What's the difference between the Viltrox Viltrox AF 56mm f/1.4 and the Viltrox Viltrox AF 85mm f/1.8 II?

The Viltrox AF 56mm f/1.4 leads on a brighter f/1.4 maximum aperture, a lighter 290g body, a more compact 72 mm barrel. The Viltrox AF 85mm f/1.8 II leads on higher 0.13× magnification.

Which is smaller, the Viltrox Viltrox AF 56mm f/1.4 or the Viltrox Viltrox AF 85mm f/1.8 II?

The Viltrox AF 56mm f/1.4 is the smaller, lighter lens at 290g and 72 mm long, versus 484g for the Viltrox AF 85mm f/1.8 II.

Which is faster, the Viltrox Viltrox AF 56mm f/1.4 or the Viltrox Viltrox AF 85mm f/1.8 II?

The Viltrox AF 56mm f/1.4 is the faster lens at f/1.4, against f/1.8 for the Viltrox AF 85mm f/1.8 II — brighter in low light and able to throw the background further out of focus.

Viltrox Viltrox AF 56mm f/1.4 vs Viltrox Viltrox AF 85mm f/1.8 II: full comparison

The Viltrox AF 56mm f/1.4 leads on more of the measurable specs, but the Viltrox AF 85mm f/1.8 II counters on higher 0.13× magnification.

Read the full Viltrox AF 56mm f/1.4 review →Read the full Viltrox AF 85mm f/1.8 II review →

The short version

The Viltrox Viltrox AF 56mm f/1.4 and Viltrox Viltrox AF 85mm f/1.8 II are two X-mount primes at different focal lengths — the Viltrox AF 56mm f/1.4 (85mm equivalent) and the Viltrox AF 85mm f/1.8 II (127.5mm equivalent). Both were introduced in 2020.

On the spec sheet the Viltrox AF 56mm f/1.4 pulls ahead with a brighter f/1.4 maximum aperture, a lighter 290g body, and a more compact 72 mm barrel, plus a couple of smaller edges.

The Viltrox AF 85mm f/1.8 II answers with higher 0.13× magnification.

So which one? Start with the focal length you actually want to shoot: the 85mm-equivalent Viltrox AF 56mm f/1.4 or the 127.5mm-equivalent Viltrox AF 85mm f/1.8 II. Once that's settled, Viltrox AF 56mm f/1.4 has the edge on the specs above.

Where the Viltrox AF 56mm f/1.4 wins

+a brighter f/1.4 maximum aperture
+a lighter 290g body
+a more compact 72 mm barrel
+closer 0.60 m focusing

Where the Viltrox AF 85mm f/1.8 II wins

+higher 0.13× magnification

Who should buy the Viltrox AF 56mm f/1.4 or Viltrox AF 85mm f/1.8 II?

Buy the Viltrox AF 56mm f/1.4 if…

Pick the Viltrox AF 56mm f/1.4 if a brighter f/1.4 maximum aperture and a lighter 290g body matter to you. Photographers who want a fast portrait prime and cannot justify the XF 56mm F1.2 R, especially as half of a two-lens Viltrox kit. Read the full Viltrox AF 56mm f/1.4 review for the details.

Buy the Viltrox AF 85mm f/1.8 II if…

Pick the Viltrox AF 85mm f/1.8 II if higher 0.13× magnification matters to you. Photographers who need reach and separation cheaply — candid portraits at a distance, stage work, and details across a street — on a body with a grip and ideally IBIS. Read the full Viltrox AF 85mm f/1.8 II review for the details.

Viltrox AF 56mm f/1.4 vs Viltrox AF 85mm f/1.8 II: pros and cons

Viltrox Viltrox AF 56mm f/1.4	Viltrox Viltrox AF 85mm f/1.8 II
f/1.4 at 85 mm-equivalent with no native equivalent anywhere near the price. Centre sharpness at f/1.4 holds up at portrait distance; even across the frame by f/2. ED element keeps colour fringing on bright edges lower than the price suggests. Identical barrel to the AF 33mm — shared 52 mm filters, caps and balance.	Separation at 127.5 mm-equivalent and f/1.8 that a 56mm at f/1.4 cannot match. The strongest optics of the Viltrox X-mount primes — ED plus aspherical control fringing well. Nine rounded blades keep compressed backgrounds smooth rather than busy. Better-damped barrel and metal mount, with the same USB firmware port.
0.60 m minimum focus is long; tight head-and-shoulders framing is out of reach. Clickless, unmarked aperture ring. No weather sealing and no stabilization, at a focal length that punishes both. Stepping-motor AF acquires quickly but is not built for continuous tracking.	484g and 92 mm long — front-heavy on an X-E or X-M body. 0.80 m minimum focus at this reach means it rarely fits indoors. No stabilization, which matters most at exactly this focal length. No weather sealing, 72 mm filters shared with nothing else in a typical kit.

Pros and cons mirror the in-house Viltrox AF 56mm f/1.4 review and Viltrox AF 85mm f/1.8 II review.

Viltrox AF 56mm f/1.4 vs Viltrox AF 85mm f/1.8 II: full specs

Spec	Viltrox AF 56mm f/1.4 56 mm · f/1.4 · 290g	Viltrox AF 85mm f/1.8 II 85 mm · f/1.8 · 484g
Optical
Focal length	56 mm	85 mm
35mm equivalent	85 mm	127.5 mm
Maximum aperture	f/1.4	f/1.8
Minimum aperture	f/16	f/16
Optical construction	10 elements in 9 groups	10 elements in 7 groups
Special elements	1 ED element, 1 high-refractive-index element	1 ED element, 1 aspherical element, 4 high-transparency elements, HD Nano coating
Aperture blades	9	9
Focus & Stabilization
Min. focus distance	0.60 m	0.80 m
Max. magnification	0.1×	0.13×
Autofocus motor	Stepping motor	Stepping motor
Optical stabilization	No	No
Physical
Filter thread	52 mm	72 mm
Diameter × length	65 × 72 mm	80 × 92 mm
Weight	290g	484g
Weather sealing	No	No
Min. operating temp	—	—
General
Announced	2020-09-20	2020-07-01

Highlighted cells are best in class between these two. Specs sourced from the manufacturers' public product pages.

In-depth reviews

For the full long-form review of each lens, see the Viltrox Viltrox AF 56mm f/1.4 review and the Viltrox Viltrox AF 85mm f/1.8 II review. Each carries the full spec breakdown, pros and cons, and where the lens sits in the X-mount lineup.