SongRaw’s New 85mm f/1.2 Lens

credits: SongRaw

SongRaw, a relatively new lens maker out of China, has announced its second lens: the AF 85mm f/1.2 Moonlit. The company debuted its first lens, a 50mm f/1.2, earlier this year at NAB in Las Vegas. This time, it chose the IBC show in Amsterdam to reveal its latest release, which will be available for Sony E and Nikon Z mounts first, with Leica L-mount versions expected later.

The 85mm f/1.2 Moonlit is built from 18 elements in 10 groups, including aspherical, ED, and high-refractive glass to keep aberrations under control. It uses a 13-blade diaphragm, more than most lenses in this class, which should help produce smooth, round bokeh. Aperture control is handled by an external ring with a de-click option. The lens focuses down to 0.85 meters with a maximum magnification of 0.13x, so it’s not a close-up lens, but that’s expected at this focal length. Autofocus is powered by a stepping motor paired with a lead-screw system, which should keep focus fast and relatively quiet.

SongRaw is marketing the “Moonlit” name as a nod to the f/1.2 aperture, meant for low-light and night shooting, but the 85mm focal length also makes it a classic portrait option. Unlike rivals such as Viltrox or Sirui, which usually aim to keep prices under $1,000, SongRaw is positioning itself a bit higher. The 50mm f/1.2 it launched earlier this year retails for $999, while the new 85mm f/1.2 Moonlit is expected to land at around $1,200 when it ships later in 2025.