Viltrox has simply introduced the Viltrox AF 28mm f/4.5 Chip lens, a fixed-aperture autofocus lens for the Nikon Z mount, which has been obtainable for the Sony E mount for a while. This pancake lens is fairly small, cheap, and has some attention-grabbing options all for $99. On this overview, I’ll be looking at this enjoyable little lens, which I examined on the Nikon Z6.
Introduction
The fundamental options of this lens are:
- Mount: Nikon Z, Sony E, Fujifilm X (APS-C)
- Focal Size: 28mm
- Angle of View: 73.42º
- Minimal Focus Distance: 0.35m (1.15′)
- Design: 6 parts in 6 teams
- Size: 15.3mm (0.6″)
- Weight: 60g
- Filter Measurement: Doesn’t settle for filters
Yeah, this lens is small – as in, I can’t even inform the distinction between it and the digicam physique with no lens. Truthfully, this lens is giving me nostalgia in regards to the point-and-shoot days!
So as to add to its compactness, the Viltrox 28mm f/4.5 doesn’t actually have a conventional lens cap. As an alternative, it’s acquired a built-in lens protect, which sounds bizarre at first however fairly useful. The protect is activated with a easy change that may be engaged whether or not the digicam is on or off, and it means no worrying about lens caps whenever you’re simply out capturing.
Regardless of its compact and lightweight design, the 28mm f/4.5 is generally made out of metallic together with the mount. Total, it feels sturdy.
One disappointing reality in regards to the lens is an absence of handbook focus ring. The lens does have a ribbed edge, however that’s simply that can assist you lock the lens on the digicam. The autofocus itself is first rate and correct, nevertheless it pulses a bit and it’s a bit sluggish.
You’ll be able to see the entrance lens component transfer whereas focusing, although it’s at all times underneath the extent of the lens face and by no means protrudes. This does add to the potential for mud to get into the barrel of the lens over time.
An essential factor it is best to know is that this can be a fastened aperture lens. You’ve acquired f/4.5, and that’s all you get.
Is {that a} large deal? Definitely, should you’re planning to make use of this lens like another lens. Nevertheless, for the meant goal – primarily a substitute physique cap – I feel it’s much less of an issue. This lens is viable for issues like road images, environmental portraits, and occasions. It may be used for landscapes in a pinch, however you’ll simply have to just accept that you just received’t have the ability to cease right down to get extra depth of discipline – so that you’ll both have to keep away from close by foregrounds, settle for some out-of-focus blur, or focus stack.
Optical Options
The Viltrox 28mm f/4.5 is a straightforward lens with 6 parts in 6 teams. Two of the weather are extra-low dispersion parts and two are aspherical. It additionally has numerous coatings together with what Viltrox calls an HD Nano-coating, and a fluorine coated entrance component to protect in opposition to water and dirt. So, let’s see how all these things interprets into the actual world!
First, let’s verify distortion. Viltrox claims minimal distortion with this lens, and that appears correct to me. Right here’s a grid so you may see how a lot:
There’s a small quantity of pincushion distortion, however to not unhealthy. You’ll additionally discover that there’s a good quantity of vignetting. Right here’s the way it seems in opposition to a reasonably uniform mild supply, uncropped:
The middle to excessive nook falloff is fairly robust, however nonetheless principally correctable so long as you’re not recovering too many shadows within the corners.
Whereas testing this lens, I seen that it has some vital focus respiration. Right here’s an in depth and much focus shot superimposed of the identical topic (in fact, it’s out of focus for one of many pictures).
What about sharpness? I in contrast the lens to my go-to Nikon Z lens, the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4, additionally set at f/4.5. Right here is the middle efficiency:
The Viltrox has decrease distinction than the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4. Nevertheless, it isn’t too unhealthy, and I’ve no actual complaints about its efficiency within the heart.
What in regards to the corners? Right here’s the way it seems underneath my greatest try at getting the identical framing:
This time, the Nikon wins fairly simply. The Viltrox is clearly softer and has considerably much less distinction. However the consequence continues to be acceptable and higher than I had anticipated for the Viltrox. Pancake lenses hardly ever carry out at a excessive degree, and contemplating that this can be a $99 pancake, it’s not a nasty consequence.
There’s one other attention-grabbing characteristic of this lens, which is its uncommon starburst impact. It was designed to offer a really lengthy, skinny starburst impact when capturing tiny level sources of sunshine. You’ll be able to see it on this sunstar, nevertheless it produces them fairly simply with virtually any level supply of sunshine. Form of stunning for a hard and fast f/4.5 lens:
What in regards to the bokeh? With a focal size of 28mm and a hard and fast aperture of f/4.5, to not point out the minimal focusing distance of 0.35m, it’s unlikely you’ll be getting a lot background blur with this factor. Nonetheless, on the minimal focus distance of 35cm, you may see the bokeh a bit
I’d say it’s decently easy with some nervousness, however the nervousness is admittedly solely seen with specular highlights.
And also you in all probability have been questioning about that flare, proper? Fairly attention-grabbing, should you ask me. For those who place the lens good, you will get these injections of flare of various colours, which I believed was fairly radical. You’ll be able to see one instance within the picture above. As a result of this lens doesn’t have a hood nor any approach to connect one, you will should be careful for flare (or ought to I say aptitude?) in backlit conditions, however I discovered that you should use your hand to dam it out if you would like.
Chromatic aberrations seem in very backlit conditions akin to this one:
Listed here are two crops, one from the middle and one from the top-right nook, so you may see what we’re up in opposition to:
In different conditions, akin to capturing environmental portraits outside with robust mild, I couldn’t discover any hint of those, so I feel in follow, it’s actually nothing to fret about.
Conclusion
The Viltrox AF 28mm f/4.5 Chip lens is a enjoyable lens to make use of. It’s a bit optically wonky (not at all times in a nasty approach), and decently sharp. It has some quirks like humorous flaring, however I discovered to like its character, and now I even wish to experiment with its rainbow flaring functionality. The small dimension means it’s an effective way to shoot at 28mm with out carrying a lot additional weight, whereas leaving loads of cash in your pockets.
Nevertheless, I feel that the primary use of this lens is as a physique cap substitute. A lens with out handbook focus, with out the flexibility to vary aperture, and with a unusual optical efficiency is unlikely to be anybody’s go-to software for essential shoots.
For those who’re thinking about getting this lens, think about using the B&H hyperlinks beneath to assist impartial evaluations akin to this one.