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Rollei's first mirrorless lens looks quite familliar
Image: Rollei Rollei has just announced its first-ever mirrorless lens. The Rollei AF 85 mm F/1.8 is available for Nikon Z and Sony E mounts. However, like the Rollei 35 AF release last year, it's likely only Rollei-related in name. The Rollei name is associated with iconic film cameras like the Rolleiflex twin-lens reflex and the original Rollei 35, but the actual company that made those products is long gone. The brand is currently owned by Rollei GmbH & Co. KG, which is based in Germany. Like Kodak, Rollei is more in the business of licensing its name these days. In January 2024, Mint Camera was granted a license to use the Rollei name for the Rollei 35AF, a film camera with autofocus capabilities. Now, it seems as though a lens manufacturer may also have been granted a license to the Rollei name. On the left is the lens design and MFT chart for the Rollei AF 85mm F1.8. On the right is the same information for the 7Artisans AF 85mm F1.8. Images: Rollei and 7Artisans The new lens uses the same design and shares specs with the 7Artisans AF 85mm F1.8. That includes an optical design with 10 elements in 7 groups, with two ED and two HR elements. It also features 11 aperture blades and the same F1.8 maximum aperture. Both can focus as close as 0.85m (2.8') and offer autofocus via a stepping motor that supports face and eye tracking. The exterior of the 7Artisan lens and Rollei lenses also shares similarities. Both offer a 62mm filter thread, metal construction and a USB-C firmware port. They each offer a custom function button. The E-mount Rollei 85mm (left) offers an aperture ring, while the Z-mount model (right) does not. Images: Rollei The lenses look fairly different from the outside, though. The Rollei version looks a bit more burly, with more aggressive knurling. Also, while both the Nikon and Sony versions of the 7Artisan lens feature an aperture ring, only the E-mount Rollei lens offers the same; the Nikon model lacks an aperture ring. Of course, the most obvious difference is the massive Rollei label. The Rollei lens is available for pre-order now for €299 (RRP €349), with full availability coming on July 9. Rollei says pre-ordered lenses will be delivered by July 7. Those in the US are out of luck, though, as it doesn't appear the lens will be available here. Press release (machine translated from German): The first Rollei lens: AF 85 mm F/1.8 for Sony FE and Nikon Z Norderstedt, June 11, 2025. Rollei is writing a new chapter in its rich history and presenting its first proprietary lens: the Rollei AF 85 mm F/1.8 , available for Sony FE and Nikon Z mounts . With the introduction of the VAF (Full-Frame Autofocus) series, the company is expanding its product portfolio with its first proprietary lenses specifically developed for modern mirrorless full-frame cameras . The 85-millimeter portrait lens combines proven Rollei quality with state-of-the-art technology and sets new standards in image quality and user-friendliness. The 85-millimeter focal length is ideal for portrait photography , delivering natural proportions without distortion. The Rollei AF 85 mm F/1.8 makes optimal use of this classic focal length and, thanks to its F/1.8 aperture, delivers razor-sharp results even at wide open aperture . The 11 aperture blades create a creamy, perfectly round bokeh that elegantly separates the main subject from the background and enables professional portraits with impressive depth of field. The innovative HFT-X (High Fidelity Transfer) coating significantly reduces ghosting and flare while preserving natural contrast. Combined with the high-quality glass selection of 10 elements in 7 groups, including two ED and two HR lenses , the lens ensures high edge sharpness and minimizes chromatic aberrations for brilliant image quality right to the corners . The precise STM (stepping motor) autofocus operates quickly and virtually silently , which is particularly beneficial for video recording. Face and eye tracking are fully supported , making the lens an ideal choice for both photography and videography. The minimum focusing distance of 0.85 meters at a maximum magnification of 0.12× also enables detailed close-up shots. Despite its weight, the Rollei AF 85 mm F/1.8 weighs just 477 grams and sits perfectly balanced in the hand. Intuitive operation is ensured by a high-quality metal aperture ring (Sony FE version only), an AF/MF switch , and a freely assignable FN button . The linear aperture ring on the Sony version enables smooth, silent aperture adjustments for professional video recordings. Both lenses feature a precise metal mount (E-mount and Z-mount, respectively) with full EXIF data transfer and a USB-C firmware port for fast updates in just 30 seconds. The 62mm filter thread is compatible with all common filters from the company. The Rollei AF 85 mm F/1.8 for Sony FE and Nikon Z is now available for pre-order for €299 (RRP €349) at www.rollei.de/rollei-objektiv . The of
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| Image: Rollei |
Rollei has just announced its first-ever mirrorless lens. The Rollei AF 85 mm F/1.8 is available for Nikon Z and Sony E mounts. However, like the Rollei 35 AF release last year, it's likely only Rollei-related in name.
