I literally purchased this very lens 1hr before you posted this video. If I’d seen it when you posted I’d have canceled my order and used your link to buy it but it shows it as already being shipped. Gonna show up tomorrow. Wow that’s fast even for Amazon
Got this lens a few weeks ago and use it on my Z5... I really love it for people and portrait photography. I don’t do video, just photos. Also I cannot compare to the Nikon 85 1.8 Z, but because of its really good quality I don’t want to compare.
I got this lens about three weeks ago as soon as it was available in Europe. I decided to purchase it after Matt Irvins review..... ... and I am super happy with it. I use it for stills only, so I didn't have any AF issue. It is absolutely sharp on my Z6, the AF works just fine. I love the build quality, it feels very robust, with the wide focusing ring that turns very smooth. There is only one thing that should be improved: the lens hood is a little "fiddly" to mount. Overall it is absolutely great value for the money. I hope Viltrox produces more AF lenses like this for the Z-system.
I really like how you discuss your review. You sound so professional and calm, unlike other vloggers who sound so noisy. Most of all, you are very knowledgeable. Keep posting reviews and tutorials. I am now a fan! :)
Having recenlty moved to mirrorless (Z6), finding affordable and well performing glass for it can seem a challenge. While one could still use the FTZ adapter to take full advantage of F-mount lenses, I'd prefer something more native. Your down-to-earth reviews of 3rd party lenses is what made me suscribe to your channel :)
For the focusing issue, I think we have to keep in mind that Viltrox may have had to reverse engineer a Z lens to figure out how AF works, and with that, you're bound to get some inconsistency or issues versus a native lens. This isn't surprising. The same was true for either Sigma or Tamron in regards to the F-mount lenses: one of the brands (can't remember which one) had to reverse engineer the AF algorithms used to implement AF into their lenses. The Viltrox I guess does show that hopefully more third-party AF lenses are on the way from other mfrs too, as there are (and have been) some MF lenses available already. (Although I already have the Z 85mm, bought it before the Viltrox came out) I am looking at the Viltrox 11mm wide angle lens as Nikon doesn't have any lenses that wide that aren't fisheye. I'm not against third party lenses, and actually I think they offer two things: a cheaper option, and also they help keep OEMs competitive (from a price standpoint). To me, image quality is going to come first, and if a lens can do it cheaper than the OEM version, I'm willing to consider it. The only time I might not is if I had previous experience with the manufacturer and had issues, then I might think twice. For example, with my Tamron 100-400 I had to try three different copies before I found a good copy, so when I got my 70-200 G2 lens, I was a bit skeptical. I did have to exchange it once for IQ issues / sharpness, but that lens was about half the price of the Nikon version (the VR II) and performed roughly the same ( I have sold the G2 lens now and am waiting to get the Z version).
I literally just bought the Nikon version of this lens. I did look seriously at getting the Viltrox one. I have traditionally bought an expensive camera, and then mounted third-party lenses on the promise that they were almost as good as the Nikon ones. I was constantly disappointed with the performance of third-party lenses, so this time around I decided to go with all Nikon glass. It is more expensive, so I’ve moved to having fewer lenses, but high-quality ones.
Performance is one of those broad terms. Performance in which area? Was it the focussing accuracy? Focus speed? Image quality? Weight? Build quality? Longevity? Weather resistance? And which are you comparing? Is that 'current gen Nikon' vs 'current gen 3rd party'? For each of those items I can imagine that a certain comparison will lean towards Nikon: they may be a bit faster, a bit sharper, etc. But not in all comparisons/categories, vs all 3rd party options. And, if they are better, how much better are they, and does that warrant the 50-70% price difference, do you need that particular aspect of the lens to be the very very best. If you're a studio photographer primarily, does lack of weather sealing matter, for instance? I don't think you can say any longer that 3rd party is by definition lower quality. Anyways... IMHO, a lens is a tool, and you need to feel comfortable with a tool to use it. And if that means for you that you want/need Nikon glass then you get Nikon glass!
Thank you for the honest and straightforward review. I have the 24mm 1.8 equivalent of this lens and have been pretty happy with it. It's good to hear that most photographers are happy with their version of this lens. I will probably get the 85 mm 1.8 version at some point.
Before I got my 35mm 1.8g DX I was using the Meike 35mm f/1.7. I sort of miss that tiny lens. Sharp enough, built solidly, focus and aperture well damped, about as large as the collapsed 16-50mm kit lens. Alik Griffin goes over a lot of third party lenses on his blog with lots of sample photos. Old but good optical formulas are easy to produce and cheap, so that's what a lot of third party manufacturers are doing. HOWEVER, used af-d and some af-s lenses are also cheap if you're already willing to manual focus and don't mind the adapter. The most important thing is getting the focal lengths you want at the apertures you want so you can go click the shutter button more often.
Nice review, but I'm not convinced this would be a better choice than a 85mm AF-S Nikkor. They cost about the same, but Nikkor is a) native lens and b) you can use it on your F-mount body or adapt it to any other mirrorless system should you want to do that
I had the 85 AF-S which is/was a top lens. Bokeh great, sharpness great. ... but I got so annoyed because of the CAs wide open. I just could not use so many shots just because of that. So I replaced it and considered both the Nikon 85 Z and this Viltrox. After some extensive online research I came to the decision to go for the Nikon "original". As I got it on a sale it was still considerably more expensive than the Viltrox but I think it is worth it. Don't get me wrong the Viltrox seems to be a very good choice at an extremly good price-point. But all of the reviews I saw showed a few (minor) issues and also the one that made me look for a new lens in the first place: CAs. While the F-Mount Nikon (at least my copy) gets a really bad, hard-to-correct purple fringing, the Viltrox tends to go rather green/yellow-ish - not as hard to correct as the F-Mount lens but still noticeable and clearly worse than the "Z". For me this was the main reason to go the Nikkor Z route as to me this was the obvious feature difference I cared about. While with the Nikkor 85 Z it is not impossible to produce CAs it is still very, very difficult. If I tried to get them in my shot intentionally (backlit tree branches), Lightroom had no problem to deal with them (something that was a no-go with the F-Mount Nikkor). In this and in many other regards like micro-contrast etc. the Nikon Z is just slightly better than the Viltrox. Many differences are small but they are visible. If you are on a budget and don't care about CA, I think you cannot go wrong with the Viltrox. And if you cannot compare them side-by-side you probably don't recognize much of a difference as the results will probably be great anyway (beware the CAs!). But the Nikkor 85 Z is so good that I am really happy to have spent the money. And (if I ever have to sell it) it probably has a better resale value, too. My shop did a discount on all items, so I got the last 85 Z - at about 2/3rd of the regular price (while most online shops were out-of-stock - I was so lucky). I got mine brand new even cheaper than the average Ebay "used"-price. While the Viltrox used prices on Ebay already dropped about 100 Euros (~25%) below retail price. So in the end it depends on your priorities if you go with the Viltrox or the Nikon. But I just wanted to mention the CA "topic" as this is widely missed in the reviews but can be a dealbreaker for some (at least it was for me).
