In this video I put the Sirui 85mm f/1.4 head-to-head with the Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 S and I ran them through the usual long, thorough image-quality tests. Sirui did send the lens over for evaluation, but as always—my opinions are my opinions, buy the product. The big question is simple: is the Nikon worth about $200 more (roughly $800 vs $600, and even less on holiday pricing)? I break down specs like 15 blades vs 9 blades, coatings, weight, and features like the Sirui’s aperture ring (click/de-click) and USB-C updates. From the tests, the Sirui clearly gives a bigger, rounder, smoother bokeh look (those 15 blades show up), and in my flare tests I saw more of a “rainbow effect” on the Sirui while the Nikon had more of a “splattering effect.” Distortion is the tradeoff: Sirui shows pincushion distortion while the Nikon is better controlled. Color fringing was basically a non-issue in my main setups, and only showed slight CA in a “fail test” scenario shooting into the sun with bright clouds. For sharpness, it’s honestly hair-splitting. Nikon is a tiny bit sharper and a bit warmer, especially on edges, but the Sirui is the best bang for the buck overall—and for portraits, I actually like that it’s not so brutally sharp on my face.