Viltrox AF 85mm F1.4 Pro FE Review
Summary Verdict
The Viltrox AF 85mm F1.4 Pro FE is a confident step into the full-frame pro lens market for Viltrox, bringing a solid build, fast autofocusing and impressive image quality in a very competitively priced package. It handles well and feels like a tool designed for serious, considered photography, particularly when shooting portraits. While there are some inevitable trade-offs at the price, such as only one focus hold button and no lock for the aperture ring, they’re easily overlooked when weighed against its overall performance and handling. For photographers wanting high-quality portraits without a sky-high price tag, it’s an excellent option.
Score: 5/5
For
Excellent centre sharpness at f/1.4
Smooth, flattering bokeh
Great value for a full-frame f/1.4 lens
Against
Currently only availabl in Sony FE mount
Only one AF hold button
No lock on the aperture ring
Viltrox supplies the AF 85mm F1.4 Pro FE with a deep lens hood.
What is the Viltrox AF 85mm F1.4 Pro FE?
The Viltrox AF 85mm F1.4 Pro FE is a full-frame autofocus lens for Sony E-mount cameras, developed with portrait photographers in mind. It’s the first full-frame optic in Viltrox’s Pro series, aiming to deliver high-end performance at a competitive price. Its fast f/1.4 aperture and internal focusing make it suitable for general photography as well as portraiture, particularly in low light and for achieving shallow depth of field.
Viltrox AF 85mm F1.4 Pro FE Price and Availability
The Viltrox AF 85mm F1.4 Pro FE is available now for around £569 in the UK or $598 in the US. That makes it extremely competitive when compared with other full-frame 85mm lenses for Sony E-mount. The Sony FE 85mm F1.8, for instance, is priced at around £499 / $598 but has a smaller maximum aperture. Meanwhile, the high-end Sony FE 85mm F1.4 GM II costs around £1799 / $1948, and the Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN Art sits between them at £979 / $1199.
For anyone seeking the creative flexibility of an f/1.4 lens without the premium price tag, the Viltrox offers a very compelling alternative.
The Viltrox AF 85mm F1.4 Pro FE has an aperture ring with a click/de-click switch, a customisable focus hold button and an AF/MF switch.
Viltrox AF 85mm F1.4 Pro FE Specifications
Lens type: Telephoto prime
Announced: 16th June 2025
Lens mount: Sony FE
Format: 35mm full frame
Focal length: 85mm (127.5mm equivalent on APS-C format)
Lens construction: 15 elements arranged in 11 groups with 3 ED, 9 high-refractive index and 1 aspherical element
Maximum aperture: F/1.4
Minimum aperture: F/16
Number of aperture blades: 11
Circular aperture: Yes
Minimum focus distance: 0.79m
Maximum magnification ratio: 0.13x
Filter diameter: 77mm
Hood type: Circular shape, bayonet type
Lens coating: Nano coating and water-repellent coating on the front element
Focus mechanism: Dual HyperVCM autofocus motor with internal focusing
Focus hold button: 1
Iris/Aperture ring: Yes, with click/de-click switch
Dust and moisture-resistant design: Yes
Dimensions (D x L): 84.5 x 108.5mm
Weight: 800g
Key Features
This Viltrox lens features a complex optical construction of 15 elements in 11 groups, including three ED (Extra-low Dispersion) elements, one aspherical lens and nine high-refractive index elements. These are combined with Viltrox’s nano-coating to reduce flare and ghosting, while the front element has a water-repellent coating.
Its maximum aperture of f/1.4 promises shallow depth of field and versatile low-light performance. The aperture is formed by 11 blades, aiming to deliver smooth bokeh.
Viltrox has opted for its HyperVCM autofocus motor for fast, quiet focusing, which also supports Sony’s face and eye detection. Unusually, there's a USB-C port for making firmware updates. It’s also weather-resistant and accepts 77mm filters.
There's no stabilisation built-in, so you’ll need to rely on the camera’s stabilisation system (or a tripod) if you want to shoot at slower than usual shutter speeds.
The lens’ metal mount has an orange rubber seal to keep out dust and moisture. It’s also weather-resistant overall.
Build and Handling
With a full-metal construction and weighing around 800g, the Viltrox AF 85mm F1.4 Pro FE feels reassuringly solid in your hand. It balances well on Sony’s full-frame cameras and remains comfortable during extended handheld shooting.
Nevertheless, that 800g weight puts it at the heavier end of the 85mm portrait lens market. For comparison, the Sony FE 85mm F1.8 weighs 371g, the Sony FE 85mm F1.4 GM II comes in at 642g and the Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN Art weighs around 625g. The Viltrox isn’t light, but its build quality reflects its Pro-series status and the additional weight is forgivable given the more affordable price in comparison with other f/1.4 85mm lenses.
The control layout is straightforward. The aperture ring sits closest to the mount for ease of access, and a switch allows the choice between clicked or stepless/smooth operation, which is useful for video shooters. The manual focus ring is broad and rotates smoothly, with suitable resistance for precise focusing.
There’s also a customisable focus hold button, but only one, which is ideally placed for landscape orientation – that might disappoint portrait photographers. Another disappointment is that the aperture ring lacks a lock to prevent accidental movement between the marked values and the ‘A’ setting for camera control.
The AF/MF switch is easy to reach, the lens hood is deep and effective and the USB-C port is discreetly located within the cartilage of the mount's weather-resistant gasket.
