Viltrox Air AF 9mm F2.8 E 9mm
Rokinon Series II 85mm f/1.4 85mm
What Buyers Say
Viltrox Air AF 9mm F2.8 E 9mm
The Viltrox lenses receive overwhelmingly positive feedback for their exceptional value, sharp image quality, and solid build. Users praise the fast apertures and autofocus performance, though some note issues with chromatic aberration in high-contrast scenes and noisy autofocus on certain models. Overall, these lenses are seen as a budget-friendly alternative that punches above their price point.
Pros
- Excellent value for money
- Sharp image quality wide open
- Solid metal construction
- Fast and accurate autofocus
- Pleasing bokeh
Cons
- Chromatic aberration in high contrast
- Noisy autofocus in video
- Slow autofocus in low light
- No weather sealing
- Front-heavy on small bodies
Rokinon Series II 85mm f/1.4 85mm
The Rokinon 85mm f/1.4 manual lens offers exceptional value for astrophotography and portrait work, delivering sharp images and smooth bokeh at a fraction of the cost of autofocus equivalents. Users praise its center sharpness wide open and excellent performance when stopped down to f/2.8, especially for capturing stars. However, the purely manual focus and aperture can be fiddly, and build quality inconsistencies like a missing hood or accidental aperture ring bumps are noted. Overall, it's a highly recommended budget lens for those comfortable with manual operation.
Pros
- Sharp center wide open
- Smooth bokeh
- Excellent for astrophotography
- Great value for money
- Solid build quality
Cons
- Fiddly manual aperture ring
- Missing lens hood in some packages
- No autofocus
- Front-heavy with adapter on some cameras
- Accidental aperture ring bumps
Scores
Specifications
| Viltrox Air AF 9mm F2.8 E 9mm | Rokinon Series II 85mm f/1.4 85mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | prime | prime |
| Focal Length Min | 9 mm | 85 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 9 mm | 85 mm |
| Elements | 13 | 9 |
| Groups | 11 | 7 |
| Aspherical Elements | 2★ | 1 |
| ED Elements | 3★ | 1 |
| Coating | HD multilayer nano coating | Ultra Multi-Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/16 | f/1.4 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 | f/1.4 |
| Constant | ✓ | ✓ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 9★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Canon EF |
| Format | APS-C | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.17 kg★ | 0.54 kg |
| Filter Thread | 58 mm | 72 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | STM★ | manual focus only |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✗ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 130 mm★ | 1.00 m |
| Max Magnification | 1:6.66 | 1:9 |
Pros & Cons
Viltrox Air AF 9mm F2.8 E 9mm
- Strong social proof (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Strong macro (89th percentile)89th %ile
- Strong build (87th percentile)87th %ile
- Strong af (85th percentile)85th %ile
- Below average bokeh (30th percentile)
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
Rokinon Series II 85mm f/1.4 85mm
- Strong bokeh (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong aperture (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong social proof (77th percentile)
- Strong build (68th percentile)
- Below average af (14th percentile)14th %ile
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
Pricing
Viltrox Air AF 9mm F2.8 E 9mm offers 2.2x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 72 overall, wins 7 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 21 specs.