Hi we have chatted before about your Z50... I just purchased the Nikon Z 50mm F1.8... my next lens is a more traditional portrait lens but it needs to be affordable... I have the Viltrox 56mm for my APS-c cameras... I am curious if you still have the Viltrox 85 or stayed with the Nikon 85? $400 is a big difference! Thanks as always...
Hi Leigh, thanks for the informative video. Was curious when you were shooting video there in the studio with the Viltrox 85mm if you were using the definable large area focus ( Wide-L ) with eye detection or just the regular wide area AFC? The new Wide-L mode was designed to keep people in focus even there are other distractions in the shot or complex light and shadows. Was curious how the Viltrox compares to the Nikkor Z using this mode?
Thanks for your honest review of this lens. I just ordered this lens for my Z6 II at Aldi in Germany. They had a special offer on this lens 30 Euro below the regular price in other online stores. Can#t wait to have it in my hands and to test it out.
As a hobbyist and in the last year, sometimes I have the money to spare but the nikon 85mm is not available. Sometimes the other way around. So today I may buy the viltrox.
I bought this lens as my first Z mount lens, and I am very pleased with it. Like so many others, I really appreciated getting this 85 mm prime at HALF the cost of the equivalent Nikon lens.
The only minor matter to keep in mind is you save today but loose latter when you want to sell and find resale value is non existent or far poorer I find buying original manufacturers lenses when there are discounts or factory’s rebates is preferable
I have this for my z6 and so far it's been pretty sick. I'm not a pro or a pixel peeper so it works great for what I do so I can't justify spending the extra money for the S version
Loving your channel. I have a couple of Nikon full frame lenses such as the AF-S NIKKOR 70-200 mm 1:4 ED. Can I use this lens on the Z6 ii camera? Would I be sacrificing any quality in photo or video shoots? I understand I will need a Nikon adapter.
I picked up this same lens for my Z7ii. I've been SUPER happy with the performance of the lens both as a portrait and as an all around "walk around" lens. The bokeh is fantastic and the lens gets even better at f4 and above. For me, I think one of the things that drew me to this one was the lack of commitment from Sigma to the Z mount system. I have been really happy with the Sigma 14-24 f2.8 on my D810 and was really wanting to see Sigma step into this line. But it seems like their hesitation has really opened the door for Viltorx. Oh and the firmware update of the Z7ii to 1.10 has improved the autofocus of this lens quite a bit for my use case at least
One of the reasons that both SIGMA and TAMRON have not yet started with Z mount lenses is Nikon's closed system architecture and their refusals (unlike SONY) to open their systems directly to 3rd party lens companies. Given SONY's dominance in the mirrorless market, is it any reason that both TAMRON and SIGMA have been reticent to jump in with both feet? At the same time, TAMRON continues to discontinue F mount lenses, to include those that were on the market for relatively short periods of time (in both the F mount and Canon versions).
I already own the Nikon Z 85mm, got it for 580€ (appr. 700 USD) used in an as-good-as-new state. I am very satisfied with the performance. But after your review I am not sure if my decision pro Nikon Z 85 would be the same again.
You may relax assured, this Viltrox may be somewhat comparable with F-mount lenses, but it's light years behind Nikons new S-line. Especially when it gets to things like coma, corner sharpness, color fringing etc.
@@barmalini it's not light years difference cmon, yeah Nikkor is better overall, but difference is marginal. And if you're shooting subjects , which you generally do with 85mm , corners are already in blurred area, so not an issue. Autofocusing speed is very similar , I didn't find even small difference. I tried Nikkor Z 85mm for a day, yeah it would have been great to have it, but I ended up buying Viltrox , open box for 300USD locally. It's a value impossible to beat currently, and me and the clients don't care about marginal differences. Tweaking and AF fine tuning surely improves experience with this lens. I had also F 85mm 1.8G lens, Viltrox is better than that, plus silent AF and no use of FTZ adapter.
I have several different Viltrox lens for my Fujifilm cameras, 13mm, 27mm and 75mm f1.2, they work great for photography on the XH2 and XT5, for my other cameras, Sigma is my choice for third party glass, I recently purchased a Nikon Z6Ii and ZF to round out my collection of Pentax, Panasonic, Olympus and Fujifilm cameras. For my Nikon cameras my third party glass is the Viltrox 28mm and I just ordered a Voitelander 4omm f1.2 manual focus lens. Many of my third party glass are focal lengths not produce by the camera manufacturer or have features that the camera makers don't include on their lens other times it is a aperture difference that draws me to the lens, for all of the camera bodies that I have I do have native glass, but for the same reason that I use different cameras for my photography, I chose a lens from other manufacturers for the variety that they provide, for example for my Panasonic S5 and S5 MKII I have a few Sigma I series lens, they have a build and design that is a throwback to lenses and long ago and I wish I could get some to use with my Nikon ZF, but I don't see that happening.
Thanks so much❣️💯love your video’s but also this one was not available for subtitles, please change your settings to international subtitles for every video🙏🏽?? 🤗
Curious to your favorite landscape lens and which is your go to for nature/wildlife lens? I’m looking to upgrade to a Nikon mirrorless FF, my budget is only around 3500.00, what would you advise to purchase?
I won’t use third party lenses for my bird photography because I have found the long lenses from them lacking in sharpness. This is one that I will probably buy. I have an older 85mm D from Nikon but that won’t AF with the Z6. This seems like a good replacement. The price is right too.
IThanks Leigh for this review. I have been waiting for it. have the Viltrox 20 mm 1.8 Z Mount lens based on your recommendation/video. It is a decent lens although it's downside is the weight. I did have the 85mm Viltrox in my cart at Amazon, but opted for the Nikon 105 micro lens. I feel the micro lens can give me the best of both worlds for portraits and macro work. I also own the Nikon 70-200 2,8 FL ED for portrait work as well. I may decide to add the Viltrox to my lens collection if I switch over to Z completely.
I own the Fuji X version of this lens. It is wonderful for how I shoot at the 70mm-105mm range. Really nice contrast. Fast focusing on my x-T2. I really like the separation and isolation that I can achieve between subject and background. Stays on my x-T2...a lot.
I have Z5 and this lens, it's my most used lens, I love it, you can see my shorts, with the new firmware I also make slow motion videos with Viltrox 85mm .
I'm firmly in the camp of "the more the merrier" - as much as manufacturers like Nikon hold onto their secret sauces and would like people to purchase only first-party lenses, ultimately a vibrant third-party lens scene makes the system more interesting and appealing to a lot more people. I'm watching this space with interest, especially once more of these fully electronic lenses start rolling out.
Great video and tips! I'm quite interested in this new VIltrox Z mount family growing up!! I'm on Z APS-C gear and I have the 2 kit lenses for the Z50, as well as 2 "old" F-mount DX lenses to use with the FTZ ring. I recently bought one Viltrox 23mm f1.4 Z, and I'm rather happy about how it's performing. Would their 56mm APS-C benchmark with this 85mm FF that you've shown here, in terms of reliability?
