Sony a7iii user here. My lenses lineup consist of Tamron lenses and a laowa 100mm f2.8 macro. I've never owned a Sony lens but I know my camera's performance. I've shot for over 70 clients and approx 1,500 photo ads and 40 cinematic videos and I, nor my clients, complained about the quality of the content.
If you forced me to chose, I'd probably say Lawoa is my favorite manufacturer of Lenses like full stop. Their entire company is pretty much just built around making lenses that nobody else makes and I really respect them for that. And that's ignoring the fact their lenes are built extremely well too!
Not really the same thing but I really like Sirui. Their Jupiter lenses are really good and well priced, and every lens of theirs that I used was well built with good optical performance, and even though the anamorphics aren't perfect, they do the job quite well for the money.
Laowa is so great. I had their 15mm macro. A freaking 15mm macro, it didn't have to be super good image quality to beat the competition, there is no competition. It takes such unique images, and it still has excellent IQ.
I agree Laowa is great but the idea nobody else makes similar products is old news and not as true as it was a couple years ago. Some of the latest products from other companies join Laowa in making excellent super wide (9mm for full frame), macro and cine lenses. I agree that Laowa is probably my favorite but I'd rather have a 2024 design from one of their competitors than a five year old Laowa made first for long back focus DSLR's. Time are changing. It will be interesting to see who gets left behind.
@@lucadipaolo1997 Actually Sirui is one of the biggest tripod makers. They just started making lenses a few years ago and I heard their anamorphic work really well considering they are priced around a normal lens of similar specs. For Laowa, its all about making crazy specs and shapes nobody else makes. Like super wide but not fisheye, or super macro and most famously the probe lens. TT Artisan and the rest of those small manual lenses work, but barely. Most still lack good coating so ghosting is a problem. and they are not the sharpest (even primes aren't) YongNuo is now creating really good autofocus ones that are really well priced, and really budget autofocus lenses like the plastic 50 1.8(they even made one for for RF mount) Edit: Viltrox may be the one making really good primes (both performance and build quality), not yongnuo, which is mostly budget autofocus that works.
Thrilled with my Viltrox 75 and 27 1.2’s. They coexist quite happily with their “more serious” GM, G, Sigma Art, and Sigma Contemporary step-siblings. Best to all.
@@SPECTRA890 Why bother? So many reviews and full size samples to be find everywhere. Seeing it with your own eyes surely has more value than a random person just saying "it's sharp bro". For example: th-cam.com/video/OhF8zI0KiHw/w-d-xo.html Summary: very good. But too heavy or for my liking, I prefer my lenses small and manual on APS-C.
@@SPECTRA890The 75 and 27 on my Fuji xh2/xh2s are two of the sharpest lenses I’ve ever used on Fuji. So much so that I sold my Fuji 23 and 33 1.4 because the 27 out performed them both in overall image quality.
I have a TTArtisan 50mm f/0.95. It’s “inspired” by the legendary Leica Noctilux. Manual focus, excellent build quality, metal cap. Performance-wise, every reviewer agrees it’s about 80% of the Noctilux… but for 8% of the price. Wide open is not sharp, but stopped down it develops beautifully, with gorgeous color rendition and can show excellent detail even on the highest resolution sensor. One of my absolute favorite lenses for sure.
Something I like about you and your channel Jared is that you aren't afraid to admit that you were wrong (which isn't too often IMO), and you offer yourself sufficient praise when you are right. Keep up the great vids
@Mike1984-lc9rh I'd bet that you won't be able to tell if you're looking at a 1.2 GM or the Viltrox Pro lenses if you shoot both on an APS-C body and zoom to 100%.
@Mike1984-lc9rhyou are missing the point. The TTartisan 50/1.2 is an all metal manual focus APSC lens, it doesn’t compete with the Sony, but that’s not what it is trying to do. However it is less straightforward if you compare it to something that is more similar like a Voigtlander. This TTartisan lens is absurdly good for the price and for those who like its character it is simply a nice lens. The Viltrox 27/1.2 and 75/1.2 APSC lenses are not cheap, but still more affordable than the competition and both are pretty exceptional for the price.
TT Artisans 25mm F2 pancake that is all over You Tube. I took the risk since it was cheap. I was shocked that it was sharper overall than my adapted vintage Nikon and Canon lenses on my XE2. The pictures are crisp and sharp. The feel of turning the focusing ring is very smooth and the aperture rings are click smooth too. F8 set at 1.5m, Auto ISO and your camera becomes a point and shoot. Totally surprised. 😮
got the 75mm since release - its the best for portraits hands down. since last week the 27mm also went into my bag, or better onto my X-H2, and its glued to it. That focal length is so damn versatile and sharp from 1.2 just like the 75. Can recommend as well.
@@mongini1Indeed the 27mm is perfect for anything. Will ad the 75mm also soon. Viltrox needs to be a expand this Pro line with more lenses. They need to make a 10mm or something.
@@Ton-x4r would love to see a 56mm pro tbh. and the real killer lens would be a 16-50 f2 - i'd happily spend a grand or more if its like the pro primes...
Why does it surprise you? I know the US has a thing about China but Apple products are made there so why the reservations? Don’t know about Sirui lenses but if they’re anything like their accessories (tripods, ballheads, monopods) they’ll be full on quality.
I've bought the Meike 85 mm 1.8 for EF Mount and the quality is good and sharp. Build quality is solid metal and plastic. Only issues is that the autofocus is a bit loud. Shooting wide open has chroma and minimum focus distance is 3 feet but I've been able to get great results with it, plus it has taken a fall on hard concrete and still is ticking. 2 years and still going strong!
The fact that the Chinese lens are nipping at the heels of the more established brands at much lower prices will only force the big players to not rest on their laurels. It's an overall positive effect for the industry.
I purchased a TT Artisan 90mm F1.25 with 77mm filter attachment. It has a L mount which I use on my Leica SL I think it was under $500.00 when purchased. The shallow depth of field is why I purchased the lens as the same lens in Leica was 20 tunes the cost. No auto focus but you get used to using it. It takes very nice images and was worth the investment.
Bought the Nikon Z version of the same lens. VERY happy with it. I usually buy the manual focus lenses from these companies. Reminds me of the lenses I used in the 70s and 80s.
I have it too, I bought it to replace the 85 mm f/1.4 D feeling I had on DSLR. It is very good optically but it is a brick, with no AF, no electronics… They are still not there but they offer a variety of lenses one could not get from traditional manufacturers without spending thousands of euros.
As a Sony APS-C shooter I can confidently say that Viltrox 13mm F1.4 , 27mm F1.2 and 75mm F1.2 are all very good lenses. I also have Yongnuo 16mm F1.8 which is quite good for how cheap it is. I would say Viltrox lenses have a slightly better autofocus mechanism compared to Yongnuo but for the most part Yongnuo is good enough.
Samyang is a phenomenal lens. I still use their 85 & 35 f1.4 V1 for weddings and videos. 3 years and not one client said i wish the images were sharper. Even though my business is growing i am switching over to all sigma or Sony GM lenses. But still plan on keeping the Samyang as backup. And Viltrox 16mm f1.8 is one heck of a lens that is hard to beat
Korean Samyang 24mm f1.8 lenses, sharp and good for astrophotography - 85 f1.4 - 35mm f1.4, very good lenses. Samyang also has a zoom glass for Sony f2.8. I'm not sure, but in the USA these lenses are probably called Rokinon, in Europe Samyang.
Great video Jared and yeah, I love the "Butter Maker" Viltrox 75mm f/1.2, 27mm f/1.2, and the 13mm f/1.4 in particular, but I recently tested the new 7artisans 50mm f/1.8 full frame lens and it is also an excellent option "optically" for the money, but build could be better...
5:18 - 100% agreed. Those Chinese lenses have gotten a lot better the past 4-5 years. I've been advocating for cheap lenses for beginners, especially when EVERY photographer I know (personally) has been suggesting $800+ lenses to beginners. Great video, Fro!
