Viltrox has been on a tear currently, dropping new merchandise, together with lenses, video displays, flashes, and extra. It looks as if each different week they’re releasing one other new lens, and the most recent from the corporate is the Viltrox 85mm f/1.4 Professional lens, which is bound to be well-liked with portrait shooters.
The brand new Viltrox 85mm f/1.4 Professional lens is obtainable for Sony E mount, with a Nikon Z mount model on the best way. Because the title suggests, this lens is geared towards professionals and sits proper beneath their flagship LAB line of lenses. I’ve used the 85mm for over a month now, and there’s a lot to like about this lens—and one caveat, which I’ll focus on later. That is the fourth 85mm lens launched by Viltrox and the primary Professional line mannequin that incorporates a most aperture of f/1.4.
Construct High quality
The construct of the Viltrox 85mm is incredible. The metallic physique is dust- and splash-resistant, with climate sealing all through and a sharp-looking crimson gasket across the rear metallic lens barrel. The lens feels effectively made, and the buttons and dials transfer easily and click on firmly into place. It additionally comes with a tough plastic lens hood that enhances the standard of the lens itself. It is clear upon unboxing the 85mm that Viltrox has designed this lens for customers who will likely be utilizing it in a wide range of capturing circumstances.
Dealing with
The 85mm weighs in at 800 grams and isn’t what I might think about compact. Nonetheless, the dimensions and weight by no means felt cumbersome to me, whether or not on location or in my studio, even when capturing for a number of hours at a time. I took the 85mm with me to Smoke Jazz Membership, the place I captured portraits of musicians each across the exterior of the membership and inside as effectively. The lens dealt with excellently on this and different conditions, partly because of the considerate format. The lens incorporates a well-placed, clickable (or de-clickable) aperture ring that has a satisfying click on, and a big guide focusing ring. The AF/MF swap and customized button are additionally set proper the place you’ll anticipate them to be with out trying. At no time throughout my varied shoots did I really feel like I used to be trying to find a button or dial whereas capturing, which is at all times appreciated.
One different factor I’ll point out concerning dealing with is the Viltrox app. When it’s worthwhile to replace the firmware in your lens, merely plug a USB-C cable out of your cellphone into the again of the lens (the port is situated on the lens mount), hearth up the Viltrox app, and in a minute, you’ve the brand new firmware loaded onto the lens. Having used many digital camera model apps, the Viltrox app is refreshing in not solely how easy it’s to make use of, however that it is dependable. This makes the entire expertise of utilizing gear from Viltrox really feel extra premium and user-centric.
Picture High quality
The Viltrox 85mm f/1.4 Professional lens shines on the subject of picture high quality. The pictures are very sharp, with nice distinction and coloration. The bokeh can also be pleasing, with a pure separation between the topic and background. The lens can also be fairly sharp at f/1.4, which these of us who like to shoot huge open will admire. Along with varied portrait shoots, I took the 85mm paired with a Sony a7R V to the B&H Bild Expo in New York Metropolis, the place I not solely captured some enjoyable portraits but in addition loved the flexibility to shoot indoors with out having to make use of a excessive ISO because of the quick most aperture.
Autofocus
One factor to notice: this lens has Viltrox’s new Twin Hyper VCM Motor autofocus system, which magnetizes when the lens is powered on. When it’s off, nevertheless, you possibly can hear the weather shifting round inside. That is regular, however positively one thing to concentrate on earlier than buying. There are different lenses which have an analogous sound when off, however the 85mm was extra noticeable upon unboxing.
The autofocus is quick and correct, though not fairly the velocity of a high-end Sony lens. Nonetheless, it labored extraordinarily effectively for capturing portraits out and in of my studio. Now we’re going to get into that caveat I discussed, and it has to do with the autofocus system. The primary concern I had with my pre-production copy is that once in a while, the lens would leap backwards and forwards making an attempt to lock autofocus, with out attaining a lock. It will simply hunt backwards and forwards searching for focus. I up to date the firmware, which appeared to assist the difficulty, though it did not repair it altogether. I made Viltrox conscious of the difficulty.
Conclusion
One factor I’ve not talked about but is value, and it is a huge one. As of the writing of this overview, the Viltrox 85mm is priced at $598 on B&H Picture’s web site. Merely put, the Viltrox 85mm is an amazing worth, even when contemplating the restrictions mentioned on this overview. Take into account {that a} Sony 85mm f/1.4 GM lens will run about $1,300 for the unique model, and just below $2,000 for model II, and it turns into arduous to move up on the construct high quality, options, and, most significantly, the picture high quality of the Viltrox 85mm f/1.4 Professional lens. The lens presents a lot at an extremely inexpensive value.
As common, I’ve posted my YouTube overview of this lens above for these of you who would somewhat watch a overview than learn one. There are a number of extra photographs within the YouTube overview as effectively.
Specs
Focal Size: 85mm
Aperture: Most: f/1.4, Minimal: f/16
Lens Mount: Sony E
Lens Format Protection: Full body
Angle of View: 28°
Minimal Focus Distance: 2.6′ / 79 cm
Magnification: 1:7.7
Macro Replica Ratio: 0.13x
Optical Design: 15 components in 11 teams
Aperture/Iris Blades: 11
Focus Kind: Autofocus
Picture Stabilization: No
Filter Measurement: 77 mm (entrance)
Dimensions: ø: 3.3 x L: 4.3″ / ø: 84.5 x L: 108.5 mm
Weight: 1.8 lb / 800 g
Get a Vltrox 85mm f/1.4 Professional lens right here.
