Viltrox 56mm f1.4 Review & Compared to Fuji XF 56mm f1.2

[@EvidentlySomething]

Forgot to mention this in the review: Filmed with the latest Viltrox firmware at the time (v.1.08)

[@ianbridges7929]

So if you had neither and an Xt1 you had 500 quid would you go viltrox or second hand 56 fuji. And you shoot stills only. Which would you go for?

[@EvidentlySomething]

@@ianbridges7929 Go for the Viltrox and save some money :)

[@brian576]

@@ianbridges7929 sigma should be coming out with fuji lenses this year...hopefully 56mm 1.2 is in their lineup...maybe wait if you can?

[@ianbridges7929]

@@brian576 Cheers Brian. Will wait for sure as gearbox on essential transport recently bust and takes priority. I hired a fuji 56 1.2 last year and my take was it doesn't feel quick to focus and its not that light or small and I had more dropped shots than I expected BUT when I hit focus... Then I had something really good : ) good fun trying stuff out. Also tried 16 1.4 really cool. Lenses for hire closed over Xmas and did 4 weeks for the price of one over Xmas though someone hired their version of the 50 1.0 before I saw the offer. Have a good one. I will look out for Sigma reviews.: )

[@muskulatur]

@@ianbridges7929 second hand Fuji for sure.

[@crsantin]

If you are shooting at 1.4 then really the corners shouldn’t matter. Portraits, isolating your subject etc. That’s the intended use of this lens and for that purpose it seems excellent for the price.

[@Katharine-000]

For me, this is one of the best comparison reviews I've ever seen - really clear and demonstrates the pros and cons so well. Thank you!

[@tuberaul]

That was fun! You are one of the few reviewers who actually have the eye for composition! 👍👍👍

[@djtruedomination]

I have seen a lot of complaints with the 56mm Viltrox. I have absolutely no complaints. I have done professional work and it looked great.

[@ThorenTravels]

The fuji has some amazing skin tones. Less red on the face.

[@bamsemh1]

So you mean fake is better? 🤔

[@KL-os2sr]

@@bamsemh1 if red faces are your thing go with viltrox...

[@PhotoLynch]

Great review. On a personal note, I love your fashion sense and style!

[@fwfeo]

Great review! I'd go for Viltrox. So much value and performance as well as better AF. I'd rather get a 23/1.4 and 56/1.4 to compliment my Fuji 35/2.

[@Chazyfizzlez]

Good to see you again!! Some of the best videos around!

[@lauuura007]

Had the Viltrox and the Fuji, and I will keep the fuji. The Apperture is incredibly noisy when it adjusts to light changes (The autofocus motor is more quiet yes, but its anoying the loud aperture changes), autofocus is very similar and the image quality is better on the fuji in my opinion, less purple fringing and sharper

[@zacx6970]

I have the Viltrox 23mm/13mm and this one 56mm . The 23mm is one of their best and 13mm is their perfect lens even better than 16mm Fuji Primes . This 56mm has a lot purple fringing that already corrected by the newest updates! Though it still there. Lens flare is also an issues with their glass , so you have to be very careful when shooting directly on sunlight. It is sharp and bokeh is almost the same with Fuji, the only way to find difference between each photos taken by Fuji and Viltrox is by putting it side by side! For the price and quality I say , you can never go wrong with Viltrox lens!

[@anhkho903]

The photo has an extremely large purple border from 1.4 to 2.8 aperture

[@theguillotinemafia]

Yes. It's something you have to adjust in post... not sure why this is, but I noticed it as well.

[@robyasdf]

awesome style man! thanks for the video.

[@alonzowigfall190]

I have the Viltrox 56mm and 85mm for Fuji. Portrait Power Duo. I love them both!!

[@oliverwoodburyphotography6818]

Fantastic comparison and review! Well made

[@WVMUSIC_NL]

Hi thanks for this video! Would you say focus has improved since the latest viltrox updates? And do you still recommend this lens?

[@BenjaminKanarek]

I have both lenses and although the Viltrox does focus faster, even with the new firmware Version 4.0 on the XT3, I think the Fujifilm is a tad sharper with better contrast and less CA.

[@1fareast14]

Great outtake at the end!

