When we were testing the Viltrox 135mm f1.8 FE lens, we used it with the Sony a1 II. Obviously, we used it before the camera was announced. So now, we’ve updated our review to include our findings using the Sony a1 II.
Here are the sections from our review that have been updated. You can read the entire review here at this link:
Gear Used
We tested the Viltrox 135mm f1.8 with the Sony a7r V and the Sony a7r III. The lens was provided to us by Viltrox, who does not expect to get it back. The a7r V was a loaner provided to us by Sony. The a7r III is my personal camera; and it was used alongside the Profoto B10, which is my own light.
Further testing was done using the Sony a1 II.
Focusing Update November 2024
Combined with the Sony a1 II’s autofocus updates to include up to 30% better autofocus for people, I found the Viltrox 135mm f1.8 able to almost hold its own in autofocus performance with both Tamron and Sony’s lens offerings. Even in super difficult and backlit situations, this lens did a great job when I mounted it to the Sony a1 II.
Image Quality Update November 2024
Now that the Sony a1 II has been announced, we talk more about using the Viltrox 135mm f1.8 with it. There’s a special pop and character that comes with this lens that I can never seem to get with Sony’s own lenses. In the past few years, Sony has overengineered their lenses to be way too clean. And the Viltrox isn’t as clean. That means that it has both pop and character — something that’s really needed with portraiture. And for that reason, we really like it.
Let’s Talk Art
This is the part where Phoblographer’s editors really talk about an art project that they did with the camera gear that they’re testing. In this case, It was really just straight portraiture of my buddy and capturing a few moments in Central Park. I’m not often inspired by the 135mm focal length, but I can totally see how someone would be.
All of these were shot with the Sony a1 II.
