The Viltrox AF 28mm F/4.5 Lens
Back in September, I was browsing Sony Alpha Rumors (as one does out of boredom) and came across an article mentioning a new lens that immediately piqued my interest. I did some research, and ended up backing a kickstarter for Viltrox's new 28mm pancake lens which had AF and a locked aperture of 4.5. If I remember correctly, I paid around $80 since I was one of the early backers, and received the lens in the mail in early October.
However, after getting it, I barely used it. It was tiny enough to slip into my sling bag when I would go out to shoot, but I rarely ever actually took it out. First of all, 28mm is a bit wider than I typically shoot, but I ended up buying it because it's not like I was spending hundreds of dollars on it. Second, the lens itself had limitations, and I just never really felt comfortable with the risk of missing a photo if the lens wasn't reliable enough in terms of focusing. However, there were a few days where I did use it, but not exactly for long periods of time.
Last week, the Mermaid Parade at Coney Island was happening and all my friends were going, and because events like this aren't really what I care to photograph, I figured I'd just bring this lens with me to give it another go. 28mm made sense because it could capture a lot of things in one frame, and I also didn't feel pressured to make "good" work because I was really just going to hang out.
So now that I've used the lens a handful of times, I figured I'd share my thoughts.
Viltrox AF 28mm F/4.5 + Sony a7IV
A Brief Overview
This lens is incredibly small, weighing in at just 60g. It literally looks like you have a body cap on your camera. For that aspect alone, it's pretty insane.
It has a locked aperture of F/4.5 — meaning you can't change it at all.
The AF isn’t great, but it works.
The lens cap is also integrated into the lens itself, which opens and closes with a small slide lever.
When used in a backlit situation, the lens produces a starburst effect.
The lens retails for $99, and it is available for Sony E/Nikon Z mount (both full frame) as well as Fuji X mount (APS-C).
Why You’d Want This Lens
There are a few reasons you might consider this lens:
You enjoy the 28mm focal length
You want an extremely small and lightweight lens for EDC
You want to experiment with a new lens, but you don't want to break the bank
Personally, I got this for that third reason -- I wanted to experiment with the very-popular street photography focal length of 28mm but I knew that if I didn't like it, I wasn't setting myself back financially.
Okay, now let's get into my thoughts about it.
What I Like
I haven't spoken to or met anyone else that owns this lens, but I'm sure the first thing that would be brought up would be how amazing the size is. For example, if you're using a smaller full-frame body like the Sony A7C, this camera + lens combo packs a great punch for its size. I use it on my a7IV, and it's still a pretty compact setup. It weighs almost nothing, and also is pretty inconspicuous out in the streets.
The 28mm focal length is perfect for this type of lens. It's definitely suited for street photographers, but it's also a good option for the casual photographer who brings their camera around on their day-to-day. Then again, 28mm isn't just for street photographers.
The 4.5 aperture was a smart move on the part of Viltrox. Could they have made it something like F/8 and potentially made the lens even smaller? I have no idea — maybe? But I think F/4.5 is an okay middle ground for people who like to shoot in slightly darker scenarios and people who don’t want insane depth of field. F/4.5 isn't that great in lowlight, but with modern sensors and de-noise features in editing software, it's not the end of the world.
Honestly, the exciting thing about a lens like this is how different it is. When I first heard of it, I almost just wanted to buy it because of how unique it was. Now that I think about it, if more companies started thinking outside the box a little bit with unique lenses and gear (like Viltrox did here), it would give us more options as photographers. The more competition, the better for us.
What I Don’t Like
It's kind of hard to pick apart a lens that only costs $99. When you buy it, you're not expecting to get a top-of-the-line lens, so you know there are going to be quirks and limitations.
But if I had to name some of the things that I don't love or that have hindered my workflow, here's what they would be:
Personally, I'm not a fan of the starburst effect when shooting backlit scenes. It looks a bit gimmicky, but that's just my opinion. (see image 1 below)
There's a slight delay between pressing the shutter and the photo being taken. I know it's a lens thing because I compared it to my other lenses, and the Viltrox has a noticeable delay. This hindered me a few times where I was weaving through crowds and photographing some fast moving subjects because I moved the camera before the shot was taken.
The AF isn't very good. When I would back button focus on my camera then press the shutter, the lens sometimes wasn't quick enough to focus and I ended up with a blurry image. In slower scenarios, I'm sure it's fine. But it also does not have a manual focus ring, so that option is out the window.
The image quality is alright. In terms of sharpness, it's sharp enough if you just intend to post on social media. The optics aren't the best and I've noticed a bit of softness/haziness when I was shooting in bright conditions, but hey, people love when a lens has "character" these days, so maybe it's not a dealbreaker for you. (see image 2 below)
There isn't a ton of distortion, but there is some pretty heavy vignetting. However, both can be corrected in post. (see images 3 + 4 below - no correction vs corrected)
Conclusion
For $99, you're getting what you paid for. The lens has its flaws and quirks, but for testing out a new focal length and just experimenting with something a bit different, it's great. If you enjoy compact setups, it might be worth considering this as a small EDC lens.
I'm not sure how much I'll use it going forward since it has a pretty specific use-case for me, but it's a nice option to have and was really impressed by Viltrox to make a lens like this a reality.
This pack is a collection of 6 different presets that I use to edit my photos, including 5 color looks and 1 monochromatic look. If you’re looking for presets that give you rich, bold colors and deep shadows, this is the pack for you.