25.5% of camera lenses use a fluorine coating.
What it is: A protective coating on exposed elements that repels water, oil, and dirt for easier cleaning.
When it matters: When you shoot in rain, sea spray, or dusty places and want easier front-element cleaning.
Importance: HIGH
Tokina atx-m 85mm F 1 8 FE has a fluorine coating, the average camera lens does not. 25.5% of camera lenses use a fluorine coating.
Newer release date
Tokina atx-m 85mm F 1 8 FE was released more recently than the average camera lens.
February 2020
What it is: The date when the lens model was first officially introduced.
When it matters: When you prefer a newer optical design with more modern autofocus, coatings, or stabilization features.
Importance: LOW
Tokina atx-m 85mm F 1 8 FE was released more recently than the average camera lens.2020 vs 2016
1 lower f-number at telephoto end
Tokina atx-m 85mm F 1 8 FE has a brighter maximum telephoto aperture than the average camera lens (f/1.8 vs f/2.8). The average lens has a maximum telephoto aperture of f/2.8.
Has fluorine coating
Tokina atx-m 85mm F 1 8 FE has a fluorine coating, the average camera lens does not. 25.5% of camera lenses use a fluorine coating.
Newer release date
Tokina atx-m 85mm F 1 8 FE was released more recently than the average camera lens.

Total

Optics & Aperture

Build & Handling

Why is Tokina atx-m 85mm F 1 8 FE worse than the average camera lens?

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2 fewer aspherical elements
Tokina atx-m 85mm F 1 8 FE has fewer aspherical elements than the average camera lens (0 vs 2). The average lens has 2 aspherical elements.
1 fewer low-dispersion elements
Tokina atx-m 85mm F 1 8 FE has fewer low-dispersion elements than the average camera lens (1 vs 2). The average lens has 2 low-dispersion elements.
0.5 m longer minimum focus distance
Tokina atx-m 85mm F 1 8 FE has a higher minimum focus distance than the average camera lens (0.8 m vs 0.3 m). The average lens has a minimum focus distance of 0.3 m.
0.07 x lower maximum reproduction ratio
Tokina atx-m 85mm F 1 8 FE has a lower maximum reproduction ratio than the average camera lens (0.1x vs 0.192x). The average lens has a maximum reproduction ratio of 0.192x.
Not weather-sealed
Tokina atx-m 85mm F 1 8 FE does not support weather sealing, the average camera lens does. 50.3% of camera lenses support weather sealing.
3 mm wider lens barrel
Tokina atx-m 85mm F 1 8 FE is wider than the average camera lens (80 mm vs 77 mm). The average lens has a diameter of 77 mm.
Not weather-sealed
Tokina atx-m 85mm F 1 8 FE does not support weather sealing, the average camera lens does. 50.3% of camera lenses support weather sealing.
What it is: Protective sealing intended to resist splashes, dust, and light environmental exposure.
When it matters: When you often shoot outdoors in light rain, dust, or changing conditions.
Importance: HIGH
Tokina atx-m 85mm F 1 8 FE does not support weather sealing, the average camera lens does. 50.3% of camera lenses support weather sealing.
2 fewer aspherical elements
Tokina atx-m 85mm F 1 8 FE has fewer aspherical elements than the average camera lens (0 vs 2). The average lens has 2 aspherical elements.
What it is: Specially shaped lens elements used to reduce distortion and improve sharpness with fewer optical compromises.
When it matters: When edge sharpness and lower distortion matter in wide-angle, travel, or everyday shooting.
Importance: MEDIUM
Tokina atx-m 85mm F 1 8 FE has fewer aspherical elements than the average camera lens (0 vs 2). The average lens has 2 aspherical elements.0 vs 2
0.5 m longer minimum focus distance
Tokina atx-m 85mm F 1 8 FE has a higher minimum focus distance than the average camera lens (0.8 m vs 0.3 m). The average lens has a minimum focus distance of 0.3 m.
What it is: The shortest distance at which the lens can focus on a subject.
When it matters: When you like shooting details, food, flowers, or products from a very short distance.
Importance: MEDIUM
Tokina atx-m 85mm F 1 8 FE has a higher minimum focus distance than the average camera lens (0.8 m vs 0.3 m). The average lens has a minimum focus distance of 0.3 m.0.8 m vs 0.3 m
1 fewer low-dispersion elements
Tokina atx-m 85mm F 1 8 FE has fewer low-dispersion elements than the average camera lens (1 vs 2). The average lens has 2 low-dispersion elements.
What it is: Optical elements designed to reduce color fringing by controlling how different wavelengths focus.
When it matters: When you want cleaner edges and less color fringing in high-contrast scenes.
Importance: MEDIUM
Tokina atx-m 85mm F 1 8 FE has fewer low-dispersion elements than the average camera lens (1 vs 2). The average lens has 2 low-dispersion elements.1 vs 2
0.07 x lower maximum reproduction ratio
Tokina atx-m 85mm F 1 8 FE has a lower maximum reproduction ratio than the average camera lens (0.1x vs 0.192x). The average lens has a maximum reproduction ratio of 0.192x.
What it is: The highest magnification the lens can achieve when focusing at its closest distance.
When it matters: When close-up magnification matters for macro work, textures, or small product details.
Importance: MEDIUM
Tokina atx-m 85mm F 1 8 FE has a lower maximum reproduction ratio than the average camera lens (0.1x vs 0.192x). The average lens has a maximum reproduction ratio of 0.192x.0.125 x vs 0.192 x
3 mm wider lens barrel
Tokina atx-m 85mm F 1 8 FE is wider than the average camera lens (80 mm vs 77 mm). The average lens has a diameter of 77 mm.
What it is: The widest outer diameter of the lens barrel.
When it matters: When grip comfort, filter size, or fit inside a tight camera bag matters to you.
Importance: MEDIUM
Tokina atx-m 85mm F 1 8 FE is wider than the average camera lens (80 mm vs 77 mm). The average lens has a diameter of 77 mm.80 mm vs 77 mm
5% lower user score
Tokina atx-m 85mm F 1 8 FE has a lower user score than the average camera lens (7.71 vs 8.091).
What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the camera lens.
When it matters: When real-world owner satisfaction and review volume matter to your decision.
Tokina atx-m 85mm F 1 8 FE has a lower user score than the average camera lens (7.71 vs 8.091).7.71 vs 8.09