Thinking of getting this lens for my Z5 for when we can get back to doing photoshoots in Scotland. I did buy the 7 Artisans 35mm f0.95 manual lens and even though it is a DX lens it is a great wee lens
My biggest issue with the lens is updating the firmware as it is extremely fussy about what Micro USB cable will allow it to be detected by Windows 10. I had to use 5 different cables before it could be detected by windows.
I love the lens, had it a week, and tried to check the firmware on my brand new 85 1.8 Z and killed my lens. It’s brain dead, will no longer autofocus, won’t report any F-stop to the camera. I could never get any of my 4 PCs (Windows 10) to recognize, except one time I got an error message saying Windows could not connect to the USB device because it was defective. And I tried 6 different cables. That was Viltrox’s guidance, nothing worked. So disappointing. Waiting to hear back from B&H as to what to do next.
Thank you for the video. I'm buying it through your link. I'm not a video shooter, but I have the Z6II (rather than the Z7II, coming from the D850) because I was considering using my Z6II for video too from time to time. I wish you provided a few seconds of a video with this lens, that would show us your concern, as minor as it may be.
thank you, that was the review I was looking for. Please let us know if an update is released that fixes the focus issue, I think I'll hold off till then
Hmmm snap, what an awesome lens. Unfortunately I also do a lot of video and with a gimbal. Sometimes I want to track a face. This doesn't seem to be like a great option for that. Tracking faces with my 50 mm f1.8 on a gimbal works pretty flawless.
Just got my second one today after first one was DOA. This second one is DOA again, AF and aperture not working... Sending this back for a full refund now. Terrible quality control😞
How is this lens vs the F mount Nikon 85mm f1.8G? I don't shoot a ton of portraits with 85mm, so the 1.8S is too expensive for my needs, but I'd prefer to get rid of the FTZ adapter if I could.
I have a Nikon z50 and when I use the Aperture Priority with the Viltrox 85mm I can’t change the aperture with the dial, I have to do it with the touch screen, that’s happen to you guys ?
I am not against third party lenses at all. Tamron and Sigma make great lenses, but unfortunately Nikon and Canon users need to wait our turn until Tamron and Sigma get satiated feeding the Sony gravy train. This is frustrating! This Viltrox lens looks like a good one and I didn't notice any chromatic aberration of your portrait photos in the snow. I will be looking out for the Viltrox line of lenses for Nikon's Z cameras.
An update to my previous post Yesterday the lens stopped working, and when I say stopped, I mean 100% failure. Would not register on the camera (no f-stop, no manual or auto focus, couldn't take a pic), and when I plugged it into my PC it wasn't detected (Yes, I tried multiple USB cables and ports on the PC and a different PC too). After working with the folks at Viltorx, they did determine the product was defective and I should contact who I purchased from. Well, I got it from Amazon and was past their 30 return policy so I'm stuck with replacing it or repairing it. I'm not saying that people should not buy this lens, I love it myself and am actually thinking about getting another, and the customer service at Viltorx was very good. I am saying that this is the risk you take when purchasing out side of the main players. So if I do decide that I need to have an 85mm in my bag and get another Viltorx, that's the cost of the Nikon, which has weather sealing and a warranty.
Great review Leigh! I just received mine for my new Z6ii at the beginning of March 2021. I tested it and it was great. However, today I used it for a job as one of my lens in shooting behind the scenes photos of a green screen production. after about an hour or so, I noticed the lens suddenly lost connection, and then came back again, and gone again so on and so forth, until a point that the connection is just lost totally. When I said connection I meant that the camera body does not detect the lens. The aperture instead of showing say f1.8 for example, would show F-- instead. I'm not sure if this is a manufacturing defect or is it something that can be fixed with a firmware. Do you or anyone on this comment section experience this issue when using the lens for a long period of time?
My new Viltrox for Z died as well, but I think it happened after I connected it to my PC to check the firmware. It sounds like yours died during a shoot, so now I’m not so sure if I killed mine connecting the USB or if it died “of natural causes” . I get the Sam F- in the top display, the lens won’t autofocus and cannot be manually focused, like the camera doesn’t even know a lens is attached. I have contacted Viltrox and B&H for support.
@@Watcher239 I contacted Viltrox and they replied me saying their engineer asked if I removed the lens while the camera is on. They said that it can burn out the lens if it was removed while the camera is on. I told them I can't be sure since I was shooting and changing on the fly. While I do try to turn off camera while changing I can't guarantee that I did that 100% of the time. They later on told me that it was a defective lens and asked me to return it or to bring it in for repair. I sure hope it's a one of problem. If the lens can easily burn out if I accidentally remove it while the camera is on, that itself is also an issue hahaha. Hopefully it's a fix that can be easily addressed over a firmware update if it happens again in the future.
@@vincekhoo3278 thanks for the info, that’s good to know, and since I too am guilty of removing my lenses while the camera is ON, that may have been my issue. I am getting a return/exchange from B&H, and I’ll be very careful with my new one.
I don’t know if this applies to Z but when I used third party F lenses, sometimes the autofocus would stop working. If I took the lens off and put it back on it would work again. It happens with Nikon lenses too but far less frequently. It’s not a huge deal but kind of annoying.
I have only owned a 35mm DX Nikon lens before, and a LOT of others (Sigma, Tamron, and now this Viltrox) and only had issues with the Tamrons on the FTZ adapter (which was expected, since they couldn't be updated, they were one generation too old). I can't say I recognise this. Not saying it can't happen of course, maybe it's a very particular combination of camera firmware, with lens firmware, or something. But I haven't seen it at least. Can't speak too much on the Viltrox yet since I've only just received it.
I wouldn't buy it myself as I already have the Nikon version, but I've had Viltrox lenses before and wouldn't hesitate to get one in a different focal length if it was one that I could use.
@@petar3683 It's true, a quick google search should turn up a description of the process, which is not quite a simple as doing a regular firmware update according to the RUclips tutorial I just watched. I haven't provided a link because RUclips don't always like it but it was demonstrated using an e-mount version of the lens on a Sony camera which was integral to the procedure. Would it work the same way with a Nikon? I don't know and f/1.8 to f/1.6 is arguably too small a benefit to take the risk. So, while I have this lens, I'm disinclined to do something with it that Viltrox could and surely would have done if there were no negative consequences.
I am totally for 3rd party lenses. Some of my best lenses are sigma and tamron. I finally had enough of Nikon coming out with lenses which run out of stock even when I preordered them, that I go and buy the f mount version. Well no more of that. Traded the z6 in for the Sony a7riv and now I have endless 3rd party options. I still have my z5 and sigma 105 f1.4 art lens and the 50 & 85mm f1.8S lenses I will continue to use until I make my money back from them. There is no reason Nikon won’t allow 3rd party manufacturers to make lenses for their bodies if they can’t get enough made and out on the shelves for their customers. To me it’s them being greedy and the a7riv’s auto is insanely good.
