We Review the Insane Viltrox EPIC 75mm T2.0 1.33x Anamorphic Lens

by Pete Coco January 14, 2025 0 Comments

The Viltrox EPIC 75mm T2.0 1.33x Anamorphic Lens is part of a trio of Viltrox Cine lenses that includes a 35mm and 50mm. In terms of build quality, image quality, and performance, does this lens live up to its "Epic" name? Let's find out.

In addition to this written review, I have attached my YouTube video because it includes lots of footage from the 75mm. I was able to use the lens for a number of shoots and tested it with two of my colleagues who are incredible videographers, Danh Nguyen Photography out of Boston, and Will Meade from Pineapple Shirt Productions located in New York. In this print review, I have added some still images captured with the Viltrox EPIC 75mm, but more on that a bit later.

When I was tasked to review the Viltrox 75mm EPIC T2.0 Anamorphic lens, I honestly had no idea what to expect. In fact, this lens happens to be the first anamorphic lens I have ever used. However, when a large box arrived containing a heavy-duty hard shell case, I knew I had received something not only high-end but also very special.

The Viltrox 75mm EPIC Anamorphic T2.0 Lens

To be clear, I am first and foremost a portrait photographer, so immediately I wondered what kind of still images the Viltrox 75mm would render. Because of this, I made sure to capture some still photos in addition to video, which, of course, this lens is really designed for.

A portrait taken with a Viltrox 75mm EPIC lens and Sony A7R5 — A portrait taken with a Viltrox 75mm EPIC lens and Sony a7R V

Build Quality and Handling

The build quality of the Viltrox EPIC 75mm is unlike any I've used before. The entire lens is metal, and it's quite heavy. It's obvious from the moment you take it out of the case that it's designed for the highest demands of professionals and made to take a beating. It's engineered incredibly well, and although it can be used with a focus-pulling system, I was able to manage it handheld on a Sony a7R V. I would like to say this was easy, but it was in fact a challenge, especially when I created a smoky cinematic scene in my studio. Although manually focusing and exposing the Viltrox while hand-holding it is a bit tough, it was also a lot of fun and forced me to slow down and take my time.

The task of using this lens is made a bit more difficult because the Viltrox 75mm has a 1.33x horizontal squeeze, which means that when the lens is mounted to a standard mirrorless camera like the a7R V, the image will appear squished horizontally. The footage can be recorded in its proper 2.35 de-squeezed aspect ratio via an external monitor (the best way to use a lens like this), but as I was hand-holding it for the bulk of my shooting, I didn't want to add the extra weight of a monitor and opted to just deal with the distorted image on my LCD screen. My colleague Will, however, used the 75mm with a monitor and a tripod, which made the whole affair seamless. Once the footage or images are imported, they must be de-squeezed. Doing this is a fairly simple matter, and once that is done, the footage stretches to its correct aspect ratio and takes on its full cinematic glory. And glorious it is.

A self-portrait taken with the Viltrox 75mm EPIC Anamorphic Lens — A self-portrait taken with the Viltrox 75mm EPIC Anamorphic lens

Image Quality

The images and video the Viltrox 75mm EPIC lens renders are exceptional, and it certainly lives up to its name. As I mentioned, I was really interested in creating cinematic portraits, and the 75mm did not disappoint. The first image I captured was the self-portrait above, and in this image, I made sure to aim a Fresnel light directly at the lens to take advantage of its unique lens flare. Next, I set up a shoot with Justin, a Broadway actor, and created a smoky set for the photos. The still images have a 3-dimensional quality to them, as well as a very lifelike and natural look, which I found to be different from a standard mirrorless lens. One attribute of anamorphic lenses that I really enjoyed for both stills and video is the flaring, which is not circular but instead projects a horizontal bar across the frame. The bokeh is also subtle, and the transition from the subject to the background is very natural-looking. As with the build quality of the lens, I found very little to criticize about the 75mm EPIC lens, as did my colleagues who used it with me at my studio.

Viltrox 75mm T2.0 Anamorphic Lens - Image by Danh Nguyen Photography — Image by Danh Nguyen Photography | https://www.danhnguyenphotography.com/

Thoughts From Some Pros

As I mentioned, I was able to test the Viltrox 75mm with two of my colleagues who happen to be world-class videographers, so I wanted to include their thoughts as well. Videographer Danh Nguyen sums it up incredibly well, so I am going to quote him here.

As a professional photographer who spends a lot of time experimenting with gear, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the Viltrox 75mm T2.0 1.33x anamorphic lens—and wow, it did not disappoint.

First off, this lens is a beast—literally. At 2,040 g (4.5 pounds), it’s almost comically heavy compared to something like the Canon RF 85mm f/1.2, which comes in at a very manageable 479 g (just over 1 pound). Holding the Viltrox for extended shoots? Let’s just say you’ll want a sturdy tripod or some serious arm strength. That said, that weight comes with a purpose—this lens is built like a tank, top to bottom. Every inch of it screams quality and durability, and you can feel the craftsmanship in your hands.

The quality is truly next-level. The bokeh is stunningly beautiful, soft, and natural, with those signature oval bokeh balls that anamorphic lenses are known for. It’s razor-sharp at T2.0 but somehow still retains this lovely cinematic softness in the background. The blue flares are another highlight—they give every frame a gorgeous, cinematic aesthetic that makes your work look like it belongs on the big screen.

All in all, I love this lens. It’s not perfect for every situation—it’s heavy, and there’s that initial adjustment to the anamorphic workflow—but if you’re after a lens that delivers unmatched image quality with a cinematic edge, the Viltrox 75mm T2.0 is absolutely worth the investment.

My other colleague Will had similar thoughts regarding the image and build quality and added that for him the 75mm focal length and minimum focus distance were a bit far. I tend to agree with him there, as the 50mm or 35mm would be a better all-around lens, but of course, buying the entire set is really the best way to go if your budget allows.

A portrait of photographer Danh Nguyen taken with the Viltrox 75mm EPIC lens

Conclusion

Viltrox continues to raise the bar with their lenses, and with the Epic 75mm T2.0 Anamorphic Lens they have thrown down the gauntlet. It packs quite a punch in terms of quality, and at $3,199, it's certainly not cheap, but represents a value when compared with many anamorphic lenses, which can easily cost five figures. As I mentioned, the 75mm is one-third of a trio of EPIC primes, which can be purchased together as a set or individually, with a 35mm and 50mm being the other focal lengths in the current EPIC line. Finally, for what it's worth, I will add that this was the most interesting and downright fun lens I've used so far, and I was incredibly pleased to use the Viltrox 75mm to create a variety of very cool portraits as well as videos.