Viltrox AF 85mm f/1.8 II
Summary
The Viltrox AF 85mm f/1.8 II is a solid optical performer — a telephoto prime (128mm equivalent) with f/1.8 maximum aperture. The lens is priced at approximately ~$500 USD. Please check the official product page for sample images, manuals, and firmware updates.
Genre Suitability
- Excellent for: Nightscape, Landscape, Architecture, Street, Portrait, Sport, Wildlife
- Adequate for: Travel
- Avoid for: Macro
Strengths
- Well-controlled aberrations
- Smooth, pleasant bokeh
- Negligible distortion
- Fast linear motor autofocus
Weaknesses
- Below-average flare resistance
- Low macro capability (0.13x magnification)
- No built-in optical stabilization
Specifications 19/20
| Optical construction | 10 elements in 7 groups (1 ED) |
| Coating | Nano multilayer coating |
| Focal length | 85mm |
| Max aperture | f/1.8 |
| Sweet spot | f/4 |
| Aperture blades | 9 (circular) |
| Sunstar points | 18 (soft — circular blades) |
| Max magnification | 0.13x |
| Min focus distance | 800mm |
| AF motor | LM |
| OIS | No |
| Weather sealed | No |
| Aperture ring | No |
| Clickless aperture | — |
| Focus ring | Yes |
| Focus by wire | Yes |
| Distance scale | No |
| Rotating front | No |
| Tripod mount | No |
| Weight | 340g |
| Diameter | 69mm |
| Length | 78mm |
| Filter thread | 72mm |
| Year | 2021 |
Optical Quality 14/14
| Center (wide open) | 1.5 |
| Corner (wide open) | 1.0 |
| Center (stopped) | 1.5 |
| Corner (stopped) | 1.5 |
| Coma | 2.0 |
| Astigmatism | 1.5 |
| Spherical aberration | 1.5 |
| Longitudinal CA | 1.0 |
| Lateral CA | 1.5 |
| Distortion | 1.5 |
| Vignetting (wide open) | 1.5 |
| Vignetting (stopped) | 2.0 |
| Bokeh | 1.5 |
| Flare resistance | 0.5 |
Sharpness
- Good center sharpness wide open
- Acceptable corner sharpness wide open
- Good center resolution stopped down
- Good corner-to-corner sharpness stopped down
Aberrations
- Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
- Well-controlled lateral CA
- Negligible coma — point lights stay tight to the corners
- Well-controlled astigmatism
- Well-corrected spherical aberration
Rendering
- Smooth, pleasant bokeh
- Mild vignetting wide open
- Vignetting essentially gone by f/5.6
- Below-average flare resistance
Distortion
- Minimal distortion
All optical scores are based on lab measurements and field tests from trusted review sources. For details on how we score lenses, see our scoring methodology.
Genre Fit
✓ Nightscape Photography 4/5
Nightscape Photography prioritizes coma control, astigmatism correction, and a fast aperture for short star exposures.
- Negligible coma — point lights stay tight to the corners
- Well-controlled astigmatism
- Fast f/1.8 aperture
- Well-controlled lateral CA
- Good center sharpness wide open
- Acceptable corner sharpness wide open
- Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
- Mild vignetting wide open
- Well-corrected spherical aberration
✓ Landscape Photography 4/5
Landscape Photography prioritizes corner-to-corner sharpness at stopped-down apertures and good flare resistance.
- Good corner-to-corner sharpness stopped down
- Good center resolution stopped down
- Minimal distortion
- Well-controlled lateral CA
- Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
- Vignetting essentially gone by f/5.6
- Below-average flare resistance
- Well-controlled astigmatism
- Negligible coma — point lights stay tight to the corners
✓ Architecture Photography 4/5
Architecture Photography prioritizes geometric precision with minimal distortion and even corner sharpness.
- Good corner-to-corner sharpness stopped down
- Good center resolution stopped down
- Minimal distortion
- Well-controlled lateral CA
- Vignetting essentially gone by f/5.6
- Below-average flare resistance
✓ Street Photography 4/5
Street Photography prioritizes sharp stopped-down performance and a fast enough aperture for low light.
- Good center resolution stopped down
- Fast f/1.8 aperture
- Good center sharpness wide open
- Below-average flare resistance
- Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
- Negligible coma — point lights stay tight to the corners
~ Travel Photography 3.5/5
Travel Photography prioritizes balanced image quality in a lightweight package.
- Good center resolution stopped down
- Lightweight at 340g
- Fast f/1.8 aperture
- Below-average flare resistance
- Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
✓ Portrait Photography 4/5
Portrait Photography prioritizes smooth bokeh and critical center sharpness wide open for subject isolation.
- Smooth, pleasant bokeh
- Good center sharpness wide open
- Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
- Well-corrected spherical aberration
- Mild vignetting wide open
✓ Sport Photography 4/5
Sport Photography prioritizes sharp wide-open center performance to freeze action at fast shutter speeds.
- Good center sharpness wide open
- Fast f/1.8 aperture
- Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
- Well-controlled lateral CA
✓ Wildlife Photography 4/5
Wildlife Photography prioritizes center sharpness across apertures for distant subjects.
- Good center sharpness wide open
- Good center resolution stopped down
- Fast f/1.8 aperture
- Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
- Well-controlled lateral CA
✗ Macro Photography 1/5
Macro Photography prioritizes stopped-down center sharpness and high magnification for close-up detail.
- Good center resolution stopped down
- Low magnification (0.13x)
- Minimal distortion
- Well-controlled lateral CA
- Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
- Well-corrected spherical aberration
- Smooth, pleasant bokeh