We got a Meike 85mm f1.8 full frame AF STM Z mount, using it on my wife's Z30 (so it's 127mm equivalent) for outdoor daytime and it has been great. Lack of VR together with the Z30's lack of IBIS limits it a bit, but I was still able to get some beautiful indoor shots with it at xmas too. The quality and feel is fine, it's basically what you'd expect from Nikon at the kit lens or basic prime level. Does not feel like some kind of cheap knock-off at all. Excellent lens hood and lens cap too. Focus is decently quick. Optics at least on APS-C are sublime.
I bought the Viltrox 85mm f/1.8 based on the video you did and have taken a few images... I am blown away at the quality for the price, the autofocus on the Z6 isn't 100% but its 99% of the way there and the photos I can take are very nice looking, sharp and in focus when I hit the focus point I want.
I shot Nikon for 40+ years and a few years ago switched to Sony. I have a couple Sony G lenses that I have been very happy with (due to budget) and recently got the Yongnuo 85 F1.8. I shot Professional Box lacrosse with this lens and was blown away by the results... The AF was fantastic, and the image quality is amazing (shooting portraits of my family including studio work with Flash work). I don't know about the other manufacturers, but Yongnuo (mentioned in the vid) is amazing for the money. I did try the Viltrox 24-79 F2.8, but returned it when after shooting dogs for the rescue I shoot for I was disappointed with AF performance. I went ultimately to the Sony G 24-105... Not looking back for this focal range.
@@nasty5-oh893 it has nothing to do with snobs or those who are not snobs. The fact of the matter is, cheap Chinese gear has its place however it is NOT what is “keeping photography alive!”
I have the Laowa 35mm f0.95 and the 9mm f5.6 for Sony E-Mount. I was rocking the 9mm in lost placesque industrial compounds in north-west Germany. The 135° view angle is amazing, especially when you can’t increase the distance to the object. The 0.95 is ludicrously bright. It allows for live video of the Milky Way. Yes, you read correctly, you can film the Milky Way with it. 🤩
Hi from Uruguay dear Jared ( I have been your follower for many years) and yes, those lenses have really improved! Living in southamerica and having huge taxes on importing them, there was no other chance than to use 3rd party lenses! Sigma and Tamron are the more used down here. You can still find those Yongnuo for sale ! I have used a lot of lenses!!! As I moved to Fuji xt, the Laowa lenses are great for that camera. Those are my prefered ones! Thanks for addressing those lenses!!!
3:51 "If you're a professional, you shouldn't be looking at these lenses?" Yeah, no. Respectfully disagree. You don't need to have expensive glass to be a professional.
You're just wrong!!!! Giggle... I owe much to your vids critiquing Cameras and lens options for Canon in 2022. This helped me on my buy... to lead me to the best in class for my budget... most economical buy for (landscape type guy) a Canon R with a 24 - 70 2.8 lens and a 24 -200 F4 lens (as opposed to the lower more expensive 24-200 F* lens options). Saved me bunch of money to buy filters and other accessories. When able to validate any of your critiques.. I've always been able to validate your experiences shared on your vids... You are a real, true, honest, experienced presenter!!!. Hope you're critiques are viewed by many folks as they will find they are lucky to have benefitted from your valuable information!!! Cheers!!!
I always figured that many of these 3rd party lenses were missing coatings and higher quality manufacturing processes and cheaper materials. I've seen some reviews and things like chromatic aberration and how the f-stop needs to be tightened up to get sharp shots. This is a great update Jared has done. I think limiting yourself to the big three all day every day is not where many people are at. I'm not saying we need reviews on old film cameras, but some budget gear reviews would be great! I know it's hard to show enthusiasm over some cheap glass when you've had your hands on Canon L-series lenses to do your job, but could it hurt to at least show some love to the beginner? THANKS JARED!!
One thing to keep in mind and it took me a while to do it....these days, most all chromatic aberration is exceedingly easy to fix in post...a quick button or slider and *POOF*...gone. I rarely ever look at what CA a lens has as that I know it's generally nothing I'll end up dealing with in a finished image. Just my $0.02, CC
I got a 60mm f/2.8 Macro lens from 7Artisans and was completely blown away by how high quality the lens was for the price. For a tiny package it has a hefty weight with all metal construction (including the lens cap). A great recommendation for anyone trying to get into Macro lenses
I got over a year ago my first Laowa 2:1 macro 100mm 2.8 lens for my Z6 II and I was blown away with the sharpness and overal rendition from it, even for landscapes and closeups. I am still amazed every time I use it. I am still not convinced that every product from chinese manufacturers would reach this level but I know I got a gem!
With modern computer algorithms to aid design, everyone is improving. The Chinese lenses used to be low quality. Same for some other older brands. Sigma was terrible long ago. Tamron was terrible long ago. But today there are lots of companies making excellent lenses. There are still companies making bad lenses, but it is worthwhile to test the new stuff to figure out if the new lenses are OK.
You can't beat the Viltrox 27 and 75mm F1.2 PRO lenses -- period. They are also releases LAB lenses, which are supposed to be much better than the PRO. The next lens is the FE 135mm F1.8 but they also have several other PRO and LAB f1.2s on the horizon.
Rokinon MF12mm f2.8, Irix MF11mm f4 and Viltrox AF20mm f2.8 lenses on my Z9 and Z5 bodies work well. I ran a photo business for 37 years and I am now a retired hobby shooter. When I started out in 1974 the Soligors, Vivitars and Pluracoat lenses got me on my way. Today's 3rd party lenses are a good step above the quality of lenses I started out with.
You definitely have a point in the context of beginners who need something good enough, and have to buy at a good quality-price ratio without breaking the bank. I re-started a hobby-level photography journey based on a Nikon Z30. Viltrox drew my attention, and I got the 13/1.4, the 23/1.4, the 56/1.4 and the 75/1.2 Pro. At my level, those lenses are capable of doing better than I'm able to do. Very happy with them at the moment. In my opinion, with the 75/1.2 Pro, Viltrox upped their game one more level.
I have a bunch of 7Artisan and TTArtisan lenses for my M10-P. Are they 'good' as similar Leica lenses? Probably not. Would I have the choice of lenses (from 28mm to 75mm) if I were buying Leitz? No. But I can enjoy the rangefinder experience in full and not be entirely broke.
I just bought a Yongnuo 85 F1.8 from eBay for my Nikon Z5. I was very happy of the image sharpness. The Autofocus works well. The Bokeh is truly amazing! Yongnuo is my first and only Chinese made len and it is an A+ Buy for the money.
As a life long Nikon glass user, I tend to be conservative with lens choices. But, recently bought a Viltrox 20mm f2.8 AF for US$158 new. A low risk trial. It's got a metal mount, nice build, and a sharp image (in the centre at least). It turns out 20mm isn't really my style, so I'm super glad I didn't overspend!
Thanks for bringing this to light Jared - I bought an RF mount Laowa 15mm Zero distortion full frame lens back in 2019 - and it’s been a BEAST of a lens - And although I’ve since bought a 24-105 L-series, I had already built a six figure business from that Laowa and a couple non-L Canon lenses. That particular lens is manual, but it never limited me, equally for photo and video, and is still my second favorite lens to this day. second only to my Canon 24-105 L. Don’t sleep on Laowa. 🙌🙌
I shot with a Samyang (so, Korean, but still) RF 85mm f/1.4 AF for years until I blew out the shutter on my EOS R, and it was legit one of my favorite lenses I've ever shot with! It has such a distinct look & vibe, and I genuinely love it. In fact, I lent it to Chris & Jordan when they did their illegal Canon RF lens video! Let me know if you wanna borrow it to test too 😜
Always enjoy your video's, thank you. One lens I purchased was a YONGNUO YN35mm F2Z DF DSM Lens Full frame Auto Focus for Nikon z mount. It is extremely sharp and has weather sealing. Full Auto focus with dedicated LN1 button & AF/M switch. It received the same overall score as the native Nikon Z 35mm f1.8 lens. Focus is quiet, seems to work fine, only issue is occasionally when focusing at its minimum focus distance it will sometimes hunt a bit. Canadian Price about $450, not super cheap but well worth it.
