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

Canon RF50mm F1.8 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 narrow margin (4.6 vs 4.5). 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.

Ranked #2 in Best Portrait Lenses Under $500

Canon RF50mm F1.8 STM

4.5

2 sources$199as of Oct 18

Canon rebuilt the optics of its classic 50mm f/1.8 for the RF mount, and the result punches well above its price. Digital Camera World praised it as 'everything you want a nifty fifty to be,' while Ken Rockwell noted its 'superb optics' and 'very close focussing.' It carries the first aspherical element in any Canon 50mm f/1.8 design since 1987, and sharpness holds up against the far pricier RF 50mm f/1.2L. Reviewers flagged the missing image stabilization and weather sealing, which points it at casual photographers and EOS R users who want an affordable standard lens rather than professionals who need heavy-duty build quality.

Strengths

— Superb image quality with very sharp performance and no barrel distortion
— World's closest-focussing non-macro 50mm lens at 0.3m minimum focus distance
— First Canon 50mm f/1.8 with aspherical element for improved optics

Watch-outs

— No AF/MF switch or stabilization switch
— No image stabilization or weather sealing

$199 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Portrait Lenses Under $500

Viltrox AF 85mm f/2.0 EVO

4.6

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 Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

Canon RF50mm F1.8 STM

The Canon RF50mm F1.8 STM outperforms the Sony FE 50mm f/1.8 with its first aspherical element and superior close-focusing distance, but it's not as compact as the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM. Compared to the Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM, it lacks the telephoto reach and hood included, though it offers better overall image quality and more advanced optical design. It's the most technically advanced of the group but still lacks image stabilization and weather-sealing.

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

Spec	Canon RF50mm F1.8 STM	Viltrox AF 85mm f/2.0 EVO
Mount	Canon RF	Nikon Z (FX) / Sony E (FE)
Focal Length	50mm	85mm
Max Aperture	f/1.8	f/2
Autofocus	Yes	STM stepping motor
Image Stabilization	No	None
Weight	160g	340g
Filter Thread	—	58mm
Minimum Focus Distance	—	0.74m
Optical Construction	—	10 elements in 8 groups
Aperture Blades	—	9

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