Best Value Nikon Z lens? - Viltrox 85mm f1.8 Review
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- čas přidán 24. 03. 2021
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Half the price, and nicer balls!
Check out the Viltrox: geni.us/V85z
And the Nikkor: geni.us/N85z
Check out the New HomeMade Glam Shoot: geni.us/HomePortraits
Check out Honeys NEW CZcams: geni.us/HoneyYT
DOWNLOAD THE SAMPLE FILES: geni.us/85mmSamples
Who wouldn't want to have nicer balls?!
Hi Matt, the Nikon Z cameras will focus based on your on-screen exposure, so if you have “Apply Settings To Live View” turned on and you are underexposed, AF performance will suffer. Turn the option off, and AF will be more consistent and reliable (but you lose exposure preview).
I know you already know what you’re doing, but I would seriously recommend Ricci Talks’ video on AF settings for Z cameras. I thought I knew what I was doing but I still took away some valuable info about how the system actually works and how I could use it better.
You do not have to lose exposure preview . Assign depth of field preview to one of the function buttons. Then you can focus first and press the function button to see your exposure.
which video of Ricci would that be specifically, he has like a bazillion videos on the Z series?
@@genin69 I have a feeling I was talking about either the “The Complete Autofocus Guide” from March 2020 or the “Z6 Best Settings” video from December 2018. Most of the things he says should be applicable to the Z6/7 II, probably less so with Z8/Z9. I’m not sure if these links will show up or not, but if so here you go:
Complete AF guide:
czcams.com/video/lWIoYOv9kRg/video.html
Z6 Settings:
czcams.com/video/dvQM1ssubpY/video.html
Hope this helps!
@@shlawchablaas muchos gracias kind sir
Would have loved to see the FTZ + F Mount 85mm added to the mix.
Very timely video thanks Matt. Literally started researching these two lenses last night. Thanks so much
Absolutely agree, the good old Nikon AF-S 85 mm f/1.8 G delivers so much more bang for a dollar, and is equally great performing lens that I see no better option
85 G is good and light but when You mount with the ftz it weight 50g less than viltrox and its bigger. I sold 85 G and bought 85 Viltrox, same results, ultra quiet AF, i don't feel the diference.
Having 70-200, was fighting which 85 to buy. Was also spoiled by the marvelous 1.4G. Bought Viltrox. As you, I found some missed focus shots and lower contrast, although, I don't have 85s to compare to. I got it with 10% off for 359 and to me, it is a great lens on a budget. It deals with backlight very well contrary to 1.4G. I shot it wide open all the time and got fairly good portrait results. Creamy bokeh was a plus. Great review!
Portrait sharpness and boken F1,8/2,8 better Yongnuo 85 or viltrox 85? Thanks
I would also say if you're shooting wide open, you almost want the lens that's the most accurate in terms of focus, which in this case, that's going to be the NIkon. I mean if you're shooting at 5.6 or f/8 then it might not matter as much but wide open, DOF is going to be very shallow most likely so you'll want the one that can lock focus better especially if you're using eye AF.
I got a chance to test 85mm 1.8G with FTZ II adapter on my Z f this past weekend. For taking photos, it's great. FOr shooting videos, there is a problem. All time AF is hunting about 75% of the time. By hunting, I mean when your subject and camera are not moving at all, the lens is still adjusting focus in a small range so you can hear the focusing motor running almost the whole time. My 50 1.8/G is doing the same thing.
Why didn't you mention the nikkor has weather sealing?
Is the Viltrox lens the same as their 85 mm f1.8 they have for Sonys E-mount, just Z-adapted or is it actually another construction?
Would have been interesting if you put in the 85G mounted with an adapter into the mix. How would that have faired?
What about tha video AF performance of Nikon Z6/Z6ii with viltrox 85 f 1.8 ?
Pllzz share it !!
Where does one send the Vivitar if it needs service?
Is this lens good for Nikon z30 ?
So it might be, that in this case, the 85 mm FX 1,8 with the Z-Mount Adapter might give you all the benefits of the Z7 II Body (Eye Autofotocus) while you get the better Price on a (used) Nikon 85mm 2.8 FX lens. What are your experiences with FX Lenses and the Adapter on the Z6 II or Z7 II Body, Matt ?
what flash did you use :)
It makes sense. The nikon z do stop down focusing up to F5.6, so if you set your aperture to F8 the camera will focus at F5.6. If you shoot at f1.8, it will focus at F1.8. AFAIK this cant be disabled. (Maybe with disable apply settings to live view?)