I use a Mike 85 1.8 on my a6300 and have no complaints on the sharpness or ease of use. It gets the job done, I just wish it was an autofocus lens. I also have a Yongnuo 50 for my Nikon and I love it. It is one of the few that doesn’t sound or feel cheap and hits my autofocus better than the native lens. Creamy background and an almost painterly look while staying sharp. It’s my go-to lens for travel and portraits.
I had the Meike 85mm f1.8 initially. I say "initially" because I tried to save on money instead of getting the Viltrox counterpart. Meike's plastic build was something I can live with and the harsh chromatic aberration is something I can fix (you get what you paid for right?) but the thing that made me get out and buy the Viltrox version was reliability. The meike version would give me random lens errors and had no real reason or cause when it'll happen it was an absolute nightmare specially when covering sport events. That made me "rage purchase" the Viltrox version and boy it was worth it, built like a tank, quicker auto-focus, and no more lens errors! So Meike is still one of those chinese brands we need to keep and extra eye out for while Viltrox is slowly becoming this reliable brand. Viltrox is still more expensive but the peace of mind given by it reliability is priceless.
I practiced on a 2nd hand panasonic g7 and a 7artisan manual as a beginner coming from phone cameras. Now I have the panasonic s5 and sigma art 24 70 2.8 and i classify myself a "pro-sumer". I'd don't make money out of my camera but I do love it as a hobby. Cheap lenses are great for buidling your foundational skills like composition.
I have Viltrox 23 f.14, 33 f.14 and 85 f1.8 for my Fuji bodies and love them. I like the sharpness and the way they render color. Autofocus is as fast as my older bodies are capable of so no issues there.
I have a Laowa 10-18mm on my Sony A7-3 for livestreaming and it was the only for my purpose suitable case available lens a year ago. The 10mm 2.8 will be my next one and I'm excited to get it!
I remember my first camera I was really happy with the tokina 11-16 2.8 lens for my starter crop sensor. Super wide but I had a ton of fun with it starting out.
I’m one of the few that managed to get a Viltrox 85mm F1.8 RF mount and I confirm on my R6 it’s a fantastic lens for the price. Sometimes the burst mode does not work well, so I need to switch off and back on the camera, but other than that I’m very happy with both the build quality of the lens and the pictures it delivers.
Nikon Z50 user... I have owned the Viltrox 23mm and 56mm... I mistakingly sold them. For my uses (portrait and models, posting on the internet) they were awesome, very sharp on the Z mount. I recently purchased a Yonguo 50mm f1.8. I am not as happy with it big quality as the Viltrox, but it is very sharp. No regrets.
I have a XIAOYI Brand 42.5mm f/1.8 for Micro Four Thirds. (Lens cap says just "Yi".) It's full autofocus. There's a switch on the side to switch between normal and macro. It's all plastic, but feels good quality plastic, and not that flimsy. It's brilliant. The AF works - if not super fast, at least as fast as the Lumix collapsible 30-100mm and 12-32mm lenses - and it's decently sharp. It wasn't as stupidly cheap as the Yongnuo 50mm, but it wasn't expensive by any stretch. For my needs (not a pro), it works perfectly.
I have the Viltrox 16mm f1.8 and 85mm f1.8 and they are both outstanding lenses! Lightweight, solid AF performance, sharp images......all at 1.8......definite thumbs up.
Switching from my sigma dgdn 35 1.4 to my viltrox 85 1.8 ii, i notice zero significant difference other than bokeh and field of view. Actually, the viltrox is my favorite lens in my kit. The sigma is heavy and feels bulky, whereas the viktrox has amazing build quality and FEELS like an expensive lens. I just love everything about it. I tried Rokinon - not even in the same universe as the viltrox for quality, as I'm a pixel peeper. I'm super excited for their new lenses, just wish they'd make a nifty fifty now!! Oh, and autofocus is literally never a thought. It's so freaking fantastic i cant explain. I did have ti uodate the firmware because the camera was crashing, but it was also a new a7iv and since flashing I've not had a problem since!! SO GOOD!!
I shoot Canon. I have some sigma lenses - no complaints whatsoever and the ones I have aren't even their "art" or "sport" lenses. I also have one Tokina lens and I love it! Maybe I've been lucky, but I have no regrets about my 3rd party lenses.
Chiming in as one of the few people who has the 85mm 1.4 RF from Samyang before Canon told them to stop making it... and honestly... it's got blazing fast AF, it's super sharp, and it's in my bag every time for both photo and video. It's also surprisingly light. R5, R6ii, and R8 all work perfectly with it.
About 6 years ago I bought a Meike battery grip for my then Canon 7D Mark II camera. It took 3 grips before I got one that didn't have loose screws rattling around inside or missing from the outside. Still, I went ahead and bought one because it cost about 20% of the Canon one. It was still working properly up until the time I sold the camera last year. I don't know whether the quality of Meike lenses is better than their battery grips from 6 years ago, but I would be very reluctant to buy one until I was sure their quality control has been drastically improved.
Many of these inexpensive Chinese lenses have been manual focus only. For some purposes that works just fine. Many offer F0.95 aperture lenses which I have not seen with autofocus capabilities. They are fun and unique, but are also not likely to be the main lens you use. Some have optical imperfections that are actually wanted to create a certain look. There is also a growing trend to use vintage lenses adapted to modern mirrorless cameras to get that look. Some manufacturers like Voigtlander just make manual focus lenses that have a unique look. My Voigtlander 60mm F0.95 looks amazing for black and white shots when paired with the Leica Monocrome color profile on my camera. There are just so many amazing and fun lenses available these days. I just hope the market doesn't get over-saturated and crash.
I bought a cheap 7Artisins 10mm f/2.8 full-frame fish eye expecting a $250 lens. It’s really well built, and it does what it supposed to do for as little as I use it. I also got the Viltrox 75mm f/1.2 Pro for my Z 9 (knowing it’s crop sensor, but for my use, the 19.5mp is plenty), gets me a cheap f/1.2 lens for when it gets really dark and I need to AF in the dark and a 112mm f/1.8 (from a DOF/Bokeh perspective) was a pretty good choice and it’s very well built and gives really good quality.
Viltrox 1.2 apsc lenses are amazing. Gives a great stepping stone for apsc shooters that may be looking to make some money but aren’t making enough to justify full frame cameras and lenses.
I used the 65mm Mitikon for the GFX system and for 599 USD it's the GOAT for GFX cameras. I also have the 7artisans 27mm f/2.8 for the Fuji X mount and it's okay for the money.
Before I got my R3 and 6 of the Canon L lenses, I was on a Canon t6i and still learning. I bought a Meike 85 f1.8, Meike 8mm f3.5 rectangular fisheye, Ultimaxx 7mm f3.0 rectangular fisheye. They are all good lenses.
I have Tokina's 85 1.8 on the Sony e mount. From my research it is the sharpest in its class for the price point (350/400 ish) without any autofocus issues and was able to carry its own against Sony and Sigma0, its better than Viltrox and MEike, but Sigma's 1.4 is still a tad sharper but twice the price; and for the price of Sigma, you really are getting severe diminishing returns on the dollar for the very little improvement in sharpness. In spite of the sharpness, thhe Tokina's bokeh is not harsh either and is as smooth as the Sigma's. Tom Colton here on TH-cam did an extensive comparison review of the 85s. I did get the Viltrox 23 1.4 for A6500 as this was the only option in the price range, and I'm pretty happy with it.
Cracking video / commentary. It is quite novel for this sort of opinion and is also nice that you define the types of photographer who you say would look at purchasing these.
I've been shooting Nikon since 2018 and I just picked up the VILTROX 56mm F1.7 for my Z30 and it seems great so far. It gives me a super light-weight setup for my favorite 85mm focal length that I can easily put in a coat pocket. Considering it was only $139.99 and Nikon doesn't make an ASP-C lens that compares, I'd say it was a no-brainer... we'll see how it holds up.
