The already rumoured Viltrox autofocus prime lens for the Nikon Z-mount is not even listed in the in-house
Viltrox web shop, but can already be found on Amazon USA for . This means that the 85mm f/1.8 STM lens will probably be available at a much lower price than the Nikkor Z 85mm f1/.8 S lens, which is comparable in terms of technical values.
The first Viltox full-frame lens for Nikon's Z-mount is slightly heavier (540 grams) and has a front filter size of 72 mm - compared to the Nikon, which weighs 470 grams and has a front filter size of 67 mm.
The Viltrox 85mm f/1.8 STM lens promises full autofocus support (including Eye AF) on all available Nikon Z cameras. For future firmware updates, Viltrox has provided a micro-USB port on the lens collar.
The built-in STM stepper motor is supposed to ensure fast and quiet autofocus settings. There is also a manual focus override switch.
The lens consists of 10 elements in 7 groups and contains an ED element and four short wavelength and highly transparent lenses, which according to Viltrox drastically reduce chromatic aberration and offer high contrast across the entire image.
Rumour has it that other manufacturers such as Sigma are also planning to launch alternative Z-mount optics next year. Whether and to what extent Nikon has recently made it easier for third-party manufacturers to enter the market due to the difficult market situation is not known to us.