@blsessex I traded my Z6 in and my Tamron 70-200mm F2.8 G2. And I came home with the a7r4, the Sony 85mm f1.8, the Sony 90mm f2.8 macro, and the Tamron 70-180 f2.8. And I am truly blown away by how sharp each lens is. The 90mm is so sharp I have to take some sharpness away while editing portraits with people with fair skin. I picked up the Rokinon 35mm f1.4 and it's just as sharp as the rest of them. They all auto focus very fast. And the focus tracking and eye AF is beyond nikon. And I thought the eye AF was very good on my Z6 and z5. Nothing like sony's . I tried pre-ordering the Nikon 70-200 F 2.8 s and after 10 months I said the hell with them. Then I pre-ordering the z7ii and after the 2nd notification saying it will be delayed for another month I said enough is enough. I stuck up for nikon countless times and after 2 years and I still have to go and buy f mount lenses just to get some good glass. Nikon want to come out with too much at a time when they can't deliver on the previous stuff. Nikon's 50mm f1.2s and the grip for the z6ii or z7ii, you have to be a RUclipsr or a big name nikon photographer to get that lens and grip. Yep by the end of the year I will be fully switched to Sony. The a7r4 is beyond what I expected and takes the sharpest pictures than my most expensive nikon lens. It's that good. Sorry for the long rant but I really want nikon to do well but I am not waiting for that to happen.
AHH LEIGH. I'm trying so hard to not buy this lens because, honestly, I'm holding out for the 85mm f/1.2 S. Bonus came in and I'm DYING to spend it on something electronic, and the only things I really want are a good bright portrait option and a Z-mount super telephoto. Really wishing Nikon would get their butts in gear with the releases of the 85 1.2 and the 200-600 (assuming it's as good or better than the 200-500 was). I've been making do with adapted primes for now, but in truth, I don't really like using the FTZ because, while it works ok, AF is not as predictable as it was with my D850s. I upgraded to a Z7 and Z7 II myself and there are those moments, primarily with shooting wildlife and birds in flight, that I find myself regretting my hasty move from time to time. The native glass is mindblowing, though. I just wish the f/1.4 and f/1.2 options would start appearing more quickly.
Two years down the line and the Nikkor 85mm f1-2 S is a reality. I've been really tempted but I'm unconvinced that I'll reap the benefits often enough to justify spending 3x the cost of the Nikkor 85mm f1.8 S, which appears to be sharper up to f2.8. This Viltrox is 10x cheaper and any deficiencies don't appear to impact its effectiveness as a portrait lens, yet the 1.2 S continues to weigh on my mind (no pun intended). I'm just curious whether the big new Nikkor got your vote in the end.
I currently own the Z50 (also the D7200), so using this lens on the Z50 wouldn't make sense. Hopefully they will upgrade the firmware to improving video shooting.
I use all sorts of lenses for stills and video.. both Nikon DSLR’s as well as cinema DCI 4K work. I like my 40+ year old Nikon Manual focus lenses, particularly my Nikkor 800-200 that I got for $99. Super sharp and steady aperture. I wish it was parafocal. I did pick up a set of Rokinon Cine lenses. Probably about 6 lenses at $500 each. Most are OK. Actually solid and inexpensive. However I never got around to tryout out my 100mm macro... it was defective new from factory. Gritty, dust in between the elements (shadows). Past return date/warranty... had 6 minutes on it and it was a $600 paperweight.. called Rokinon.. would be $500 to send it in and pull it apart, clean it etc.... So frankly I would rather just buy a used Nikon 200mm macro for my macro work. So lesson? Even a new lens.... FULLY TEST IT before your return window closes. My mistake. I’m using a lot of Lensbaby lenses as well.
Not a match for Nikon Z85 1.8; Nikon colors, rendering, sharpness are unmatched. I used both lenses on my Z6 and Viltrox images are kind of artificial and 2D whereas Nikon's are more cinematic, with more depth and superior colors. If you use third party lenses on Nikon Z series you are NOT taking the full advantage of the Nikon mirrorless systems, period.
I think this is an interesting review. However, I think saying something is "half the price" is a bit misleading considering the 85mm f1.8 S is not exactly exorbitantly expensive as it is. Yes, it is $796 on many of the US camera manufacture websites (and I think I just saw it on sale on a few) so the Viltrox is $399. However, you are not exactly saving a massive amount of money by going with the Viltrox. Now...if the Nikon was $2500 vs the Viltrox at $1250 we would be talking about a substantial amount of money. At a few hundred dollars - really?? Plus, you have focusing issues in video so what's the point? If you really want that 85mm wait for the 1.2 to come out. I'm super happy with my 1.8 S (I just posted a video about it). I'm not exactly about to trade in my Nikon 85mm 1.8 just to save a few hundred dollars with the Viltrox...
I'm sorry but the main reason to get Nikon Z can is for the superior nikon Z mount lens system. Nuff sed. Got a Z7 and will never put anything but a Z lens on it.
I have this lens for my Z6ii and I love it. Beautiful portraits of my grandkids and some product photography. I highly recommend it.
I literally purchased this very lens 1hr before you posted this video. If I’d seen it when you posted I’d have canceled my order and used your link to buy it but it shows it as already being shipped. Gonna show up tomorrow. Wow that’s fast even for Amazon
Got this lens a few weeks ago and use it on my Z5... I really love it for people and portrait photography. I don’t do video, just photos. Also I cannot compare to the Nikon 85 1.8 Z, but because of its really good quality I don’t want to compare.
So you are saying that the Nikon 85mm lens is way better … I should buy Nikon then 📸😎
I got this lens about three weeks ago as soon as it was available in Europe. I decided to purchase it after Matt Irvins review.....
... and I am super happy with it. I use it for stills only, so I didn't have any AF issue. It is absolutely sharp on my Z6, the AF works just fine.
I love the build quality, it feels very robust, with the wide focusing ring that turns very smooth.
There is only one thing that should be improved: the lens hood is a little "fiddly" to mount.
Overall it is absolutely great value for the money. I hope Viltrox produces more AF lenses like this for the Z-system.
I took my Viltrox 85mm out to collect some light rays yesterday. Quickly became my favorite lens.
I really like how you discuss your review. You sound so professional and calm, unlike other vloggers who sound so noisy. Most of all, you are very knowledgeable.
Keep posting reviews and tutorials. I am now a fan! :)
Having recenlty moved to mirrorless (Z6), finding affordable and well performing glass for it can seem a challenge. While one could still use the FTZ adapter to take full advantage of F-mount lenses, I'd prefer something more native. Your down-to-earth reviews of 3rd party lenses is what made me suscribe to your channel :)
For the focusing issue, I think we have to keep in mind that Viltrox may have had to reverse engineer a Z lens to figure out how AF works, and with that, you're bound to get some inconsistency or issues versus a native lens. This isn't surprising. The same was true for either Sigma or Tamron in regards to the F-mount lenses: one of the brands (can't remember which one) had to reverse engineer the AF algorithms used to implement AF into their lenses. The Viltrox I guess does show that hopefully more third-party AF lenses are on the way from other mfrs too, as there are (and have been) some MF lenses available already. (Although I already have the Z 85mm, bought it before the Viltrox came out) I am looking at the Viltrox 11mm wide angle lens as Nikon doesn't have any lenses that wide that aren't fisheye.
