Manny Ortiz viltrox 85mm lens review: Best Value Portrait Lens for Sony?

Viltrox launched the new 85mm f/1.4 FE lens for $598 at BHphoto, Amazon US&EU, Viltroxstore, Pergear.

Photographer Manny Ortiz reviews the new Viltrox 85mm f/1.4, a $600 lens that challenges the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 ($1,300) and Sony G Master (approx. $1,800+) in sharpness, features, and value.

Pros
– Nearly identical sharpness to Sigma
– Beautiful bokeh; slightly smoother on Sigma
– Autofocus more accurate than Sigma in tests (24/30 vs 15/22)
– Excellent for video: minimal focus breathing, short manual focus throw
– Better minimum focus distance than Sigma
– Solid build (800g), with USB firmware port, custom button, aperture ring

Cons
– Focus can pulse/vibrate aggressively when it struggles to lock
– Larger than Sigma (but better hand comfort)
– Internal rattle when powered off is more noticeable than usual

Conclusion
Ortiz calls the Viltrox “the new king of value” for Sony shooters. Unless you shoot fast action (where the Sony GM excels), this is a top portrait lens choice.

“I wouldn’t hesitate one bit to make this my main portrait lens.”

Affiliate Links
– Viltrox 85mm f/1.4 (B&H Photo), Amazon, Adorama
– Sigma 85mm f/1.4 (B&H Photo), Amazon, Adorama
– Sony 85mm f/1.4 GM (B&H Photo), Amazon,Adorama

New Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Lite Zero-D FF lens review by Christopher Frost

Last week Venus Optics announced the new Laowa 12mm f/2.8 autofocus Full Frame E-mount lens. You can preorder it now at BHphoto, Venus-store, Amazon. At $699, it’s more affordable and easier to use than its 10mm sibling.  Christopher Frost reviewd the lens and these are his key findings:

Build & Handling
– Solid all-metal build with weather sealing gasket
– Available in a unique blurple finish
– Autofocus versions include a smooth manual focus ring and AF/MF switch
– Supports 72mm filters (thin ones recommended due to vignetting)

Image Quality
– Excellent sharpness from center to corners even at f/2.8 on 61MP sensors
– Slight chromatic aberration and vignetting in corners (can be corrected in post)
– Minimal distortion with in-camera corrections; close focus down to 14cm
– Slight coma at f/2.8, gone by f/4
– Nice sun stars from 5-blade aperture (on AF version)
– Flare can be an issue with strong light sources at image edges
– Close-up sharpness improves significantly by f/5.6

Autofocus
– Fast, quiet, and accurate in both AF-S and AF-C modes
– Early units may have AF lock-up issues (should be resolved in final versions)

Video Use
– Noticeable focus breathing
– Good choice for handheld vlogging and interior work due to its light weight and field of view

Conclusion
The Laowa AF 12mm f/2.8 Zero-D delivers superb corner-to-corner sharpness and excellent build for its price. Autofocus support makes it a standout in the ultra-wide category, especially for Sony and Nikon shooters. Just beware of flare and filter-induced vignetting. A great stills lens, potentially preferable to the older 10mm model.

Buy the Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Zero-D at BHphoto, Venus-store, Amazon.