Viltrox 56mm f/1.4 Portrait Lens Review for Nikon Z DX Cameras

Is this the BEST portrait lens for your Nikon Z fc and Z 50? In this video, I do an extensive review of the Viltrox 56mm f/1.4 lens for Nikon Z series DX or APSC cameras like the Z fc and Z50. I use the lens for Street Photography, Sports Photography, and Landscape Photography and finally test the lens for the photography genre that it's designed for, Portrait Photography!
Viltrox 56mm f/1.4 Link! amzn.to/3vZaLfe
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[@PhilThach]

This little gem is also available for Fuji-film X, Canon M, and Sony E APSC cameras. I am thrilled that Viltrox ported this lens and its 23 and 33mm, siblings, over to Nikon Z DX cameras like the Z50 and Z fc.

[@Eli4Bill]

Great examples of the versatility of the Viltrox 56 1.4 lens Phil. Excellent images. I especially loved the shot of the bridge with the sun stars and all the people, as well as the portrait shots of your daughter highlighting her eyes. Tack sharp. Great review!

[@PhilThach]

Thank you, Bill! This lens was easy to work with because it was good at everything I asked it to do.

[@krukower]

Great review, i found out your channel today, as a new z50 user i'm realy impressed about how you and heather taking this camera to the edge. outstanding!!!

[@PhilThach]

Thank you! We have really enjoyed the Z 50 over the last year or two.

[@brendawillems4804]

Wauw what á stunning shots of your daughter! And also the birds and panorama is 👌🏾 I am going to order this lens right now for my Zfc. Thanks á lot for this super review!

[@PhilThach]

Thank you!

[@adrianalfordphotography]

Great review Phil. I think this is a ripper lens for portraits and good price too. Viltrox keep producing nice lenses which is good to see. Thanks for sharing the video 👍🙏

[@PhilThach]

I am always surprised by how much I like their lenses. I’m really hoping they make a Nikon Z version of their new 13 mm 1.4 apsc lens. So far it’s Fuji X only. Thank you, Adrian!

[@Pantheragem]

Totally badass lens. I had no idea. Thanks for the review.

[@PhilThach]

You are welcome! Thanks for watching.

[@randallbrander8157]

Viltrox is reminding me of the Sigma Trio set of lenses 16mm, 30mm and 56mm F/1.4 primes for Sony and Canon APSC cameras. Bought the Megadap ETZ-11 adapter which I can use the Sigma Trio on Nikon from the Sony E mount. The only thing that theses lenses do not have is the aperture ring. But the pics and videos look awesome. You are looking sharp and I love the color.

[@clarkejones8090]

Lovely images, nice review. Thank you.

[@PhilThach]

Thank you, Clarke!

[@fjphoto23]

Great shots. Viltrox is really upping the game for 3rd party Z lenses.

[@PhilThach]

Thanks for watching! Viltrox is doing a really nice job with these 1.4 lenses.

[@stephanweiskorn6760]

Excellent video 😊!

[@PhilThach]

Thank you!

[@randybocksnick3750]

PHIL-- Very nice video on the Viltrox 56mm 1.4 ( Well Done) Have a Good week of shooting! Randy Bocksnick(MT)

[@PhilThach]

Thank you, Randy! I enjoyed the process of making the photos for this video. I have a pretty good week planned… Tonight I have captured a spider that I’m going to attempt to photograph and release. Later this week a friend has told me where a family of foxes is so I hope to get lucky and make a photo or two of them.

[@rafaafeitos]

Amazing photos!

[@PhilThach]

Thank you!

[@obedbrinkman]

nice one! looks like a stunning dx lens

[@PhilThach]

It’s a very surprising lens from a very surprising company. Thanks for watching!

[@randallbrander8157]

I also wanted to state that the 85mm equivalent focal length is my favorite. Sigma 56mm APSC/DX F/1.4 or the Nikkor Z 85mm F/1.8 Full Frame/FX is AWESOME!

[@ses4vols]

Great review! I put it through a great range of situations. I really liked the portrait photo's around UT! The Knoxville skyline panorama turned out great too.

