Viltrox 85mm f/1.8 Lens Full Review

Looking for a high-quality inexpensive lens? Viltrox has been making some great lenses and in this video I'll review the new 85mm f/1.8 lens for the Canon RF mount!
-Eric
For more info and purchasing options:
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DISCLAIMER: If you would like to help us support the channel and allow us to continue making videos like this, shop through the affiliate links above. This means that if you buy through one of the product links, we may receive a small commission. Thank you for your support!! - Bill & Eric

[@DisneyNuts]

YES!!! This was the lens we were talking about. Thanks for this!

[@BillEricPhotography]

It’s a really nice lens I wanted to find some faults but unless you’re really pixel peeping I can’t find anything to complain about.

[@DisneyNuts]

Cool. Ordered mine today

[@paulk329]

Great review Eric it looks like a really good lens.

[@BillEricPhotography]

We have both been very happy with these Viltrox lenses so far.

[@RWAquariumPages]

love the detailed review, just got it today and it's a really solid unit, nice lovel bokeh and af is pretty accurate and fast

[@BillEricPhotography]

Definitely a good lens but for only $400 I think it's a real winner!

[@RWAquariumPages]

@@BillEricPhotography i just got this lens after your review and have been using it for 3 days. i was considering this lens as a temp until i save up for the 1.2, but man, i don't think i need to go that route, the size is amazing, the body is metal reminds me of the zeiss ze lens, the af is fast, the af is accurate and feels great paired up with the r6. I've been using it non stop for last 3 days on my children and keeping up with their actions. for $400 this lens is a definent winner. thanks for the awesome review and it helped me in my decision!

[@coreycarter9752]

Great vid thank you!

[@BillEricPhotography]

Thanks for watching!

[@malmedia]

Not sure why, but you guys popped into my head and I realized I have not seen a video from you in a while. I hope you guys are doing well and I hope to see a video from you soon.

[@BillEricPhotography]

Thanks for thinking of us! We are taking a break. We went hard for three years and got a bit burnt out. Not sure what's next.

[@JET-Photo]

They sell the same lens with Fuji X Mount too. Beast of a lens on the APSC XT4. Any corner softness is virtually eliminated due to the crop.

[@BillEricPhotography]

Good point on the crop sensors you’re getting the best of the center of this lens!

[@mwbrown25]

I debated about waiting for this lens when it was announced or getting the Yongnuo RF 85 1.8 and ended up buying the Yongnuo. Main reasons were for my Canon RP the YN is physically smaller and lighter, and it has a weather sealing gasket which is handy as a Canadian who does a lot of horse and rider portraits. Shot my first covid-era small wedding yesterday using almost exclusively the YN85 and the Canon RF35 1.8. Loving it so far! But the Viltrox looks great too!

[@BillEricPhotography]

These 3rd party lenses are really great!

[@mwbrown25]

They are! I forgot but also I picked the Yongnuo because I do like the control ring. I have it set to exposure compensation (very useful when you live where it snows a lot...).

[@BillEricPhotography]

Good point. I haven’t been using the control ring on my RF lenses.

[@johnherzel718]

Nice review, I might look into this for my RP. I have the EF 85 f1.8, which might get sold, the Viltrox looks like it might have less purple fringing.

[@BillEricPhotography]

I would agree. So far everything I’ve seen in a native RF mount has outperformed the EF lenses.

[@johnherzel718]

@@BillEricPhotography My EF17-40 f4 looks better on my RP than my 5D classic, but that's not really fair. But I think you're onto something. The EF 85 f1.8 is a great lens but I think it came out in the 90's. So maybe it's time 🤔

[@BillEricPhotography]

Something about physics of the RF mount and how the RF lenses are designed accordingly, makes it a huge jump in quality.

[@johnherzel718]

@@BillEricPhotography I have the RF 16, 50, 24-105 f4-7.1, and the 100-400 f5.6-8 All of these are the entry level RF lenses and they all are better than their EF counterparts (well the 100-400 isn't unless we use the older 70-300 IS) but some EF lenses really are noticably better adapted. And the focusing is magically better. Can I afford the RF70-200? Grrr. That's expensive for an f4 lens. But I'm thinking it's time to sell some stuff

[@nancyk9475]

Have you used this Disney for night time ? I’m thinking this might be a nice alternative to hauling a 70-200 around.

[@BillEricPhotography]

Not necessarily in Disney but it is definitely a lighter alternative. I have used a different 85 mm in Walt Disney World and it does produce some unique images especially at 1.8.

[@jimwlouavl]

Good review. I’m using mine in the Z mount for my wife’s headshot later today.

[@BillEricPhotography]

Thanks! It’s perfect for headshots and is just as good as a $2,000+ lens!

