vaptre wrote:
I’ve just got my new 85/2 EVO. As usual, I updated it to the latest firmware, 1.08. Almost immediately, both the lens and camera froze. 😖
Should’ve stayed on 1.07. 😭
I've started recommending NOT updating the FW on Viltrox lenses if you are happy with the performance because I've seen performance degrade on several lenses now with updates. It's really annoying that you can't roll them back.
I was trying to take a photo. As usual, I was using back-button focus. I focused on my subject and then pressed the shutter, but the camera completely froze.
The image on the rear screen froze as well, and the camera stopped responding to any buttons. I kept pressing the shutter and other buttons, but nothing happened.
It stayed like that for almost a minute. I was just about to open the battery door and pull the battery out when the camera suddenly came back to life. Restarted completely.
At that exact moment, the shutter fired and the photo was taken. Almost a minute after I had originally pressed the shutter button.
BigBabyMoses06 wrote:
Can you clarify a little, what happened after turning the camera off and back on, and or pulling the battery? Camera is fine, I assume?
Thank God the camera is fine! But this is really annoying. Really annoying! 😖
I had that same lens lock my Nikon up on an earlier firmware than 1.07 too. Sent it back and never replaced it, as my Sirui 85/1.4 is better in every regard anyways.
vaptre wrote:
I’m not really a fan of the 85mm focal length. I only need something in that range for travel. I was torn between the Sigma 90/2.8 and this one.
The Viltrox is half the price of the Sigma here in Spain, so I thought it was worth a shot. The Sirui is nice, but at 570g, it’s staying at home. 😄
Check out the TTArtisan 75/2 instead if you want something light and not quite as deep. A real sleeper lens.
RoamingScott wrote:
Check out the TTArtisan 75/2 instead if you want something light and not quite as deep. A real sleeper lens.
Tried it. Didn’t like it at all.
And when I say the build felt cheap, I don’t mean the materials! Yes, the barrel is metal. I mean the actual feel and tolerances. On my copy, the aperture ring was way too loose, the hood creaked, and even Sony’s original E-mount rear cap wouldn’t stay on properly - only the TTArtisan cap did.
None of those things is a huge problem by itself, but taken together, the lens just felt cheap in the hand despite the metal construction. The Viltrox feels much, much better in terms of build quality and handling.
I’m also very picky about color and rendering. Absolute sharpness isn’t that important to me! I care much more about fine-detail contrast and tonal separation, what I personally think of as microcontrast. And that’s where the TTArtisan didn’t work for me either. Technically it’s quite good for the money, but I didn’t like the color rendering or the overall look it produced, especially at f/2.
I gave it a week and returned it.
My favorite in this general range is still the Sigma 65/2, but it’s not quite where I want to be in terms of focal length and weight. And I simply haven’t tried the 90/2.8 yet.
vaptre wrote:
I’m not really a fan of the 85mm focal length. I only need something in that range for travel. I was torn between the Sigma 90/2.8 and this one.
The Viltrox is half the price of the Sigma here in Spain, so I thought it was worth a shot. The Sirui is nice, but at 570g, it’s staying at home. 😄
There's also the Samyang 75/1.8 AF. No aperture ring, but remarkably good optically even wide open, small and lightweight -- and cheap used.
Jack Flesher wrote:
There's also the Samyang 75/1.8 AF. No aperture ring, but remarkably good optically even wide open, small and lightweight -- and cheap used.
I’ve heard a lot of good things about the Samyang 75/1.8 and I’d really like to try one.
The problem is that it’s not very popular here in Spain, and the support isn’t great either. The shops with easy, guaranteed returns simply don’t stock it, while the places that do sell it tend to have rather questionable return/exchange policies.
And there seem to be quite a few reports of decentering and general QC issues, which makes me a bit hesitant to take the chance.
That’s exactly why I was so excited about the Viltrox 85/2 EVO.
