The Viltrox AF 75mm f/1.2 doesn’t slot neatly into Viltrox’s present prime lens lineup for APS-C cameras (and at present for Fuji X-mount) – in reality, I’d name it an aberration, an experiment, probably even a mistake. However what a beautiful mistake.
This can be a really extraordinary lens that may whet the urge for food of any photographer that enjoys taking pictures with primes. It has a focal size I’d by no means thought-about earlier than however – my oh my – is it value attempting out simply to see what it’s able to.
Some preamble earlier than we get into the nitty-gritty of the evaluate itself. Over the previous couple of years, Viltrox has garnered a optimistic status for constructing good – verging on superb – lenses at low costs. Like many latest Chinese language lens producers, it developed from producing guide focus lenses to full autofocus fashions.
The core of this vary is predicated round APS-C system cameras, principally Sony E-mount and Fuji X-mount, though there was some growth into different mounts extra not too long ago afforded by their early experience in mount adapters (though Canon is defending its IP across the RF-mount). The principal choices are prime lenses, sometimes on the large finish of the lens vary, and embody cine choices: it’s a variety that has quickly stuffed out because it has discovered success in gross sales.
That mentioned, the 75mm f/1.2 is clearly a deviation from this tack and the primary of a brand new line.
Lens Specs
The 75mm f/1.2 is the primary in a brand new line with “Professional” badging that reveals aspirations above the funds finish of the market. The all-metal physique is designed round Hoya glass from Japan and claims close to APO ranges of correction. The design makes use of 16 components in 11 teams, together with 4 high-refractive components, and three extra-low dispersion components. There may be an 11-bladed diaphragm.
As you’d count on, there’s a focus ring, with a completely inside focusing mechanism, together with an AF/MF change on the facet of the barrel. The latter is a pleasant addition because it saves you from having to dig round in your digicam menus. Alongside this, we see 9 factors of climate sealing to forestall mud and water ingress (together with a nano-coating on the outermost component) to actually raise this lens above the bizarre.
As a reminder, that is designed for APS-C which implies the 35mm equal of the 75mm is (round) 115mm.
At 87mm in diameter and 101mm lengthy, this pet weighs in at a reasonably important 670g, utilizing a typical 77mm entrance thread. There’s a pretty uncompetitive minimal focus distance of 88cm giving a 0.1x magnification; briefly, you received’t be utilizing this lens for macro work. It comes with a reversible plastic petal-shaped hood; that is not like earlier lenses which used metallic hoods though I’m ambivalent on materials as they each do the job (and you’ll’t dent a plastic hood).
As is turning into more and more widespread there’s a USB socket for firmware updates; this has been up to date from earlier lenses to USB-C and mine shipped with v1.0 firmware. Viltrox has been good at issuing updates which is encouraging. Lastly, there’s a padded leatherette pouch to guard it.
Construct High quality and Design
The all-metal physique is reassuringly strong and I can’t fault the development high quality. This can be a weighty lens with plenty of glass in it and there has clearly been appreciable care taken in its design, building, and ergonomics. If there’s one factor you’ll be able to say about large lenses it’s that it shortly turns into apparent if they’re tough to deal with; even on the comparatively svelte physique of my X-E3, this was a properly balanced lens albeit bigger and heavier than some other X-mount lens I’ve used. It’s barely larger than the Fuji 90mm f/2 – its closest comparability – and a good bit heavier (the latter weighs 540g).
That mentioned, whereas it’s clearly a giant lens, it isn’t as large (or costly) as a traditional 70-200mm full-frame lens. Perhaps that’s an unfair comparability, however discovering full-frame comparisons is definitely fairly tough. Nikon doesn’t have something of their vary as evidently 85mm is the popular prime focal size. Whereas indirectly comparable, Sony has a 100mm f/2.8 which weighs 700g and is 118mm lengthy.
The main focus ring is pleasantly clean and properly weighted however the latter will most likely rely on how heavy you want this stuff. There’s a clicked aperture ring that includes an Auto setting that additionally has a barely stiffer click on which implies you understand you’ve discovered it and it’s much less prone to be knocked off, nevertheless (for videographers) there is no such thing as a de-click possibility.
One detailed design enchancment is the barrel locator for partaking with the digicam physique – earlier Viltrox lenses used white dots and these have now modified to crimson. It’s a small change which – for me – makes an enormous psychological distinction as I can all the time see it for no errors when attaching the lens.
If the whole lot in the previous couple of sections seems like a no-holds-barred design for a portrait lens then you definately’d be proper; it’s. In actual fact, you might be considering of a wafer-thin depth of subject (DoF) and, simply to emphasise the purpose, Viltrox has named the lens the “Air Cutter”. In the event you do the calculations for a portrait shot at 2m – wide-open – then it offers you a DoF of simply 4cm; scale back that to the minimal focus distance (0.88m) and you’re sub-centimeter.
Apparently, the DoF is nearly similar to the Fuji 90mm f/2, besides – in fact – the Viltrox 75mm has that f/1.2 which is nice for these low mild conditions comparable to weddings and different “on-the-hoof” occasions. Conversely, in the event you change to the Viltrox 56mm f/1.4 then the DoF drops to 10cm… besides in fact it doesn’t, as a result of in the event you shoot your portrait to fill the body then you definately step nearer which brings the DoF into an analogous vary. After all, the field-of-view adjustments compression within the picture and that is demonstrated beneath.
