Viltrox 85mm f/1.8 vs Fujinon XF 90mm f/2 Comparison
The brand new Viltrox 85mm f/1.8 autofocus lens for Fujifilm X is getting the more and more attention since FujiRumors started covering it with this hands-on test back in September 2018 (includes RAW samples to download).
This time Mattias and Andrew compare it also to the Fujinon XF 90mm f/2. Mattias used it on an X-Pro1 and X-E3, whereas Andrew on the Fujifilm X-T3. Their findings do not correspond always.
Viltrox 85mm f/1.8 for Fujifilm: BHphoto, AmazonUS
Check out the main points below:
Mattias (video above):
- negligable size and weight difference
- Viltrox a bit more solid build and smoother focus ring
- Viltrox is not weather sealed and no aperture ring
- both deliver excellent looking images
- at crazy pixel peeping, the Viltrox is softer in the corners
- Viltrox is less contrasty
- Viltrox is a bit more prone to flare
- both control well chromatic aberration and purple fringing, with Fujifilm having less fringing
- autofocus is similar, with 90mm being a bit faster in low light
- wide tracking and continuous AF, the Viltrox is consistently better
- IQ slightly better on Fujinon 90mm
Andrew (video below):
- he is impressed by the Viltrox 85mm f/1.8
- Viltrox is all metal and well build
- initially the Viltrox was a bit stiff to mount on the camera, but now it works smoothly
- he misses that the Viltrox has no aperture ring
- Viltrox originally designed for full frame, it’s bigger and heavier than needed for APS-C
- Viltrox has a stepping motor, the XF90mm has a linear motor
- sharpness: 90mm wins by a small margin in the center, but wins more clearly in the corners
- Viltrox is best between f/5.6 and f/8. Get’s softer beyond f/8
- Viltrox gives cooler results in terms of colors
- In some cases, the Viltrox can have doubling bokeh and more jittery bokeh
- bokeh balls are not nearly as perfect as on the 90mm f/2
- The 90mm is good at 1:5, the Viltrox at 1:8
- The 90mm focuses up to 1 second faster than the Viltrox
- Viltrox has less reliable face tracking
- Continuous AF: 74% of shots in focus on X-T3 with 90mm, and only 58% in focus with the Viltrox
- Viltrox has more misfocused shots in general
- Viltrox can improve AF in future via firmware update
- Viltrox has assured they will keep up updating the lens, once Fujifilm releases new firmware updates, to make sure the lens will always work properly on Fuji bodies
- the Viltorx exceeded his expectations and he is impressed
- however, he will not use the Viltrox in his portrait shoots, due to unreliable autofocus
Viltrox 85mm f/1.8 for Fujifilm: BHphoto, AmazonUS
Fujinon XF 90mmF2 WR: BHphoto, AmazonUS, Adorama, FocusCamera
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