Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.8 Review

With the AF 35mm f/1.8, Viltrox is hoping that there’s still a market for budget, autofocus prime lenses that sacrifice some performance compared to name-brand glass. It’s not that the Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.8 is a bad lens, but it’s definitely weaker than most first-party 35mm f/1.8 lenses, and even weaker than a good zoom. I’d say it’s about on par with a basic zoom lens optically.

Still, for a $380 third-party lens, maybe that’s all you need… although I think it would be an easier sell at the $300 price point or less.

Here’s how I’d sum up the pros and cons of the Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.8.

Pros:

• Good corner sharpness even wide open
• Better-than-expected autofocus performance
• Physical aperture ring gives an alternative way to change aperture
• Internal focusing
• All-metal design

Cons:

• Midframe and central sharpness are pretty weak
• High levels of wavy field curvature
• Some focus shift upon changing aperture
• Distracting bokeh with clear longitudinal chromatic aberration
• Minimalist handling, no A-M switch
• No weather sealing

I didn’t start testing the Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.8 with particularly high expectations. And although you could argue that the lens met those expectations, it definitely didn’t exceed them.

Don’t get me wrong – it might still make sense to pick the Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.8 if you’re on a budget. At $380, it’s less expensive than most other autofocus-capable 35mm f/1.8 lenses, and its flaws aren’t fatal. Even so, I would try to find an alternative first. While the Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.8 is not a terrible lens, it’s definitely below average in a lot of ways.

I hope that you found this review of the Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.8 to be helpful in making your decision! If you want to purchase the lens, you can thank us at Photography Life for all the work that went into this review by using the affiliate links below:

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The next page of this review has some more sample photos from the Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.8, followed by reader comments on the final page. So, click the menu below to jump to the section you want: