Only just come across this video as I'm weighing up all the options of Viltrox vs Fuji lenses, Specifically I'm after a 23mm, a 56mm and the 85mm. I'm a keen hobbyist at present but in the process of turning that into paid work with (hopefully) portraiture and weddings forming the major part of the business in the first instance - "If you build it, they will come" 😉. I found this to be a great review: honest, to the point, calm and simply 'as it is'. Great work!
Your son is a proper stud on guitar! my kind of music, Nirvana and Metallica! :) really keen on this lens, even with it's flaws [CA, not quite as sharp as the Fuji 90mm]
Another good video, always enjoy your views on different photographic equipment, was thinking of buying this lens, after watching this I think I will go ahead and buy it, Cheers mate gman .
Great video Ian, must admit I hadn't heard of this lens brand, will check them out. PS your lads guitar playing was impressive, we'll keep an eye out for him on X factor! lol. cheers.
Nice one Ian, perfect timing dude! I’ve been considering pulling the trigger on the Viltrox for 6 months or so, and this is just another in a long line of positive reviews of the 85. I also knew of the other Viltrox fast primes that are due for release very soon I believe!? Excited to see them too. I go to Thailand in just under two weeks time and I may have to snag an 85 for the trip. I have got some portrait work to do, and the faster lens will be perfect for the low, natural lighting conditions I’ll be experimenting with over there. Say hi to Ollie for me...he’s turning into a right little plucker! 🤘🤣👍 Best regards, Dazza. 🇬🇧
Cheers buddy, Thailand aye, that will be great, where you heading?? I spent a year travelling around the place back in 2002, bloody loved every minute, such an amazing place. 👍😃😃🎸🎸
Ian Worth - Wow! A year over there must have been fantastic buddy! I fell totally in love with the place, the people and the culture over there myself. It’s my second trip, I was there the first two weeks of December 2019. I went with three friends, touring on motorcycles from Pattaya travelling south to the island Koh Chang, where we spent four days touring on and off road and enjoying the nightlife in the evenings and chilling out...with some photography thrown in of course! I have a friend out in Pattaya, an ex pat, who’s lived and worked over there for 18 years and owns the motorcycle tour company we used, Pattaya Motorcycle Tours. There’s actually photos of us on tour on his website mate. As it happens, he (Gwyn Mills) was originally a fellow Cheshire lad like myself, he’s from Macclesfield, so we had common interests in bikes, photography around Peak District area. This time I’m spending three nights in Bangkok first, before moving on for a further ten nights in Pattaya. I will be having a business meetings in Pattaya, with the possibility of me taking early retirement and moving over there to start a new joint business venture with Gwyn...all being well? Time will tell on that front, anyway, I fly out on the 12th of February for two weeks. Cant wait! Anyway, if I do ever bump into you, we’ll have more in common to chat about other than photography it seems! 😂 Tell Ollie to stick at it matey, he’s doing great...... ( I’m also a guitarist 🎸) 🤘 Best regards, Dazza. 🇬🇧
It's a great lens, had mine for a couple months now and the "bang for your buck" is exceptional. Sure it isn't as tack sharp wide open as say the Fuji 90mm but stopped down to f2.8 and it's fantastic. Just right for a portrait. I also found it at it's best at f5.6 but have never had a mis focus. You do have lasted firmware? Will you be looking at the Viltrox 56mm f1.4 what they release it?
Thanks Mark, yeah you are right, defo bang for your buck 👍👍 The firmware was up to date, so not sure why that happened but I thought I should share exactly how it performed. Yeah, looking forward to checking out their other primes when they release them 😃👍
great lens, but the weather sealing is a must for me, I've been caught in the rain in Vancouver too many times. I guess I'm stuck with the fuji version.
Thanks for taking the time to review this lens Ian, looks fantastic - can it be used for macro/ pseudo too? I have heard there's a Viltrox 35mm f2 coming out later this year - be interesting to see what that's like too, big thumbs up to your son - we have a rocker at home as well lol
Awesome Dick, not sure... The closest focus is 0.8M so you would need a macro tube for it to work, I do have a couple of tubes, I might give it a go. 👍😃😃 🎸🎸
Great review, the viltrox 85mm is a lovely lens, I bought mine on ebay when it first came out for a ridiculously cheap £266, I'm really looking forward to the 3 new viltrox lenses for fuji expected in March, if they are as superb as the 85mm I'm buying 😁
Thank you Ian for sharing this! I was debating between an used 56mm and this lens. But I'll go for this lens. Thanks a again Man! Great guitarist your son!
@@kevingard8716 well, a lot of months passes after my comment. Now you have the fantastic Viltrox lenses. I went for the 85mm f1. 8 (around $400) and you also can buy the 56mm f1. 4 for $329, and you still didn't reach the Fuji 56mm price. It depends what's is your more important subject. For most Portraits I would go for the 85mm and if you are using at weddings or events in conjunction with a wide lens, I would go for the 56mm, but is personal.
Very nice, informative video. I might as well buy the lens. Also, tell your son that I loved his Smells Like Teen Spirit guitar solo. (is it a solo? Idk what it's called. You know what I mean.)
Good review and meticulous method, Ian. (Bit of glare topside in the indoor deskside segments.) At pump house, what manual focus method were you using (pentaprism or split image might have been more accurate, no)? Careful coffee maker, too - I’ll bet there are no coffee pods in your shop. It appears that so many of the best UK YT landscape photogs have dogs.
Hi Paul, yeah the lighting in the studio is a work in progress, still got a lot to do to get it perfect. Bit by bit it's coming together though 😃 yeah i do like a nice brew. We just have the spaniel, the others are dogs that we walk for other people. 😃😃👍👍
Great review Ian, I've bought one. Please would you let me know which filter you used on this lens and where to get them, I understand that this lens can struggle in bright conditions without a filter.
I just purchased one (X-mount) but I discovered that the USB connection won't work. Tested with multiple Windows 10 PC, and a MAC, and different cables, none could recognize the lens. Anyone with similar problems? and how do you solve it? thanks