Viltrox AF 85mm F2.0 EVO Z
Launch MSRP
$275- Weight
- 360g
- Filter
- ⌀58mm
- Min focus
- 0.74m
- Max mag.
- 0.13×
- Formula
- 10E / 8G
- Released
- 2025
Specification sheet
Optical construction
- 2x ED
- 2x HR
- Water & Smudge Resistant Coating
- Aperture range
- f/2 — f/16
Physical & ergonomics
- Weight
- 360g
- ⌀ × length
- 69.0 × 78.0mm
- Filter
- ⌀58mm
- Weather sealed
- No
- Aperture ring
- Yes · de-click
Autofocus actuator
- Stabilisation
- Body IBIS
- Teleconverter
- Not supported
- AF speed score
- 7.5 / 10
Close-up performance
- Min focus distance
- 0.74m
- Max magnification
- 0.13× (1:7.7)
Optical character
The first EVO lens is a compact, 360g portrait prime that adds an aperture ring with de-click switch, an AF/MF switch and an Fn button to a lens costing $275. Ten elements in eight groups, two of them ED, give a very sharp centre at f/2 and low colour fringing.
The metal barrel is 78mm long in Z mount and takes 58mm filters, the mount has a rubber gasket, and the front element has a water- and smudge-resistant coating. Focus is by a lead-screw STM motor, and firmware can be updated over USB-C. It is a lighter, cheaper alternative to the NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S.
Reviewer consensus
Testers called the optics almost excessively sharp in the centre at f/2, with very good borders and corners peaking around f/4. Lateral CA is negligible, pincushion distortion is low at about 0.7%, and bokeh is smooth with only mild outlining, though corner highlights become cat's-eyes at f/2.
The drawbacks are over 2 EV of vignetting wide open, no in-camera correction profile, and an STM motor that is quiet and accurate but not fast enough for sport. Sealing is limited to the mount gasket, and the Fn button is rather noisy.
Owner sentiment
Owners see it as a cheap, light portrait lens with controls usually found on far pricier glass. Sharpness and the small size compared with f/1.4 85s are the main positives.
Complaints centre on AF speed when tracking moving subjects, the f/2 aperture versus Nikon's f/1.8 S, and vignetting wide open.
Strengths, weaknesses & performance
Strengths
- +Very sharp centre at f/2
- +Compact and light at 360g
- +Aperture ring with de-click, AF/MF switch, Fn button
- +Negligible lateral CA
- +$275 price
Weaknesses
- −STM AF not suited to sport
- −Over 2 EV vignetting at f/2
- −No in-camera correction profile
- −Sealing limited to a mount gasket
Six-axis rating
- Sharpness
- 8.9
- Bokeh Rendering
- 8.0
- Autofocus Speed
- 7.5
- Flare Resistance
- 7.6
- Build / Sealing
- 8.0
- Value / Size
- 9.4
Editorial 0–10 ratings synthesised from published reviews.
Technical specifications
| Mount | Nikon Z (FX) · full frame |
|---|---|
| Focal length | 85mm |
| Category | Short Telephoto |
| Maximum aperture | f/2 |
| Minimum aperture | f/16 |
| Construction | 10 elements in 8 groups |
| Special elements | 2x ED · 2x HR · Water & Smudge Resistant Coating |
| Aperture blades | 9 |
| Focus type | Autofocus |
|---|---|
| Drive | STM (Lead Screw) |
| Minimum focus | 0.74m |
| Max magnification | 0.13× |
| Stabilisation | None (uses body IBIS) |
| Teleconverters | Not supported |
| Weight | 360g |
|---|---|
| Diameter × length | 69.0 × 78.0mm |
| Filter thread | ⌀58mm |
| Weather sealing | No |
| Aperture ring | Yes |
| De-clickable aperture | Yes |
| Release year | 2025 |
| Launch MSRP | $275 USD |
Sources
Specifications
- viltrox.com/products/af-85mm-f2-0-z
- viltrox.com/products/af-85mm-f2-0-z.json
- opticallimits.com/sony/sony-fe-full-format/viltrox-af-85mm-f-2-fe-evo-review
Similar focal length alternatives
- VSAF 85mm F2.0 EVO Z vs AF 85mm F1.8 (Nikon Z)
- VSAF 85mm F2.0 EVO Z vs 85mm f/5.6 2X Ultra Macro APO (Nikon Z)
- VSAF 85mm F2.0 EVO Z vs NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S
- 7Artisans
AF 85mm F1.8 (Nikon Z)
85mmF1.8- WT
- 452g
- FLT
- ⌀62mm
- MFD
- 0.80m
- MSRP
- $299
AFRING·DC - Laowa
85mm f/5.6 2X Ultra Macro APO (Nikon Z)
85mmF5.6- WT
- 314g
- FLT
- ⌀46mm
- MFD
- 0.16m
- MSRP
- $449
MFRING - NikonS-Line
NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S
85mmF1.2- WT
- 1,160g
- FLT
- ⌀82mm
- MFD
- 0.85m
- MSRP
- $2,800
AFWR