I got a Meike 85 f/1.8 for Canon EF, I used it with my crop frame 80D. For the $179 I paid for it, I feel I got a really good bargain. It gave me great images with really nice bokeh and excellent low light performance. Like you said it is not as good as a native canon lens, although I would rank it better than the kit lenses that came with the Rebel cameras like the 18-55. I recently upgraded to an R6 and have adapted all my EF glass. I have used the Meike a couple of time and I am still glad I bought it. It is worth the money I paid for it.
I have the older Viltrox 85 1.8, and 33 1.4, and just picked up the TTArtisan 27 2.8. For a hobbyist or a photographer on a budget I really haven't found any major faults. The colors are decent if not good, there is a little issue at the corners sometimes if I'm pixel peeking, but I generally have been pleased with the results.
I'm a Nikon mirrorless shooter but I've been using "specialty" Chinese lenses, some adapted, since before Covid. These lenses include the Venus Laowa manual focus 60mm 2x macro with ring light, manual focus 105mm STF, and manual focus 15mm micro. My 10mm AF F2.8 FF should arrive in a couple of days. The first 3 lenses are not cheapies and are way better than they have a right to be.
I have a fully manual kamlan 21mm f1.8. got it for 90 bucks including taxes. Sharp, great micro contrast, and can close focus like a champ. Love the lens. Also it's quite small
Can't speak for photo lenses but chinese cine lenses in the last few years are fantastic quality and extremely competitive priced. Not just Sirui and Laowa, now also DZO, NiSi, Blazar.
I've had the Viltrox 85mm F1.8 for almost 3 years. I have the version II. It has been a great lens. It is easy to upgrade the firmware with a USB cable, as it has an onboard port for the upgrade.
yes I have used Viltrox 23mm f/1.4 for Fuji X mount. It is am amazing lens. For the price it just can't be beat. AutoFocus is fast and image quality is awesome.
I bought a TTArtisan 35mm F0.9 for my R7 - cheap manual focus. Great build quality and I like the images. Go high F stop and I can shoot buildings and landscapes, go F0.9 and I can get some damn good portrait images. I have the R7 for reach. My expensive glass is above 400mm. But for occasional messing around in the street for cheap, nothing beats my tiny R7, my tiny 35mm F0.9 with everything manual. I love it and I don’t think you will tell the difference between this and a shot from a 35mm L F1.0 ….which doesn’t exist
Hey Fro.... message from a neighbour up in the Great White North. I have the Viltrox Pro Series 27mm f/1.2 and the Viltrox Pro Series 75mm f/1.2 for my Fujifilm X-H1. Both work flawlessly and the results are sharp with good contrast.
I'm just getting started in photography. I've got a Canon M50 MKII. I have TTArtisan 25mm F2.0 and 35mm F1.4, and 7Artisans 11mm F2.8. All manual focus. They take great pictures for my skill level. They are at least as clear as the Canon kit lens and 55-200mm.
Samyang/Rokinon 35 f1.8 is a very good lens. The fact that you can get it new for $230 is crazy. Tested on my a7RV. It is reasonably sharp at 1.8. it is not as sharp as my 35 GM at 1.4 but close. Step the Samyang down to 2.8 and it matches the sharpness of the GM. Fact accurate auto focus. I have been very happy with it.
Granted they're Korean and not Chinese, but I still happily use a first-gen Samyang AF 35mm f/1.4 whenever I need the autofocus or aperture. I know you famously dislike the idea of their lenses. I still think you should give their AF lenses a shot, though keep in mind that the 50mm f/1.4s are the very obvious weaknesses of the lineup.
All 4 lenses that I have for my a7iii are Viltrox lenses. I have the 23mm 1.4, the 55mm 1.8, the 85mm 1.8, and just bought 16mm 1.8. They are cost effective and sharp lenses.
I got some Viltrox lenses (DX & FX) and I like them. The 20mm & 40mm are not as good as the Nikon versions (I guess) but good enough for me, a hobbyist. I really like the Viltrox 85mm 1.8 and I may get my hands on their 50mm version, too. For someone earning money, the native or high-end 3rd party lenses may make more sense. I also love my three ART lenses (35mm, 50mm & the superior 105mm 1.4). Thanks for the video and I'm looking forward to the next reviews.
Yeah, some of them are surprisingly good. Christopher Frost has been reviewing them for years and they range from "not very good" (unsharp, ghosting, chromatic aberration) to great value for the money (good sharpness even up close, little CA, great sunstars) and a handful are really good. There are a couple that I would've been tempted to get but I shoot Canon so that's a no-go. But for Sony, Fuji, and Nikon shooters there's a lot to choose from.
You're always telling us that those 3rd party lenses are not for professionals while many of us are using it. I'm an event photographer for many years and my Tamron and Sigma never fails me. Yes, native glass has an advantage when it comes to auto-focus and because of artificial limitations specially on Sony. But maybe less than 10% of photographers are into wildlife/sports. Third party lenses performance are more than enough for events, portrait and other type of professional photography.
I have Meike 85/1.4 Z on my Zf, and it's been pretty good. I have 50/1.8G, Tamron 24-70/2.8 G2, 70-200/2.8 G2, 150-600 G2, SP 90/2.8 macro, Irix 11/4 before getting into Z mount. With Zf, I bought 24-120/4 S which is a very good lens Meike 85/1.4 is a little slower on AF and very yellow shooting against strong light sources. If it had better coating to deal with lens flare, I'd call it a great lens. I heard there is a new firmware update improving AF, but I haven't got the chance to make a video comparing the difference so I am still on an older firmware.
I my very first third party lens a few months ago, a Laowa Argus 35mm f/0.95 for my Canon RF mount, yes it is still manual focus but it is the most fun I have had with a lens for decades! You do need a ND to avoid having to stop down in bright environments though.
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Sony a7iii user here. My lenses lineup consist of Tamron lenses and a laowa 100mm f2.8 macro. I've never owned a Sony lens but I know my camera's performance. I've shot for over 70 clients and approx 1,500 photo ads and 40 cinematic videos and I, nor my clients, complained about the quality of the content.
Great
If you forced me to chose, I'd probably say Lawoa is my favorite manufacturer of Lenses like full stop. Their entire company is pretty much just built around making lenses that nobody else makes and I really respect them for that. And that's ignoring the fact their lenes are built extremely well too!
Not really the same thing but I really like Sirui. Their Jupiter lenses are really good and well priced, and every lens of theirs that I used was well built with good optical performance, and even though the anamorphics aren't perfect, they do the job quite well for the money.
Laowa is so great. I had their 15mm macro. A freaking 15mm macro, it didn't have to be super good image quality to beat the competition, there is no competition. It takes such unique images, and it still has excellent IQ.
I have the 65mm macro 2x excellent build and image quality with small.
I agree Laowa is great but the idea nobody else makes similar products is old news and not as true as it was a couple years ago. Some of the latest products from other companies join Laowa in making excellent super wide (9mm for full frame), macro and cine lenses. I agree that Laowa is probably my favorite but I'd rather have a 2024 design from one of their competitors than a five year old Laowa made first for long back focus DSLR's. Time are changing. It will be interesting to see who gets left behind.
@@lucadipaolo1997
Actually Sirui is one of the biggest tripod makers. They just started making lenses a few years ago and I heard their anamorphic work really well considering they are priced around a normal lens of similar specs.
For Laowa, its all about making crazy specs and shapes nobody else makes. Like super wide but not fisheye, or super macro and most famously the probe lens.
TT Artisan and the rest of those small manual lenses work, but barely. Most still lack good coating so ghosting is a problem. and they are not the sharpest (even primes aren't)
YongNuo is now creating really good autofocus ones that are really well priced, and really budget autofocus lenses like the plastic 50 1.8(they even made one for for RF mount)
Edit: Viltrox may be the one making really good primes (both performance and build quality), not yongnuo, which is mostly budget autofocus that works.
Thrilled with my Viltrox 75 and 27 1.2’s. They coexist quite happily with their “more serious” GM, G, Sigma Art, and Sigma Contemporary step-siblings. Best to all.
