The Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.7 is a budget-friendly lens that offers promising features for APS-C users. With a versatile focal length and a bright aperture, it’s an appealing option for anyone looking to for an everyday lens without spending a fortune.
Coming to you from Christopher Frost, this detailed video dives into the Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.7 and what makes it stand out. Priced at $152, it’s one of the more affordable autofocus lenses on the market. Available for Sony E, Nikon Z, and Fujifilm X mounts, it’s designed exclusively for APS-C cameras. Frost highlights its bright f/1.7 aperture, which allows for low-light shooting and attractive subject isolation. While compact and lightweight at 6 ounces, it still features a metal mount and a USB-C port for firmware updates. However, the lack of weather-sealing may give you pause if you often shoot outdoors in challenging conditions.
At f/1.7, sharpness in the center is average, but the corners match it nicely. By stopping down to f/2, the middle sharpens further, though the corners don’t see a significant improvement. From f/2.8 onwards, the center remains impressively sharp. One area to note is its heavy vignetting at wider apertures, especially in raw images, though it diminishes by f/4. Distortion is minimal, but flaring and halos appear in bright-light conditions. These trade-offs aren’t surprising for a lens at this price, and many users will find the overall sharpness and usability a fair compromise.
Key Specs
- Focal Length: 35mm (53.6mm equivalent on APS-C)
- Maximum Aperture: f/1.7
- Minimum Aperture: f/16
- Lens Mount: Sony E, Fujifilm X, Nikon Z
- Filter Size: 52mm
- Weight: 6 oz / 170g
- Minimum Focus Distance: 13 inches (33 cm)
Bokeh is generally smooth, with minimal outlining in highlights. There’s some chromatic aberration at f/1.7, but it clears up at smaller apertures. Close-up sharpness is soft wide open but improves dramatically by f/2.8. If you often shoot in bright light, this lens may disappoint due to its susceptibility to flaring and halos. For those interested in creative effects, sunstars begin to emerge at f/8 and become striking by f/16. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Frost.
