Kit check | toolkit
Sirui has focused on robust build, dependable AF, fast apertures and sensible handling
35mm f/1.4
85mm f/1.4
35mm f/1.4
85mm f/1.4
Same difference The 35mm is ideal for a natural viewpoint to lead you into general scenes, while the 85mm uses its perspective compression and wide aperture to give a more three-dimensional look
the lens produces attractive separation between subject and background, while out-of-focus areas melt away smoothly. It’s this quality that is difficult to replicate with an f⁄2.8 zoom and often the very reason photographers fall in love with primes. For video work, the 35mm is very convincing. It feels natural for handheld filming, talking-head pieces, gimbal work and establishing shots, making it a genuine all-rounder for hybrid creators. If the 35mm tells the story, the 85mm delivers the emotion. This focal length flatters facial features while creating beautiful subject separation. Sirui’s Aurora follows that tradition exceptionally well. Its 15-blade diaphragm produces wonderfully smooth, rounded bokeh that gives portraits a premium look without becoming distracting. Skin tones remain natural and transitions from sharp focus into blur are particularly attractive. While absolute sharpness may not quite reach the extraordinary levels of Sony’s latest G Master lenses or Sigma’s flagship Art optics, the Aurora isn’t trying to win laboratory tests. Instead it produces images with plenty of character and a more organic rendering – the sort of lens that encourages creativity rather than pixel peeping. Fast enough for real life Fast primes demand confident autofocus – and both Auroras perform well. Testing E-mount versions on current and previous- generation Sony Alpha bodies showed eye detection working reliably for portraits, while general AF performance remains
Our rating: 8 /10 Sirui’s Aurora 35mm f/1.4 and 85mm f/1.4 optics occupy a great place in today’s market. They aren’t budget compromises, nor are they eye- wateringly expensive flagship lenses. Instead they offer premium handling, excellent image quality and the creative advantages that only fast f/1.4 primes can provide at prices that remain refreshingly realistic. For many, those strengths will matter far more than squeezing the final few percentage points of sharpness from the corners of a test chart. quick and dependable for everyday shooting. Focus motors operate quietly enough and transitions appear smooth. They are not sports lenses and the substantial glass elements mean they can’t quite match the blistering speed of flagship professional telephotos. But for weddings, events, commercial work, travel and content creation, autofocus isn’t an issue. No lens is perfect, especially at these price points. The 85mm can show a little flare when shooting directly into strong backlighting, while neither optic quite reaches the flawless optical performance of lenses costing two or three times the price. Sirui has focused on delivering the qualities creators notice every day: robust build, dependable autofocus, fast apertures, attractive rendering and sensible handling.
Prime numbers This pair of Sirui lenses should not be divided! Buy both to give your shots the trademark shallow depth-of-field
bodies with weather sealing, dedicated AF⁄MF switches and click or de-click aperture rings. They look and feel premium. Despite their solid construction, they are surprisingly manageable. The 35mm weighs 490g⁄1.08lb while the 85mm tips the scales at 540g⁄1.2lb. Compared to many rival f⁄1.4 lenses, they are compact and balance well on modern mirrorless cameras without making smaller bodies feel front-heavy. Which prime to cut? If you have the cash, this Aurora pair are star performers and work well together. But if you can only buy one to start with, the 35mm is what everyone should own. Wide enough for travel, street photography and environmental portraits yet natural enough for interviews and documentary work, it is one of the most versatile lenses ever made. Centre sharpness is excellent even at f⁄1.4, with the edge performance improving noticeably as the aperture closes. Contrast is punchy, colours are rich and images are appealingly crisp. What really separates it from a zoom, though, is the rendering. At wider apertures
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