Hey Matt, because you know it's a bargain, why didn't you include the 85mm f1.8 F mount with the MkII adaptor ?
Can't download sample file
I had this lens and love it such good quality out of it.
Can you please make a video on Meike 85mm F/1.8
Thanks Matt!! Good as always!!!
Great video .... sold 85 1.8G .... now 85 Z ..... gorgeous glass .... also there are 35z and 50z
I found that the Viltrox can have some pretty bad fringing, and that's something that I am definitely not a fan of, but the bokeh is much nicer on the Viltrox. It's hard to tell what is the best choice. I guess fringing can be fixed but the bokeh can't be. I do find that the Viltrox has less fringing than the f1.8g, and you get full 5 axis, but with adapter lenses you only get 3 axis stabilization, so maybe the Viltrox is actually the better choice. I also definitely prefer to have a weather sealed body, but is that worth double the price, I don't know.
What is fringing??
@@suvankarchakraborty2024 Purple or green outlines around thing in contrasty areas
@@RiposteThis Thanks 😊
I have the viltrox f1.4 for sony, the single af is very good, continuous af for photo not so good , for video continuous af works great with good lighting.
One difference I think is that the Nikon lens is wethersealed, the Viltrox is not. That might be important for quite a lot of people.
Hi Matt one question, will the Viltrox 85mm f/1.8 work on the Nikon Z50? Or is that not a good combo?
Get the viltrox 75mm f/1.8 if you’re shooting crop
Whatever lens, the files from that Nikon Z7 II sure do look great.
It's a bit ridiculous to say that the AF-S is smaller and lighter, once you add the adapter it's neither. The adapter is worth about 150 bucks too.
I would use mine for landscapes to get some compression, Bokeh isn't a consideration I would be more worried about sharpness across the frame.
I bought this Viltrox 85 1.8 for nikon and its an amazing lens. Actually Im surprised. Its sharp and color rendition is superb. Its not perfect ( i dont think any lens does) but for the price, its bang for the buck.
I'm shooting the f mount Nikon 105 1.4 e on my Z9 and ftz adapter and have fabulous results. The Z lens are ridiculous in price at this time
The thing to keep in mind with many third party lenses is you're getting what you're paying for 90% of the time. There are some excellent values out there, such as Tamron 15-30 F-mount wide angle versus Nikons 14-24 F-mount (with the Tamron being about 2/3 the price but delivering what I felt was 90-95% of the optical quality of the Nikon). But for some of the third party lenses, you get what you pay for basically. I'm not saying that the NIkon is always going to be sharper because it's more expensive, but based on what I've seen so far, it's hard to beat the Nikon quality at a cheaper price point. And generally you're going to pay either an AF speed or accuracy penalty and QA/QC too in some cases (ie. higher copy-to-copy variation than what you'd get with an OEM lens). That's the two biggest downsides I've seen to third party lenses. But again, there are some good values out there for third party lenses, you just hav eto set your expectations accordingly, and according to the price you're paying. You can't expect a $1200 24-70 third party lens to perform the same as Nikon's best $2400 24-70 lens. There's likely to be some compromises on the third party lens to keep the price down.
Thanks for the video.
Matt you need to by one of those evf recorders
I got the Viltrox not long ago, very nice performer but I think auto/manual focus should be added, that was my down full .
For the same price of the Nikkor, you could buy the Viltrox 85mm f1.8 and a Viltrox 20mm f1.8 lens. Yes, the 20mm is manual focus, but still ... two lenses for the price of one.
Thing is... I bought 85 1.8G for 250e (300$) used 10/10. That would be my keeper when I go with Z sistem.
Hi Matt, I can't decide between Z f/1.8 lens and Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art. Which one would you buy?
Which did you end up getting?
@@gromovddsZ f1.2, couldn't resist 😂
@@damluar great ! I will do portraits with flash (soft boxes) at my dental office, currently even d750 with 105 Macro lens does a great job, I just wanted to upgrade to Z8 and was thinking getting a portrait lens as well
@@gromovdds85mm for an office might be too tight or? And you already have a macro lens for smile close ups, just buy an ftz adapter. Maybe check out Z 40mm? My go-to lens, light and small.
@@gromovdds I would recommend just buying an ftz adapter for your macro lens. And maybe consider Z 40mm f/2, small and light, great lens. Not sure if you will benefit from 85mm, might be too tight in an office.
the link for sample images takes me to an artnude page, wtf?
I bought one the other week, and so far have been happy from my limited testing. I see there are firmware updates, but I've had no success in upgrading. Has anyone else managed to update the firmware?