How is the sharpness in comparison
Plain scale of 1 - 5
Where sony sharp g master is a 4
@@SPECTRA890 Why bother? So many reviews and full size samples to be find everywhere. Seeing it with your own eyes surely has more value than a random person just saying "it's sharp bro". For example: th-cam.com/video/OhF8zI0KiHw/w-d-xo.html Summary: very good. But too heavy or for my liking, I prefer my lenses small and manual on APS-C.
@@SPECTRA890The 75 and 27 on my Fuji xh2/xh2s are two of the sharpest lenses I’ve ever used on Fuji. So much so that I sold my Fuji 23 and 33 1.4 because the 27 out performed them both in overall image quality.
@@SPECTRA890 At least a 3.5. They are stupid sharp, especially for the price. Really happy with my 27mm too
Where or how did you buy from?
I have a TTArtisan 50mm f/0.95. It’s “inspired” by the legendary Leica Noctilux. Manual focus, excellent build quality, metal cap.
Performance-wise, every reviewer agrees it’s about 80% of the Noctilux… but for 8% of the price. Wide open is not sharp, but stopped down it develops beautifully, with gorgeous color rendition and can show excellent detail even on the highest resolution sensor.
One of my absolute favorite lenses for sure.
I have the 35mm version..mounted to an A7SII, you can damn near see in the pitch black haha
Inspired? You mean a bad cheap copy like everything from China.
Something I like about you and your channel Jared is that you aren't afraid to admit that you were wrong (which isn't too often IMO), and you offer yourself sufficient praise when you are right. Keep up the great vids
He’s said in the past that he never reads the comments
@gregoryz6545 I'm sure he does to an extent, since he reacts to and replies to a few.
@@victahh281 I agree, unless Steven or Dan go through it and tell him ones that might stir him up 😂
@@gregoryz6545 Yes I do, just not all of course
@@victahh281 Yup
The build and IQ of the TTArtisan 50mm 1.2 is absurdly good. The Viltrox 27mm 1.2 will be known as a legendary lens.
100% agree on the 27mm 1.2 - just got it last week, and its glued to my camera. And i'll never stop it down except for maybe landscape shots.
Yes i love my 50mm f1.2, and for 100 bucks....freaking crazy
@Mike1984-lc9rh I'd bet that you won't be able to tell if you're looking at a 1.2 GM or the Viltrox Pro lenses if you shoot both on an APS-C body and zoom to 100%.
@Mike1984-lc9rhyou are missing the point. The TTartisan 50/1.2 is an all metal manual focus APSC lens, it doesn’t compete with the Sony, but that’s not what it is trying to do. However it is less straightforward if you compare it to something that is more similar like a Voigtlander. This TTartisan lens is absurdly good for the price and for those who like its character it is simply a nice lens. The Viltrox 27/1.2 and 75/1.2 APSC lenses are not cheap, but still more affordable than the competition and both are pretty exceptional for the price.
TT Artisans 25mm F2 pancake that is all over You Tube. I took the risk since it was cheap. I was shocked that it was sharper overall than my adapted vintage Nikon and Canon lenses on my XE2. The pictures are crisp and sharp. The feel of turning the focusing ring is very smooth and the aperture rings are click smooth too. F8 set at 1.5m, Auto ISO and your camera becomes a point and shoot. Totally surprised. 😮
Viltrox is up to the game now, their 75mm 1.2 for apsc is a masterpiece
Their 13, 27, 75, 16 are some of the best lenses out there
got the 75mm since release - its the best for portraits hands down.
since last week the 27mm also went into my bag, or better onto my X-H2, and its glued to it. That focal length is so damn versatile and sharp from 1.2 just like the 75. Can recommend as well.
@@mongini1Indeed the 27mm is perfect for anything. Will ad the 75mm also soon. Viltrox needs to be a expand this Pro line with more lenses. They need to make a 10mm or something.
@@Ton-x4r would love to see a 56mm pro tbh. and the real killer lens would be a 16-50 f2 - i'd happily spend a grand or more if its like the pro primes...
Why does it surprise you? I know the US has a thing about China but Apple products are made there so why the reservations? Don’t know about Sirui lenses but if they’re anything like their accessories (tripods, ballheads, monopods) they’ll be full on quality.
This is why i like watching fro's videos. He doesn't hesitate to say he was wrong. Honest review always!
I've bought the Meike 85 mm 1.8 for EF Mount and the quality is good and sharp. Build quality is solid metal and plastic. Only issues is that the autofocus is a bit loud. Shooting wide open has chroma and minimum focus distance is 3 feet but I've been able to get great results with it, plus it has taken a fall on hard concrete and still is ticking. 2 years and still going strong!
We've got the same for Z (using on wife's Z30 which is APS-C though) and have had a similar good experience with it.
The fact that the Chinese lens are nipping at the heels of the more established brands at much lower prices will only force the big players to not rest on their laurels. It's an overall positive effect for the industry.
I purchased a TT Artisan 90mm F1.25 with 77mm filter attachment. It has a L mount which I use on my Leica SL I think it was under $500.00 when purchased. The shallow depth of field is why I purchased the lens as the same lens in Leica was 20 tunes the cost. No auto focus but you get used to using it. It takes very nice images and was worth the investment.
Bought the Nikon Z version of the same lens. VERY happy with it. I usually buy the manual focus lenses from these companies. Reminds me of the lenses I used in the 70s and 80s.
I have it too, I bought it to replace the 85 mm f/1.4 D feeling I had on DSLR. It is very good optically but it is a brick, with no AF, no electronics… They are still not there but they offer a variety of lenses one could not get from traditional manufacturers without spending thousands of euros.
As a Sony APS-C shooter I can confidently say that Viltrox 13mm F1.4 , 27mm F1.2 and 75mm F1.2 are all very good lenses. I also have Yongnuo 16mm F1.8 which is quite good for how cheap it is. I would say Viltrox lenses have a slightly better autofocus mechanism compared to Yongnuo but for the most part Yongnuo is good enough.
See if say the other way around yonguno is better then viltrox af
Samyang is a phenomenal lens. I still use their 85 & 35 f1.4 V1 for weddings and videos. 3 years and not one client said i wish the images were sharper. Even though my business is growing i am switching over to all sigma or Sony GM lenses. But still plan on keeping the Samyang as backup. And Viltrox 16mm f1.8 is one heck of a lens that is hard to beat
Samyang is a south korean brand
Korean Samyang 24mm f1.8 lenses, sharp and good for astrophotography - 85 f1.4 - 35mm f1.4, very good lenses. Samyang also has a zoom glass for Sony f2.8. I'm not sure, but in the USA these lenses are probably called Rokinon, in Europe Samyang.
Great video Jared and yeah, I love the "Butter Maker" Viltrox 75mm f/1.2, 27mm f/1.2, and the 13mm f/1.4 in particular, but I recently tested the new 7artisans 50mm f/1.8 full frame lens and it is also an excellent option "optically" for the money, but build could be better...
5:18 - 100% agreed.
Those Chinese lenses have gotten a lot better the past 4-5 years. I've been advocating for cheap lenses for beginners, especially when EVERY photographer I know (personally) has been suggesting $800+ lenses to beginners.
Great video, Fro!
We got a Meike 85mm f1.8 full frame AF STM Z mount, using it on my wife's Z30 (so it's 127mm equivalent) for outdoor daytime and it has been great. Lack of VR together with the Z30's lack of IBIS limits it a bit, but I was still able to get some beautiful indoor shots with it at xmas too. The quality and feel is fine, it's basically what you'd expect from Nikon at the kit lens or basic prime level. Does not feel like some kind of cheap knock-off at all. Excellent lens hood and lens cap too. Focus is decently quick. Optics at least on APS-C are sublime.
I bought the Viltrox 85mm f/1.8 based on the video you did and have taken a few images... I am blown away at the quality for the price, the autofocus on the Z6 isn't 100% but its 99% of the way there and the photos I can take are very nice looking, sharp and in focus when I hit the focus point I want.
