Viltrox 35mm f1.7 will become the standard go to lens for an APS-C photographer! Viltrox 35mm f1.7 it’s very sharp, light, and the price is very good.
I’ve used the Viltrox 35mm f1.7 for portraits, night street photography, family photography, and day-to-day photography.
Let’s take and in depth look at Viltrox 35mm f1.7.
Viltrox 35mm f1.7 Key Points
Viltrox 35mm f1.7 is a miracle lens because it’s:
- very small,
- budget-friendly,
- ultra-light,
- ultra-sharp,
- and has amazing bokeh!
Viltrox 35mm f1.7 it’s a standard lens with the Fujifilm X Mount, and you can also find it on the Sony E Mount and Nikon Z mount.
With Viltrox 35mm f1.7 on an APS-C body you’ll get the 50 mm equivalent field of view — a great lens for documentary photography, portrait photography, and everyday photography.
I used the Viltrox 35mm f1.7 on Fujifilm X-T50 and the Fujifilm X-Pro3.
I’ll also compare it to:
- The Fujifilm XF 35 mm f1.4
- The XF 35 mm f2
- The XC 35 mm f2
At the end of this review, we will conclude if Viltrox 35mm f1.7 is the best buy.
Viltrox 35mm f1.7 Build Quality
- The lens is made entirely of plastic, but the lens mount is metal.
- It has a USB-C port, so you can update the lens via firmware updates.
- It comes with a rose-petal plastic lens hood.
The lens is nice at touch and it weights just 170 g.
Handling of the Viltrox 35mm f1.7
The Viltrox 35mm f1.7 is incredibly light. On the Fujifilm X-Pro3, it balances very well—it’s a joy to use.
It doesn’t block the optical viewfinder and focuses fast on the X-Pro3.
Also on Fujifilm X-T50 is very well balanced and the auto focus is very fast and precise.
The Viltrox 35mm f1.7 is ultra-light, well-balanced, and inconspicuous. It’s a joy to shoot with, especially for street photography.
Viltrox 35mm f1.7 Autofocus Performance
The Autofocus of Viltrox 35mm f1.7 works very well.
I’ve used the Viltrox 35mm f1.7 with AFS (single-point focus), which is my preferred shooting method with Fujifilm cameras.
The lens is fast, silent, and performs decently with autofocus continuous.
However, I wouldn’t recommend using the Viltrox 35mm f1.7 for subject-tracking photography with Fujifilm. On Sony or Nikon, that might be another discussion.
Image Quality of the Viltrox 35mm f1.7
How is the image quality, especially at f1.7?
- The subject pops nicely.
- It has very good flare resistance.
- The image quality is excellent even without the lens hood.
- The results are very sharp
- Very good and pleasing colors
Viltrox 35mm f1.7 resolves the 40MP sensor of Fujifilm X-T5, X-T50, XH2. It’s even sharper and with more details than the Fujifilm 35mm f2 lens from my studio shots – take a look here.
Minimum Focus Distance of the Viltrox 35mm f1.7
The minimum focus distance is 0.33 m (33 cm), which is very suitable for day-to-day shooting.
Viltrox 35mm f1.7 versus Fujifilm 35mm f1.4 and Fujifilm 35mm f2
I tested the Viltrox 35mm f1.7 against the Fujifilm 35 mm f1.4 and f2 lenses. The results are interesting:
- At 100% in RAW files on a 40-megapixel sensor (Fujifilm X-T5), the Viltrox 35mm f1.7 resolves details better.
- It’s incredibly sharp, capturing textures like a macro lens at f1.7!
Viltrox 35mm f1.7 Bokeh Performance
Comparing bokeh at f1.7 and f1.4:
- Viltrox 35mm f1.7 produces smooth bokeh.
- The f1.4 lens has slightly larger bokeh balls but minimal differences overall.
At f2, the Viltrox 35mm f1.7 still performs better, offering smoother and larger bokeh balls than Fujifilm 35mm f2.
Viltrox 35mm f1.7 Sharpness vs Fujifilm 35mm f1.4 and Fujifilm 35mm f2
The Viltrox 35mm f1.7 is sharper than both the Fujifilm 35 mm f1.4 and f2 lenses at f1.7 and on a 40-megapixel sensor Viltrox 35mm f1.7 it’s bulletproof.
Conclusion: Is the Viltrox 35mm f1.7 Worth It?
The Viltrox 35mm f1.7 is sharp, lightweight, and has excellent bokeh.
It competes strongly with Fujifilm’s 35 mm f1.4 and f2 lenses, often surpassing them in performance and value.
When it comes to value, the Viltrox 35mm f1.7 is hard to beat. For a fraction of the price of Fujifilm’s 35mm lenses, you’re getting a lens that delivers stunning sharpness, smooth bokeh, and impressive performance.
While the Fujifilm 35mm f1.4 has legendary status and the f2 version is known for its compact build and weather resistance, the Viltrox 35mm f1.7 holds its own, especially when you consider the price-to-performance ratio.
If you’re on a budget or looking for a high-quality alternative, the Viltrox lens is a smart investment.
It’s lightweight, versatile, and perfect for everyday shooting.
You might miss the weather sealing of the Fujifilm f2 lens, but the image quality will compensate it.
Viltrox 35mm f1.7 offers incredible value without compromising on performance.
Viltrox 35mm f1.7 Short Cons
- No weather sealing
- Fully plastic build (except the mount)
- Slightly slower maximum aperture compared to f1.4 lenses
- Autofocus performance may not match Fujifilm’s XF 33mm f1.4 WR lens
- Lacks the “character” or unique rendering of Fujifilm’s f1.4 lens
Viltrox 35mm f1.7 Short Pros:
- Excellent sharpness, even on 40MP sensors with more details than 35mm f2 and 35mm f1.4
- Lightweight and compact design
- Smooth and attractive bokeh
- Silent and fast autofocus for everyday use
- Incredible value for the price
Where To Get Viltrox 35mm f1.7
- Get Viltrox 35mm f1.7 here: click here (aff)