I'm not against third party lenses, and actually I think they offer two things: a cheaper option, and also they help keep OEMs competitive (from a price standpoint). To me, image quality is going to come first, and if a lens can do it cheaper than the OEM version, I'm willing to consider it. The only time I might not is if I had previous experience with the manufacturer and had issues, then I might think twice. For example, with my Tamron 100-400 I had to try three different copies before I found a good copy, so when I got my 70-200 G2 lens, I was a bit skeptical. I did have to exchange it once for IQ issues / sharpness, but that lens was about half the price of the Nikon version (the VR II) and performed roughly the same ( I have sold the G2 lens now and am waiting to get the Z version).
5:46 if i remember correctly Matt Irwin from Melbourne mentioned about this bug and he said it was fixed by firmware updating
I literally just bought the Nikon version of this lens. I did look seriously at getting the Viltrox one. I have traditionally bought an expensive camera, and then mounted third-party lenses on the promise that they were almost as good as the Nikon ones. I was constantly disappointed with the performance of third-party lenses, so this time around I decided to go with all Nikon glass. It is more expensive, so I’ve moved to having fewer lenses, but high-quality ones.
Performance is one of those broad terms. Performance in which area? Was it the focussing accuracy? Focus speed? Image quality? Weight? Build quality? Longevity? Weather resistance? And which are you comparing? Is that 'current gen Nikon' vs 'current gen 3rd party'? For each of those items I can imagine that a certain comparison will lean towards Nikon: they may be a bit faster, a bit sharper, etc. But not in all comparisons/categories, vs all 3rd party options. And, if they are better, how much better are they, and does that warrant the 50-70% price difference, do you need that particular aspect of the lens to be the very very best. If you're a studio photographer primarily, does lack of weather sealing matter, for instance? I don't think you can say any longer that 3rd party is by definition lower quality. Anyways... IMHO, a lens is a tool, and you need to feel comfortable with a tool to use it. And if that means for you that you want/need Nikon glass then you get Nikon glass!
Thank you for the honest and straightforward review. I have the 24mm 1.8 equivalent of this lens and have been pretty happy with it. It's good to hear that most photographers are happy with their version of this lens. I will probably get the 85 mm 1.8 version at some point.
Before I got my 35mm 1.8g DX I was using the Meike 35mm f/1.7. I sort of miss that tiny lens. Sharp enough, built solidly, focus and aperture well damped, about as large as the collapsed 16-50mm kit lens. Alik Griffin goes over a lot of third party lenses on his blog with lots of sample photos. Old but good optical formulas are easy to produce and cheap, so that's what a lot of third party manufacturers are doing. HOWEVER, used af-d and some af-s lenses are also cheap if you're already willing to manual focus and don't mind the adapter. The most important thing is getting the focal lengths you want at the apertures you want so you can go click the shutter button more often.
I just got this for my Z5 and so far I'm really happy. A real step up from D610+50mm/D
Nice review, but I'm not convinced this would be a better choice than a 85mm AF-S Nikkor. They cost about the same, but Nikkor is a) native lens and b) you can use it on your F-mount body or adapt it to any other mirrorless system should you want to do that
I had the 85 AF-S which is/was a top lens. Bokeh great, sharpness great. ... but I got so annoyed because of the CAs wide open. I just could not use so many shots just because of that.
So I replaced it and considered both the Nikon 85 Z and this Viltrox. After some extensive online research I came to the decision to go for the Nikon "original". As I got it on a sale it was still considerably more expensive than the Viltrox but I think it is worth it.
Don't get me wrong the Viltrox seems to be a very good choice at an extremly good price-point. But all of the reviews I saw showed a few (minor) issues and also the one that made me look for a new lens in the first place: CAs. While the F-Mount Nikon (at least my copy) gets a really bad, hard-to-correct purple fringing, the Viltrox tends to go rather green/yellow-ish - not as hard to correct as the F-Mount lens but still noticeable and clearly worse than the "Z".
For me this was the main reason to go the Nikkor Z route as to me this was the obvious feature difference I cared about. While with the Nikkor 85 Z it is not impossible to produce CAs it is still very, very difficult. If I tried to get them in my shot intentionally (backlit tree branches), Lightroom had no problem to deal with them (something that was a no-go with the F-Mount Nikkor). In this and in many other regards like micro-contrast etc. the Nikon Z is just slightly better than the Viltrox. Many differences are small but they are visible.
If you are on a budget and don't care about CA, I think you cannot go wrong with the Viltrox. And if you cannot compare them side-by-side you probably don't recognize much of a difference as the results will probably be great anyway (beware the CAs!).
But the Nikkor 85 Z is so good that I am really happy to have spent the money. And (if I ever have to sell it) it probably has a better resale value, too. My shop did a discount on all items, so I got the last 85 Z - at about 2/3rd of the regular price (while most online shops were out-of-stock - I was so lucky). I got mine brand new even cheaper than the average Ebay "used"-price. While the Viltrox used prices on Ebay already dropped about 100 Euros (~25%) below retail price.
So in the end it depends on your priorities if you go with the Viltrox or the Nikon. But I just wanted to mention the CA "topic" as this is widely missed in the reviews but can be a dealbreaker for some (at least it was for me).
@@mrvdh Does the CA go away at f/2.8 on the AFS 85mm? thanks!
@@MrSimonj1970 Don't have it any more but as far as I can remember the CA were present on my copy of the lens up to f4. That's why I sold it ...
@@mrvdh thanks a lot, very useful! I love the lack of CA on my only z lens - 24-120mm!
Hi we have chatted before about your Z50... I just purchased the Nikon Z 50mm F1.8... my next lens is a more traditional portrait lens but it needs to be affordable... I have the Viltrox 56mm for my APS-c cameras... I am curious if you still have the Viltrox 85 or stayed with the Nikon 85? $400 is a big difference! Thanks as always...
Hi Leigh, thanks for the informative video. Was curious when you were shooting video there in the studio with the Viltrox 85mm if you were using the definable large area focus ( Wide-L ) with eye detection or just the regular wide area AFC? The new Wide-L mode was designed to keep people in focus even there are other distractions in the shot or complex light and shadows. Was curious how the Viltrox compares to the Nikkor Z using this mode?
Thanks for your honest review of this lens. I just ordered this lens for my Z6 II at Aldi in Germany. They had a special offer on this lens 30 Euro below the regular price in other online stores. Can#t wait to have it in my hands and to test it out.
How was it. I am very pleased with its performance with my a73 but wanting to switch to nikon z6ii and viltrox lenses
This will be my first third party lens for all my Nikon Bodies. Looking forward to receive it within 4 days and lets see if it is a good lens.
As a hobbyist and in the last year, sometimes I have the money to spare but the nikon 85mm is not available. Sometimes the other way around. So today I may buy the viltrox.
I bought this lens as my first Z mount lens, and I am very pleased with it. Like so many others, I really appreciated getting this 85 mm prime at HALF the cost of the equivalent Nikon lens.
Sweet option. I had been waiting for the review of this lens.