I updated the firmware on my 23mm 1.4 easily enough. I then sent it back with a manufacturing defect. The body was opening up as I held the front and pulled the usb cable out!!
@@Sanemancured I can't even get it to appear. Tried different (decent) USB cables that work elsewhere, on multiple machines (including PC and Mac). Might need to be returned..
The only issue I have faced so far is having to use 5 MicroUSB cables before I could get to do the firmware upgrades. I’m happy with its performance on my Nikon Z6II.
Try a micro usb with ferrite
Great video :D
Viltrox: half price
Sunny: double fun
Honey?
2:55 have the same "problem" with my Z 6
Matt I noticed that neither of those lenses managed to get any shots of Honey's legs on the bed.
Much as I'd like the Nikon, that is a big saving.
Nikon really needs a
agreed, but the time has passed. First-party lenses are so expensive now, the only way you get a cheap 50 is by 3rd party like this or use the old f-mount af-s. why I still shoot with f-mount on my nikon z. I am thinking of the older 200-400 f4, I might even pass on the future 200-600mm z for the older f lenses.
@@xophaser none of that makes any sense compared to what I said.
My whole point was that they need to make a Z mount version of the cheap F mount 50mm. Everyone else has one. They have one for the F mount. 200mm+ zooms have no relevance to this.
Do sony and Canon have 50mm lenses under $200 for mirrorless?
@@mattgranger both have them priced right at $199
The RF 50mm 1.8 for Canon and the Sony FE 50mm 1.8 is $249 list, but frequently on sale for $199
Z 40mm f2 is pretty nifty = $250
So, why this Viltrox brand makes lens for the Nikon Z cameras and Tamron and Sigma do not?
I know right? Still waiting for Tamron and Sigma to realize Nikon makes a mirrorless.
Allegedly Tamron have been struggling to keep up with demand for their Sony zooms, so development on all other mounts has frozen for them. Sigma are busy with their own cameras, the L mount and are only just getting around to the X mount, so Z and RF are still a ways off for them, too. Don't forget also that product development and production are slowed right down now across the board since nobody is getting to work in their offices and factories are working with skeleton crews at a fraction of the usual pace.
Sigma and Tamron coming to Z and RF is _inevitable_ but it's not going to be fast.
@@sebastianmatthews1663 well actually not in japan tho. almost nothing is closed and it’s not a fakenews. but not sure about factories in china. cant get information.
Mat u should be posting more frequently. Seen u in video after ages.before used to see ur video on every issues or new lens nd any feature
Turn on notifications my friend, I haven’t stopped posting.
good video. i cant understand why some people put dislikes. it’s definitely informative and fun to watch with exotic views too.
Mine autofocus like garbage. Returned it and stay with the 1.4g
Already bought the Nikon 85mm almost a year ago.
If I would buy a new z-mount-lens today, I would go for the Viltrox.
400 or almost half-price is too much difference in my opinion.
Greets
I would say the Nikon lens is better across the board, but it's not double the price good, not even close
Viltrox looks cute
I would buy the Nikon if it wasn't because of cats eye bokeh getting almost up to the center of the image. Fortunately Viltrox reached a good compromise, in my opinion.
4:27 Don't cut to something like that out of the blue! It's not fun having to explain what I am watching here.
Honey is great !
Almost the same quality. I liked the Viltrox a little bit better.:))
I hate that Nikon Z lenses are so much expensive! And its worse that we need to use native lenses in order to get all 5 axis of stabilization, adapted lenses only get 3!
If it's a choice between the Nikon Z 85 f1.8 S or the Viltrox AF 85 f1.8 Z.....
Then I'll take the Nikon FTZ AF-S 85 f1.8G for the cheaper option.
Really should have included the F mount lens in the comparison as it is an option.
This was specifically about Z Mount lenses.
@@mattgranger
Still would have been useful as a reference to have a couple of sample comparisons given its price comparison mention at the end.
the 1.8G is only an option if have received the FTZ in a bundle. Otherwise the 1.8G+ FTZ is more expensive then the viltrox 85mm
@@joetorres4810
The 1.8G is more expensive than the Villtrox without the FTZ.
The FTZ would have been standard kit for early adopters and useful for anyone switching from F mount bodies while building up a new Z mount lens kit.
There's no Z mount micro nikkor lenses nor any long telephoto lenses yet.