The Rollei name is associated with iconic film cameras like the Rolleiflex twin-lens reflex and the original Rollei 35, but the actual company that made those products is long gone. The brand is currently owned by Rollei GmbH & Co. KG, which is based in Germany. Like Kodak, Rollei is more in the business of licensing its name these days. In January 2024, Mint Camera was granted a license to use the Rollei name for the Rollei 35AF, a film camera with autofocus capabilities. Now, it seems as though a lens manufacturer may also have been granted a license to the Rollei name.
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On the left is the lens design and MFT chart for the Rollei AF 85mm F1.8. On the right is the same information for the 7Artisans AF 85mm F1.8. Images: Rollei and 7Artisans |
The new lens uses the same design and shares specs with the 7Artisans AF 85mm F1.8. That includes an optical design with 10 elements in 7 groups, with two ED and two HR elements. It also features 11 aperture blades and the same F1.8 maximum aperture. Both can focus as close as 0.85m (2.8') and offer autofocus via a stepping motor that supports face and eye tracking.
The exterior of the 7Artisan lens and Rollei lenses also shares similarities. Both offer a 62mm filter thread, metal construction and a USB-C firmware port. They each offer a custom function button.
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The E-mount Rollei 85mm (left) offers an aperture ring, while the Z-mount model (right) does not. Images: Rollei |
The lenses look fairly different from the outside, though. The Rollei version looks a bit more burly, with more aggressive knurling. Also, while both the Nikon and Sony versions of the 7Artisan lens feature an aperture ring, only the E-mount Rollei lens offers the same; the Nikon model lacks an aperture ring. Of course, the most obvious difference is the massive Rollei label.
The Rollei lens is available for pre-order now for €299 (RRP €349), with full availability coming on July 9. Rollei says pre-ordered lenses will be delivered by July 7. Those in the US are out of luck, though, as it doesn't appear the lens will be available here.
Press release (machine translated from German):
The first Rollei lens: AF 85 mm F/1.8 for Sony FE and Nikon Z
Norderstedt, June 11, 2025. Rollei is writing a new chapter in its rich history and presenting its first proprietary lens: the Rollei AF 85 mm F/1.8 , available for Sony FE and Nikon Z mounts . With the introduction of the VAF (Full-Frame Autofocus) series, the company is expanding its product portfolio with its first proprietary lenses specifically developed for modern mirrorless full-frame cameras . The 85-millimeter portrait lens combines proven Rollei quality with state-of-the-art technology and sets new standards in image quality and user-friendliness.
The 85-millimeter focal length is ideal for portrait photography , delivering natural proportions without distortion. The Rollei AF 85 mm F/1.8 makes optimal use of this classic focal length and, thanks to its F/1.8 aperture, delivers razor-sharp results even at wide open aperture . The 11 aperture blades create a creamy, perfectly round bokeh that elegantly separates the main subject from the background and enables professional portraits with impressive depth of field.
The innovative HFT-X (High Fidelity Transfer) coating significantly reduces ghosting and flare while preserving natural contrast. Combined with the high-quality glass selection of 10 elements in 7 groups, including two ED and two HR lenses , the lens ensures high edge sharpness and minimizes chromatic aberrations for brilliant image quality right to the corners .
The precise STM (stepping motor) autofocus operates quickly and virtually silently , which is particularly beneficial for video recording. Face and eye tracking are fully supported , making the lens an ideal choice for both photography and videography. The minimum focusing distance of 0.85 meters at a maximum magnification of 0.12× also enables detailed close-up shots.
Despite its weight, the Rollei AF 85 mm F/1.8 weighs just 477 grams and sits perfectly balanced in the hand. Intuitive operation is ensured by a high-quality metal aperture ring (Sony FE version only), an AF/MF switch , and a freely assignable FN button . The linear aperture ring on the Sony version enables smooth, silent aperture adjustments for professional video recordings.
Both lenses feature a precise metal mount (E-mount and Z-mount, respectively) with full EXIF data transfer and a USB-C firmware port for fast updates in just 30 seconds. The 62mm filter thread is compatible with all common filters from the company.
The Rollei AF 85 mm F/1.8 for Sony FE and Nikon Z is now available for pre-order for €299 (RRP €349) at www.rollei.de/rollei-objektiv . The official sales launch is July 9, 2025. Delivery of pre-ordered lenses will begin no later than July 7, 2025, ensuring pre-orderers receive the new lens before its market launch.