85 1.8 is one of my favorite F mount lenses out there. I am eyeing for the S lens version for a while now. Might get one for my Z6
The only minor matter to keep in mind is you save today but loose latter when you want to sell and find resale value is non existent or far poorer
I find buying original manufacturers lenses when there are discounts or factory’s rebates is preferable
I have this for my z6 and so far it's been pretty sick. I'm not a pro or a pixel peeper so it works great for what I do so I can't justify spending the extra money for the S version
Loving your channel. I have a couple of Nikon full frame lenses such as the AF-S NIKKOR 70-200 mm 1:4 ED. Can I use this lens on the Z6 ii camera? Would I be sacrificing any quality in photo or video shoots? I understand I will need a Nikon adapter.
I picked up this same lens for my Z7ii. I've been SUPER happy with the performance of the lens both as a portrait and as an all around "walk around" lens. The bokeh is fantastic and the lens gets even better at f4 and above. For me, I think one of the things that drew me to this one was the lack of commitment from Sigma to the Z mount system. I have been really happy with the Sigma 14-24 f2.8 on my D810 and was really wanting to see Sigma step into this line. But it seems like their hesitation has really opened the door for Viltorx.
Oh and the firmware update of the Z7ii to 1.10 has improved the autofocus of this lens quite a bit for my use case at least
One of the reasons that both SIGMA and TAMRON have not yet started with Z mount lenses is Nikon's closed system architecture and their refusals (unlike SONY) to open their systems directly to 3rd party lens companies. Given SONY's dominance in the mirrorless market, is it any reason that both TAMRON and SIGMA have been reticent to jump in with both feet?
At the same time, TAMRON continues to discontinue F mount lenses, to include those that were on the market for relatively short periods of time (in both the F mount and Canon versions).
I already own the Nikon Z 85mm, got it for 580€ (appr. 700 USD) used in an as-good-as-new state. I am very satisfied with the performance.
But after your review I am not sure if my decision pro Nikon Z 85 would be the same again.
You may relax assured, this Viltrox may be somewhat comparable with F-mount lenses, but it's light years behind Nikons new S-line. Especially when it gets to things like coma, corner sharpness, color fringing etc.
@@barmalini it's not light years difference cmon, yeah Nikkor is better overall, but difference is marginal. And if you're shooting subjects , which you generally do with 85mm , corners are already in blurred area, so not an issue. Autofocusing speed is very similar , I didn't find even small difference. I tried Nikkor Z 85mm for a day, yeah it would have been great to have it, but I ended up buying Viltrox , open box for 300USD locally. It's a value impossible to beat currently, and me and the clients don't care about marginal differences. Tweaking and AF fine tuning surely improves experience with this lens. I had also F 85mm 1.8G lens, Viltrox is better than that, plus silent AF and no use of FTZ adapter.
Will we see Viltrox lenses for other focal lengths? Would absolutely love a 24-70 f2.8 or maybe a F2
I have several different Viltrox lens for my Fujifilm cameras, 13mm, 27mm and 75mm f1.2, they work great for photography on the XH2 and XT5, for my other cameras, Sigma is my choice for third party glass, I recently purchased a Nikon Z6Ii and ZF to round out my collection of Pentax, Panasonic, Olympus and Fujifilm cameras. For my Nikon cameras my third party glass is the Viltrox 28mm and I just ordered a Voitelander 4omm f1.2 manual focus lens. Many of my third party glass are focal lengths not produce by the camera manufacturer or have features that the camera makers don't include on their lens other times it is a aperture difference that draws me to the lens, for all of the camera bodies that I have I do have native glass, but for the same reason that I use different cameras for my photography, I chose a lens from other manufacturers for the variety that they provide, for example for my Panasonic S5 and S5 MKII I have a few Sigma I series lens, they have a build and design that is a throwback to lenses and long ago and I wish I could get some to use with my Nikon ZF, but I don't see that happening.
I will definitely consider this lens. Thanks for the info.
Thanks so much❣️💯love your video’s but also this one was not available for subtitles, please change your settings to international subtitles for every video🙏🏽?? 🤗
Thanks for this video. How will this lens perform on the Z50?
Hi! Thanks for your advices , I own Nikon 6ii and just bought Viltrox 75mm 1.2 for apc cameras it’s like 112.5 but the bokeh is unique, great !!!
Hey, Is it cimoatible with Nikon ZFC ?
Curious to your favorite landscape lens and which is your go to for nature/wildlife lens?
I’m looking to upgrade to a Nikon mirrorless FF, my budget is only around 3500.00, what would you advise to purchase?
I won’t use third party lenses for my bird photography because I have found the long lenses from them lacking in sharpness. This is one that I will probably buy. I have an older 85mm D from Nikon but that won’t AF with the Z6. This seems like a good replacement. The price is right too.
IThanks Leigh for this review. I have been waiting for it. have the Viltrox 20 mm 1.8 Z Mount lens based on your recommendation/video. It is a decent lens although it's downside is the weight. I did have the 85mm Viltrox in my cart at Amazon, but opted for the Nikon 105 micro lens. I feel the micro lens can give me the best of both worlds for portraits and macro work. I also own the Nikon 70-200 2,8 FL ED for portrait work as well. I may decide to add the Viltrox to my lens collection if I switch over to Z completely.
Thanks Leigh for your reviews of Nikon and 3rd party lenses, the Viltrox 65mm f1.8 lense. Ido own it and love it, works like a charm on my z systems.
I own the Fuji X version of this lens. It is wonderful for how I shoot at the 70mm-105mm range. Really nice contrast. Fast focusing on my x-T2. I really like the separation and isolation that I can achieve between subject and background. Stays on my x-T2...a lot.
I have Z5 and this lens, it's my most used lens, I love it, you can see my shorts, with the new firmware I also make slow motion videos with Viltrox 85mm .
Were you not worried about the weather sealing, or lack there of?
I'm firmly in the camp of "the more the merrier" - as much as manufacturers like Nikon hold onto their secret sauces and would like people to purchase only first-party lenses, ultimately a vibrant third-party lens scene makes the system more interesting and appealing to a lot more people. I'm watching this space with interest, especially once more of these fully electronic lenses start rolling out.
Naulan kantaan!
Is this lens weather resistant?
Great video and tips! I'm quite interested in this new VIltrox Z mount family growing up!! I'm on Z APS-C gear and I have the 2 kit lenses for the Z50, as well as 2 "old" F-mount DX lenses to use with the FTZ ring. I recently bought one Viltrox 23mm f1.4 Z, and I'm rather happy about how it's performing. Would their 56mm APS-C benchmark with this 85mm FF that you've shown here, in terms of reliability?
Thinking of getting this lens for my Z5 for when we can get back to doing photoshoots in Scotland. I did buy the 7 Artisans 35mm f0.95 manual lens and even though it is a DX lens it is a great wee lens
Thanks I am looking to buy all my z lens great job I will consider this one ☝️
My biggest issue with the lens is updating the firmware as it is extremely fussy about what Micro USB cable will allow it to be detected by Windows 10. I had to use 5 different cables before it could be detected by windows.
I love the lens, had it a week, and tried to check the firmware on my brand new 85 1.8 Z and killed my lens. It’s brain dead, will no longer autofocus, won’t report any F-stop to the camera. I could never get any of my 4 PCs (Windows 10) to recognize, except one time I got an error message saying Windows could not connect to the USB device because it was defective. And I tried 6 different cables. That was Viltrox’s guidance, nothing worked. So disappointing. Waiting to hear back from B&H as to what to do next.
