Viltrox AF 90mm F2.2 EVO APO

This Viltrox prime serves APS-C mirrorless cameras in Sony E, Nikon Z and Fujifilm X mounts, so pick the version made for your system. It arrived in 2026 and is in production now.

At 90mm it works as a short telephoto. That suits head-and-shoulders portraits, candid detail and stage or event shooting from a distance. The F2.2 maximum aperture backs that up in dim venues.

The main trade-off is the fixed focal length. You frame by moving closer or further away rather than zooming. Photographers who like one view will settle in quickly.

The lens weighs 11.5 oz (325 g) and measures 2.72 in (69 mm) wide by 2.99 in (76 mm) long. That makes it a light carry for a short telephoto, so it stays comfortable through a long portrait session.

Filters screw into the 58mm thread, so any polariser or ND you buy must match 58mm.

At 90mm, this prime makes your subject larger from a distance. Portrait sessions benefit most: you get head-and-shoulders framing without crowding the person. Because you stand well back, faces keep natural proportions. The F2.2 maximum aperture also throws backgrounds out of focus, so a subject separates from stage sets, cluttered rooms or busy streets.

For candids and stage work, 90mm picks out a face across a room. F2.2 admits plenty of light, so in dim venues you hold shutter speeds steady instead of pushing ISO far. Stopping down a little brings both eyes into sharp focus. Nine blades shape the opening as it stops down, and that shape shows in out-of-focus highlights.

Closest focus sits 2.4 ft (74 cm) from the sensor. That gives a comfortable working distance for head-and-shoulders portraits and table details. Maximum magnification reaches 0.14x, and flowers or small still-life subjects work well within this range.

On our scale, the optics specification scores 82 out of 100.

The body is weather sealed against dust and moisture. That cover suits outdoor portrait sessions and damp evening venues.

The Sony E version adds a fluorine coating on the front element. It helps water and oil bead up and wipe away, which simplifies cleaning after a drizzly session. Other mount versions differ here, so check yours.

There is no built-in image stabilisation. In dim light at 90mm, you will need faster shutter speeds, higher ISO or support such as a monopod. Support steadies the camera, but it will not freeze a moving performer. The bright aperture eases some of that pressure.

The build uses 10 elements in 8 groups, including two low-dispersion elements. This glass helps reduce chromatic aberration, where colours focus differently and form fringes along high-contrast edges. Backlit hair against stage light is one place those fringes can show on a telephoto portrait lens.

Focusing is internal, so elements move without the barrel extending. The lens keeps a fixed length as you focus close.