OpticalLimits

next OL lens test report: Viltrox AF 28mm f/4.5 VCM

me

https://opticallimits.com/sony/sony-fe-full-format/viltrox-28mm-f-4-5-vcm-review/

It had potential but I think the fixed aperture wasn't helpful here.

Rover

I know it's unlike me to ever defend Canon (haha) but look at what they've done with their own 28mm pancake and tell me, why couldn't Viltrox just do the same, more or less?

MLonlooker

Is space really at such a premium in life ?.......

I'd go for a F2.8 "crumpet lens" version with borders and corners that are sharp and a variable aperture ......

....... knowing that the extra weight might keep my personal body weight down carrying it .... 🙂

Rover

I'm also wondering how this would compare to the Samyang 28/3.5 module (though that one is E-mount only, of course, and maybe L-mount sometime down the track).

Also curious as to how Klaus would go about reviewing that Samyang set. Probably as a zoom lens with three different focal lengths? :-)

toni-a

Slow speed makes it impractical for street photography, absence of aperture makes impractical for landscape ....Only selling point tiny and cheap, might work, I am not interested and wouldn't recommend it.

Rover

I guess that was not the verdict the folks at Viltrox were hoping for when they were sending the lens to Klaus...

danielnava

Great review! I really wish Sony would make a 28mm 2.8 lens that’s similar to the other compact primes (24/40/50) but I’ll certainly be interested in this for my A7cii when it comes out.

MLonlooker

Christopher Frost has done a review of the 28/F4.5 ..... it came out quite well on FF, very sharp in the overall frame even sharpness in the corners was decent, on APSc the corners were good-very good ..... flare was "artistic" and sun stars pretty good .... AF was also decent.
..... at $99 it's a steal, less if you sign up on their site ...... and it's well made with a metal mount .......

I take it back it's quite a sweetie and a true pancake rather than a crumpet .......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbzimUlO9P4

charlesdaven

Christopher Frost has done a review of the 28/F4.5 ..... it came out quite well on FF, very sharp in the overall frame even sharpness in the corners was decent, on APSc the corners were good-very good ..... flare was "artistic" and sun stars pretty good .... AF was also decent.
..... at $99 it's a steal, less if you sign up on their site ...... and it's well made with a metal mount .......

I take it back it's quite a sweetie and a true pancake rather than a crumpet .......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbzimUlO9P4

This lens makes a fool out of the Panasonic 26mm f8. A must-have lens.

me

MLonlooker wrote
Christopher Frost has done a review of the 28/F4.5 ..... it came out quite well on FF, very sharp in the overall frame even sharpness in the corners was decent, on APSc the corners were good-very good ..... flare was "artistic" and sun stars pretty good .... AF was also decent.
..... at $99 it's a steal, less if you sign up on their site ...... and it's well made with a metal mount .......

I take it back it's quite a sweetie and a true pancake rather than a crumpet .......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbzimUlO9P4

CF has also reported soft corners on FF ...

MLonlooker

Klaus wrote
MLonlooker wrote
Christopher Frost has done a review of the 28/F4.5 ..... it came out quite well on FF, very sharp in the overall frame even sharpness in the corners was decent, on APSc the corners were good-very good ..... flare was "artistic" and sun stars pretty good .... AF was also decent.
..... at $99 it's a steal, less if you sign up on their site ...... and it's well made with a metal mount .......

I take it back it's quite a sweetie and a true pancake rather than a crumpet .......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbzimUlO9P4

CF has also reported soft corners on FF ...

if you look it is only in the extremes corners

Rover

Now announced in Fuji X mount. Makes sense because the soft corners would be cropped off. Though there are viable (faster) alternatives in X mount anyway.

me

I think this lens has quite a bit of sample variations ...