Viltrox AF

AF 28mm F4.5

VCM LENSES For

SONY E-Mount

There are only a very few full frame mirrorless pancake lenses in the world today. For APSC sensor and Micro Four Thirds sensor mirrorless cameras, there are more lenses. I am referencing BHPhotoVideo.com website as they have cataloged the cameras and lenses pretty well and their data is mostly accurate. This list doesn’t include the Newer Sony G lenses and I am not sure if we can call them pancake lenses. The 35mm Sony Sonnar F2.8 Zeiss lens may also not be called a pancake lens as it is too fat to be a pancake lens. So, we are ending up with even fewer full frame mirrorless autofocusing lenses that are worthy of being called,”Pancakes”.

Now, let us set the expectation for interchangeable lenses for mirrorless cameras. This should open up the eyes of Viltrox to the world of lenses, what’s out there and what a photographer needs from lenses as a tool. I think Viltrox has gone blind after making the awesome F1.2 APSC lenses. So, hear me out, Viltrox.

The reason why we would want to use such a big sensor camera is to have very good image quality. To get good image quality, the subject needs to be exposed properly. The camera, as a tool, offers 3 very important controls to attain the proper exposure with least compromise between Shutter Speed, ISO, and the Aperture. While the shutter speed and ISO are the properties of camera and the sensor, the Aperture is a property of the lens. In other words, One of the key components that helps to control the exposure is IN the lens. So nowaday, even smartphone cameras are coming up with variable aperture lenses for their cameras to give the best controls for a photographer. 

While the smartphone cameras up their game by introducing variable aperture lenses, I feel like This Viltrox 28mm F4.5 lens is restrictive by breaking down one of the 3 arms that help photographers to get not only the exposure but also the depth of field right. On top of that, See, what happens, now? I either get the guys behind in-focus or the guy in-front. I tried to change the aperture to F8 to get everyone in focus, but the lens wouldn’t allow me and that is when I realized that it is a fixed aperture lens.

I am against such a fixed aperture Full frame lens because of several reasons. 

We pay at least a couple of thousand dollars to get such a capable, small form factor camera like the Sony a7cii or the Sony A7CR. These cameras have exceptional image capturing capability, provided, it is coupled with a lens that enables them to do so. Why would we want to cripple the capability of the camera from producing amazing results? 

Some believe that limitations enable creativity. For example having a prime lens limits photographers to creatively compose their images. But they always have the option to use their feet to go near or far from the subject to get their desired composition. 

Also, Sony has their G primes line up that are compact, have all the necessary features a photographer might need, light weight, weather sealed and on top of them all, they have fantastic optical performance. 

Only downside to them is that they are thicker than the pocketable size.

But if a photographer can sacrifice on the aperture ring and the focus hold button, there exists other lenses in the market that is, smaller than the Sony G primes, made for Nikon Z cameras that I think is one of the best pancake lenses ever made. There is Canon 28mm F2.8 RF glass as well but it is 1mm thicker than the Nikon 26mm Lens and is not weather sealed.

That is the 26mm F2.8 lens, having a focus ring, having variable aperture and being weather sealed, gives all flexibility for a photographer to create his art with confidence that it can be carried everywhere. These are all essential for any lens for a full frame camera photographer. So, this for me, is the baseline to compare any full frame autofocusing pancake lens with, until we get a slimmer option with all these features. Well, I can still forgive if a lens lacks weather sealing.. Can I? I am not sure.. Maybe not… Yeah.. All the lenses I use nowadays are weather sealed so I am having peace of mind. But if the cheap option is the manufacturer’s game, then so be it.

Viltrox 28mm F4.5 lens being slimmer and around half the weight of the Nikon 26mm F2.8 lens, it is more compelling right? 

It  actually may not be practical for most photographers. But some do like it. I will get back to that part later in this video.

Let me tell you how the Viltrox 28mm F4.5 compares to the baseline lens for pancakes – the Nikon 26mm F2.8 lens. 

A win for Nikon for offering variable and brighter aperture for F2.8 to F16, focus ring, weather sealing, closer minimum focusing distance, ability to attach filters to the lens and being sharp corners to corners. 

A win for Viltrox is just being thin & light, price and perhaps having a lens cap attached with the lens. One more thing which I would say is more of a personal preference, is the more practical FL of 28 in Viltrox than the wider 26mm from the Nikon. 

Canon 28mm F2.8 FR lens would’ve been on-par with the Nikon lens if it was weather sealed and would be a better competitor for this Viltrox lens as they are of the same focal length. 

Now, let’s talk about other lens stuff.
AF – Autofocus is slow but bearable.

Chromatic aberration is none which is the case for most lenses beyond F4.

The lens exhibits minimal ghosting and flaring and there is an acceptable level of sharpness for a casual shoot.

In all honesty, I should say I like the lens opening leaver, so I don’t misplace my lens cap. 

But by the end of the day I am leaning towards picking up the Nikon style pancake lens even though it is a bit taller and a bit more heavier than the Viltrox lens as the lenses being tools should complement the efforts of the photographer to make his life easy and I don’t think this Vilrtox lens is being “that” tool. Heck it can’t even be a sensor cover for the camera as it is not weather sealed and all the dust from the pocket will be collected into the sensor area. 

That’s my verdict, but if you are thinking that “hey Jay, it is just an $89 lens and let it be there in my pocket just to scratch my itch”, I still strongly suggest you not to go for it. But it is your money and if you think none of what’s discussed matters, you can go for it. In my opinion, you are better off saving that money and using it for something else. 

I love competition and it drives companies to cater for the consumers rather than just being marketing gimmicks. We don’t have to consume all that is crapped out by manufacturers. As consumers, let’s keep that in mind and compare the products with the competitions in the market. If something doesn’t exist yet, let’s wait for manufacturers to make the products above the baseline.