I'm all for thirty party lenses.Haven't tried the Viltrox,but hope to do so.
Thank you for the video. I'm buying it through your link. I'm not a video shooter, but I have the Z6II (rather than the Z7II, coming from the D850) because I was considering using my Z6II for video too from time to time. I wish you provided a few seconds of a video with this lens, that would show us your concern, as minor as it may be.
Hi Leigh. Do you think all the 5axis of stabilization of the nikon Z body is activated with the viltrox Z mount lenses? Or is it just 3axis?
NIKON RISING !!! I shoot with the Old D3s and I love it. Would like you to do a review of retro DSLR's. Thanks.
I like most of the time stick to OEM as they deliver better results. But this lens sounds for the price.
Thank you for your feedback.
thank you, that was the review I was looking for. Please let us know if an update is released that fixes the focus issue, I think I'll hold off till then
Hi Leigh
If you had to sell all of your cameras and lenses
And then buy a new camera
Would you buy a DSLR or a mirrorless?
Having watched this I decided to order one for my Z5.
Hello. Good review, thank you. Can I advise the sun filter on the 1.8 diaphragm. For cam Setting - iso 100, f 1.8, shutter - 100)
I have the 75mm 1.2 on my XT5 and its awesome
Hmmm snap, what an awesome lens. Unfortunately I also do a lot of video and with a gimbal. Sometimes I want to track a face. This doesn't seem to be like a great option for that. Tracking faces with my 50 mm f1.8 on a gimbal works pretty flawless.
I have a Samyang 85mm f1.5 manual focus, but I am interested in this Viltrox, since this lens brand is unknown to me
I am so tempted with this lens, although i want to use it for IR astro and portrait.
been reading nothing but good stuff about it.
Just ordered one yesterday :D looking forward to see if it does well in my video style.
love your review on this lens.. You gained a new subscriber #NikonGang
Just got my second one today after first one was DOA. This second one is DOA again, AF and aperture not working... Sending this back for a full refund now. Terrible quality control😞
That sucks. Where did you buy from?
@@k3n12ock Amazon
I'm on my third copy. First one was soft. Second one dead on arrival. And this one is perfect but slow af.
What about weather sealing ? How the usb dock affects that or affected by the lack of that ?
It is not sealed
How is this lens vs the F mount Nikon 85mm f1.8G? I don't shoot a ton of portraits with 85mm, so the 1.8S is too expensive for my needs, but I'd prefer to get rid of the FTZ adapter if I could.
Check out Matt Irwin he discussed it vs the 85 1.4 and it blew it out of the water
Thanks for sharing... Always enjoy your comments... Maybe I will try this lens if price is OK...cheers..
I have a Nikon z50 and when I use the Aperture Priority with the Viltrox 85mm I can’t change the aperture with the dial, I have to do it with the touch screen, that’s happen to you guys ?
Glad it works well for so many, but I for one won't purchase anything made in China if I can help it.
I am not against third party lenses at all. Tamron and Sigma make great lenses, but unfortunately Nikon and Canon users need to wait our turn until Tamron and Sigma get satiated feeding the Sony gravy train. This is frustrating! This Viltrox lens looks like a good one and I didn't notice any chromatic aberration of your portrait photos in the snow. I will be looking out for the Viltrox line of lenses for Nikon's Z cameras.
The lack of weather sealing alone made me go for the Nikon 😅
Love your work!
Love your videos would have been nice to have seen the actual focus problems as reordered
An update to my previous post
Yesterday the lens stopped working, and when I say stopped, I mean 100% failure. Would not register on the camera (no f-stop, no manual or auto focus, couldn't take a pic), and when I plugged it into my PC it wasn't detected (Yes, I tried multiple USB cables and ports on the PC and a different PC too). After working with the folks at Viltorx, they did determine the product was defective and I should contact who I purchased from. Well, I got it from Amazon and was past their 30 return policy so I'm stuck with replacing it or repairing it.
I'm not saying that people should not buy this lens, I love it myself and am actually thinking about getting another, and the customer service at Viltorx was very good. I am saying that this is the risk you take when purchasing out side of the main players. So if I do decide that I need to have an 85mm in my bag and get another Viltorx, that's the cost of the Nikon, which has weather sealing and a warranty.
Is it worth me getting rid of my Nikon 85mm 1.8g in favour of this for my z6
Yes
Great review Leigh! I just received mine for my new Z6ii at the beginning of March 2021. I tested it and it was great. However, today I used it for a job as one of my lens in shooting behind the scenes photos of a green screen production. after about an hour or so, I noticed the lens suddenly lost connection, and then came back again, and gone again so on and so forth, until a point that the connection is just lost totally. When I said connection I meant that the camera body does not detect the lens. The aperture instead of showing say f1.8 for example, would show F-- instead. I'm not sure if this is a manufacturing defect or is it something that can be fixed with a firmware. Do you or anyone on this comment section experience this issue when using the lens for a long period of time?
My new Viltrox for Z died as well, but I think it happened after I connected it to my PC to check the firmware. It sounds like yours died during a shoot, so now I’m not so sure if I killed mine connecting the USB or if it died “of natural causes” . I get the Sam F- in the top display, the lens won’t autofocus and cannot be manually focused, like the camera doesn’t even know a lens is attached. I have contacted Viltrox and B&H for support.
@@Watcher239 I contacted Viltrox and they replied me saying their engineer asked if I removed the lens while the camera is on. They said that it can burn out the lens if it was removed while the camera is on. I told them I can't be sure since I was shooting and changing on the fly. While I do try to turn off camera while changing I can't guarantee that I did that 100% of the time. They later on told me that it was a defective lens and asked me to return it or to bring it in for repair. I sure hope it's a one of problem. If the lens can easily burn out if I accidentally remove it while the camera is on, that itself is also an issue hahaha. Hopefully it's a fix that can be easily addressed over a firmware update if it happens again in the future.
@@vincekhoo3278 thanks for the info, that’s good to know, and since I too am guilty of removing my lenses while the camera is ON, that may have been my issue. I am getting a return/exchange from B&H, and I’ll be very careful with my new one.
I don’t know if this applies to Z but when I used third party F lenses, sometimes the autofocus would stop working. If I took the lens off and put it back on it would work again. It happens with Nikon lenses too but far less frequently. It’s not a huge deal but kind of annoying.
I have only owned a 35mm DX Nikon lens before, and a LOT of others (Sigma, Tamron, and now this Viltrox) and only had issues with the Tamrons on the FTZ adapter (which was expected, since they couldn't be updated, they were one generation too old). I can't say I recognise this. Not saying it can't happen of course, maybe it's a very particular combination of camera firmware, with lens firmware, or something. But I haven't seen it at least. Can't speak too much on the Viltrox yet since I've only just received it.
I wouldn't buy it myself as I already have the Nikon version, but I've had Viltrox lenses before and wouldn't hesitate to get one in a different focal length if it was one that I could use.