[@PhilThach]

Thanks, Stephen! In these review videos, I try to work several days and locations to give the viewer the full picture of what a lens can do. I might have gone a little overboard on this one but I really like this lens and it was easy to make beautiful images with it. I think this is the second time I've made that panorama. My daughter showed me that location and suggested making a pano there and she was right.

[@ses4vols]

@@PhilThach Another good place near there for a pano of Knoxville is at the top of the 11th street parking garage.

[@PhilThach]

@@ses4vols I looked that up on google maps. Looks like a great location. I'll try to remember that next time we go to Knoxville. Thanks, Stephen!

[@PhilThach]

@@ses4vols Yesterday was the first time I have returned to Knoxville since I made this review. I made the 11th street garage pano. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@ses4vols]

@@PhilThach awesome, glad it worked out. Can’t wait to see the result.

[@gnphoto21]

Thanks for the review. I just might get this lens as well.

[@PhilThach]

Thanks, George! This lens on a Z fc or Z50 is about the cheapest option I've seen for making nice-looking perfectly compressed and bokehfied portraits.

[@gnphoto21]

@@PhilThach I also like them because unlike Artisan lenses, these are AF lenses.

[@PhilThach]

@@gnphoto21 exactly! Now I really do like the TT artisan that I reviewed. It’s a really nice lens when you’re in a manual focus mood. But, I have bought another TT Artisan lens since then and I don’t like it very much. I will probably review it at some point.

[@gnphoto21]

@@PhilThach Cool! I have a 7 Artisan 7.5mm fisheye that I like but will rarely use it.

[@pugatjayson]

Amazing photos Phil. Just new to your channel, watched your videos about Z50 since I just got the Z50 last Dec. My question is: Is this a native lens for z50/zFc/z30 or do I need to get an adapter before I can use it? Cheers.

[@PhilThach]

Thank you! It is native but it comes in many versions, so make sure to get the Nikon Z version.

[@pugatjayson]

@@PhilThach I'll take note of that. Thanks!

[@eltinjones4542]

To be honest Phil, I use a 60mm D series lens on my Nikon D 7200 (90mm full frame equivalent) and I've never seen anything as sharp However your Mirrorless set up looks impressive 📷👍

[@PhilThach]

That's a nice combination as well. Thanks, Eltin!

[@randallbrander8157]

Question: I like vlogging with the Zfc also. With the new Z30 coming out are you going to get it? I know that you and Heather bought the Canon R7 which seems awesome and was wondering if you are going to vlog with that camera also or just use it for pics and videos?

[@PhilThach]

I have gotten to where I do most of my vlogging with the DJI Pocket 2 creator kit. It has decent picture quality and top notch stabilization and a built in wireless mic system. However, in studio settings we usually use either my Nikon Z6 or the Zfc. I don't plan on buying the Z30 but I do think it's going to be a great camera especially for video creators. I wish it had IBIS. I have the same wish for the Z50 and Zfc.

[@randallbrander8157]

@@PhilThach A little tidbit of info for you. I love the Nikon 28mm f/2.8 so much that I bought two more. One on the Z5, Zfc and Z7ii. I bought the Sony ZV-E10 and it was working great until the Micro HDMI port just won't work anymore. So I am using that to vlog. Sounds great from the camera. But I think the ZFC with that 28mm would be better. I rather have the Z30 than this ZV-E10 though. Menu system and the way the Sony is setup you need to be a rocket scientist to figure it out. Best thing is to take it off intelligent mode and put it in manual. Take Care!

[@axelgordes3051]

I got the 33 from Viltrox 4 weeks ago, now I did this really nice lens on my wishlist. In Germany we have to pay 289€ (305$). Thanks for this Video.

[@PhilThach]

Thanks for watching! Enjoy your 33.

[@axelgordes3051]

@@PhilThach Hey Phil. Got an information for you about new stuff from Viltrox. I ordered the VILTROX DG-Z Brass Bayonet Autofocus Macro Extension Tube Ring for Nikon Z6 Z7 Z50 Mirrorless Camera. That little rings will replace the F mount 85 dx Micro. I used these with 50-250 Z Plastik Lens and the results are amazing. May be you can arrange a test. Wish you a nice fine weekend!

