In today's blog, I will be reviewing the Viltrox 35mm f1.7 lens that I used on my Fujifilm XT 5.
I want to provide a quick disclaimer: Viltrox sent me this lens as a preproduction model. Typically, when Viltrox sends me a lens, there are a few quirks that need to be sorted out. I provide feedback along with other creators, and they give an update via firmware. Viltrox has not paid me to write this blog or feature it in my YouTube videos, but I am an affiliate of Viltrox. Using the links provided in today's blog does not cost you any money. You actually receive an 8% discount when purchasing through the Viltrox site using the link. However, I do receive a small kickback.
And with that said, lets jump into the review!
The main selling point, apart from the actual performance of this lens, is the price.
This lens has a retail price of $179 USD.
If you use this link provided and click the Viltrox website, use the discount code "GERARDNEEDHAM," you will receive 8% off. - Viltrox.com/Viltrox35mmf1.7
The optical quality, build quality, and performance of this lens are fantastic, as you will discover in the review. There is definitely merit in purchasing affordable focal lengths like this, especially a 35 millimeter on APS-C, which equates to a 50 millimeter on full frame.
The 50 millimeter is my primary focal length for portraiture, street photography, and landscape work. I primarily shoot at 50 millimetres because it produces minimal distortion and offers a field of view and compression similar to what our eyes perceive.
This can be perceived as boring by some photographers, who believe that wider focal lengths should dominate the image, providing an interesting perspective.
However, I argue that using standard focal lengths like 50 millimeters eliminates that expectation, requiring you to focus on creating a good image with a well-composed scene, good lighting, and color, rather than relying on gear to do the heavy lifting.
All images imaged with my V3 Pastel Film Lightroom Presets Here - https://gerardneedham.com/collections/presets (25% OFF with code - 50mmBABY )
Autofocus
The autofocus of this little 35mm f1.7 is absolutely fantastic and offers excellent performance for users of Fujifilm cameras. Although it utilizes an STM motor, making it slightly slower and noisier than a more expensive linear motor, it is still significantly better than the older traditional DC coreless motor found in the Fujifilm XF 35mm f1.4R lens.
I have mainly been using this lens for portraiture work, specifically in continuous autofocus eye tracking. I did encounter a few photos that were out of focus, but that was due to the FUJIFILM XT 5 firmware issues. This is why I believe you will achieve the best autofocus performance possible with this lens on a Fujifilm camera. Shooting at f1.7 while utilizing continuous autofocus and eye tracking for portraiture is an excellent way to test a lens. Among all the different lenses I have tested for the Fujifilm X mount, this lens performed exceptionally well, comparable to some of the more expensive lenses that Fujifilm offers.
9/10
due to the STM motor, but hey its only $179 USD
Build Quality
The build, size, and weight of this lens are definitely selling points because there is a limited supply or range of lenses with an aperture lower than f/2 at this size and weight, especially for the Fujifilm system.
It has a weight of only 6 ounces or 170 grams. With a diameter of 2.5 inches or 64 millimeters and a length of 2.2 inches or 54.7 millimeters, and it has a front filter size of 52 millimeters.
The lens has an aluminum mount and a plastic housing. This design contributes to the lens being light and compact. The focus ring moves smoothly, making it comfortable for manual focus during video work. However, one drawback for Fujifilm users is the absence of an aperture ring. If you are a manual shooter with only a Fujifilm camera that has a front and a rear dial, you may find it challenging to use this lens without the aperture ring.
This lens also has a USB-C port on the back, making firmware updates very easy. You simply plug it into your computer to update the firmware.
There is no rubber gasket on the back, which is important to note if you plan to shoot in dusty or wet environments, as the lens does not appear to be weather sealed. Be cautious if you intend to shoot in the rain, as moisture can enter the sensor and subsequently the camera. This is a significant consideration regarding this lens.
8/10
due to the absence of an aperture ring and the weather sealing. However, it gained a couple of points because of its price and the small, lightweight nature of this lens, which is something that many Fujifilm users desire. Additionally, it has the advantage of being an f/1.7 rather than an f/2.8 for a lens of this size.
All images imaged with my V3 Pastel Film Lightroom Presets Here - https://gerardneedham.com/collections/presets (25% OFF with code - 50mmBABY )
Sharpness and Cromatic amberation
The sharpness and chromatic aberration are definitely standout features of this lens. This lens is perfectly sharp in the center of the image when tested on my Fujifilm XT 5. In the photos below, I used continuous autofocus with a shutter speed of 1/200. The ISO is set at 1,000, and the shot was taken wide open at f/1.7. There is also a Google Drive link here where you can download these two raw files to examine for yourself. The center is perfectly sharp, while the corners exhibit a slight amount of softness.
One aspect that truly impresses me about these little air series lenses from Viltrox is that the chromatic aberration is virtually zero. I cannot see any green or purple hue on this test chart. This observation also applies to the Viltrox 56mm f/1.7 (use GERARDNEEDHAM for 8% off on the viltrox website) lens that I tested about six months ago on my YouTube channel, which you can also purchase here.
9.9/10
I would like to give it a 10 out of 10, but it is not perfect due to a little bit of softness in the corners. Therefore, it is not a 10 out of 10, but it is pretty close.
Overall score: 9.5/10
For the price and use cases of this lens, Viltrox could have charged significantly more. At only $179 USD!
I would feel comfortable choosing this lens over the 33 millimeter from Fujifilm, which is much more expensive and considerably larger and heavier. While the Fujifilm lens has an f1.4 aperture, a faster linear motor, an aperture ring, and is built from metal, my preference for Fujifilm lies in their small, compact cameras. The issue I face is that all of their small and compact lenses are outdated, expensive, and do not perform well optically, especially when compared to the Viltrox Air series.
I hope that Viltrox will release an 18 or 16 millimeter version of this lens within the next six months. This would provide a wide, medium, and tight lens combination ideal for traveling. Personally, this would be my favorite for street photography, landscape photography, and portraiture work.
This lens is definitely a great option if it would be your first prime lens. It can be used in low light applications and for portraiture work. Its small and compact design allows for easy transport in a bag, making it a suitable backup lens. I see very few negatives with this lens, aside from the lack of an aperture ring for manual shooters. However, I shoot in aperture priority on the XT5 and have had no issues with this lens.
I should note that I haven't tested this lens in bright, harsh conditions. I have observed some flare with the Viltrox 56 millimeter f1.7 for Fujifilm. and also the 20 millimeter f2.8, and the 40 millimeter f2.5 for the Sony system, still an Air series lens. However, it does come with a hood if needed, which is something to consider.
If you are interested in purchasing this lens, there is a link here and down below that will take you to Amazon, B&H, and the Viltrox website. All of these links are affiliate links, but they do not incur any extra cost. If you want to receive a discount, use the Viltrox website with the code - GERARDNEEDHAM - to receive 8% off your total order.
Below are several photos I took with this lens using the XT5, edited with my Pastel Film Lightroom presets. If you would like to support the channel, purchasing my Lightroom presets is the easiest way to do so. Thank you for reading.
Viltrox 35mm f1.7 - https://geni.us/kg8rV
