Viltrox has announced a new compact autofocus prime lens for APS-C sensor cameras. The Viltrox 25mm F1.7 Air lens will be available for Sony E-Mount, Nikon Z-mount or FUJIFILM X Mount cameras.
Compact build
The Viltrox 25mm Air prime lens is a lightweight lens, weighing under six ounces (170 g). It’s also compact at only 2.2 inches (56mm) in length with a diameter of 2.5 inches (64 mm). However, the 25mm Air lens does feature a metal mount which should make it more durable.
The filter thread size is 52 mm and the lens comes with an upgraded lotus-shaped lens hood. Usefully, the 25mm Air lens supports EXIF information transmission. There’s a USB-C interface for firmware updates as well, so you won’t need a separate lens dock.
Optical design
On a crop sensor camera, the Viltrox 25mm Air prime lens has a field of view equivalent to a 38 mm lens on a full-frame camera. It is constructed with 12 lens elements in 10 groups. These include one extra-low dispersion element, two high-refractive index elements and two aspherical lens elements. The lens also features an HD nano multi-layer coating for true-to-life color reproduction. In addition, Viltrox says that the front lens element is waterproof and has an anti-fouling coating.
Autofocus
The Viltrox 25mm Air prime lens uses a stepping motor for the autofocus system. The company says this is silent in use and delivers fast and precise autofocus. It also supports eye focus and face autofocus with a wide range of compatible camera models.
There is a manual focus ring for when you want to take over control. The close focus distance is 0.3 meters and Viltrox says that the lens displays minimal focus breathing.
Fast maximum aperture
The Viltrox 25mm Air prime lens has a fast maximum aperture of F1.7. This should deliver great lowlight performance and a shallow depth of field. The iris also has nine blades for a smooth, round bokeh in the out-of-focus parts of your frame.
What we think
The Viltrox 25mm Air prime lens has a lot to offer. Its wide maximum aperture will be great for lowlight filming and for creating a shallow depth of field to separate your subject from the background. Also, the 38 mm focal length is a useful mid-point between a portrait lens and a wide-angle lens. This makes it ideal as an everyday walkaround lens. The compact and lightweight design also means you won’t mind carrying it with you. If you are looking for a versatile prime lens to add to your kitbag, the Viltrox 25mm Air should be on your shortlist.
Pricing and availability
The Viltrox 25mm F1.7 Air prime lens is available now and retails at $176.
