Are These New Viltrox Lenses a Good Option for Fujifilm Videographers?

Fujifilm shooters have been waiting a long time for some affordable third party lens alternatives. This newly released pair of Viltrox lenses may offer some stiff competition, but how good are they for those shooting video?

While Fujifilm has certainly made some dramatic leaps forward in terms of videography in recent years, the glass could be argued to be lagging behind slightly. Andrew & Denae run you through some of the disadvantages and explain why Viltrox might be an excellent option.

Perhaps foremost is the price. The Fujifilm XF 23mm f/1.4 R will set you back $899 and the 35mm f/1.4 R isn’t far behind at $599. By contrast, the Viltrox 23mm f/1.4 is less than half the price of its equivalent at just $329, and the 33mm f/1.4 will set you back only $279 (both are currently available for pre-order). Given that you can get both Viltrox lenses for less than one of the Fujifilm lenses, that’s quite the saving to be had.

Andrew mentions that the chromatic aberration control isn’t quite as good on the Viltrox lenses, which is what you might expect from the more affordable third party manufacturer. What you might want to keep in mind is that Tokina — a company that has no connection to Viltrox — will soon be launching a pair of almost-identical lenses and they may benefit from Tokina’s own proprietary coating. We shall see.

Are the Viltrox lenses a viable option for Fuji shooters? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.