Chinese lens maker Viltrox has proved to be a very quick study for a new lens maker. They started with a few manual focus lenses (typical), but, by their third lens, graduated to autofocus lenses (not typical!) That has remained…
Viltrox has quickly established a name for themselves because, unlike most other new boutique lens makers, they have quickly (and successfully) accepted the challenge of designing autofocus lenses rather than just manual focus options. Many other newer brands have not…
It is extremely rare to see a Mark II version of a lens only about 15 months after the release of the original lens, but that is what we have in the Viltrox AF 85mm F1.8 STM II. I reviewed…
The Fuji platform has not been a particularly open one. The traditional major third party players like Sigma and Tamron have no Fuji XF mount lenses, and Samyang has no autofocus lenses for XF. The only real AF series for…
I recently completed a six-way comparison of all the currently available autofocusing lenses for Sony’s full frame mirrorless (FE) platform. These lenses cover a wide range of price points, from $379 (all prices USD) for the Viltrox AF 85mm F1.8,…
I recently completed a six-way comparison of all the currently available autofocusing lenses for Sony’s full frame mirrorless (FE) platform. These lenses cover a wide range of price points, from $379 (all prices USD) for the Viltrox AF 85mm F1.8,…
I recently completed a six-way comparison of all the currently available autofocusing lenses for Sony’s full frame mirrorless (FE) platform. These lenses cover a wide range of price points, from $379 (all prices USD) for the Viltrox AF 85mm F1.8,…
One of my main projects for 2019 was a plan to pit all the current autofocus 85mm options on the full frame Sony E-mount platform head to head. I’ve done something similar for 50mm options (and, to a lesser extent,…
One of my main projects for 2019 was a plan to pit all the current autofocus 85mm options on the full frame Sony E-mount platform head to head. I’ve done something similar for 50mm options (and, to a lesser extent,…
All year long I’ve had the goal of doing a major 85mm showdown on the Sony platform, as I’ve done something similar for 50mm options (and, to a lesser extent, 35mm options) on Sony. I’ve done a major 85mm shootout…
The Viltrox AF 85mm F1.8 STM is the first full frame autofocus lens from Viltrox designed for Sony FE…and I’m the first reviewer in the West to get my hands on one! The 85STM sports a beautiful build quality (very…
The Viltrox AF 85mm F1.8 STM is the first full frame autofocus lens from Viltrox designed for Sony FE…and I’m the first reviewer in the West to get my hands on one! The lens sports a beautiful build quality (very…
I first heard of Viltrox late in 2018 when they announced three new lenses for Sony and Fuji mirrorless systems. One of those lenses (the first that I reviewed) was a 20mm F1.8 fully manual lens for Sony FE. The…
The Viltrox 85mm F1.8 is a new manual focus lens designed for Sony FE. There is an autofocus version that will come later (for an additional $80), but this lens may prove to be the better option for video due…
Check me out on: My Patreon | Sign Up for My Newsletter | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Flickr | 500px | Google+ | If you were to go back even five years ago, it was easy to know the…
If you were to go back even five years ago, it was easy to know the players in the photography industry. As a Canon shooter at the time, the lenses essentially universally came from Canon, Sigma, Tamron, Zeiss, and relative…