Expert reviews

digitalcameraworld.com

02/03/2020

Summary of the review

Digital Camera World | Tokina atx-m 85mm f/1.8 FE review

The Tokina atx-m 85mm f/1.8 FE is a solid, budget-friendly portrait prime lens designed for full-frame Sony E-mount mirrorless cameras, offering a compelling alternative to more expensive native glass. Its standout performance feature is its beautiful, creamy "bokeh" and smooth transition between focused and defocused areas, which excels at isolating subjects for portraiture. Optically, the lens delivers excellent sharpness at the centre of the frame even when shooting wide-open at f/1.8, and it maintains minimal chromatic aberrations (both lateral and longitudinal fringing) and minimal pincushion distortion. Built with a sturdy, all-metal aesthetic, it features a 9-blade diaphragm, a 72mm filter size, a large front element to reduce vignetting, and a stepping motor-based autofocus system that fully supports Sony's Eye AF and in-camera 5-axis stabilization. However, the lens makes several compromises to keep its affordable price tag. A major drawback is its autofocus system, which can be prone to hunting and suffers from inconsistent accuracy, occasionally confirming focus in the viewfinder when the subject is still visibly blurry. While central sharpness is impressive, image resolution noticeably drops off and becomes mediocre...

slrlounge.com

18/02/2020

Summary of the review

SLR Lounge | Tokina 85mm f/1.8 ATX-M Initial Review - Beautiful Bokeh, Impressive Sharpness

The Tokina 85mm f/1.8 ATX-M (Sony FE) is an exceptionally sharp, durable portrait prime lens that punches well above its $499 price point. It delivers biting, professional-grade sharpness even when shooting wide-open at f/1.8. The lens shines in aesthetic rendering, offering buttery smooth background bokeh that handles complex, backlit scenes with ease. Additionally, stopping down to f/8 yields beautiful, crisp 8-pointed sunstars from pinpoint light sources. Its physical build is incredibly robust, featuring a premium metal outer shell and an outstandingly smooth, dampened manual focus ring that feels like a classic manual lens. Autofocus also marks a massive leap forward for the brand, utilizing mirrorless on-sensor technology to deliver fast, precise performance on par with native Sony options. However, this portrait prime does come with a few notable trade-offs and subjective quirks. Its optical formula and specialized glass coatings introduce a highly unique flare pattern when shooting directly into light sources. While this artistic look is often coveted by creative portrait photographers, it remains a love-it-or-hate-it characteristic that might frustrate shooters seeking standard, mathematically perfect flare control. The reviewer also...

photofocus.com

29/01/2022

Summary of the review

Tokina 85mm f/1.8 for E-mount review: Value with a capital T! Would you like to compare the autofocus performance of this Tokina lens against the orig...

