Kase’s New 85mm f/1.4 AF Lens
- The Magazine For Photographers
- Oct 1
- 1 min read
Kase, the company better known for its filters, has just announced a new 85mm f/1.4 prime lens. It is designed for full-frame systems like Nikon Z and Sony E, but there is also a Fujifilm X version where it works out to about a 128mm equivalent. That makes it an interesting option for Fuji shooters, since there isn’t really a native lens in that focal length/aperture combo.
The optical design is fairly ambitious with 13 elements in 10 groups, as well as five low-dispersion and two high-refractive-index elements to help keep things sharp and colours clean. It has a bright f/1.4 aperture, which works with a 13-bladed diaphragm to give smoother background blur. Autofocus runs on an STM stepping motor, meaning it should be fast and quiet enough for both stills and video. It focuses as close as 70 cm, which isn’t enough for macro but should cover most real-world uses without issue.
Physically, it is built mostly from aluminium alloy with a bit of plastic mixed in. The size is pretty manageable at 99 millimetres long and 580 grams in weight, and it takes 72 mm front filters. Kase’s filter background shows here, since the lens can take magnetic filters directly (no adapter needed) and even ships with a magnetic front cap. There are also two customisable buttons on the barrel, which can be handy for focus locks or shortcuts depending on your camera. The lens is available for $738.
You can see full details on Kase’s website here