[@mhuseinrifki]

i think i will use viltrox for potrait model only not for landscape or other situation. nice video by the way. thanks

[@sclogse1]

Very much appreciated. My buddy has the fast Fuji and is snooty about it. Yet I have NEVER seen a single photo he's taken with it. When you were comparing auto focus, I wonder if or how it changes depending on your f stop..Regarding your end rant to Fuji for video lenses...don't forget Fuji makes cinema lenses....

[@jiffp5679]

great video. clear, sensible, balanced. good job.

[@v_stands_for_value124]

I got 23mm 1.4 and 85mm 1.8 and both are extremely good for the price

[@joostbakker]

Aah, same!

[@hungerxhunger]

Lol my first Fuji lens is the Viltrox 23 now I’m probably gonna get the viltrox 56. I wonder if I’m missing anything by not going for a native Fuji lens.

[@andrewboakes117]

An update was released on 19/10 to fix continuous autofocus. Had you applied the update before making this review?

[@JeffreyHauser]

I do not shoot video,but I can tell you that the Viltrox 75mm f1.2 & the Viltrox 27mm f1.2 have not disappointed me for still photography. They offer fantastic build quality & produce excellent images.These 2 Viltrox lenses rival some Canon “L” lenses for the images that they produce. I am a retired photographer & shot with Canon products for nearly 40 years.

[@chadaclark]

It's literally my favorite lens for video... And also the least expensive lens I've ever purchased. Lens flare is epic. Build is solid 🙌🏼

[@Ex.zed.]

Purple fringing on this lens is a feature! 🤣

[@mazdaram226]

Very very good review, I’m saving up for the Fuji but wouldn’t be disappointed if I went for the Viltrox..👍🏼👍🏼

[@daryllbphotography]

Couldn't an associate link! Just bought the viltrox and wanted to throw some your way but maybe next time.

[@Yesthankyou8]

The end is 👌🏼😄. I think I may get the Viltrox

[@Michael-qv7pn]

I got the 56 1.2 a while ago used, if i would have to buy now i would go with a new viltrox or waiting for tokinas atx-m and see how those are

[@raph11raph]

Great review! I have the viltrox 56 1.4 as well and I love it! Just wondering, which editing software do you use?

[@Hillion18061975]

Just bought the Vitrox 56 1.4 and had no time to test it yet. Hope it wil make me happy with its performance. At least, Viltrox 85 1.8 was quite good for portraits and flowers.

[@EvidentlySomething]

You're going to enjoy the lens for sure! It is a good one! :)

[@ElectroTallinn]

Its clearly seen on first newspaper test that the bottom corners are sharper on Fuji, BUT TOP CORNERS (you left them without attention) are sharper on Viltrox.

[@pudelkopf1093]

Hammer geil. Ich feier das Video. Ich werde mir die Fuji xt3 und dieses Objektiv als auch das 23 mm von Viltrox besorgen. Hauptsächlich für Gimbalwork, aber auch mal für Fotografie usw. Überlege nur, ob ich nicht doch lieber die XT4 holen sollte :S

[@JoseVazquez-ru1nn]

Loved your production of this video. You're on to something great here. Awesome content and review. I bought an xt3 as a backup for a studio video recording (as b-cam) and I liked using it. Only issue I had with it was the battery life. I returned it and look forward to owning an xt4 as my backup to my a7iii productions

[@TheMistermike87]

56 1.2 has more of that magic creaminess. Viltrox more clinical. I prefer the fuji and i'm never selling it. nice review!

[@jberenden]

Thanks for the review. How does the viltrox compare to the Fuji 50mm 2.0? They are around the same price.

[@Tbonyandsteak]

Many reviewer tends to miss a final quality test. How sharp is it at the instant view wide open. Important for landscape photography and astrophotography. This is really where you see the quality difference of the glasses. Many even revered lenses fail that test.

[@YannickKhong]

2:15 Viltrox way Sharper but Fuji has better microcontrast and tonality.

[@antoniojperezcastro5013]

I would say the result obtained in the photograph of the newspaper is caused by field curvature on the viltrox. Is not lack of sharpness but the paper is out of focus, while the Fuji lens is a plane focal lens.