I shot Nikon for 40+ years and a few years ago switched to Sony. I have a couple Sony G lenses that I have been very happy with (due to budget) and recently got the Yongnuo 85 F1.8. I shot Professional Box lacrosse with this lens and was blown away by the results... The AF was fantastic, and the image quality is amazing (shooting portraits of my family including studio work with Flash work). I don't know about the other manufacturers, but Yongnuo (mentioned in the vid) is amazing for the money. I did try the Viltrox 24-79 F2.8, but returned it when after shooting dogs for the rescue I shoot for I was disappointed with AF performance. I went ultimately to the Sony G 24-105... Not looking back for this focal range.
Chinese brands are keeping photography alive right now.
Lol…😂
Oh…you’re being serious?!
Yeah great time for beginners, I wish I had all these gears, I hate camera snobs
Lol 😂
@@nasty5-oh893 it has nothing to do with snobs or those who are not snobs. The fact of the matter is, cheap Chinese gear has its place however it is NOT what is “keeping photography alive!”
I have the Laowa 35mm f0.95 and the 9mm f5.6 for Sony E-Mount. I was rocking the 9mm in lost placesque industrial compounds in north-west Germany. The 135° view angle is amazing, especially when you can’t increase the distance to the object.
The 0.95 is ludicrously bright. It allows for live video of the Milky Way. Yes, you read correctly, you can film the Milky Way with it. 🤩
Hi from Uruguay dear Jared ( I have been your follower for many years) and yes, those lenses have really improved! Living in southamerica and having huge taxes on importing them, there was no other chance than to use 3rd party lenses! Sigma and Tamron are the more used down here. You can still find those Yongnuo for sale ! I have used a lot of lenses!!! As I moved to Fuji xt, the Laowa lenses are great for that camera. Those are my prefered ones! Thanks for addressing those lenses!!!
You should try the 13mm 1.4 the 27mm 1.2 and the 75mm 1.2 from Viltrox for APS-C. They're killing it.
3:51 "If you're a professional, you shouldn't be looking at these lenses?" Yeah, no. Respectfully disagree. You don't need to have expensive glass to be a professional.
@@TigaWouldSome professionals are shooting with Helios lenses. That's a non-sense. It depends of what you want to deliver at the end.
I avoid watching these videos because of the irritating intro, but yeah, these statements just graduated to "don't recommend channel" status.
My best image in terms of what got me any sort of recognition was shot on a canon power shot that still took AA batteries
Samyang 135mm f/1.8 lovely. Tamron and Sigma of course. Sony's edges are (1) perfection optically and (2) fast tracking autofocus.
I have the Samyang RF 85.14 and it’s amazing.
You're just wrong!!!! Giggle... I owe much to your vids critiquing Cameras and lens options for Canon in 2022. This helped me on my buy... to lead me to the best in class for my budget... most economical buy for (landscape type guy) a Canon R with a 24 - 70 2.8 lens and a 24 -200 F4 lens (as opposed to the lower more expensive 24-200 F* lens options). Saved me bunch of money to buy filters and other accessories. When able to validate any of your critiques.. I've always been able to validate your experiences shared on your vids... You are a real, true, honest, experienced presenter!!!. Hope you're critiques are viewed by many folks as they will find they are lucky to have benefitted from your valuable information!!! Cheers!!!
*A young Bob Ross @ **1:11* 😂🤣
Jared Polin and Bob Ross! Two geniuses with afros!
Lol
I always figured that many of these 3rd party lenses were missing coatings and higher quality manufacturing processes and cheaper materials. I've seen some reviews and things like chromatic aberration and how the f-stop needs to be tightened up to get sharp shots. This is a great update Jared has done. I think limiting yourself to the big three all day every day is not where many people are at. I'm not saying we need reviews on old film cameras, but some budget gear reviews would be great! I know it's hard to show enthusiasm over some cheap glass when you've had your hands on Canon L-series lenses to do your job, but could it hurt to at least show some love to the beginner? THANKS JARED!!
One thing to keep in mind and it took me a while to do it....these days, most all chromatic aberration is exceedingly easy to fix in post...a quick button or slider and *POOF*...gone.
I rarely ever look at what CA a lens has as that I know it's generally nothing I'll end up dealing with in a finished image.
Just my $0.02,
CC
I got a 60mm f/2.8 Macro lens from 7Artisans and was completely blown away by how high quality the lens was for the price. For a tiny package it has a hefty weight with all metal construction (including the lens cap). A great recommendation for anyone trying to get into Macro lenses
My TT Artissan 1.2 - 50mm is one of my favorite lens.
I got over a year ago my first Laowa 2:1 macro 100mm 2.8 lens for my Z6 II and I was blown away with the sharpness and overal rendition from it, even for landscapes and closeups. I am still amazed every time I use it. I am still not convinced that every product from chinese manufacturers would reach this level but I know I got a gem!
With modern computer algorithms to aid design, everyone is improving. The Chinese lenses used to be low quality. Same for some other older brands. Sigma was terrible long ago. Tamron was terrible long ago. But today there are lots of companies making excellent lenses. There are still companies making bad lenses, but it is worthwhile to test the new stuff to figure out if the new lenses are OK.
I own many ZYO and one TTArtisans. The IQ and micro contrast on ZYO is sensational, that's why I bought them to begin with.
The Meike 85mm f1.8 af is great for the price, autofocus is a bit loud but also comes with a removable hood, I'm happy with it
Samyang/Rokinon are GREAT too!!
You can't beat the Viltrox 27 and 75mm F1.2 PRO lenses -- period. They are also releases LAB lenses, which are supposed to be much better than the PRO. The next lens is the FE 135mm F1.8 but they also have several other PRO and LAB f1.2s on the horizon.
Oh, forgot the Viltrox 13mm F1.4 APS-C lens. Also the sharpest of its kind.
Rokinon MF12mm f2.8, Irix MF11mm f4 and Viltrox AF20mm f2.8 lenses on my Z9 and Z5 bodies work well. I ran a photo business for 37 years and I am now a retired hobby shooter. When I started out in 1974 the Soligors, Vivitars and Pluracoat lenses got me on my way. Today's 3rd party lenses are a good step above the quality of lenses I started out with.
You definitely have a point in the context of beginners who need something good enough, and have to buy at a good quality-price ratio without breaking the bank. I re-started a hobby-level photography journey based on a Nikon Z30. Viltrox drew my attention, and I got the 13/1.4, the 23/1.4, the 56/1.4 and the 75/1.2 Pro. At my level, those lenses are capable of doing better than I'm able to do. Very happy with them at the moment. In my opinion, with the 75/1.2 Pro, Viltrox upped their game one more level.
I have a bunch of 7Artisan and TTArtisan lenses for my M10-P.
Are they 'good' as similar Leica lenses? Probably not. Would I have the choice of lenses (from 28mm to 75mm) if I were buying Leitz? No. But I can enjoy the rangefinder experience in full and not be entirely broke.
I just bought a Yongnuo 85 F1.8 from eBay for my Nikon Z5. I was very happy of the image sharpness. The Autofocus works well. The Bokeh is truly amazing! Yongnuo is my first and only Chinese made len and it is an A+ Buy for the money.
Using multiple Viltrox on Nikon Z. Happy with the results.
As a life long Nikon glass user, I tend to be conservative with lens choices. But, recently bought a Viltrox 20mm f2.8 AF for US$158 new. A low risk trial. It's got a metal mount, nice build, and a sharp image (in the centre at least). It turns out 20mm isn't really my style, so I'm super glad I didn't overspend!
Thanks for bringing this to light Jared - I bought an RF mount Laowa 15mm Zero distortion full frame lens back in 2019 - and it’s been a BEAST of a lens - And although I’ve since bought a 24-105 L-series, I had already built a six figure business from that Laowa and a couple non-L Canon lenses.
That particular lens is manual, but it never limited me, equally for photo and video, and is still my second favorite lens to this day. second only to my Canon 24-105 L.
