Unfold the love
Viltrox is elevating the bar once more for third-party lens producers, this time with their AF 35mm F1.2 LAB Lens for the Sony FE mount. With a customized LCD show, configurable FN buttons, and distinctive picture high quality that their LAB sequence of lenses has confirmed to exhibit, this lens is about to stun you with its outcomes.
The stories are true—Viltrox has simply introduced its AF 35mm F1.2 LAB FE mount lens, which is making 35mm focal size lovers drool in every single place. At this level, I’d be prepared to wager that 35mm is the focal size for which prime lenses can be found in most aperture choices. Apart from the standard f1.4 and f1.8 fashions, you’ve additionally acquired f2.8 choices, f3.5 too, f8 as properly, and naturally, f1.2 has had some latest releases too within the 35mm focal size. After all, the f1.2 fashions have usually been heavy, cumbersome, and oh so expensive. Bear in mind Sigma’s 35mm f1.2 Artwork DG DN lens? It felt extremely imbalanced on any Sony digicam and postpone our Editor-in-Chief, Chris Gampat, from the Sony mount for some time. Whereas it produced implausible photographs for probably the most half, the girth and weight in the end proved too cumbersome. In his overview of that lens, he detailed:
“Tempted by the innovation and an amazing editorial low cost from Sigma, I made a decision to drag the set off and get the lens for Sony E Mount. Certain, it delivers stunning photographs, and there’s one thing to be stated for a quick 35mm lens. On paper, it is a lens that I’m positive you and I each can be smitten for. However in actuality, that’s not the case. Just like the Sigma FP, once you put the gargantuan Sigma 35mm f1.2 Artwork DG DN on a Sony a7 model digicam, it’s actually unbalanced. Certain, the picture high quality is terrific. However sling it round you, and also you’ll really feel simply how mammoth your complete package deal is.”
From what I’ve seen up to now, this lens from Viltrox in all probability gained’t be recreating any of these ache factors throughout his overview. Proper now, the 2 major opponents for this lens, when you can name them that, can be the aforementioned Sigma (out there in FE and L mounts), and the Nikon 35mm F1.2 S Z mount lens, their finest ever 35mm. Right here’s an outline of the salient tech specs for these 3 lenses:
Tech Specs Comparability
| Viltrox AF 35mm F1.2 LAB FE | Nikon NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.2 S | Sigma 35mm F1.2 DG DN Artwork | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lens Mount | Sony E-mount | Nikon Z-mount | Sony E-mount, L-mount |
| Angle of View | 64.2° | 63° | 63.4° |
| Most Aperture | f/1.2 | f/1.2 | f/1.2 |
| Minimal Aperture | f/22 | f/16 | f/16 |
| Weight | 910g | 1060g | 1080g (Sony E), 1090g (L) |
| Dimensions (D × L) | 89.2 × 121.8 mm | 89.5 × 150 mm | 87.8 × 138.2 mm (Sony E) |
| Filter Measurement | 77 mm | 82 mm | 82 mm |
| Minimal Focusing Distance | 0.34 m | 0.3 m | 0.3 m |
| Most Magnification Ratio | 0.17× | 0.2× | 0.196× |
There’s Extra
The Viltrox AF 35mm F1.2 LAB FE is at the very least 10% lighter than the opposite two fashions we’re evaluating right here, however the place it significantly stands out by itself is within the value issue. You’d anticipate a model new launch to be expensive, however Viltrox has launched this lens at simply USD 999. If the outcomes are something like what we noticed from their different LAB lens, the 135mm f1.8 mannequin, then I’d say the cash is greater than price it. The filter thread measurement is simply 77mm, too, which means your screw-on filters gained’t need to be too expensive. Apart from the seen options on the outside, the Viltrox AF 35mm F1.2 additionally has a few different nice options below the hood:
- Quad HyperVCM motor – their patented autofocus system accelerates focus velocity by 150% in comparison with conventional STM motors. It does this by dynamically adjusting lens teams to compensate for spherical aberration and discipline curvature, providing you with quiet 100ms near-to-far focus transitions
- 15 optical lens components, together with 5 extra-low dispersion (ED) segments, three high-refractive-index components, and two ultra-large precision aspherical (UA) lenses for distinctive readability in your pictures
Constructed utilizing aerospace-grade magnesium alloy, this lens is sealed for mud and splash resistance, and has a water and stain-resistant entrance lens coating. The 2 customizable Fn buttons could be configured utilizing the Viltrox app in your smartphone, and the aperture ring could be clicked/de-clicked as per your comfort, very like lots of their different lenses.
I additionally anticipate Viltrox to launch this lens on the Nikon Z mount very quickly. In case you’re somebody for whom the Z 35mm f/1.2 S is priced out of vary, then you definitely might need this extra inexpensive possibility coming your means. Remember to preserve an eye fixed out for our full overview of the FE mount model within the subsequent few weeks.
All photographs seen on this article are used with permission and offered to be used by our Viltrox reps