[@EvidentlySomething]

Thanks, you made a good point. 'Out of focus' would still equal 'lack of sharpness' as an end result to the user. It being a portrait lens I assume it is still performing very well for that use case, excellently even. For pictures of close objects, buildings etc on a flat focus plane the newspaper test results may be interesting to some. Personally I was actually surprised by how well the XF56 did from F2.8 onwards to F5.6. Learned something about the Fujinon's powers here, possibly for architecture or landscape. Thanks for watching!

[@antoniojperezcastro5013]

The test with the newspaper is useful, but my point is, produces soft images in the corners when shooting a flat surface like a wall. Is not a lens design for reproduction work so I don't think field curvature is a bad thing. Many legendary Leica and Zeiss lenses are designed like that on purpose and render spectacular when photographing objects with volume. Your test is valid to prove is not a lens suitable for reproduction work, that's all I mean. The portraits you have there render better to my eye than the Fuji, less or equal sharpness but better clarity. Obviously after the compression KZbin applies is not that easy to see but I think is there.

[@herald9]

Was this recorded with the latest XT3 firmware update? Was wondering if that update helped the focusing for the fuji 56mm.

[@Soul_Visuals_Photography]

Is the purple fringing a problem in JPEG or just in raw?

[@salvatoreshiggerino6810]

Is the Viltrox corner softness due to field curvature or is it always soft in the corners?

[@mech-E]

Fuji’s updates are supposed to make a big difference and Fuji did recently say they are going to release their protocol for third party lenses in the future. Not sure when

[@kervypaham3500]

One thing I notice after watching different youtubers review this lens, those who were given a copy from Viltrox have definitely sharper and better build quality. Those who bought the lens with their own money tho, definitely have noticeable fringing, slightly softer, and some build quality issues (where the aperture is dented and focus failing altogether.) where they have to send back the lens for service, telling they were writing a review for the lens. They were sent with a new copy, all working good. But I doubt if their requests will be handled pleasantly if they did not say that they are writing a review. So there might be something fishy. Viltrox might be refining the copies they present to the content creators, while the production copies have a little lousy quality control.

[@VizionZine]

Love the scream at the end lol!

[@AndreasRavnestad]

"I mean like come on Fuji you can do it" *person dies nearby* "Exactly"

[@kidkante]

Zeiss makes 3 Fuji X-mount lenses.

[@DBangel100]

Skip a bit of sharpness if you are not a difficult person. And we can use Adobe Camera Raw to remove the purple border within 5s. Save half to 2/3 of the price. If you do not think about the price, of course XF should be chosen. I think we should use viltrox as a starting point and save money to buy the perfect XF lens. I think at such a price we have no right to criticize it. :))

[@ipadwong9507]

Good summary, I bought the Viltrox 56 and I found that the rear cap cannot be interchanged with Fujifilm lenses, not sure you aware of this?

[@tselykovskiy]

Obviously they have dufferent writings but mounts are the same.

[@pluckybreeze]

same here

[@Warbeaver]

Better to wait for the 56mm sigma 1.4 ) JPN built and well priced. )thanks for the review

[@MaciejZawiasa]

Thank you for review. Is this Hamburg where you were filmed ?

[@richardcarlson112]

Nice review and I agree with your opinions. I bought the Viltrox and like it very much, but I realize that it's not a full equal to the Fuji. Being an enthusiast, I know the Viltrox is the wiser choice for me. I'm sure Fuji will eventually produce a significant advancement in a new 56 and I can re-consider then.

[@EvidentlySomething]

It's very close to the Fuji in most situations and a good choice!

[@nickbakis1553]

Nice review. The Viltrox has too much purple fringing for me.

[@reboundk1ng]

you can reduce or remove that in post if you shoot raw. As a cheaper alternatives Viltrox is great

[@nickbakis1553]

@@reboundk1ng No much time for raw...

[@reboundk1ng]

@@nickbakis1553 well if you have the money, fuji is definitely the better option 👍

[@nickbakis1553]

@@reboundk1ng Or the excellent Fuji 50 f2 (I had the Fuji 56 but sold it for the 50)

[@W.i.l.l._Nguyen]

56 1.2 is my second Fuji lens (after the 23 1.4, and now 16 1.4), I totally get it when you say that there should be better lenses for video from Fuji. I really want to stay in this system because the camera is also fun to use. At this moment, I’m being tempted by Sony.

