Viltrox AF 85mm F1.4 Pro FE Review – Manny Ortiz’s Take on the New Value King

by Manny Ortiz

Meet the Viltrox AF 85mm F1.4 Pro FE

When a lens undercuts its competition by hundreds of dollars, people usually assume something’s been sacrificed. But what if that’s not the case?

Portrait photographer and YouTube creator Manny Ortiz recently got his hands on the new Viltrox AF 85mm F1.4 Pro FE, priced at just $599—a jaw-dropping number compared to its main rivals, the Sigma 85mm F1.4 ($1,199) and the Sony G Master ($1,800+). Known for his no-nonsense opinions and real-world shooting tests, Manny puts this lens through its paces—and comes away seriously impressed.

📷 Image Quality: A Near-Match to the Sigma

Manny’s first surprise? How close the Viltrox’s optical performance is to the Sigma 85mm F1.4—his long-time go-to for portraits. Both lenses deliver that modern, crisp, contrasty look with great sharpness and creamy backgrounds. In side-by-side comparisons, he noticed only a slight edge in background softness from the Sigma, with bokeh balls appearing marginally smoother. Otherwise, the two lenses render almost identically.

🔍 Autofocus: Surprisingly Accurate 

To test autofocus, Manny ran a walk-toward-camera test. The results?

  • Viltrox: 24 out of 30 shots in focus
  • Sigma: 15 out of 22 shots in focus

That puts the Viltrox ahead in hit rate—but there’s a small caveat. In some low-contrast or challenging focus scenarios, the lens may exhibit more noticeable focus hunting, occasionally leading to repeated focus attempts. While this doesn’t impact overall accuracy, it’s something to be aware of if you frequently shoot in fast-paced or low-light environments. The Sigma, by comparison, tends to refocus a bit more gently in such situations.
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🛠️ Build & Handling: Viltrox Gets It Right

Although the Viltrox is bulkier and heavier (800g) than the Sigma, Manny actually prefers the feel in hand. Why? Because the Sigma has a sharp edge below the aperture ring that presses into his knuckles—a long-standing annoyance. The Viltrox avoids this with a smoother, more ergonomic design, even if it’s not the most compact 85mm out there.

 

It also includes thoughtful pro-level features:

  • Aperture ring with click switch
  • Custom button
  • USB-C firmware port located on the lens mount

🎥 For Video Shooters: A Hidden Gem

Where the Viltrox really pulls ahead is in video performance.

Manny highlights two major advantages over the Sigma:

  • Better control over focus breathing, which is key for cinematic pulls
  • A shorter manual focus throw, making it faster and easier to rack focus

And since third-party lenses aren’t supported by Sony’s in-body breathing compensation, having built-in optical control is a big win.
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🤔 Any Downsides?

Manny only mentions two minor concerns:

  • The focus motor is loud and physical, especially when struggling to acquire focus
  • When powered off, the internal lens elements can rattle slightly, which might be noticeable to some users

These quirks didn’t affect his shooting, but they’re worth noting for those sensitive to tactile feedback or audio cues.

（It’s worth noting that the slight rattling when powered off is a normal behavior of the VCM (Voice Coil Motor) used in the lens's autofocus system. Once powered on, the elements lock into place and the movement disappears completely.）

✅ Verdict: A No-Brainer for Portrait Shooters 

Manny doesn’t mince words:

 

“Considering how it performed against the Sigma... I see zero reasons why this isn’t the new king of value.”

 

If you’re shooting portraits on Sony and don’t already own an 85mm, this lens is a must-look. Unless you're regularly tracking fast action (where the G Master still reigns supreme), the Viltrox AF 85mm F1.4 Pro FE delivers premium results at a fraction of the price.

(The above opinions and content are quoted from Manny Ortiz's channel, specifically from his review video of the Viltrox AF 85mm f/1.4 Pro FE)