Viltrox AF 85mm F2.0 EVO FE Review
Viltrox recently announced its new AF 85mm F2.0 EVO lens. According to Viltrox, the new EVO series combines high-performance optics, intuitive physical controls, and a compact, lightweight design.
The AF 85mm F2.0 EVO is a slightly slower and more affordable option than the AF 85mm F1.4 Pro FE that I recently reviewed.
The EVO series is designed to sit between the Air and LAB series in Viltrox’s line-up. Just like the LAB series, the EVO series features a clickless aperture, which makes it easier to use for video work.
It is being touted as a very affordable full-frame prime lens for Sony E-mount cameras.
Key features
- Full-Frame | f/2 to f/16
- Fast Portrait-Length Lens
- Nano-Coating and Resistance Coating
- 2 ED & 2 HR Lens Elements
- Minimum Focus Distance: 2.43′
- 10 Elements in 8 Groups
- Autofocus with Manual Override
- STM Stepping Motor
- Filter Size: 58mm
- USB-C Interface for Firmware Upgrades
The optical design consists of 10 elements in 8 groups, and Viltrox claims that the AF 85mm F2.0 EVO achieves edge-to-edge clarity even when shot wide open at F2.0. It is also claimed to maintain exceptional sharpness and natural contrast from center to corner.
The front filter diameter is 58mm, and the minimum focus distance of 74cm / 2.43′.
The lens features an STM stepping motor, which is claimed to provide fast, quiet, and accurate AF for both photography as well as video applications.
Size & Weight
The AF 85mm F2.0 EVO weighs 340g / 12 oz, making it Viltrox’s smallest and lightest full-frame 85mm lens.
Above, you can see how much smaller it is than the Viltrox AF 85mm F1.4 Pro FE.
| WEIGHT | |
| Viltrox AF 85mm F2.0 EVO | 340g / 0.74 lb |
| Viltrox AF 85mm F1.4 Pro FE | 800g / 1.8 lb |
| Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 | 371g / 0.81 lb |
| Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM II Lens | 642g / 1.41 lb |
| Sirui Aurora 85mm f/1.4 | 540g / 1.2 lb |
| Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 FE II | 509g / 1.12 lb |
| Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art | 625g / 1.38 lb |
| Meike 85mm f/1.8 Mark II | 369g / 0.81 lb |
| AstrHori 85mm f/1.8 II | 441g / 1 lb |
| Yongnuo 85mm f/1.8S DF DSM | 346g / 0.81 lb |
Above, you can see how its weight compares to some other 85mm full-frame prime lenses.
The lens is pretty lightweight and easy to use with small-sized cameras like the Sony FX3 and new Nikon ZR (with an adapter).
Build Quality
The Viltrox AF 85mm F2.0 EVO has a rubber-sealed lens mount that provides resistance to light rain and dust, and a water and smudge-resistant front element coating.
It is solidly made and well constructed, especially given its affordable pricing. While it doesn’t have the same feel to it as the more expensive Viltrox AF 85mm F1.4 Pro FE, it is still good for a sub $300 USD lens.
Other Features
There is a customizable focus function button; an aperture ring click switch, switchable between stepped and stepless, which is ideal for hybrid photo and video use. There is also an AF/MF switch.
You can also use the Viltrox App for firmware updates and function customization via the USB-C input on the lens.
The lens supports EXIF data transmission with compatible cameras and accepts a 58mm filter.
Sharpness Tests
I tested out the lens at a variety of F stops to see how sharp it was. The Viltrox AF 85mm F2.0 EVO FE is pretty sharp, even when used wide open at F2.0. There is a slight sharpness improvement when you stop it down slightly. For a sub $300 USD full-frame prime lens, the sharpness was impressive.
Flare
The flare the lens produces isn’t what I would categorize as great; however, that is just my personal opinion.
There is quite a bit of halation at F2.0 and a loss of contrast. At F5.6, there is less halation and better contrast.
Focus Breathing?
The lens does have some focus breathing, and it doesn’t perform as well as its more expensive sibling, the Viltrox AF 85mm F1.4 Pro FE.
Real World Use
The lens performs well. While it doesn’t have a lot of interesting optical characteristics, it’s very sharp and clean. While F2 isn’t super fast, it still allows you to capture footage or photos in low-light environments.
Above, you can see some quick footage that was taken by a colleague of mine who owns a Sony FX3. He liked using the lens and found it to be nice and sharp. He also thought the AF performance was pretty good for a non native Sony lens.
As a comparison, above is footage taken with the Viltrox AF 85mm F1.4 Pro FE.
Price & Availability
The Viltrox AF 85mm F2.0 EVO FE is now available for $275 USD.
Above, you can see how that price compares to the competition.
Thoughts
The Viltrox AF 85mm F2.0 EVO is a decent offering, and it produces nice, sharp images even when used wide open. There is a small amount of breathing, but it is well controlled. The AF performance is also pretty good. At $275 USD, it is very affordable, and if you are looking for a well-performing and lightweight 85mm prime lens for your Sony E-mount lens and you don’t need anything faster than F2.0, then it is worth looking at.
