Viltrox, as you know, has established itself as a go-to brand for photographers looking for quality glass at a more affordable price. The Viltrox 28mm f/4.5 takes that ethos a step further, offering a compact, lightweight option that seems tailored for street photographers and travelers. With its discreet design and modest f/4.5 aperture, this lens feels like it’s made for those who prioritize portability without sacrificing sharpness.
There are other small pancake-style lenses out there, and this is no exception in terms of being small and lightweight. So, does it deliver in the image category? We test it to find out.
Build Quality
From the moment you pick it up, the Viltrox 28mm f/4.5 stands out for how remarkably light it feels. Weighing in at just 60 g, it’s the kind of lens that practically disappears in your camera bag—and on your camera, I might add—as it's not much thicker than my camera body cap, making it a dream for minimalist setups.
Comprised of metal and plastic, and despite its small size, the build doesn’t feel cheap. It doesn’t feel premium either, but at the price, I wouldn’t expect it to. I also wouldn’t be looking for a focusing ring or any other buttons on the lens; it's too small for anything like that. Or a lens cap for that matter, as the lens is protected via an inbuilt lens cap that you slide to open and close.
The lens feels solid enough to handle the everyday bumps and scrapes of urban photography or light travel. The discreet design also makes it less obtrusive, a quality street photographers will appreciate when trying to capture candid moments without drawing attention. It’s simply a low-profile lens that does the job and does it remarkably well.
Specifications
- Lens: 6 elements in 6 groups, including 2 ED lenses and 2 aspherical lenses
- Focal Length: 28 mm
- Viewing Angle: 73.42°
- Aperture: f/4.5 constant aperture
- Shooting Distance: 0.32 m - infinity
- Focus Mechanism: Full lens focusing system
- Focus Motor: VCM
- Maximum Magnification: 0.11x
- Lens Size (Diameter and Length): 60.3 x 15.3 mm
- Weight: 60 g
The lens is also ready for updates via the USB Type-C port found on the metal mount.
Performance
For a lens with an f/4.5 aperture, you might expect some limitations in low-light performance, and that is partially true. This lens isn’t going to be your go-to option for dimly lit environments, but it holds its own in decent lighting conditions, where it truly shines. Even wide open at f/4.5, the center sharpness is excellent, and while the edges soften slightly, it’s nothing that would detract from everyday shooting. The 28 mm focal length offers a versatile field of view, making it perfect for street scenes, environmental portraits, or landscapes. The autofocus is quick and accurate, handling subjects with ease. While the aperture isn’t ideal for creating creamy background blur, the lens renders backgrounds smoothly enough, providing a nice separation between subject and background when needed.
With the omission of a lens hood, in certain scenarios you can get some lens flare. This did happen on a few occasions but was easily remedied by adjusting the angle of the shot or simply flagging the light source with my hand. With the lens being so lightweight, there was never any worry of camera shake when doing this. This also didn’t happen often, but it would be remiss of me not to mention it. The image below shows a sunstar and the amount of flare when shooting toward the sun.
The amount of sharpness that the lens has is also very admirable, and you will be hard-pressed to find a lens of this quality in this price range. Chromatic aberration is well-controlled, and so far, I've not had any issues with this, even when shooting in high-contrast areas. I would expect it to be there, and it will be, but I haven't yet come across any that are distracting to the image captured.
Pros
- Price. It’s a bargain considering the resulting images.
- Size and weight.
- Lens cap. You’ll never lose it.
Cons
- Some lens flare in certain scenarios.
Final Thoughts
The Viltrox 28mm f/4.5 is a specialized lens that caters to photographers looking for a highly portable and discreet option. While the f/4.5 aperture won’t be enough for every scenario, the combination of sharpness, lightweight build, and compact design makes it a great choice for street photographers, travelers, or anyone wanting to keep their kit minimal. It's a fun lens to use that delivers surprisingly good images considering the minimalist design and price tag.
The cost alone of the lens is worth it considering the images it produces, and if you are considering it, I would dive right in, as I don't think you would regret it in any way whatsoever. Heck, you could leave it on your camera as a more expensive lens cap, knowing that you are always ready to shoot. This lens could easily become your go-to lens for everyday carry.
Viltrox is currently running the lens on Indiegogo with an honestly ridiculous early-bird starting price of only $69, plus some upper-tier perks added, allowing you to grab a bargain with other Viltrox lenses. If you miss any of these perks, however, once released the lens will be on sale for $99, which, in my opinion, is a bargain considering the image quality.
Love that built in lens cover design!