Don’t sleep on Laowa. 🙌🙌
I shot with a Samyang (so, Korean, but still) RF 85mm f/1.4 AF for years until I blew out the shutter on my EOS R, and it was legit one of my favorite lenses I've ever shot with! It has such a distinct look & vibe, and I genuinely love it. In fact, I lent it to Chris & Jordan when they did their illegal Canon RF lens video! Let me know if you wanna borrow it to test too 😜
Viltrox 13mm f1.4. Beautiful. Sharp and affordable.
One of the things I appreciate of Jared is that he admits his mistakes
I have a few manual lenses from Yongnuo, Meike and AstrHori...they are ok for the price. thats it ,they are ok.
Always enjoy your video's, thank you. One lens I purchased was a YONGNUO YN35mm F2Z DF DSM Lens Full frame Auto Focus for Nikon z mount. It is extremely sharp and has weather sealing. Full Auto focus with dedicated LN1 button & AF/M switch. It received the same overall score as the native Nikon Z 35mm f1.8 lens. Focus is quiet, seems to work fine, only issue is occasionally when focusing at its minimum focus distance it will sometimes hunt a bit. Canadian Price about $450, not super cheap but well worth it.
I use a Mike 85 1.8 on my a6300 and have no complaints on the sharpness or ease of use. It gets the job done, I just wish it was an autofocus lens. I also have a Yongnuo 50 for my Nikon and I love it. It is one of the few that doesn’t sound or feel cheap and hits my autofocus better than the native lens. Creamy background and an almost painterly look while staying sharp. It’s my go-to lens for travel and portraits.
I had the Meike 85mm f1.8 initially. I say "initially" because I tried to save on money instead of getting the Viltrox counterpart. Meike's plastic build was something I can live with and the harsh chromatic aberration is something I can fix (you get what you paid for right?) but the thing that made me get out and buy the Viltrox version was reliability. The meike version would give me random lens errors and had no real reason or cause when it'll happen it was an absolute nightmare specially when covering sport events. That made me "rage purchase" the Viltrox version and boy it was worth it, built like a tank, quicker auto-focus, and no more lens errors! So Meike is still one of those chinese brands we need to keep and extra eye out for while Viltrox is slowly becoming this reliable brand. Viltrox is still more expensive but the peace of mind given by it reliability is priceless.
I practiced on a 2nd hand panasonic g7 and a 7artisan manual as a beginner coming from phone cameras. Now I have the panasonic s5 and sigma art 24 70 2.8 and i classify myself a "pro-sumer". I'd don't make money out of my camera but I do love it as a hobby. Cheap lenses are great for buidling your foundational skills like composition.
I have Viltrox 23 f.14, 33 f.14 and 85 f1.8 for my Fuji bodies and love them. I like the sharpness and the way they render color. Autofocus is as fast as my older bodies are capable of so no issues there.
I have a Laowa 10-18mm on my Sony A7-3 for livestreaming and it was the only for my purpose suitable case available lens a year ago. The 10mm 2.8 will be my next one and I'm excited to get it!
I remember my first camera I was really happy with the tokina 11-16 2.8 lens for my starter crop sensor. Super wide but I had a ton of fun with it starting out.
I’m one of the few that managed to get a Viltrox 85mm F1.8 RF mount and I confirm on my R6 it’s a fantastic lens for the price. Sometimes the burst mode does not work well, so I need to switch off and back on the camera, but other than that I’m very happy with both the build quality of the lens and the pictures it delivers.
Have you tried the samyang lenses. I have 3. 85mm 1.4 the 135mm 1.8 and the 35-150mm 2-2.8 and I love them
I have the Samyang 35-150 2-2.8 too and love it. Even mounted to a Megadap ETZ21 on a Nikon Z6 II.
Nikon Z50 user... I have owned the Viltrox 23mm and 56mm... I mistakingly sold them. For my uses (portrait and models, posting on the internet) they were awesome, very sharp on the Z mount. I recently purchased a Yonguo 50mm f1.8. I am not as happy with it big quality as the Viltrox, but it is very sharp. No regrets.
I have a XIAOYI Brand 42.5mm f/1.8 for Micro Four Thirds. (Lens cap says just "Yi".) It's full autofocus. There's a switch on the side to switch between normal and macro. It's all plastic, but feels good quality plastic, and not that flimsy.
It's brilliant. The AF works - if not super fast, at least as fast as the Lumix collapsible 30-100mm and 12-32mm lenses - and it's decently sharp. It wasn't as stupidly cheap as the Yongnuo 50mm, but it wasn't expensive by any stretch.
For my needs (not a pro), it works perfectly.
I have the Viltrox 16mm f1.8 and 85mm f1.8 and they are both outstanding lenses! Lightweight, solid AF performance, sharp images......all at 1.8......definite thumbs up.
I have a Viltrox 85mm and it works great! I am not a professional photographer, but for what I do, I love the quality.
Switching from my sigma dgdn 35 1.4 to my viltrox 85 1.8 ii, i notice zero significant difference other than bokeh and field of view. Actually, the viltrox is my favorite lens in my kit. The sigma is heavy and feels bulky, whereas the viktrox has amazing build quality and FEELS like an expensive lens. I just love everything about it. I tried Rokinon - not even in the same universe as the viltrox for quality, as I'm a pixel peeper. I'm super excited for their new lenses, just wish they'd make a nifty fifty now!!
Oh, and autofocus is literally never a thought. It's so freaking fantastic i cant explain. I did have ti uodate the firmware because the camera was crashing, but it was also a new a7iv and since flashing I've not had a problem since!! SO GOOD!!
I shoot Canon. I have some sigma lenses - no complaints whatsoever and the ones I have aren't even their "art" or "sport" lenses. I also have one Tokina lens and I love it! Maybe I've been lucky, but I have no regrets about my 3rd party lenses.
Chiming in as one of the few people who has the 85mm 1.4 RF from Samyang before Canon told them to stop making it... and honestly... it's got blazing fast AF, it's super sharp, and it's in my bag every time for both photo and video. It's also surprisingly light. R5, R6ii, and R8 all work perfectly with it.
About 6 years ago I bought a Meike battery grip for my then Canon 7D Mark II camera. It took 3 grips before I got one that didn't have loose screws rattling around inside or missing from the outside. Still, I went ahead and bought one because it cost about 20% of the Canon one. It was still working properly up until the time I sold the camera last year. I don't know whether the quality of Meike lenses is better than their battery grips from 6 years ago, but I would be very reluctant to buy one until I was sure their quality control has been drastically improved.
I am very happy and satisfied with my Viltrox 75mm f/1.2 paired with my Sony a6700. Have you reviewed it yet?
Many of these inexpensive Chinese lenses have been manual focus only. For some purposes that works just fine. Many offer F0.95 aperture lenses which I have not seen with autofocus capabilities. They are fun and unique, but are also not likely to be the main lens you use. Some have optical imperfections that are actually wanted to create a certain look. There is also a growing trend to use vintage lenses adapted to modern mirrorless cameras to get that look. Some manufacturers like Voigtlander just make manual focus lenses that have a unique look. My Voigtlander 60mm F0.95 looks amazing for black and white shots when paired with the Leica Monocrome color profile on my camera. There are just so many amazing and fun lenses available these days. I just hope the market doesn't get over-saturated and crash.
I bought a cheap 7Artisins 10mm f/2.8 full-frame fish eye expecting a $250 lens. It’s really well built, and it does what it supposed to do for as little as I use it. I also got the Viltrox 75mm f/1.2 Pro for my Z 9 (knowing it’s crop sensor, but for my use, the 19.5mp is plenty), gets me a cheap f/1.2 lens for when it gets really dark and I need to AF in the dark and a 112mm f/1.8 (from a DOF/Bokeh perspective) was a pretty good choice and it’s very well built and gives really good quality.
Viltrox 1.2 apsc lenses are amazing. Gives a great stepping stone for apsc shooters that may be looking to make some money but aren’t making enough to justify full frame cameras and lenses.
I used the 65mm Mitikon for the GFX system and for 599 USD it's the GOAT for GFX cameras. I also have the 7artisans 27mm f/2.8 for the Fuji X mount and it's okay for the money.
