There’s nothing else like it.

[whawha]

This is one of the very few true pancake lenses for full frame Sony, and as far as I know the only autofocus one. The four stars should be taken in context of what this lens is and offers, not on how it compares to more expensive and much bigger 28mms.

Until the end of the 90s most systems had a 28mm f2.8 where the emphasis was on being inconspicuous, small and light rather than on optical excellence. Today we have to thank the likes of Viltrox, Brightin Star, Funleader and 7 Artisans for filling that niche.

This Viltrox is a true pancake design, with the trade-off that the aperture is a fixed f4.5.

You have to take it for what it is. The build quality is decent and the optical performance is very decent for street and documentary photography.

Unfortunately it’s autofocus only, there isn’t a manual focus dial nor a filter thread.
A design flaw is that the built in “lens cap” is too deep when closed so the front element hits it when the camera is on. You have to remember to open and close it with the camera off.

If Viltrox would make another version at twice the price with the options of f4.5 and f8 on a side switch, and the possibility to lock the focus on f8 hyperfocal and disable the autofocus, it would be the perfect street photography lens.

As it is, you can make it work, it costs very little and most of all, there’s nothing else like it.

--
https://www.instagram.com/mechanical.eyelid/

 

[Solomon]

Good review. I'm a huge Viltrox fan, these days I mostly shoot a Fujifilm XT-3. I have the 7Artisans 18mm f/6.3. Very similar from the sound of your review. I bought it before the Viltrox pancake came out. I would rather the Viltrox.
Regards,

Sol

 

[madecov]

Got mine in Z mount. Really a fun lens















--
Police Officer (Retired)
No plan survives first contact with the enemy.

 

[Keros]

Got mine in Z mount. Really a fun lens

Curious to your thoughts on the Viltrox 28mm f4.5 vs the Nikon 26mm f2.8.

I already have the 26mm. The Viltrox is definitely smaller, but by how much margin and is it worth with the image quality exchange, assuming the IQ of the Viltrox will be worse than the Nikon? But is that the case?

Thanks

 

[whawha]

The Nikon is bound to give better image quality, if that is paramount for you. I’d be surprised if it didn’t.

Still a pancake design but weights about twice as much and is a bit bigger. However it gives you over an extra stop of light, variable aperture and a manual focus ring. It also costs four times as much.
I’d keep it. I think it’s a nice lens, If Sony made something similar I’d be interested.
Sony’s only 28mm prime (f2) is the size of a small telephoto. They make the smallest full frame bodies but no lenses to match them.

--
https://www.instagram.com/mechanical.eyelid/

 

[madecov]

Got mine in Z mount. Really a fun lens

Curious to your thoughts on the Viltrox 28mm f4.5 vs the Nikon 26mm f2.8.

I already have the 26mm. The Viltrox is definitely smaller, but by how much margin and is it worth with the image quality exchange, assuming the IQ of the Viltrox will be worse than the Nikon? But is that the case?

Thanks

I initially baught the lens because of price. If my memory is serves the Viltrox is 25% of the Nikon price. I already have the 28mm f/2.8

I didn't need another 28mm. But I got a discount on my pre order, so it was really inexpensive.

It is better than i expected.

--
Police Officer (Retired)
No plan survives first contact with the enemy.

 

[Keros]

Thanks OP and madecov for the replies. I think I will keep the Nikon 26mm. But the size and price of the Viltrox 28mm is really tempting.

 

[Jeqa]

Pancakes are fun and almost worth keeping in your camera bag as a backup or just in case.

 

[James Ray Kenney]

Pancakes are fun and almost worth keeping in your camera bag as a backup or just in case.

When I am shooting with my Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 I keep the Viltrox 28 in my front shirt pocket behind my phone, and hardly notice it! I have a a6700 so that give me a 'normal' lens in addition to my telephoto...