The winner is… Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 S

It’s a Z-mount triumph, as Nikon’s latest 85mm comes up trumps

Most 85mm f/1.8 lenses have a reputation for being inferior to their faster f/1.4 counterparts, especially for top-level portraiture. The Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 S fights back, with absolutely stellar image quality and all-round performance. Not only can it deliver a really tight depth of field, but it can do so with stunning levels of sharpness across the entire frame when needed, along with deliciously soft and creamy bokeh for defocused areas. Stopping down a little enables you to gain greater depth of field with practically no degradation in the quality of bokeh. All in all, it’s a perfect lens for portraiture, and the in-body stabilizers of Z-series cameras make for assured handheld shooting even under very low lighting levels.

If you can live without autofocus, Samyang’s fully manual MF 85mm f/1.4 Z is an attractive low-cost option.

In the DSLR camp, the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 Art lens leads the pack for optimum image quality, all-round performance, premium construction and value for money. Nikon’s own AF-S 85mm f/1.4g is much more compact and lightweight, but is relatively expensive and can’t rival the Sigma’s image quality, especially for bokeh. If you feel the need to upsize to a 105mm lens, the Sigma wins out again. At the other end of the size and weight scale, the Nikon AF-S 85mm f/1.8g is a little treasure if you’re on a tight budget.