If you pick up the lens unmounted, or on a camera that’s not powered up, you’re likely to feel the focus elements move. This can be a little disconcerting, but it’s nothing to be worried about.
The Viltrox AF 85mm F1.4 Pro FE accepts 77mm filters.
Performance
Mounted on the Sony A7R IV and A1 II, the Viltrox AF 85mm F1.4 Pro FE performs very well, beyond what we might expect for its cost. The autofocus motor is both fast and quiet, and Sony’s eye detection system works seamlessly with it. The lens locks focus quickly, even in busy scenes like the Brighton Pride parade. I found tracking to be reliable and transitions smooth when switching focus distances.
When using Full Time DMF (Direct Manual Focus), the lens responds accurately to manual adjustments in autofocus mode, which helps fine-tune focus for critical shots. I found this helpful with subjects close to the minimum focus distance.
There is a slight degree of focus breathing, but it’s unlikely to be problematic for most portrait photography.
At f/1.4, the Viltrox AF 85mm F1.4 Pro FE is sharp in the centre, with softening towards the far edges. Corner sharpness improves visibly at f/2 and reaches its peak between f/2.8 and f/5.6. There’s some softness at f/16 from diffraction, but it the images remain more than usable.
In some situations, the Viltrox AF 85mm F1.4 Pro shows pronounced vignetting at f/1.4, which means there's a tonal gradation from the centre, which while technically a flaw, may suit some portraits. It becomes less noticeable by f/2 and is mostly gone by f/2.8. Corner brightness is consistent from f/4 onwards.
Chromatic aberration is handled very well, even in high-contrast backlit scenes. I only noticed a hint of pincushion distortion when photographing architectural details, but it’s minimal and not likely to be an issue in portraits.
The bokeh is one of the highlights of the lens, it’s smooth and natural with no harsh edges. Out of focus highlights are generally round, though in the corners they can become cat’s-eye shaped or slightly polygonal when near the point of focus.
The Viltrox AF 85mm F1.4 Pro FE makes a greater partner for Sony full-frame mirrorless cameras like the A1 II.
Viltrox AF 85mm F1.4 Pro FE Sample Images
These images were shot using the Viltrox AF 85mm F1.4 Pro FE on the Sony A1 II and Sony A7R IV. Follow the link to browse and download full-resolution images.
The Viltrox AF 85mm F1.4 Pro FE generally delivers attractive out of focus highlights.
Image credit: Angela Nicholson. Camera: Sony A7 R IV, Lens: Viltrox AF 85mm F1.4 Pro FE at f1.4 and 1/2000 sec at ISO 100.
Although there is a hint of pin cushion distortion, it’s not immediately apparent in most images.
Image credit: Angela Nicholson. Camera: Sony A7 R IV, Lens: Viltrox AF 85mm F1.4 Pro FE at f/3.2 and 1/1000 sec at ISO 100.
Shooting at f1.4 is a great way of giving more emphasis to your subject.
Image credit: Angela Nicholson. Camera: Sony A1 II, Lens: Viltrox AF 85mm F1.4 Pro FE at f1.4 and 1/5000 sec at ISO 100.
There’s still good subject separation at f/2.5.
Image credit: Angela Nicholson. Camera: Sony A7 R IV, Lens: Viltrox AF 85mm F1.4 Pro FE at f2.5 and 1/5000 sec at ISO 100.
Image credit: Angela Nicholson. Camera: Sony A1 II, Lens: Viltrox AF 85mm F1.4 Pro FE at f1.4 and 1/6400 sec at ISO 100.
There’s no shortage of detail, particularly at the centre of images captured using the lens.
Image credit: Angela Nicholson. Camera: Sony A1 II, Lens: Viltrox AF 85mm F1.4 Pro FE at f2.2 and 1/10000 sec at ISO 100.
The 85mm lens is perfect for studio or environmental portraits.
Image credit: Angela Nicholson. Camera: Sony A1 II, Lens: Viltrox AF 85mm F1.4 Pro FE at f1.4 and 1/6400 sec at ISO 100.
The lens autofocus system responds quickly, helping you to capture fleeting moments like this.
Image credit: Angela Nicholson. Camera: Sony A1 II, Lens: Viltrox AF 85mm F1.4 Pro FE at f1.4 and 1/3200 sec at ISO 100.
You don’t have to limit yourself to portraits with the lens, there are lots of other suitable subjects.
Image credit: Angela Nicholson. Camera: Sony A1 II, Lens: Viltrox AF 85mm F1.4 Pro FE at f2.8 and 1/4000 sec at ISO 100.
Verdict
Viltrox has delivered an impressive full-frame portrait lens in the AF 85mm F1.4 Pro FE. It combines strong optical performance with fast and quiet autofocusing, in a tough, weather-sealed body. The handling is intuitive and the inclusion of features like the de-clickable aperture ring and USB-C port adds real practical value.
While it’s not entirely flawless – the vignetting at wide apertures, lack of a second AF hold button and absence of an aperture lock are small compromises – the image quality and usability more than make up for them at the price.
At £569 / $598, the Viltrox is more affordable than the Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN Art (£979 / $1199) and dramatically cheaper than the Sony FE 85mm F1.4 GM II (£1799/$1948). It also provides a compelling upgrade over the Sony FE 85mm F1.8 (£499/$598) for those seeking the extra creative control of a wider aperture.
This is a standout option for women photographers wanting a dependable, fast portrait lens without breaking the bank. Here’s hoping Viltrox introduces it in a wider range of mounts.