[@krukower]

@@axelgordes3051 add a link

[@etienneamien]

To my eye, any lens bellow 70mm is too distorted for portraits on a 35mm body. A 50-60mm lens is ok for upper body shots but not for close portraits. Some 70mm macro lenses will work well but don’t get too close, the 85mm is a good all around portrait lens and a 105mm is a very good option for close portraits.

[@PhilThach]

I’m not sure if you’re trying to say this lens a bad lens for portraits or a good lens for portraits. On one hand it is definitely below 70 mm, on the other hand it’s not on a 35 mm body it’s on an apsc body and it is a lens designed for apsc. Either way, thanks for watching and have a great day.

[@etienneamien]

@@PhilThach oh sorry then my mistake ! Then a 56mm is ok for portraits on an APSC camera. I just used many 50mm equivalent lenses and even if this focal is a good all around focal, it’s distortion is too strong for close portraits on a 35mm or so called « full frame » camera. But a 56mm zooms to 78mm on APSC camera so it’s well suited for portraits on APSC bodies. 70mm lenses will work like a 105mm on an APSC body and is even better to avoid distortion for close portraits

[@davidsaylors]

You forgot the Nikkor 58mm Noct!!! 😂 But then… you could literally buy two dozen of these for the price of that monster. The output is uncanny too. Thanks for the indepth review!

[@PhilThach]

I totally did forget the Noct! LOL Thanks, David! :)

[@jacobjurg3746]

And there's the 58mm f/1.4g f-mount... Also not very cheap, but still cheap compared to Noct :-)

[@PhilThach]

@@jacobjurg3746 Good point. For that one, you also have to buy an FTZ adaptor which costs almost as much as this lens does. But you are right, that's another option.

[@jacobjurg3746]

@@PhilThach was pleasantly surprised but the image quality of the viltrox - think that's the sensible option. Great vid 👍

[@PhilThach]

@@jacobjurg3746 Thanks, Jacob!

[@bobdrawbaugh4207]

It looks great on both cameras. It did a great job and for $299 it’s a deal.

[@PhilThach]

It's a bargain for sure! Thanks for watching, Bob!

[@kitespongan]

Thanks for this I just picked up the 23mm and 56mm for $200 each used in silver to match my Gray ZFC😅. I love the 23mm so far but it’s pretty hefty, I wonder how much more heavier the 56mm will be when it arrives. Maybe I’m just a weakling. Hopefully these heavy lens will bulk me up😂

[@PhilThach]

That’s a great deal!

[@Isaypreach]

But i thought a lens designed for a crop sensor camera will equal just what the focal length of the lens states. Vs when you put a fx lens on a apsc camera i thought that's when the crop factor comes into place 🤔

[@PhilThach]

I used to think the same thing but that is not how it works, for example. If you use a 50mm lens designed for APSC on APSC it's field of view will be the same as a 75mm lens on full frame. Likewise if that 50mm was designed for full frame, it would sill give you a 75mm full frame equivalent field of view on an APSC camera.

[@laurelb8372]

Out of the 3 Viltrox 3 lenses, which do you recommend for landscape

[@PhilThach]

Probably the 23 or the new 13.

[@Amitp0303]

Hello Phil, I have Nikon ZfC with Viltrox 56mm 1.4 Can you show or write to me how I can get shutter speed 1/4000 sec. It shows only till 2000/sec in Manuel mode. Many thanks

[@PhilThach]

Set the shutter speed dial to “T“, then you can adjust the shutter speed with the rear command dial and it will go to 1/4000. I don’t have my camera in front of me right now but I thought the shutter speed dial went all the way to 1/4000 without having to use the T function but I always use the T function because I prefer the rear command dial method.

[@Amitp0303]

No set on T not helped. I figured out 1/4000 works only in Mechnical shutter. Anyway. Thanks

[@PhilThach]

@@Amitp0303 I never ever use silent mode / electronic shutter just because of possible rolling shutter distortion.