The Tokina atx-m 85mm f/1.8 FE is a robust, full-frame prime lens for Sony E-mount cameras that offers outstanding value and top-notch optics for portraiture. The reviewer notes that the lens possesses a superlative, metal build quality reminiscent of premium Zeiss lenses, balancing perfectly as a counterweight on larger camera bodies like the Sony a7 IV. Its image quality is highly impressive, delivering very sharp center performance and contrast even when shooting wide-open at f/1.8. Furthermore, it features a 9-blade rounded aperture that produces smooth, creamy bokeh, and it effectively eliminates the heavy purple chromatic aberrations that historically plagued older Tokina lenses. The autofocus system, driven by an ST-M stepper motor, proves to be fast, silent, and reliable for still subjects, tracking human and animal eyes with a high degree of accuracy. Despite its high performance, the lens does come with a few notable drawbacks. On the downside, its weather sealing appears to be limited strictly to external lens coatings rather than full environmental sealing gaskets. Its physical build is also considerably heavy and "husky" at 1.42 lbs (645 grams),...

ayrn.io

15/07/2020

Summary of the review

AYRN | Review: Tokina Atx-M 85mm F1.8

The Tokina atx-m 85mm f/1.8 FE, reviewed by AYRNE, is characterized as a budget-friendly, high-value portrait lens for Sony E-mount cameras, featuring a robust all-metal build and delivering exceptional sharpness with high contrast at f/1.8. Key strengths include its fast, quiet autofocus with Sony Eye-AF compatibility, smooth 9-blade bokeh, and a Super Low Reflection Coating that effectively manages flares while FIRST LOOK! Image Quality Tokina 85mm f/1.8 ATX-M for... 26 Jan 2022 — hey guys darren miles dairy miles photography. based here in beautiful sunny southwest florida i just want to do a brief image qua... 4m YouTube · Darren Miles Why Tokina atx-m 85mm f1.8 is better than Sony... 30 Jun 2020 — in this video. I talking about this Tokina Tokina ATX M85 MIM f1.84 Sony eount. I wanted to review this lens for a while. because... 5:59 YouTube · Pav SZ Tokina atx-m 85mm f/1.8 Unboxing and Quick Look 4 Aug 2020 — um hey everyone i just got in a lens today the tokina 85 millimeter 1.8 e-mount lens this lens came out earlier this year...

christopheanagno.com

22/01/2020

Summary of the review

Christophe Anagnostopoulos | Tokina atx-m 85mm F1.8 FE Review

The Tokina atx-m 85mm F1.8 FE is a medium telephoto prime lens designed for Sony E-mount cameras, aimed at providing high optical quality at a more accessible price point than the premium Firin series. The lens features a solid metal construction and a modern, glossy black finish, though it lacks a protective rubber ring on the mount to prevent dust penetration. Performance-wise, it delivers "excellent" overall sharpness across the frame between F/4 and F/8 and produces "smooth and buttery" bokeh thanks to its nine-blade aperture. The ST-M focus motor ensures that autofocus is nearly silent, quick, and fully compatible with Sony features like Eye AF and 5-axis image stabilisation. The review highlights several specific pros, including its very affordable price, premium build quality, and exceptional image quality with minimal "cats-eye" bokeh deformation compared to competitors. However, there are notable cons such as its increased weight of 640g, the absence of an AF/MF switch on the barrel, and visible pincushion distortion. While chromatic aberrations are well-controlled, they remain visible between F/1.8 and F/3.2, and there is moderate vignetting at wider apertures....

collinsryan.photography

29/10/2021

Summary of the review

Collins Ryàn | Review by Collins Ryan: Tokina atx-m 85mm 1.8mm FE Would you like a comparison of this lens's optical performance against the native So...

in english language, be very specific, mention pros and cons inside You sent: 1 tab and said: 2 paragraphs summary of this review in english language, be very specific, mention pros and cons inside Review by Collins Ryan: Tokina atx-m 85mm 1.8mm FE 2 paragraphs summary of this review in english language, be very specific, mention pros and cons inside

Tokina atx-m 85mm F 1 8 FE Review | 54 Data compared

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Technical Specifications of Tokina atx-m 85mm F 1 8 FE

Tokina atx-m 85mm F 1 8 FE vs the average camera lens

Why is Tokina atx-m 85mm F 1 8 FE better than the average camera lens?

Why is Tokina atx-m 85mm F 1 8 FE worse than the average camera lens?

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Third-party reviews

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