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Head-to-head · Best Portrait Lenses Under $500

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM vs Viltrox AF 85mm f/2.0 EVO

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Viltrox AF 85mm f/2.0 EVO comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.6 vs 4.1). Viltrox AF 85mm f/2.0 EVO is best for: Nikon Z and Sony E full-frame shooters who want a light 85mm portrait prime with an aperture ring at a low price. Read the strengths below before deciding.

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM
Ranked #4 in Best Portrait Lenses Under $500
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM
2 sources$209.95as of Oct 19

The 'Nifty Fifty' reputation is earned: the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM puts excellent optics in a compact, affordable package. Photography Blog praised its sharpness and minimal chromatic aberration, and KenRockwell.com highlighted the value and compatibility across all Canon EOS cameras. The STM motor focuses quietly and smoothly, which suits video work, though the lack of hard infinity stops can complicate manual focusing. Beginners and enthusiasts after an entry-level fast prime are the fit; anyone who wants premium build quality should look elsewhere.

Strengths
  • — Bright f/1.8 aperture allows for shallow depth of field and better low-light performance
  • — Quiet STM stepping motor enables smooth and silent autofocus during video recording
  • — Good sharpness and minimal chromatic aberration, especially at wider apertures
Watch-outs
  • — No hard stops at infinity focus, making manual focusing challenging
  • — Light fall-off at f/1.8 in corners, though distortion is well-controlled
  • — All-plastic construction feels less premium despite metal mount addition
$209.95 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →
Viltrox AF 85mm f/2.0 EVO
Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Portrait Lenses Under $500
Viltrox AF 85mm f/2.0 EVO
2 sources$275as of Oct 18

The Viltrox AF 85mm f/2.0 EVO is a 340g full-frame autofocus portrait prime sold for Nikon Z and Sony E mounts at $275. Digital Camera World tested both mount versions and praised its compact metal build, aperture ring with click/de-click switch and image quality, with its only reservations the f/2 aperture and the lack of an aperture ring lock. Photography Blog, testing the Sony version on an A7CR, found excellent centre sharpness even wide open and attractive bokeh, but obvious vignetting from f/2 to f/4 and autofocus that is not quite as quick as Sony's own lenses.

Strengths
  • — Excellent centre sharpness even wide open and attractive bokeh from the 9-blade aperture, per Photography Blog
  • — Aperture ring with click/de-click switch, customisable function button and AF/MF switch, features Digital Camera World rates five stars
  • — Weather-sealed mount and a USB-C port for firmware updates
Watch-outs
  • — Obvious vignetting wide open from f/2 to f/4, according to Photography Blog
  • — Autofocus is not quite as quick as Sony's own lenses on the A7CR, per Photography Blog
  • — f/2 is not the fastest aperture for an 85mm prime, and there is no aperture ring lock switch (Digital Camera World)
$275 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →

How they stack up

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM

The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM surpasses the Sony FE 50mm f/1.8 in terms of autofocus quietness and manual focus capability, but it's not as sharp as the Canon RF50mm F1.8 STM. Compared to the Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM, it lacks the telephoto reach and professional build quality, though it's more affordable and offers better low-light performance. It's the most balanced option for beginners but doesn't match the premium features of the RF50mm F1.8 STM or the telephoto capabilities of the 85mm lens.

Viltrox AF 85mm f/2.0 EVO

At 340g the Viltrox AF 85mm f/2.0 EVO is lighter than the 425 g Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM and gives the same 85mm framing to Nikon Z and Sony E cameras, though its f/2 maximum aperture is a third of a stop slower than the f/1.8 lenses on this page. The Sony FE 50mm f/1.8, Canon RF50mm F1.8 STM and Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM are lighter still at 186g, 160g and 159g.

Specs side-by-side

SpecCanon EF 50mm f/1.8 STMViltrox AF 85mm f/2.0 EVO
MountCanon EFNikon Z (FX) / Sony E (FE)
Focal Length50mm85mm
Max Aperturef/1.8f/2
AutofocusSTM Stepping MotorSTM stepping motor
Image StabilizationNoneNone
Weight159g340g
Filter Thread—58mm
Minimum Focus Distance—0.74m
Optical Construction—10 elements in 8 groups
Aperture Blades—9
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