Viltrox has released its latest autofocus prime lens for Sony E-mount mirrorless cameras. The Viltrox full-frame 35mm LAB prime lens has a fast maximum aperture of F1.2.
Build
The Viltrox AF 35mm LAB prime lens features an all-metal, weather-sealed body. It has an aerospace-grade metal body with dust and moisture resistance, so you don’t need to worry if the weather turns bad. The lens also has a multifunction ring and two function buttons along with a customizable LCD information screen. Usefully, the lens has a physical switch to choose between manual and autofocus, so you don’t need to dive into your camera’s menus.
The 35mm LAB prime lens weighs around 32 ounces (910 g) and is 4.8 inches (121.8 mm) in length. The filter size is 77 mm.
F1.2 maximum aperture
The fast F1.2 maximum aperture on the Viltrox AF 35mm LAB prime lens has 11 iris blades. This should deliver a smooth, circular bokeh in the out-of-focus parts of your image. The F1.2 aperture will also be great in low light and will deliver a very shallow depth of field. Importantly for video use, you can switch the aperture ring to de-clicked operation. This is essential for smooth changes in exposure while filming.
Optical design
The Viltrox AF 35mm LAB prime lens is designed with 15 lens elements in 10 groups. These include 5 extra-low dispersion (ED) lens elements and 3 high-refractive index lens elements. There are also 2 ultra-large and precision aspherical (UA) lens elements, which reduce onion-ring bokeh.
In addition, the lens features a multi-layer nano coating to minimize lens flares and boost the contrast in your images. Viltrox says that the lens delivers excellent control of focus breathing and chromatic aberration as well.
Autofocus
The Viltrox AF 35mm LAB prime lens features the company’s Quad HyperVCM autofocus motors. Viltrox says that these motors are 150% faster than STM motors with pinpoint focusing precision. The new lens also supports face and eye recognition autofocus, optimized for both photo and video.
Viltrox says that the lens delivers flagship-level sharpness, with outstanding edge-to-edge clarity, even wide-open at F1.2. The close focus distance is 13.4 inches (34 cm).
What we think
35 mm is a great walk-around focal length on a full-frame camera. It’s long enough for portrait work while still being wide enough for landscape and architecture work. The new 35mm LAB prime lens from Viltrox also features a very wide F1.2 maximum aperture, so it will please fans of shallow depth of field and low light video. And, the option for a clickless aperture is ideal for video use. If you use a Sony full-frame mirrorless camera and are looking for a versatile prime lens, the Viltrox 35mm LAB should be on your short list.
Pricing and availability
The Viltrox AF 35mm F1.2 LAB full frame prime lens for Sony E-mount costs $999 and is available now.
