Cheap and Fast: A Review of the Viltrox AF 85mm f/1.8 STM II Lens

The 85mm focal length is one of the most popular out there, but a good 85mm lens with a fast aperture is not always cheap. That is why Sony and Fujifilm shooters should check out this great video review of the Viltrox AF 85mm f/1.8 STM II lens.

Coming to you from Dustin Abbott, this great video review takes a look at the Viltrox AF 85mm f/1.8 STM II lens. The Viltrox is quite affordable, coming in at $400. It features 10 elements in 7 groups, 9 rounded diaphragm blades for smoother bokeh, a lighter and smaller design than its predecessor, one extra-low dispersion element for reduced aberrations, one large-diameter aspherical element for reduced distortion and increased sharpness, HD Nano multi-layer coating for reduced flares and ghosting and increased contrast, and an integrated USB port for updating its firmware. Though it lacks weather-sealing and the autofocus is not as fast as some other options, it looks like it offers impressive sharpness and contrast along with pleasing bokeh at a very affordable price; check out the video above for Abbott's full thoughts, and if you would like a more in-depth look at the lens, be sure to check out our own Andy Day's review.

Alex Cooke's picture

Alex Cooke is a Cleveland-based portrait, events, and landscape photographer. He holds an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and a doctorate in Music Composition. He is also an avid equestrian.

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3 Comments

Still enjoying and appreciating this lens. I just spent a week photographing dancers indoors and it did a great job.

Would this give me a sharper image than the standard Sony 24-70 kit lens?

I've not used the Sony 24-70 so I can't comment, I'm afraid.