In-Depth Review: Viltrox AF 85mm F1.4 Pro FE – A Competitive Edge Against Sony's Legacy Glass

by Mark Bennett

Meet the Viltrox AF 85mm F1.4 Pro FE

Hey folks! Today we’re putting the brand‑new Viltrox AF 85mm F1.4 Pro FE through its paces—alongside the veteran Sony 85mm F1.8—to see if this newcomer can really go toe‑to‑toe with first‑party glass. Drawing on real‑world tests from Mark Bennett, we’ll cover build quality, sharpness, bokeh, autofocus, flare resistance, chromatic aberration, and more. Ready? Let’s dive in!

Design and Build Quality

The Viltrox Pro line demonstrates a high standard in construction. Bennett remarks, "These are my absolute favorite lenses in terms of their build quality... I just love the way these Viltrox lenses are built." He highlights the smooth texture, well-damped focus ring, and the versatile aperture ring with clear etchings. It includes practical features such as a programmable focus hold button, a USB-C port for firmware updates via the Viltrox app, and weather sealing. The lens is physically robust and aligns with the expectations for professional-grade equipment. 

Optical Performance and Sharpness

At f/1.4, the lens delivers sharpness that Bennett compares favorably to the Sony 85mm f/1.8 at its maximum aperture. He states, "It is about as sharp as the Sony 85 at 1.8," and adds that the background blur is "just so creamy — it's cream corn back there." He also praises the bokeh, calling them "absolutely perfect" with no signs of common artifacts: "No soap bubble effect, no halo effect... not even any cat’s eyeing in the corner." 

Autofocus and Operational Characteristics

Autofocus performance is fast and consistent under typical usage scenarios, matching native Sony lenses in most cases. Bennett notes, "It feels like you are using a native Sony lens," but concedes that "first-party lenses are always going to do better" for tracking fast-moving subjects. He describes the focusing noise as negligible: "You can hear it if your ear is up to the lens." Focus breathing is relatively minor, and he adds that without in-camera compensation, "this actually has more focus breathing than the Viltrox lens." 
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Flare, Chromatic Aberration, and Overall Image Quality

The Viltrox lens incorporates coatings that effectively minimize flare and ghosting. Bennett explains, "There is virtually no flaring... the image never gets washed out and there is still tons of contrast even in very backlit situations." He states the Sony does not compete in this regard. As for chromatic aberrations, he observes, "The lateral chromatic aberration basically doesn’t exist... and the longitudinal chromatic aberration... very hard to get the lens to have any." 

Weight and Vignetting

At 795g, the Viltrox lens is more than twice the weight of the Sony 85mm f/1.8. Bennett points out the difference, noting, "You definitely feel that in your camera bag and on your camera," but says, "I want a high-quality 85mm f/1.4... I am willing to take the fact that this weighs a little more than twice what this weighs." Vignetting at f/1.4 is described as light and correctable: "You can correct that in post... or use the Lightroom profile." Distortion is considered minimal: "I don’t really see any to speak of." 

Pricing and Conclusion

With an expected retail price of $598, the Viltrox AF 85mm f/1.4 Pro FE matches Sony’s older 85mm f/1.8 in cost while delivering a broader set of features and performance improvements. Bennett concludes, "I would buy this all day long for the same price that I would get this Sony for. I would pay a fair amount more. Don’t tell Viltrox." Overall, this review presents the Viltrox 85mm f/1.4 Pro FE as a compelling option for Sony E-mount users seeking high image quality, thoughtful design, and competitive pricing in a fast portrait lens. 

(The above opinions and content are quoted from Mark Bennett's channel, specifically from his review video of the Viltrox AF 85mm f/1.4 Pro FE)
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Reprinted from(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqYlFmO3sX8)