Over the past few weeks, I’ve been testing out the new Viltrox 85mm f/2 EVO, and I have to say, it’s a fantastic lens that once again proves the Chinese brand can make stellar optics for a fraction of the price of some first-party options.
We’ve been fans of Viltrox for a while now at TechRadar, but it’s safe to say this EVO is already a firm favorite of mine. It’s a short-telephoto prime that’s lightweight, razor-sharp, and budget-friendly. Honestly, what’s not to like?
Improving on an already-great formula
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Viltrox 85mm f/2 EVO info
This isn’t my first experience with Viltrox’s offerings – in fact, I’ve been very partial to the brand’s first 85mm f/1.8 Z. I’ve had that lens for a few years now, and it’s been a staple in my bag – particularly when I, like many photographers, took it on my obligatory trip to Japan.
That lens was (and still is) very, very good; It’s just kind of heavy at 19.3oz/548g. At the time, I specifically stated that I’d be happy to lose a few stops of aperture for a less dense lens, so on paper, the EVO is pretty much exactly what I was asking for from the brand.
And, I have to say, I think the EVO might actually be sharper than its f/1.8 cousin. I don’t have any fangled MFT charts or studio scenes to compare specifics, but I have shot thousands of images with the older lens and almost a thousand with the EVO.
My impression is that the EVO is a little sharper and a little less contrasty. Scientific, I know, but the images are particularly sharp out of this new 85mm. I think the images have slightly less character, but the rendering is more modern. It reminds me a lot of the various Sigma primes that I’ve tried over the past few years, which always have a nice, crisp look to them.
The older f/1.8, by comparison, has a kind of flattering softness that I think really lends itself to portraits. It’s definitely not a soft lens by any stretch, but it just renders in a very lovely, natural-looking manner. In terms of character, it’s definitely my favorite of the two lenses overall and still a great pick if you’re looking for a traditional portrait lens.
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I do think the EVO is the better package overall right now, however. It’s objectively still a very good lens optically, and Viltrox has really taken the design to another level with this iteration.
Not only are the weight savings hard to ignore (340 vs 550g), but you now get a fully weather-sealed lens for a very respectable price. On the outside? An FN button, AF/MF switch, and a lovely aperture ring that pairs beautifully with Nikon’s Z cameras.
Both lenses are built very nicely, out of metal, but the EVO now also thankfully includes a lens hood and cap that aren’t complete garbage. I never understood why Viltrox included such bad plastic fittings on these nicely built premium-feeling lenses before, but now the brand has fully corrected that issue with plastics that won’t annoyingly rattle or come loose in your bag.
This 85mm is perfect for street photography
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This lens has been glued to my Nikon
I generally carry an 85mm in my kit bag at all times because I think it’s one of the most versatile primes. If you’re used to wider lenses, then an 85mm can feel a little restrictive at first. Once you get used to it, however, it’s a fantastic focal length that can let you isolate subjects, create abstraction, and play with depth of field.
I particularly love an 85mm for street photography – and that’s a use case that the EVO is almost tailor-made for. Its size naturally makes it a little less conspicuous than most 85mm primes, while the weather sealing is absolutely fantastic for adverse conditions while out on the street – or travelling, for that matter.
Because it’s so small, it’s also a lens that you can throw in your bag just in case. Even if you’re not someone who naturally gravitates towards a closer lens, the EVO is a really compelling package that’s not just light in the bag, but light on the pocket, too.
I think I’ll still pack the other Viltrox 85mm for portrait sessions, but otherwise, the EVO feels like the natural choice. I usually judge a lens on whether it inspires me to shoot, and the EVO has been glued to my Nikon Z6 for over a month now, so there must be something in it.
Get it while you can?
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It’s been pretty interesting to read about the murmurs of an impending legal battle between Nikon and Viltrox while testing this lens. Praise aside, it’s definitely made me wonder whether recommending this lens is the right thing to do as details on the actual case are still emerging.
I suspect that the two brands will come to some kind of agreement; likely with Viltrox paying some form of licensing fee. Will that affect the prices of its Z Mount lenses? That seems likely, so you could be looking at paying a little more than the $275 / £265 this lens currently fetches.
In the worst-case scenario, Viltrox could even suspend its full-frame Z Mount offerings. I obviously hope that’s not the case because the brand makes really fantastic gear for at a price that’s accessible for most photographers. That’s a very valuable thing in such an expensive hobby, so I sincerely hope Viltrox and Nikon can resolve any disputes amicably.
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alex.whitelock@futurenet.com (Alex Whitelock)
