From beginners to pros, these 5 great portrait lenses in 2025 are must-haves. Learn which lenses give you the sharpest, most stunning portraits.
Capturing portraits remains one of the most popular photography genres, and doing it properly is considered obligatory for every photographer. Only skill doesn't matter here; your camera lens is crucial, as it will directly impact the attributes like compression, sharpness, object isolation, and bokeh, all needed for a good-looking portrait.
We tested hundreds of portrait camera lenses this year and found that only a handful of lenses consistently stand out across different budgets, camera mounts, and brands. Below are five great portrait lenses that deserve your attention this year.
Best Portrait Lenses 2025
1. SIRUI Aurora 85mm f/1.4
Priced reasonably, this camera delivers a perfect balance between pro-level performance and accessibility. Clocked at an ultra-fast f/1.4 aperture, this lens can render stunning portrait quality thanks to its aspherical, ED, and HRI optical elements. Thanks to its advanced optics, the portraits captured with this lens are consistently rendered in high sharpness, vibrant colors, and minimized aberrations even in low light and wide-open apertures.
Weighing just 540 grams, the lens is cross-platform compatible (works with E, Z, X and L mounts) and is a perfect lightweight portrait lens for hybrid shooters. Priced below $500, the lens rivals the top-tier lenses and consistently delivers high-quality portraits, something a portrait photographer is always seeking.
2. Sony FE 85mm f/1.2 GM
If you are rocking a Sony system, have a higher budget, and want the same ecosystem portrait lens, then consider the Sony FE 85mm f/1.2 GM, a powerhouse of portraits. This lens has advanced optics from Sony, which can capture ultra-sharp portraits with creamy bokeh in the background and excellent subject separation.
The lens also performs great in low light and is rated among the top-tier portrait lenses. The only downside is its beefy price tag. If you are looking for lighter options, then this is not for you, as it weighs roughly 900 grams.
3. Zeiss Batis 85mm f/1.8
This one will cost you around one grand if buying new, but it is quite a capable lens in this range. Built with a super lightweight profile, it weighs just 452 grams. This lens can create high-quality portraits with beautifully smooth out-of-focus rendering at its f/1.8.
Having said that, the shallow depth of field is lower than other lenses tuned at f/1.4 or f/1.2. Compatible with Sony cameras, this lens has a lot going for it; a decent optical image stabilization, OLED distance/depth readout, and a nice internal focusing system get a lot of our likes.
4. Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S
You are going to invest in a lens that will cost you around $2799 and also comes with a heavy build weighing 1160 grams; yes, it’s both hefty and costly. But if you can bear these two negative points, then you will be getting the best of the best portrait quality in 2025, hands down.
This award-winning lens can create portraits with 2025 benchmark quality bokeh and object isolation. You also get smooth autofocus with a dual STM setup, advanced customizable controls, and the likes of the Nikon ecosystem. If you are looking for budget options and benchmark quality in portraits is not what you are seeking, then this lens is a big pass.
5. Viltrox 35mm f/1.2
If you are looking for an affordable wide-angle prime lens with portrait capability, then this is your pick. The lens with its 35mm focal length shines in environmental portraiture and can deliver outstanding image quality even when wide open at f/1.2.
You get a responsive AF even wide open thanks to its Quad Viltrox HyperVCM motors and a fantastic magnesium-aluminum alloy body. If you are into portraits contextualized within a broader scene, then this lens should be on your list.
Overall best portrait lens for 2025
All these lenses are fantastic options this year, but none of them is perfect. To pick one this year, we would go with the SIRUI AURORA 85mm F1.4 lens because of its balance in portrait image quality and value for what you will be spending.
The final images have professional-grade object isolation and super smooth bokeh, which are core requirements of any portrait photographer. Also, the advanced optics and next-generation optical design work exceptionally well in low light. Below $500, this is a lens that can cover all your needs for professional portrait photography.
Wrapping Up:
All of the above-mentioned picks are great portrait lenses, though none of them is perfect. To get the most out of what you will be spending on a portrait lens, we recommend considering the SIRUI AURORA 85mm F1.4 lens system, as it is reasonably priced and performs almost equally to a lens priced above two grand.