[@sh4rkhappy]

You can have both :) you just need to work hard :P

[@MikePorterInMD]

The last two seconds get you a subscribe. Too funny!

[@theuglywriters]

Yep. Came here for the Viltrox, subscribed for the ending scream

[@domenicozauber206]

@@theuglywriters ROFL

[@noddythefootage]

Hello, i am beginner, i just want to ask if my fujif xa-20(year 2017) will fit to viltrox 56mm 1.4? Thank you.

[@jer4rud0]

Yes, X-mount

[@AngGabriel]

Fuji really needs to reconsider its lens line up for video. Especially if it wants to keep it's existing base. They said they have cinema lens technology and photography and they're thinking of fusing the two together. So cinema lenses with improved autofocus? Hopefully. Nonetheless, I still think a big part of it is that fuji needs to upgrade it firmware and autofocus feathers. Great review.

[@AxelFoley-sb5re]

Does the viltrox have that character of the Fuji 56?

[@DjCjFoto]

Very nice and stylish video presentation!

[@francissosingindyrcworldga8936]

I hope more 3rd parties make lenses for Fuji....I'd love to try one of their cameras but the lenses or lack of is holding me back

[@GodupInc]

Great video and I Love the hat!

[@drtvcheng]

at least for still, I'd not even bother with the Viltrox. That color fringing is just annoying to say the least. It only highlights how much better the Fujinon 56mm f1.2 is.

[@EvidentlySomething]

I would not rule out the Viltrox for stills, quite the opposite actually. It is punching way above its price tag in terms of sharpness and rendition in my opinion. Purple fringing is noticeable wide open but only when looking very closely. Also, that can be easily fixed in Lightroom/Capture One with just one click. Thanks for watching :)

[@paoloa6703]

is 11:46 at F1.4?

[@ArmandD]

I love your channel so much

[@hejakma4682]

Headshots don't tell the whole story. In long shots the difference in object isolation becomes probably more visible. Nevertheless the viltrox seems to be a good lens.

[@antonhei2443]

Very good value the Viltrox, although the Fuji has much better contrast and rendering.

[@shinkunAvi]

good video, thx for the test

[@-OEG]

Oooh, the fuji is just outstanding. Love fuji glass!

[@cosminovidiumunteanu]

A saw many reviews and comparisons between oem lenses and third party ones, but most if not all are evaluating only the sharpness, bokeh, focusing speed and precision, never the durability in time, how sturdy a lens is, how it works after 2-3 or more years of heavy use, how reliable in time the focusing motor is, etc. :(

[@azylee]

To be fair, lenses are usually reviewed when they're released. This lens is less than a year old.

[@markolwick2223]

So you’re saying no reviews of lenses or cameras should be published until three years after release? Lame.

[@cosminovidiumunteanu]

Read again, or learn to read ;)

[@Fisustin]

To be honest considering that you can buy 3x of Viltrox for the price of one OEM... You would need for the OEM to last over 3x more for long time reliability to become a major difference to make sense to buy the more expensive one. I don't think any lens manufacturer has made this massive of a jump in how well it works compared to "generic" :)

[@TheJoejoez]

Another thing to consider is resale value. Fuji’s premium lenses tend to hold value very well if you should decide to upgrade or switch systems, 3rd party, outside of maybe sigma art, generally never do. Sure you’ll pay more up front but you’ll get a larger percentage of your money back when it comes time.

[@faisalsheraz8101]

Excellent review...

[@Nookbart]

Just a little remark: Fuji already opened their lens mount for 3rd party manufacturer in the beginning/middle of 2020 and Viltrox 23, 33 and 56mm are the first AF lenses using it. The only lens, which was re-engineered, was the 85mm. I am not happy with the image quality from Viltox and will wait for the already announced Sigma lenses.

[@momoz88]

Did Sigma announce lenses for the X mount?

[@Nookbart]

@@momoz88 yes of course. Releasing 2021/2022

[@momoz88]

@@Nookbart That would be great!

[@johnmorony6307]

What's with the hat indoors?

[@iTopology]

sharpen or color?

