The Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.8 II EVO FE (APO) is a budget full-frame prime lens aimed at photographers who want a compact option for both everyday shooting and astrophotography. Priced at $399 / £385, it is available for Sony FE and Nikon Z mounts and combines a 35mm focal length with a maximum aperture of f/1.8.
According to testing, the lens produces impressively sharp images for its price, particularly in the center of the frame. However, shooting wide open introduces noticeable vignetting and some astigmatism at the left edges, where stars can appear cross-shaped. The effect is mainly visible when images are viewed at 100% magnification.
Stopping down improves the lens’s performance. Vignetting disappears by f/4, while sharpness increases progressively between f/2.8 and f/5.6. The review identifies f/8 to f/11 as the sharpness sweet spot, although diffraction becomes apparent at f/16. For astrophotography, using f/2.8 provides better clarity across the frame, but requires a higher ISO setting to compensate for the reduced light.
The lens is compact and relatively light, measuring 69 x 76 mm and weighing 355 grams. Its metal construction, manual aperture ring and weather sealing give it a more premium feel than its price suggests. The aperture ring can operate with clicks or without them, and it includes an A setting for camera-controlled aperture adjustments. A customizable Fn button is also included.
Viltrox has equipped the lens with a 58mm filter thread, a front coating resistant to water and smudges, and a rubber gasket around the mount. The lens uses internal focusing, while autofocus is driven by a stepping motor and is described as reasonably fast and quiet. Firmware can be updated through the USB-C port on the mount using a smartphone or desktop app.
The lens contains 13 elements in 10 groups, including two extra-low dispersion elements, three high-refractive-index elements and an ultra-aspherical element. Its apochromatic design is intended to reduce chromatic aberration, although the review notes that the lens is not optically perfect.
Testing was carried out with a Sony A7R V, including nighttime astrophotography and daylight shooting to assess sharpness, distortion and general operation. The overall assessment is that the Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.8 II EVO FE (APO) offers strong image quality, portability and build quality for the money, provided buyers can accept its wide-open limitations.
For photographers on a tight budget, the lens is considered an attractive option. It is less suitable for users seeking the highest possible optical performance or those shooting APS-C cameras, where the focal length is equivalent to 52.5mm. Faster alternatives such as Viltrox’s 35mm f/1.2 are larger, heavier and more expensive, while wider options include Sony’s FE 20mm f/1.8 G and Sigma’s 14mm f/1.4 DG DN Art.
Sources: Space.com.