Sirui Aurora 85 mm f/1.4
12. Summary
Pros:
- excellent image quality in the center of the frame,
- good image quality at the edge of the APS-C sensor,
- negligible longitudinal chromatic aberration,
- low lateral chromatic aberration,
- reasonably well-controlled coma,
- low astigmatism,
- moderate vignetting on an APS-C sensor,
- quiet, fast, and accurate autofocus.
Cons:
- problems with the aperture stopping down properly,
- excessive distortion,
- some issues with spherical aberration,
- significant vignetting on a full-frame sensor,
- poor performance against bright light,
- noticeable focus breathing.
Lenses with focal lengths ranging from approximately 50 to 100 mm are among the easiest to design, so it is hardly surprising that many new optics manufacturers begin their journey with lenses in this class. The Sirui Aurora 85 mm f/1.4, being the manufacturer's debut in the full-frame lens market, shows quite a few signs of being a first-generation product. Some stem from a lack of experience and obvious shortcomings (flare, problems with stopping down the aperture), while others are rather surprising (such as noticeable distortion, which we should not really see at all with an 85 mm focal length).
As if that were not enough, the Aurora faces strong competition from Viltrox and Meike. Their lenses are not without flaws either, but they are slightly sharper in the center and do not suffer from problems with stopping down the aperture or distortion. Priced at 2250 PLN, the Aurora does, however, have one advantage: it is the least expensive option. By choosing it, you save only PLN 200–300 compared with the aforementioned competitors, but for some buyers that may still be an important argument.
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As the saying goes, “first steps are always the hardest,” so we trust that future Sirui models will be somewhat more refined, free of mechanical shortcomings, and consequently become even stronger competitors to the other manufacturers that are also making an increasingly strong push in the market.