Picture High quality and Efficiency
You’ve learn the specs, so how does the lens truly carry out? This can be a real-world take a look at which implies I’m not caught in a lab taking pictures take a look at charts to argue over minuscule variations, however truly out with the lens taking pictures a mixture of private panorama and portrait initiatives, alongside precise occasions. I exploit a Fuji X-E3 for unobtrusive occasion jobs and whereas the lens clearly isn’t small, the full bundle stays nice to make use of. Not gigantic and fairly nicely balanced.
First up is the focusing that’s delivered from the Lead Screw-type STM (stepping motor) – briefly, it’s quick, quiet, and clean with no apparent stepping. There may be quite a lot of glass it has to maneuver so whether or not there may be sufficient torque for focusing stays to be seen. It’s not fairly as instantaneous as – for instance – their very own 56mm f/1.4 or, certainly, my Nikon 70-200m f/2.8. That mentioned it’s not clearly laggy and I definitely wasn’t sad with the pace of focus when taking pictures an indoor occasion in darkish situations.
The implementation of eye-AF within the X-E3 is simply partially profitable and doesn’t work whenever you’ve acquired a number of topics within the body; in consequence, I have a tendency to make use of spot focus, controlling the purpose with the joystick. The lens was spot on with focus – assuming that I had centered appropriately on the individual! There was, nevertheless, an inclination for some “looking” which was irritating when attempting to shoot “within the second”. Whether or not this was to do with the digicam, the lens, or a mix, stays to be seen.
When there was sufficient distinction within the scene, focusing was instantaneous. I’ve had no dissimilar issues with an early iteration of the Viltrox 56mm f/1.4, and through testing new firmware was launched which all however mounted the issue. On condition that it is a considerably completely different lens from the remainder of the lineup, I’d count on to see some incremental firmware enhancements, so examine their website frequently.
In the event you take a look at the revealed MTF chart for the lens then you’ll be able to see nice sharpness at f/8 throughout the body; this stays superb within the heart at f/1.2, dropping barely on the corners. This can be a nice efficiency and mirrors different own-brand producers for distinction/decision. Suffice it to say, this reveals the lens is sharp – very sharp.
After all, in the event you do shoot wide-open (and why wouldn’t you with a lens like this?!) then you’re going to get fantastically creamy bokeh. It’s clean and buttery, dropping off pleasantly with typically round bokeh though there could be a trace of “cats eyes”.
I noticed no actual affect of flare which was nicely managed with no actual veiling (distinction loss) and restricted ghosting. This was whereas taking pictures each immediately into the solar in addition to at 45 levels. Likewise, there was restricted proof of chromatic aberration, vignetting, or distortion though there’ll undoubtedly be in-lens corrections utilized.
A Particular Lens
Viltrox is trying to “step up a gear” by utilizing higher glass places inside its lenses, bettering the construct high quality, and displaying its proof-of-concept with a flagship portrait lens. In doing so, it needs to maneuver from low-cost funds lenses to low-cost premium lenses, consuming into the margins of own-brand producers in addition to premium lenses from the likes of Sigma and Tokina. And there’s no denying that it is a specialty lens, evidenced by the truth that so few producers go for this focal size, however that’s to overlook the purpose.
Viltrox has ridden on the again of providing specialty lenses and it’s about reaching a quantity of gross sales, which doesn’t essentially imply the most well-liked ones… as a result of there are many these available on the market! The 75mm f/1.2, due to this fact, permits it to dip its toe within the water, take a look at out what’s undoubtedly a brand new manufacturing setup for probably a decrease quantity of lenses and refine it for the following mannequin. In that respect, maybe essentially the most fascinating consequence will not be this lens, however the subsequent one. This evaluate, nevertheless, is clearly not about that lens as a result of it’s most likely nonetheless on the drafting board!
Given the entire above, how do I view this lens? Capturing with it over a interval of weeks has been an incredible expertise and time and time once more it’s proven a outstanding means to supply crisp photographs which have sharpness and distinction… whenever you get the main target proper. Because the DoF calculations above present, it’s good to be pinpoint correct to get the most effective outcomes however that goes with out saying. I’ve all the time been a fan of the 85mm equal focal size, however taking pictures with a 115mm equal has been refreshing. Perhaps it’s as a result of it’s much less widespread, however the portraits have a pleasant isolation to them which brings out the topic. And the graceful, properly transitioned, bokeh simply provides to the impact. This can be a lens you need to shoot with.
Are There Alternate options?
Type of… I’ve briefly talked about different choices, essentially the most direct comparator being the marginally smaller and lighter Fujinon 90mm f/2 LM WR or Viltrox’s personal 85mm f/1.8. In the event you step right down to the 56mm phase then there may be the Fujinon 56mm f/1.2 R or the Viltrox 56mm f/1.4. None are the identical however all fall inside scope if you’re after a portrait lens.
Ought to You Purchase It?
The Viltrox 75mm f/1.2 was launched at $549 and continues to be out there from some distributors at this value, though word that Viltrox now has it listed at $659. Extra pertinently the Viltrox 56mm f/1.4 is $299 and that is the place the tough resolution is available in. The 75mm is a superb optic: I really like taking pictures with it and it’s my “go-to” of selection over the 56mm focal size. The bokeh is subtly higher, it’s quicker, and its sharpness throughout the body is nice. It’s undoubtedly higher worth than the Fujinon 90mm ($949) however is it higher worth than their personal 85mm and – notably – the 56mm?
That’s a tough resolution because it’s an even bigger and heavier lens, however offers choices that – a minimum of for Fuji – you’ll be able to’t get in any other case. If I’m touring and measurement is vital, then the 56mm wins out via sheer portability because the picture beneath demonstrates. Nonetheless, if I do know I’m taking pictures portraits I received’t let it off the digicam because it gives an additional edge that’s clearly seen.
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