Before I got my R3 and 6 of the Canon L lenses, I was on a Canon t6i and still learning. I bought a Meike 85 f1.8, Meike 8mm f3.5 rectangular fisheye, Ultimaxx 7mm f3.0 rectangular fisheye. They are all good lenses.
I have Tokina's 85 1.8 on the Sony e mount. From my research it is the sharpest in its class for the price point (350/400 ish) without any autofocus issues and was able to carry its own against Sony and Sigma0, its better than Viltrox and MEike, but Sigma's 1.4 is still a tad sharper but twice the price; and for the price of Sigma, you really are getting severe diminishing returns on the dollar for the very little improvement in sharpness. In spite of the sharpness, thhe Tokina's bokeh is not harsh either and is as smooth as the Sigma's. Tom Colton here on TH-cam did an extensive comparison review of the 85s. I did get the Viltrox 23 1.4 for A6500 as this was the only option in the price range, and I'm pretty happy with it.
Cracking video / commentary. It is quite novel for this sort of opinion and is also nice that you define the types of photographer who you say would look at purchasing these.
I've been shooting Nikon since 2018 and I just picked up the VILTROX 56mm F1.7 for my Z30 and it seems great so far. It gives me a super light-weight setup for my favorite 85mm focal length that I can easily put in a coat pocket. Considering it was only $139.99 and Nikon doesn't make an ASP-C lens that compares, I'd say it was a no-brainer... we'll see how it holds up.
I got a Meike 85 f/1.8 for Canon EF, I used it with my crop frame 80D. For the $179 I paid for it, I feel I got a really good bargain. It gave me great images with really nice bokeh and excellent low light performance. Like you said it is not as good as a native canon lens, although I would rank it better than the kit lenses that came with the Rebel cameras like the 18-55. I recently upgraded to an R6 and have adapted all my EF glass. I have used the Meike a couple of time and I am still glad I bought it. It is worth the money I paid for it.
I have the older Viltrox 85 1.8, and 33 1.4, and just picked up the TTArtisan 27 2.8. For a hobbyist or a photographer on a budget I really haven't found any major faults. The colors are decent if not good, there is a little issue at the corners sometimes if I'm pixel peeking, but I generally have been pleased with the results.
Props to you for admitting you were wrong.
I'm a Nikon mirrorless shooter but I've been using "specialty" Chinese lenses, some adapted, since before Covid. These lenses include the Venus Laowa manual focus 60mm 2x macro with ring light, manual focus 105mm STF, and manual focus 15mm micro. My 10mm AF F2.8 FF should arrive in a couple of days. The first 3 lenses are not cheapies and are way better than they have a right to be.
I have a fully manual kamlan 21mm f1.8. got it for 90 bucks including taxes. Sharp, great micro contrast, and can close focus like a champ. Love the lens. Also it's quite small
Can't speak for photo lenses but chinese cine lenses in the last few years are fantastic quality and extremely competitive priced. Not just Sirui and Laowa, now also DZO, NiSi, Blazar.
I've had the Viltrox 85mm F1.8 for almost 3 years. I have the version II. It has been a great lens. It is easy to upgrade the firmware with a USB cable, as it has an onboard port for the upgrade.
yes I have used Viltrox 23mm f/1.4 for Fuji X mount. It is am amazing lens. For the price it just can't be beat. AutoFocus is fast and image quality is awesome.
I’ve been using the new 7artisans AF 50mm 1.8 on Z-mount for a couple of weeks. Loving it! It’s sharp, very well built and renders beautifully.
I bought a TTArtisan 35mm F0.9 for my R7 - cheap manual focus. Great build quality and I like the images. Go high F stop and I can shoot buildings and landscapes, go F0.9 and I can get some damn good portrait images. I have the R7 for reach. My expensive glass is above 400mm. But for occasional messing around in the street for cheap, nothing beats my tiny R7, my tiny 35mm F0.9 with everything manual. I love it and I don’t think you will tell the difference between this and a shot from a 35mm L F1.0 ….which doesn’t exist
Hey Fro.... message from a neighbour up in the Great White North. I have the Viltrox Pro Series 27mm f/1.2 and the Viltrox Pro Series 75mm f/1.2 for my Fujifilm X-H1. Both work flawlessly and the results are sharp with good contrast.
I love the Viltrox AF 85mm 1.8 II, Samyang AF 35mm 2.8, Samyang AF 14mm 2.8
I'm just getting started in photography. I've got a Canon M50 MKII. I have TTArtisan 25mm F2.0 and 35mm F1.4, and 7Artisans 11mm F2.8. All manual focus. They take great pictures for my skill level. They are at least as clear as the Canon kit lens and 55-200mm.
Samyang/Rokinon 35 f1.8 is a very good lens. The fact that you can get it new for $230 is crazy. Tested on my a7RV. It is reasonably sharp at 1.8. it is not as sharp as my 35 GM at 1.4 but close. Step the Samyang down to 2.8 and it matches the sharpness of the GM. Fact accurate auto focus. I have been very happy with it.
Granted they're Korean and not Chinese, but I still happily use a first-gen Samyang AF 35mm f/1.4 whenever I need the autofocus or aperture. I know you famously dislike the idea of their lenses. I still think you should give their AF lenses a shot, though keep in mind that the 50mm f/1.4s are the very obvious weaknesses of the lineup.
All 4 lenses that I have for my a7iii are Viltrox lenses. I have the 23mm 1.4, the 55mm 1.8, the 85mm 1.8, and just bought 16mm 1.8. They are cost effective and sharp lenses.
Yes I use a Viltrox 28, 1.8 Z mount on my z5 and get great results. The let down is autofocus breathing in some situations
What's a 2nd party lens?
Something built by the user
I got some Viltrox lenses (DX & FX) and I like them.
The 20mm & 40mm are not as good as the Nikon versions (I guess) but good enough for me, a hobbyist.
I really like the Viltrox 85mm 1.8 and I may get my hands on their 50mm version, too.
For someone earning money, the native or high-end 3rd party lenses may make more sense.
I also love my three ART lenses (35mm, 50mm & the superior 105mm 1.4).
Thanks for the video and I'm looking forward to the next reviews.
I have only purchased 1, the ttartisan 100/2.8 m42 trioplan just because the original vintage ones are too pricy. Still waiting for delivery though.
Yeah, some of them are surprisingly good. Christopher Frost has been reviewing them for years and they range from "not very good" (unsharp, ghosting, chromatic aberration) to great value for the money (good sharpness even up close, little CA, great sunstars) and a handful are really good. There are a couple that I would've been tempted to get but I shoot Canon so that's a no-go. But for Sony, Fuji, and Nikon shooters there's a lot to choose from.
You're always telling us that those 3rd party lenses are not for professionals while many of us are using it. I'm an event photographer for many years and my Tamron and Sigma never fails me.
Yes, native glass has an advantage when it comes to auto-focus and because of artificial limitations specially on Sony. But maybe less than 10% of photographers are into wildlife/sports. Third party lenses performance are more than enough for events, portrait and other type of professional photography.
I have Meike 85/1.4 Z on my Zf, and it's been pretty good.
I have 50/1.8G, Tamron 24-70/2.8 G2, 70-200/2.8 G2, 150-600 G2, SP 90/2.8 macro, Irix 11/4 before getting into Z mount. With Zf, I bought 24-120/4 S which is a very good lens Meike 85/1.4 is a little slower on AF and very yellow shooting against strong light sources. If it had better coating to deal with lens flare, I'd call it a great lens. I heard there is a new firmware update improving AF, but I haven't got the chance to make a video comparing the difference so I am still on an older firmware.
I my very first third party lens a few months ago, a Laowa Argus 35mm f/0.95 for my Canon RF mount, yes it is still manual focus but it is the most fun I have had with a lens for decades! You do need a ND to avoid having to stop down in bright environments though.
Do you hear that? BEEP, BEEP, BEEP! The Viltrox money truck has backed up to the Fro facility!