You should look at the Viltrox 56mm1.4. Very nice portrait lens. My go-to portrait lens choice. I have the Fuji X version.
Hey snapchick that lens can be turned into a F1.6 with a firmware update. 🤘it’s beast of a lens!
What? How?
@@petar3683 It's true, a quick google search should turn up a description of the process, which is not quite a simple as doing a regular firmware update according to the RUclips tutorial I just watched. I haven't provided a link because RUclips don't always like it but it was demonstrated using an e-mount version of the lens on a Sony camera which was integral to the procedure. Would it work the same way with a Nikon? I don't know and f/1.8 to f/1.6 is arguably too small a benefit to take the risk. So, while I have this lens, I'm disinclined to do something with it that Viltrox could and surely would have done if there were no negative consequences.
Great review, great portraits.
Did you have the most recent Z7 II firmware (C: Ver. 1.10)?
Yes
I heard these break down quickly is that true?
I am totally for 3rd party lenses. Some of my best lenses are sigma and tamron. I finally had enough of Nikon coming out with lenses which run out of stock even when I preordered them, that I go and buy the f mount version. Well no more of that. Traded the z6 in for the Sony a7riv and now I have endless 3rd party options. I still have my z5 and sigma 105 f1.4 art lens and the 50 & 85mm f1.8S lenses I will continue to use until I make my money back from them. There is no reason Nikon won’t allow 3rd party manufacturers to make lenses for their bodies if they can’t get enough made and out on the shelves for their customers. To me it’s them being greedy and the a7riv’s auto is insanely good.
@blsessex I traded my Z6 in and my Tamron 70-200mm F2.8 G2. And I came home with the a7r4, the Sony 85mm f1.8, the Sony 90mm f2.8 macro, and the Tamron 70-180 f2.8. And I am truly blown away by how sharp each lens is. The 90mm is so sharp I have to take some sharpness away while editing portraits with people with fair skin. I picked up the Rokinon 35mm f1.4 and it's just as sharp as the rest of them. They all auto focus very fast. And the focus tracking and eye AF is beyond nikon. And I thought the eye AF was very good on my Z6 and z5. Nothing like sony's . I tried pre-ordering the Nikon 70-200 F 2.8 s and after 10 months I said the hell with them. Then I pre-ordering the z7ii and after the 2nd notification saying it will be delayed for another month I said enough is enough. I stuck up for nikon countless times and after 2 years and I still have to go and buy f mount lenses just to get some good glass. Nikon want to come out with too much at a time when they can't deliver on the previous stuff. Nikon's 50mm f1.2s and the grip for the z6ii or z7ii, you have to be a RUclipsr or a big name nikon photographer to get that lens and grip. Yep by the end of the year I will be fully switched to Sony. The a7r4 is beyond what I expected and takes the sharpest pictures than my most expensive nikon lens. It's that good. Sorry for the long rant but I really want nikon to do well but I am not waiting for that to happen.
AHH LEIGH. I'm trying so hard to not buy this lens because, honestly, I'm holding out for the 85mm f/1.2 S. Bonus came in and I'm DYING to spend it on something electronic, and the only things I really want are a good bright portrait option and a Z-mount super telephoto.
Really wishing Nikon would get their butts in gear with the releases of the 85 1.2 and the 200-600 (assuming it's as good or better than the 200-500 was). I've been making do with adapted primes for now, but in truth, I don't really like using the FTZ because, while it works ok, AF is not as predictable as it was with my D850s. I upgraded to a Z7 and Z7 II myself and there are those moments, primarily with shooting wildlife and birds in flight, that I find myself regretting my hasty move from time to time. The native glass is mindblowing, though. I just wish the f/1.4 and f/1.2 options would start appearing more quickly.
Two years down the line and the Nikkor 85mm f1-2 S is a reality. I've been really tempted but I'm unconvinced that I'll reap the benefits often enough to justify spending 3x the cost of the Nikkor 85mm f1.8 S, which appears to be sharper up to f2.8. This Viltrox is 10x cheaper and any deficiencies don't appear to impact its effectiveness as a portrait lens, yet the 1.2 S continues to weigh on my mind (no pun intended). I'm just curious whether the big new Nikkor got your vote in the end.
I currently own the Z50 (also the D7200), so using this lens on the Z50 wouldn't make sense. Hopefully they will upgrade the firmware to improving video shooting.
Just get the 50mm f/1.8 S instead, close to the same 'equivalent' focal distance and it's one of the best lenses ever made.
Im a big fan of sigma art lens
Sigma makes some beautiful lenses. When you pick one up you know you have a quality lens.
True
Review starts at 2.28 minutes in.
Good promotional video
The lens probably needs to be calibrated to the camera body.
Just ordered this lens from viltrox.com
used the code nikonrumors and got 10% off ..cant wait to try it out
I use all sorts of lenses for stills and video.. both Nikon DSLR’s as well as cinema DCI 4K work. I like my 40+ year old Nikon Manual focus lenses, particularly my Nikkor 800-200 that I got for $99. Super sharp and steady aperture. I wish it was parafocal. I did pick up a set of Rokinon Cine lenses. Probably about 6 lenses at $500 each. Most are OK. Actually solid and inexpensive. However I never got around to tryout out my 100mm macro... it was defective new from factory. Gritty, dust in between the elements (shadows). Past return date/warranty... had 6 minutes on it and it was a $600 paperweight.. called Rokinon.. would be $500 to send it in and pull it apart, clean it etc.... So frankly I would rather just buy a used Nikon 200mm macro for my macro work. So lesson? Even a new lens.... FULLY TEST IT before your return window closes. My mistake. I’m using a lot of Lensbaby lenses as well.
Not a match for Nikon Z85 1.8; Nikon colors, rendering, sharpness are unmatched. I used both lenses on my Z6 and Viltrox images are kind of artificial and 2D whereas Nikon's are more cinematic, with more depth and superior colors. If you use third party lenses on Nikon Z series you are NOT taking the full advantage of the Nikon mirrorless systems, period.
I just use my adapted EF 85 f/1.2 L II.
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I think this is an interesting review. However, I think saying something is "half the price" is a bit misleading considering the 85mm f1.8 S is not exactly exorbitantly expensive as it is. Yes, it is $796 on many of the US camera manufacture websites (and I think I just saw it on sale on a few) so the Viltrox is $399. However, you are not exactly saving a massive amount of money by going with the Viltrox. Now...if the Nikon was $2500 vs the Viltrox at $1250 we would be talking about a substantial amount of money. At a few hundred dollars - really?? Plus, you have focusing issues in video so what's the point? If you really want that 85mm wait for the 1.2 to come out. I'm super happy with my 1.8 S (I just posted a video about it). I'm not exactly about to trade in my Nikon 85mm 1.8 just to save a few hundred dollars with the Viltrox...
I'm sorry but the main reason to get Nikon Z can is for the superior nikon Z mount lens system. Nuff sed. Got a Z7 and will never put anything but a Z lens on it.
The viltrox is a Z mount lens.....
Not everyone can afford all the $1000 lenses.
Viltrox needs proper coating.
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What about the rumours regarding Nikon. Will it be around after COVID?