[@guyphoto9437]

I'm wondering why you didn't compare the Canon RF85mm with this Viltrox 85mm? I'd be interested in how they compare rather than a 50mm, 70-200. Also, many reviews have said that when you reverse the hood to store it it's almost impossible to get it off because of a design flaw with the threading I assume. Did you run into this problem with the lens hood?

[@BillEricPhotography]

I didn’t have a copy of the Canon 85 to compare. But no problem with the lens hood.

[@michael-4k4000]

I tend to stick with native lenses, however, Viltrox makes some good glass....

[@BillEricPhotography]

So far they have been pretty good for the price.

[@boblarsen7984]

Good job Eric. Im about sold but I have one question. Canon has a85mm F2 Macro STM for 599. THis is a straight 85 mm 1.8. I dont understand the macro deal. Which would you prefer. I dont have the luxury of trying so i am asking. Thanks

[@BillEricPhotography]

Thanks Bob. There’s no reason to get a macro lens (so you can take really close up photos). I would recommend getting the Viltrox 85 1.8, and if you are interested in taking macro photos, get a set of extension tubes (Vello has a set of like 12mm and 25mm for like $50) which allow you to turn any lens into a macro lens.

[@boblarsen7984]

@@BillEricPhotography Thanks Eric. I agree. I really have never seen a combination like that before so that is why i was asking. You guys do a great job!!! I will order the Viltrox

[@BillEricPhotography]

Thanks again Bob!

[@michael-4k4000]

Where have you guys been? With any new videos!

[@BillEricPhotography]

Hey we are taking a break. We went hard for about 3 years there. It was getting tough to come up with new content. If we were a gear review channel it would be much easier but we would need a lot more free gear to do videos like that

[@michael-4k4000]

@@BillEricPhotography does Nikon or Canon offer you guys any gear to test out?

[@tomtipton9954]

Nice to see a decent 3rd party lens. Hope Sigma and Tamron get the opportunity as well.

[@BillEricPhotography]

Agreed!

[@ryzenbiel4145]

Canon for me much better skintone and the contrast... the feeling of quality is there.. native lens is still great but for budget 85mm 1.8 Viltrox 300USD here only in Philippines whrn u order from Hongkong.. i want that lens too 85RF for viltrox can't afford for now the 85 RF F2..BTW nice review. more interesting see budget lenses and comparison. also Viltrox or Third party the color is look like whitening or like wash out a little bit.. i think the coating or the lens color produce..

[@BillEricPhotography]

Yes I agree the color is a little more muted on the Viltrox but easily correctible in Lightroom.

[@ryzenbiel4145]

@@BillEricPhotography yes but ot hard to copy perfectly the same as Canon can produce right?? if the photos edit on Lightroom it is notice when u are a photographer for client it not but now days client learn they comparing photos specifically the color they can identify this is Nikon this Is Canon this Is Sony..

[@BillEricPhotography]

99.9% of people cannot notice a difference. All of the pixel peeping and obsessing over the little details and differences is done by the photographers.

[@craiglarbes1546]

@@BillEricPhotography I agreed 100% Bill. All the clients I’ve worked for would never know the difference. Only the photographers that zoom in a pixel peep would know the difference. Rather than obsessing over it, just go out and shoot.

[@BillEricPhotography]

👍

[@Edwin1947D]

So - where have you guys been? Nothing new for 4 months - hope all is well with you both.

[@BillEricPhotography]

Hey Edwin, thanks for checking up on us. We are actually both fine just taking a break. We made a lot of content over the last 3 years and it was starting to feel like a grind. Just regrouping right now and deciding how to move forward with the channel.

[@Edwin1947D]

@@BillEricPhotography I can just imagine the amount of work that goes into producing the kind of quality content you have provided - so some R&R is a good idea. Looking forward to future content whenever you both decide it’s time. Thanks.

[@BillEricPhotography]

Thanks! And thanks for reaching out. It's nice to know that people actually miss what we do!

[@kstofkos]

Very nice lens. There is definitely nothing wrong with using a third party lens in most cases.

[@BillEricPhotography]

Totally agree!

[@mikesiegrist7525]

Sadly I purchased the 85 1.8 Z after watching your review, sadly less than 6 months it has died and no longer responds to camera or USB port. Total waist of money as Viltrox does not stand behind their products.

[@BillEricPhotography]

Sorry to hear that Mike, I have three of their lenses now and have had no issues at all. The company should stand behind their lenses though.

[@loufonolleras5544]

Are you guys ok? Haven’t heard from you in four months…your followers miss hearing from you.

[@BillEricPhotography]

Thanks Lou, we appreciate that. Just taking a break. We made a lot of videos over the last 3 years and it started to become a grind. Also it's tough coming up with new topics twice a week. We will definitely be back at some point just have to get some ideas and put them on video.