Viltrox RF 85mm F1.8 STM Definitive Review | 4K

[@cheeneep]

Finally been waiting for this review. It's really good value money especially for mortal beings just like me who simply can't afford the Canon 85mm L lens. Excellent work as usual Dustin! :)

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Couldn't agree more!

[@rodrigopertoti8330]

Hello Dustin, greetings from Brazil. Thanks for sharing this interesting option for RF mounts.The photos are very good for the price of the lens. TKS.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

You're welcome.

[@RWAquariumPages]

just ordered this lens using your link, should be at my door within the next 2 hours and i'm excited to try it out myself, thanks for this review!

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Enjoy!

[@RWAquariumPages]

great detailed review. beacause of this I purchased the lens. I've been using it for the past 10 days. as a casual shooter, mostly candids of my children, this len works quite well, the price is much more affordable than the 85rf 1.2, keep up the great work!

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

I'm glad it is working out for you. enjoy!

[@RWAquariumPages]

@@DustinAbbottTWI what's your take on viltrox vs. Samyang? I can't find the samyang anywhere in canada

[@jasonswift7098]

Is this a direct lens mount to the Canon RF mount? I thought canon did not allow any 3rd party lens maker to make a RF mount?

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

It was...but I think Canon has already shut it down.

[@andreabeneforti4981]

Great test . I strongly think about this lens as future buy!

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

It's good bang for the buck.

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

I've had that eye AF reluctance a couple of times myself with my Canons, and that's with Canon lenses. I hope the recent firmware releases, which mainly improve eye AF and also add vehicle AF to both the R5 and R6, will rectify that problem. I'm just waiting for any problem reports before installing the updates myself.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

It does happen, and possibly (I'm not sure), the eye detect may have been prioritizing animal AF

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

@@DustinAbbottTWI I've double checked and the camera was definitely set for human eye AF. It could be an algorithm issue though. So far, aside from updates downloaded from one Canon site in Europe, the update looks good.

[@widiartoproboprasetyo9330]

Hi Dustin.. As Canon has policy of not allowing 3rd party lens for the RF mount, what will be the impact of purchasing this lens now for my R6? Will it still work seamlessly or whether the new firmware in R6 will make this lens not functioning? Thanks!

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

I don't have this lens on hand anymore, so I can't give you an update on compatability, though it does look like Canon will start to ease that policy in the near future.

[@chaos2kProductions]

Is it full time manual? What I mean is if the switch is in af it wo t damage the gears if manual focusing . I know of the the older Canon lenses had this issue. I just ordered one. I missed out on the samyang 85mm so getting thus before they disappear

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

There's no possibility of damaging the gears when manually focusing on focus by wire lenses (mirrorless lenses)

[@chaos2kProductions]

@@DustinAbbottTWI thanks

[@kendrickcan3919]

Where to find the firmware update for this RF lens?

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

www.viltrox.com/NewsInfoCategory?categoryId=362130&PageInfoId=0

[@MaskedFilms]

I believe the Yonghuo 85mm f1.8 RF came out a while back (almost a year?) and weights about 380gm and is only and is smaller in size. Great review I've been looking at this lens for my EOS "R"

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

I've never reviewed that lens, so I can't comment on its quality or performance.

[@Suresh-rl5zr]

thanks for the review.. now this lens also stopped by canon and discontinued in lists.. other than own canon 85mm f1.8 lens and the stopped samyang and viltrox , available third party lenses are now yongnuo , and tamron sp with adaptor in my future buying list.. when comparing tamron 85mm with adaptor , what about your opinions about viltrox or yongnuo or samyang in terms of bokeh and renditions ? thanks

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Wow - I didn't know that they had killed this one, too. It's unbelievable, and I think a serious miscalculation by Canon. The Samyang 85mm F1.4 is the nicest option if you can find a copy.

[@michaelbell75]

Thanks. I have the Rokinon 85 f/1.4 and really like it. I dont think this would get me to give that one up, but I might rent this one and check it out.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

I do think the RF Rokinon/Samyang is still the better lens.

[@tkarim]

@@DustinAbbottTWI Im curious, in what way do you think the Samyang is a superior lens? Perhaps the latest firmware could improve the Viltrox 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@robertbirnbach2312]

would you be willing or interested in doing a head to head with the samyang the Canon 1.2 and this lens?

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Getting the Canon is the tough part. I might be able to do a head to head between the Samyang and Viltrox, as I have them both at the moment.

[@robertbirnbach2312]

@@DustinAbbottTWI I would love to see that

[@tonyyang3725]

Do you prefer this over the canon 85mm 2.0?

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Tough question. The Canon is really nice optically and has the advantage of the 1:2 macro, but its autofocus is really not impressive. If you need the macro functionality, then go with the Canon. If you are just looking for a nice 85mm lens, then the Viltrox is a solid choice.

[@Roddriley]

I've been waiting 4 this! Too bad it ain't got stabilization. Though this is gonna be in my package soon

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Enjoy!

[@thedroneofthebagpipes4926]

Hey Dustin, I’m wondering if you’ve had a chance to review the Canon RF 100-400mm yet? I’m kinda torn between that and the Tamron 100-400mm f4.5-6.3 VC USD and was hoping you’ve done a comparison between these two lenses so that I could see if one has the edge of the other as they are roughly the same price. Hope you’re well and thanks for your reviews, very informative, cheers, Bill.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

I've been trying to get a loaner copy of that lens all of 2021. The supply chain issues with the 100-400 in Canada have been brutal.

[@thedroneofthebagpipes4926]

@@DustinAbbottTWI that’s a nightmare, hope you get sorted out with one soon, I’m really quite enamoured with the Tamron, might be a case of which ever one is available quickest, no one seems to have either!

[@andreimicle]

Was it me or when you spoke about rhe video af, you were out of focus for a while there?

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

I mention that before that segment, and yes, it did happen. I actually think the problem might be that the camera was prioritizing animal eye AF.