Today, photographers are spoiled for choice when it comes to third-party lenses, with Sigma, Tamron, Samyang, and others offering great alternatives to more expensive proprietary optics from companies like Sony, Canon, Nikon, and Fujifilm. However, there is another name that will gain fame in 2024: Viltrox.
The Chinese photography and film equipment manufacturer has been releasing excellent quality lenses for some years (including, most recently, autofocus lenses for popular lens mounts) for what is almost always at least half the price of their proprietary equivalents, and for the most part. without obvious commitments.
I've been shooting with the Viltrox 85mm f/1.8 for Nikon Z mount for over a year; It's exactly half the price of Nikon's own 85mm f/1.8, and I can barely tell the difference between photos from the two lenses.
Viltrox's stock will only rise with the launch of its latest lens, the Viltrox AF 135mm F1.8 LAB. It's the first in Viltrox's premium 'LAB' series of autofocus lenses, and if the online response from reviewers is anything to go by, it's close to perfect.
Currently only available with Sony E-mount for Sony mirrorless cameras, including the full-frame Sony A7R V; but the LAB 135mm F1.8 looks amazing and It's half the price of Sony's superb FE 135mm F1.8 GM, and As of this writing, it's on sale for $764.15 on Amazon in the US, which is a 24% discount.
As someone who is particularly interested in these types of lenses, but overpriced, the five-star rated Nikon Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena was one of my favorite Nikon lenses of 2024, but it costs $2,499.95 / £2,649 / AU$4,249: The new one from Viltrox. The lens has certainly caught my attention; I assume that, like other Viltrox lenses, it will be available for other systems in due time. Of course, including the Nikon Z mount. Plus, there could be more LAB lenses to come: Sony Alpha Rumors shared leaked images of a LAB 35mm F1.2 for Sony this week.
Is it time to take Viltrox seriously? And should people like Sigma and Samyang worry?
Optically impressive, but with a practical obstacle
We have yet to complete our review of the Viltrox AF 135mm F1.8 LAB lens, but the overall response online from those who have used it has been extremely positive. Regarding optical quality, Viltrox itself has published the lens's MTF tables (laboratory tests that indicate the sharpness and contrast of a lens from the center of the frame to the edges) and they show that in this area it is practically a lens. impeccable whatever the opening in which you use it. , even wide open at f/1.8.
The bokeh also looks impressive (see below), and that's vital for a telephoto prime with a fast aperture like this, as it's ideal for portrait photography (although I also love the compression you get with this focal length for photography of landscapes). Autofocus performance is supposedly quiet and also reliably fast, so there's no real compromise in this regard, although there does seem to be less focus breathing, which could rule this lens out for serious filmmakers.
What filmmakers will like, however, is the aperture ring, which can be set to operate smoothly or with a click. There are no aperture or focus distance markings on the outside of the lens, instead this information is found on the neat digital display. This screen is also customizable, meaning you can import any image you want as a splash screen through the Viltrox app; To me, it's a fun party trick. App connectivity also allows for easy firmware updates.
The 135mm F1.8 is built to a very high standard, with magnesium alloy construction and advanced climate sealing. However, the lens's gigantic build could be a deal breaker: it weighs 43.6 oz / 1235 g and, for reference, Sony's 135mm lens weighs much less, just 33.6 oz / 950 g. The extra weight of the Viltrox lens is unlikely to make much of a difference if you shoot with a thicker camera like a Nikon Z8, although it seems to pair well with the Sony A7R V (see below), but it is a front-facing camera. -big discrepancy with thinner models like the Sony A7C R.
Weight aside, Viltrox has made many photographers (and probably rival brands) sit up and take notice. Their LAB series could be the start of something special, and a range of lenses that will increasingly appeal to cost-conscious photographers who also value quality.