[@TheJoejoez]

I’m in the market for one of these and actually convinced me to get the fuji. Why? The skin tone/rendering and the bokeh. The focus fall off is also super pleasant. Viltrox is plenty sharp (maybe sharper) and def better for video, but my main aim is a top notch portrait lens, particularly for female subjects. I don’t really shoot video anyway and when I do the 18-55 is fine. I think I need to just pony up the money for a used one

[@mc.maehler]

Good on you to test the sharpeness with a newspaper! Nice tool 👌🏼

[@joshblank1]

Viltrox 56 or Fuji F2?

[@neerajkmanoj90]

I would definitely go for the Vitrox 56mm f1.4. The bokeh from the Fujifilm 50mm f2 is a huge turn off for me. But yea, if weather sealing is a major deciding factor for you and the bokeh doesn't really matter, go for the 50mm f2.

[@SeaBeastTrains]

Great review!

[@eagleeyephoto8715]

Officially there are 3 Zeiss lenses available for Fujifilm system.If you looking wide angle look no further then , Zeiss 12mm f2.8.

[@bamsemh1]

No so much difference on the portrait itself, but huge difference on the surroundings.!

[@SayWhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat]

Optical quality of Viltrox is terrible. Yes most can be "fixed" in post..but this speaks about the quality Look at fuji colors in photos with doors.. they are gorgeous... Viltrox-like canon - dead. Also Viltrox autofocus nothing better then Fuji 56. I mean both unreliable.

[@dablaire89]

Whatever happened to sonya? She was a beauty.

[@ShutterKnack]

This is a question you don’t ask! What’s wrong with you?

[@HR-wd6cw]

For the money, the Viltrox looks like a good deal. Yeah upon close inspection (like when you compared the newspaper text) it's clear the Fuji is clearer but for everything else, the Viltrox looks to be very good at 1/3 the price and a tad bit (i mean, a tad... 1.4 vs 1.2) slower. Thanks for the comparison. This made my decision a lot easier....

[@ИнкараИсмагамбетова]

Thank you!

[@GiovanniBausC]

Pretty sure I'll not get any of these but adapt some of my existing Canon lenses. My Fuji native lenses first and foremost need to be compact and convenient, that's why I'm preferring their f/2 "Fujicron" lineup.

[@SayWhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat]

IT IS NOT SPECTACULAR PRICE. Look at SIGMA 56mm cost the same and is MUCH better. (not for fuji system of course).

[@cradilyz]

can't compare it cause it doesn't work on Fuji 👀

[@drs-Rigo-Reus]

on the openings shots the fuji has a black hat, and the viltron looks brown....with reddish skintones....oh viltrox no f stop clicks, but smooth changing?

[@mixdown78]

BECAUSE you will shot wide open always with the Lens, get the Fuji. you will keep this Lens for a long time.... !

[@kanglee7244]

Thank you for saying bokeh correctly... Increasingly hard to find on KZbin

[@Elbwobbler77]

👌

[@kkjarvis8964]

Viltrox rocks!

[@THodl-ww9lk]

Hey Evidently S. I see you guys are in Altona's Neue Mitte. We got our office right there :) Would like to come over to have a chat! Würde mich freuen, bin ein aufstrebender Fotograf und Videomaker...

[@EvidentlySomething]

Sure, keep in touch! Hello neighbors :)

[@fightforthelight1220]

The fuji is better .. But does the small difference justify the big price difference?i think no

[@friedrichmuhlmann572]

Why do you have to wear Your hat indoors?

[@KL-os2sr]

Viltrox skin tones are red

[@vishal_trivedi]

Yess to what you said at the end, let’s go Fuji! Also get that damn app fixed COME ONNNN !! Unless Fuji is about to go belly up.. starting to think they are. once made in Japan, now made in China. 🥀⚰️

[@EvidentlySomething]

Fuji are doing OK from what I'm hearing, but still they should update some lenses, their App and so on, to stay competitive.

[@saurabhbesoya]

This city looks like Helsinki 😶

[@saurabhbesoya]

I mean it's not. But it really looks the same. 😑

[@ShutterKnack]

@@saurabhbesoya it’s Hamburg

[@Ali.lensman]

This is portrait lens, only center sharpness and bokeh is important.

[@AbhijeetKalePhotography]

last scream

[@itstartsmedia]

what an ending xD