Half the Price and Twice as Nice?? Sirui Aurora 85mm 1.4 Review (vs Sony 85 1.4 GM)

[@ChrisM-yq2pq]

I think the ultimate winner is the consumer. This lens looks sweet and another choice that is actually affordable. I just got the ttartusans 75mm 2.0 and boy is it crazy sharp. For 200$. These cheaper Korean or Chinese lenses are definitely giving us all more choices instead of these over 2k lenses

[@WesPerry]

You’re absolutely right! Cheap lenses are getting goooood

[@BitcoinBullhorn]

Nice vid Wes. Andrew

[@AweSamAlways]

Hi Wes, how does the Sirui Aurora 85 1.4 compare with the Rokinon/Samyang 85 1.4 II in terms of size, weight, autofocus, and sharpness?

[@WesPerry]

I can't speak to the sharpness, as I haven't gotten my hands on the Rokinons (they've never returned my emails lol), but as far as weight goes: Rokinon I 568g Rokinon II 509g Sirui 540g Sigma 625g Sony I 820g Sony II 642g Meike 735g Some complained that the Meike II became too plastic-y in exchange for lower weight and better image quality, but again, can't speak to that. Seems like the Sirui is near the bottom of what is reasonable for a lens of such a spec.

[@AweSamAlways]

@WesPerry thanks for this! Really helpful!

[@TW-iu9zy]

… ... hi Wes, as much as I generally appreciate third-party providers, I have to admit: the new 85 GM II was an instant purchase for me as a journalist. I briefly used the old 85 GM three or four years ago and I have to say: I hated this slow and loud thing! And I love the new lens on the a9 III - fast, sharp, quiet, light and a very high hit rate at 120 fps.

[@paulgero]

Superb review Wes...and I marvel at how well behaved your cat is at being a subject!!

[@WesPerry]

He sincerely loves having his picture taken. He’ll often wander into my studio while I’m editing, place himself on the stool and whine until he gets the attention he craves 😂 As such I put the stool away when it’s not needed, to keep the whining to a minimum. He knows what it means as soon as it comes out and hops right on 😏

[@paulgero]

@@WesPerry *that* is one cool cat Wes!!

[@colilola]

Beautiful content! Predator sounds, cute models and bokeh all day 🤘🏼

[@afferist]

thank you, I think my next one after 28-75 2.8 will be a Zeiss 55 1.8, and then some 85

[@WesPerry]

@@afferist hope you can get a good used price on that Zeiss! It’s so expensive new!

[@afferist]

@@WesPerry yes, only this, for the full price tag I can buy Sigma 1.4

[@ChrisM-yq2pq]

Zeiss 55mm 1.8 is a classic. I use it for gimbal videos nonstop and it’s amazing.

[@WesPerry]

@@ChrisM-yq2pq oh I’ve had it in my kit for ten years! 👌🏻

[@afferist]

@@ChrisM-yq2pq thanks

[@iDealMedley]

The autofocus works better on video than photo.

[@WesPerry]

I’m not sure what you mean. I had no issues with its accuracy, only its slower speed. I just retested it in video with max speed and responsiveness settings and as such it focused at the exact same speed as it does in photo mode. As is usually expected.

[@stevenwaldstein2249]

Thank you for your review. I due think your value rating skew the scores of expensive lenses down and cheap lenses too high. Rather than include those just give the price and let the user decide how much his willing to spend. Too many GM lenses take a hit in overall rating. Take care.

[@WesPerry]

That’s Kindof the point. Levels the playing field. And for many (if not most), the price is the most important factor. It’s only 1/6 of the score as it is, though. When originally conceiving the scoring system I actually considered making the price a multiplier / divider on the rest of the categories, having a much greater effect on it total. Is it not very significant that the Sirui largely outperforms the GM 1 at half the price?

[@WesPerry]

In any case the spreadsheet linked in the description allows people to organize it any way they so choose ;)

[@GilbertTV]

500 bucks right now ... yeah I like it I'd get it but im still in love with my Samyang 85mm F1.4 mk1

[@chirsd666]

Great review Wes, much more objective than most of the other lens reviews here. The comparison with the benchmark GM I lens is really helpful. I picked this lens up a week ago, while it is on sale. It replaced my old 85mm GM I, so I made a few hundred $ with the exchange. I am not a professional wedding or portrait shooter, so I don't need the ultimate in sharpness and AF speed. In my limited testing of this lens so far, your scoring seems right on. I might take an 85/1.4 along for only a couple of shots, sometimes not used at all, so bringing the large and heavy GM was getting to be real cumbersome. The main attraction of the Sirui 85/1.4 for me is the much smaller size & weight, which is the smallest in this category. The Meike on the other hand is a real chonker, easily the largest and heaviest 85/1.4, so it was a no-go for me, no matter how good it is.

[@WesPerry]

Yeah the Meike looks like it’s milled from a solid block of metal lol Whenever I’m traveling I hardly ever bring the GM with me for the same reasons!

[@Ph-uw2il]

I found that Sony tracking auto focus work constantly better with GM lenses 😢 But it's indeed a good lens for the price

[@WesPerry]

I can't say that's my impression with the original 85GM. Its tracking is often quite unsuccessful and easily has the worst AF of any GM lens. It was a low bar to beat for Sirui in this case haha.

[@MrDannyArcher]

It has that 3D pop

[@WesPerry]

I was still a little undecided on that. Glad you think so 😏

[@Dustinrhoades]

Thank you