@@magottyk A valid point as I would imagine most who move to the Z system will be existing F mount users. The question then being 'is it worth upgrading to a Z mount or just adapting existing F mount glass?'
if you have to look that close to find differences, Viltrox is definitely a better lens for non-pro people
Off brand lenses are going to be what brings budget minded photographers to mirrorless systems.
yup youre right and im one of them, im coming from a d750 and i just ordered my z6ii today for $1400 bucks off nikon website and now im online looking for affordable lenses
Seems to me that you're right, neither of these represents particularly good value. That's a big problem when 85mm f/1.8, to me, has always been _the_ budget portrait lens any beginner buys after the obligatory 50mm f/1.8. Canon's RF 85mm f/2 is $600 with really good IS and higher maximum magnification, albeit a slower AF motor and in typical Canon style the lens hood is a $50 extra. Samyang have their weather sealed, autofocus 85mm f/1.4 for Sony and Canon at $650 and only weighs 100g more than the Nikon... that one's got to be coming to Z mount soon, surely? In any case $800 for the Nikon is too much for something so standard and this doesn't convince me of the Viltrox, either. I think I'll carry on adapting until the Samyang or some equivalent Sigma or Tamron comes to Z.
Autofocus is not a Viltrox problem. Autofocus is a Nikon problem. This Viltrox for Sony is very fast. You don't think about autofocus at all. Just taking pictures.
This lens has fully stopped working for alot of people randomly after a few uses, so if your planning to buy defo get some kinda insurance
I've heard that as well. That's horrible!
So better go for z lens yaa? Because now im in dilema.. Want to buy z lens or viltrox
Which stopped working? ..the Z or the viltron . ?
@@saabvanderlinden9214 the viltrox,
if im gonna save $400 bucks i dont mind missing 2 shots LOL
i am sure that the viltrox 85mm f/1.8 will be my first lens when i transition from f to z this year, but the real star of this video was the beautiful asian lady. had to hit the pause button a few times.
but i guess that is what photography is about - holding the breath for a moment and getting absorbed by the picture.
That lovely lady is Honey, and she has started her own CZcams channel. Check it out geni.us/HoneyYT
"Hi honey" always sounds like she's your wife haha
@michael ew
I'll stick with my 85mm Sigma art. Works like a charm.
I have never been a fan of off-brand glass, however, on the basis of the images presented, the Viltrox appears to have better colour, particularly of the skin tones. The slightly more contrast from the Nikkor suggests poor micro-contrast/image fidelity, which would also explain the apparent shift in skin tones.
I have yet to see anything from the Z system to convince me to switch from my F mount.
The 50mm f1.8s and the 5 axis in body is enough to switch tbh.
I also thought so ... until I shot on lenses Z ... now all lenses F are sold ...
The 50mm 1.8 S Nikon lens is the first aspheric 50 they have made. It is stunning.
Great video matt, however when you shoved in the G master, that was wrong,that's a different camera manufacturer and IS NOT a factor in this lens group,if you'd had said 3rd party from tamron or sigma price then I'd understand, but quoting a sony lens which is incompatible to Z camera's again pointless, if I wanted a G master lens I'd buy a Sony camera
?? i dont believe i said that.
Nice watch 😉 😍
Thanks for 'watching'
@@mattgranger 🤪😂
This is what is scuppering Nikon. When are they going to learn??
I would love to get a Z6 but I can't afford any of the lenses!!
You just have to look at ebay to see how many Nikon DSLRs are selling. Are they buying the Z system? No they are buying Sony or Fuji
Give us some third party affordable lenses and make it quick!
What does Nikon have to do with third party companies making lenses for the system. That's down to the third party companies making them themselves.
Plenty people moving to Z system, I'm more than happy using F mount lenses adapted on it until I switch them all over to Z mount ones.
tamron is good enough. personally i really wanna say be cautious about sony. game, movie, music. all very shady.
naikhaan
85 mm f1.8s lens has no pop. Micro contrast on this lens is horrible. Renders very flat and has cats eye bokeh. This lens is very disappointing.
Bangkok is better for photography, food and women. Hong Kong doesn't measure up to a real international city like Bangkok. Camera phones are taking away market share from big and bulky camera but Camera phones have made one big mistake by removing the expandable micro sd slot.
There you have it folks - definitive answers to 2 questions that no one asked haha
why do these Europe peps pronounce Nikon and every lens brand sooo different?
Idk 🤷♂️. FYI I’m an Australian living in Asia, before that in usa. If there is a ‘correct’ pronunciation- mine is correct for Nikon. Same as the Japanese. You don’t emphasize the I like most Americans do.
clean ya fcking monitor lol
Cringe 😭😞
Not sure if the lenses both suck or if it’s the photographer that sucks. Maybe it’s the camera but something sucks. The color on the photos is really yellow. Seems like a Nikon thing from my limited experience