OpticalLimits

Next OL lens test: Viltrox AF 135mm f/1.8 LAB Z

me

This time in Nikon Z mount - still great.

Uploaded some sample shots today.

Seems that the Squid game has landed in Sydney. ;-)

https://opticallimits.com/nikon/nikon-z/viltrox-af-135mm-f-1-8-z-review/

MLonlooker

Visually one might have trouble discerning a difference in the shape of bokeh balls in the corners of the frame between this lens and the Plena ....
.... but the size of the wedge left in your pocket will be glaringly obvious ....

..... amazing!

........ one asks oneself how this Viltrox got to find it's way onto the Z mount when it's all set to take a large slice of Plena sales ?

Rover

Interestingly enough there seems to be quite a bit of backlash against this lens in the community (e. g, by Bastian of PhillipReeve.net fame), where people say that this lens is actually way overrated, not to mention very big and heavy. I wonder why is that...

me

I'd guess that it's because it's a native Chinese breed.
Everything Chinese is toxic in the US. And it's not much different in the EU and JP.
Just like Musk/Tesla is now also toxic outside of MAGAsphere.
Humankind is currently on a weird trajectory all over the place ...

Rover

lol, so by that logic, buying a Samyang lens is more PC because South Korea is... well, South Korea. Nice. 😃
I've seen random forum posters veer on anti-Chinese rants whenever a mainland Chinese product was announced / showcased / talked about, but I expected serious reviewers to see past that.

Even Ken Rockwell, who is a zealous flag-waver for the US, did not (always) let this bias show; he was more than complimentary about lenses like Laowa 10mm and Viltrox 16mm. It's Sigma who he apparently hates vehemently. 🙂 But I don't consider Ken among the "serious reviewers" anyway - not just because of his (random and arbitrary) bias against many things, but also because of his sometimes laughable suggestions and methodology.

Rover

I got to try this lens on a shoot, and it looks awesome. No rigorous testing of course, and the weight doesn't really bug me - it's less than the 70-200/2.8 or 100-400 lenses, especially adapted, though of course it's not as versatile.