How does the Viltrox 85mm f/1.8 compare to Sony’s 85mm lenses?
Asked 4/2/2019
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I’m considering the Viltrox 85mm f/1.8 for Sony E mount and would like to understand its trade-offs versus Sony’s own 85mm options, especially the FE 85mm f/1.8. I know the Viltrox is manual focus, but I’m mainly interested in real-world optical differences such as sharpness, contrast, color, chromatic aberration, and overall rendering.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
7y ago
2 Answers
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I just spent a few weeks with the viltrox 85mm f/1.8 for a review project I've been working on and I've shot the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 in the past. It's not quite as perceptually sharp or punchy as the Sony and the colors aren't as vibrant. Chromatic aberration is definitely a lot more noticeable on this lens than the Sony and of course, it's heavier and manual focus. I'd say it has more of a classic or vintage lens optical quality going for it. I haven't had the opportunity to shoot the Sony GM or Zeiss 85mm f/1.8 lenses, but, it seems reasonable to assume that those would be optically better than Sony's entry level 85mm, therefore, significantly better than the Viltrox. The Viltrox is almost half the price though, so if you're ok getting a little less overall optical quality and using manual focus, this might be a worthwhile venture.
Originally by user76858. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user76858
7y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Based on the shared hands-on comparison, the main downsides of the Viltrox 85mm f/1.8 versus Sony’s FE 85mm f/1.8 are:
- manual focus only
- heavier build
- slightly lower perceived sharpness
- less contrast/punch
- less vibrant color
- more noticeable chromatic aberration
The upside is its lower cost and a rendering that can feel more “classic” or vintage in character. So if you value autofocus, cleaner optics, and a more modern, crisp look, the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 appears to be the better choice. If you’re comfortable focusing manually and don’t mind giving up some optical performance, the Viltrox may still be appealing for its price and character.
There wasn’t direct evidence here comparing it with Sony’s higher-end 85mm options, but it’s reasonable to expect Sony’s premium 85mm lenses to outperform the FE 85mm f/1.8, and therefore also the Viltrox.
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