- Viltrox unveils 75mm f/1.8 and 90mm f/2.2 autofocus lenses for APS-C
- They are available in Sony E, Fujifilm X and Nikon Z-mount versions
- We still do not know the outcome of the Nikon/Viltrox trial
It’s no secret that I’m a fan of Viltrox lenses, and why not? The Chinese lens manufacturer makes some of the best quality and most affordable third-party lenses, and now we have two more to choose from: the AF 75mm F1.8 EVO and the AF 90mm F2.2 EVO.
Both lenses are available today in Sony E, Fujifilm There are often deals on the Viltrox site – in fact, there’s already around 5% off these prices at launch.
They’re designed for APS-C cameras, meaning both lenses work directly with cameras like the Sony A6700, Nikon Z50 II, Fujifilm X-T5 (watch for my review of the
These focal lengths are particularly popular for portrait photography (I particularly like the 135mm focal length) and the bright maximum aperture of each is capable of rendering out-of-focus backgrounds.
Being ‘EVO’ lenses, the pair is affordable, particularly light and will be impressively sharp considering these factors. And I should know: we’ve already tested other EVO lenses, including the 85mm F2 EVO for full frame, and we expect the same high quality from the latest additions to the series.
Each lens features a click/click aperture ring, customizable function button and AF/MF switch, as well as autofocus powered by an STM motor. They are roughly the same size and accept 58mm lens filters, while the 75mm lens weighs 11.8 oz / 335 g and the 90 mm lens weighs 11.3 oz / 320 g.
With a minimum focusing distance of 0.74m, neither lens is particularly powerful for close-up photography.
The 90mm F2.2 is a different proposition from Viltrox’s 135mm F1.8 LAB lens for full-frame cameras, which has the same effective focal length – this flagship lens is three times more expensive and heavier. No, Viltrox’s EVO lenses are designed to deliver dreamy bokeh and sharp detail to amateur cameras, but in a lightweight, tidy package. I’m excited to share my thoughts on the 90mm lens soon.
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So what’s going on with the Nikon lawsuit?
It’s no surprise to see more new prime lenses from Viltrox – they’ve been particularly prolific over the past couple of years. What made me raise my eyebrows, however, is that both of these new lenses are available for Nikon cameras.
Earlier this year, we reported that Nikon was suing Viltrox for alleged patent infringement and that the case would go to court sometime in March. This situation has since been terribly calm and we do not know the status of this matter.
So if you’re a Nikon user of, say, the Z50 II or the Z30, should you buy either of these new lenses? I don’t see much risk – it would be a very aggressive move for Nikon to offer future firmware updates for its mirrorless cameras, which would break existing compatibility with Viltrox lenses.
However, there might come a time when the price of Viltrox lenses would increase if Viltrox started paying royalties to Nikon as a result. Until then, it undoubtedly remains the lens manufacturer offering the best value for money, even if Sigma offers a wider choice overall.
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