[@dpie4859]

Dear Phil. I own the z50 with the excellent two kit lens plus the ztz where I use 35 & 50mm 1.8 plus a manual focus Sigma 30mm 1.4. I have a feeling that a native z mount Viltrox prime mighe be working better and produce better images than the FX lenses I have, but I am not sure. I am interested in getting the 56 and the 13mm but do you think its worth the investment given what I already have? I would use the 56 for portraits and the 13 for landscape.

[@PhilThach]

Stick with what you have and add the 13 and maybe the excellent viltrox 23.

[@Isaypreach]

How did u do that Panorama shot?

[@PhilThach]

I made several vertical images with settings and focus locked so they was no changes, then I imported them in to adobe lightroom and stitched them in to a panorama there.

[@iammz81]

I have issue with this lens, in low light or in bright light it does not focus good. It lost the focus in majoritiy of the cases I focused somewhere and in the picture it was somewhere else. Not really happy with it so far. Need to adjust settings or re-frame the picture to have the focus where I wanted.

[@PhilThach]

I did not experience any issues along those lines with mine. Now, sometimes from a long way away Eye detect auto focus would not work and in that case, like with any lens, I switched to single point and put the point where I wanted it.

[@iammz81]

@@PhilThach unfortunately for me on my Z50 even if I point out where the focus should be it does not pick up, but picks up at different point and won't focus.

[@PhilThach]

@@iammz81 If you have it in single point auto focus mode you can move that point around with your directional pad and it will stay where you put it.

[@iammz81]

@@PhilThach Ok thanks.

[@ranajitojha2766]

Is the lens supported in nikon z30?

[@PhilThach]

Yes

[@ranajitojha2766]

@@PhilThach need to update the firmware update I guess. Thanks a lot for your reply. Love From India.

[@SanjibDas-yr6dy]

What problem i will be face if i use thik lens with Nikon Z5 ??

[@PhilThach]

You will shoot in APSC or DX mode losing most of the resolution of your full-frame sensor. It will drop to right around 10.8 megapixels. This lens is for the Z50, Zfc, and Z30 DX Z mount cameras.

[@SanjibDas-yr6dy]

Thanks for your quick reply it helps me lot... ❤️ From India 🇮🇳

[@mrcmrc1342]

So this lens is also for fullframe, right?

[@PhilThach]

No, this lens is designed for APS-C cameras. You can use it on a full frame camera in crop mode but I don’t recommend it.

[@mrcmrc1342]

​@@PhilThachthanks! I can imagine that's why in the centre the lens renders better. Do you know the new 75 mm Viltrox 1.2? Ait's really impressive, and I think that's the logic is the same of the 56 mm. It becomes a 112 mm on Z FC APS-C and gives his better on it.

[@MICHAL.KKKKKKKK]

Too many ZFC samples. Swap for Z50 sometimes please.

[@PhilThach]

Sorry about that. I will tell you that they have the exact same sensor so the images would look the same. Thanks for watching.

[@leonfisher]

Just a comment for the algorithm.

[@PhilThach]

LOL that is the best comment I’ve ever read.

[@riotrob]

This is a reply to the comment for the algorithm.

[@PhilThach]

@@riotrob This is a reply to the reply to the comment for the algorithm. :)

[@user-up1tc7qg1x]

now the same sigma is much sharper, lighter, has better autofocus

[@peterviragphoto]

Great in-depth review Phil! Looks like an awesome lens ( 299 USD is definitely a bargain!) and suitable for portrait for sure. The images were superb as well as always. Thanks for sharing. Cheers😉

[@PhilThach]

Thank you, Peter! It really is a bargain! Thanks for watching this review of a lens that does not even work on your camera system. They do make a version of it for Canon's mirrorless APSC M Mount. Maybe, if Canon releases the rumored R7 APSC RF mirrorless camera, they will make a version of this lens for that as well.

[@peterviragphoto]

@@PhilThach no worries. R7 would be awesome for macro too😛

[@PhilThach]

@@peterviragphoto I am so excited about that camera! I think if they do make that it will be my number one sports wildlife and macro camera.

[@stephanweiskorn6760]

Excellent video 😊!

[@PhilThach]

Thank you!