Viltrox AF 75mm F1.2 Pro For Fujifilm Review

Viltrox AF 75mm F1.2 Pro For Fujifilm Review

Today, I will update you on the testing I’ve been doing with the Viltrox AF 75mm f1.2 XF Lens for Fujifilm X mount and whether I can see myself using it in the future.

This video is kindly sponsored by Squarespace (10% Discount with code: KEVINMULLINS), the all-in-one platform I use for all my websites. 

You may have seen the images in my previous posts: Badminton Horse Trials and Viltrox AF 75mm F/1.2 XF Pro Lens For Fujifilm X (Sample Images).

I will include those images again below, as well as the transcript.

I’ve purposefully used it for two events recently to push the lens and myself.   I’ve never used it at a wedding, and I’ll explain why later.

As always, the images you see here are edited with my latest Film Edition 3 Lightroom Profiles & Presets.

These Lightroom presets are more than just slider adjustments. They are based on meticulously crafted profiles to give your images a timeless cinematic quality.

Build & Design

The Viltrox 75mm F1.2 is a prime lens, and I guess most people will see it as a portrait lens with an impressive maximum aperture of F1.2. This makes it a fantastic choice for photographers who love to shoot in low-light conditions or want to achieve that beautiful, creamy bokeh.

However, the internet is already awash with portraits shot on this lens, so I wanted to test that fast aperture and see how the lens performed in slightly different events.

Firstly, I took it on a charity cycle ride my good friend Gareth organised for the Fatboys Cancer charity. The ride involved cycling from Carnarvon Castle in North Wales to Chepstow Castle in South Wales.  

As you may know, Viltrox has been making great strides in the third-party lens market for Fujifilm and other brands. They have been doing a brilliant job, and I loved the 27mm lens I reviewed a few months back.

But the 75mm F1.2 is a different beast altogether.  It’s incredibly well-built, solid and beautifully designed. 

I believe the Viltrox 75mm F1.2 lens is the first in their new PRO range. This means it comes with weather sealing, which is excellent news, especially for a lens of this capability, which you can pick up for around £550 or so in the UK.

Regarding optics, the lens comprises 16 elements in 11 groups, including extra-low dispersion elements that help minimise chromatic aberrations and colour fringing. The results were sharp, high-contrast images with excellent clarity, even when shooting wide open at F1.2.

Autofocus performance is another strong point for the Viltrox 75mm F1.2. It's equipped with a high-precision stepping motor that provides fast, accurate, and quiet focusing, which is lovely.

Of course, the main attraction of this lens is its ability to produce stunning bokeh. The 75mm focal length and the wide F1.2 aperture allow for excellent subject isolation, even when shooting fast-moving subjects like the chaps on their bikes.

It’s reasonably light, too, at 670 grams. If you compare the weight to the Fujifilm 80 mm F2.8, which is 750 grams, I think Viltrox has created a winner in terms of optics, size, and design.

Also new here is the AF/MF switch on the side, which is something we often don’t see with non-Fujifilm lenses. If you have one of the X-H2 cameras without the focus levers, this is a handy switch on the lens.

The aperture ring is pretty standard for Viltrox lenses, with a clicky ring that features steps at each one-third stop. An “A" position past the F22 mark allows you to control the aperture from within the camera if you wish.

Interestingly, Viltrox continues to include a USB-C port in the lens mount that allows you to perform firmware updates directly on the lens. This is a neat feature that makes future-proofing using firmware very easy.

As mentioned, I wanted to test the lens on moving subjects and wide open, and as you can see from these cycling shots, it’s done well.

When you pixel peep at 100%, it’s ever so slightly muddy in the details, but it’s hardly perceptible and is more a reflection of the moving subject. Indeed, I’m pleased with this lens for this type of photography.

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Autofocus

The next event I took the lens to was the Badminton Horse Trials in Gloucestershire. 

The Badminton Horse Trials is one of the most prestigious and challenging equestrian events in the world. It is held annually in the park of Badminton House, the seat of the Duke of Beaufort in South Gloucestershire, England. The event is classified as the highest level of eventing competition. The Trials consist of three phases: dressage, cross-country, and show jumping, with cross-country being the day I attended.

Once again, I shot these images on the X-T5 in continuous focus, but not with face or animal detection.

The lens performed as well as could be expected, I think, given that I was generally shooting wide open. I’d say the focus was accurate at the midpoint, but as the riders got closer, the lens struggled to keep up with focus acquisition. Overall, I was really pleased with how it managed.

It’s worth noting that this was a hot, sunny day, and I had the camera set to the Mechanical and Electronic shutter. Some of these shots are indeed much faster than 1/8000 of a second, and I think they give a great example of how the electronic shutter in the X-T5 has vastly improved over previous cameras.

For many people, myself included, the price point of this lens is exceptional. For around £550 or similar in US dollars, you really are getting an incredible piece of glass that is generally much cheaper than Fujifilm's own lenses.

Overall, the build quality of this Viltrox Pro lens is on par with some of the premium Fujifilm lenses, such as the 90mm, etc.

You also get a lovely petal-shaped lens hood and a really nice carry pouch.

I know many people who already have the 27mm lens, and I think this 75mm lens will be an excellent companion.

As mentioned, I don’t use this focal length at weddings—the longest lens I typically use is 56mm, so it’s not something I’d personally use for that.

However, I think the Viltrox 75 mm has to be considered for those of you who shoot weddings and want a portrait lens for bridal shots. It’s reasonably priced for what you get and works incredibly well with the latest sensor generations in the X-T5, etc.

Summary

So, in summary, yeah, the Viltrox 75mm F1.2 is an excellent lens, I think—and I can see it being used for Weddings, Portraits, and even street photographers to a certain extent if they want a nice “pop” to some long-distance shots.

I enjoyed using it and will keep it on my shelf for when I need that focal length.