Viltrox AF 35mm F1.7 Air

Viltrox introduced this prime in 2024, so it is a recent design rather than an older model. It arrives in Sony E, Fujifilm X and Nikon Z versions, and each version fits only its own mount. Choose the one made for your camera. All three share the same optical design.

The lens covers APS-C, where 35mm acts as a standard focal length. That makes it a natural fit for street scenes, travel pictures and photos of people indoors. The light body invites all-day carry, and the wide maximum aperture helps in dim rooms. The trade-off is a build without stabilisation or weather sealing.

The Sony E version weighs 6 oz (170 g) and measures 2.52 in (64 mm) across and 2.22 in (56.4 mm) long. These measurements describe that mount version. The compact body is useful in a small everyday kit or when packing several lenses for a walk.

A 52mm screw-in filter attaches directly to the front thread, so a polariser or a plain protective filter fits with no adaptor.

On APS-C, 35mm gives a standard view that suits people and places. You can include a person within their surroundings or move closer for a tighter composition. Framing depends on distance. Moving also changes perspective, so consider the relationship between the subject and the background as you choose a position.

The f/1.7 maximum aperture lets in more light than a smaller opening. At the same shutter speed, that can allow a lower ISO in dim interiors or on evening streets. A nearby subject can have a soft background when there is enough space behind it. Check focus carefully when depth of field is shallow.

Stopping down increases depth of field when both a face and its surroundings must be clear. Closest focus is 1.1 ft (33 cm), measured from the sensor. Maximum magnification is 0.13x. That close range can help with food and tabletop objects, while very small subjects will occupy less of the frame.

The optics specification scores 87 out of 100.

There is no image stabilisation in the lens. A body with stabilisation can help with camera shake. The wide aperture can help retain a faster shutter speed, but it does not stabilise the camera. Firm support is useful for still subjects; moving people need a shutter speed suited to their movement.

There is no weather sealing, so protect the lens from rain, dust and sea spray. Remove loose particles before wiping the front glass. Keep the mount clean when changing lenses and put the caps on before storing the lens.

Inside sit 11 elements in 9 groups, among them one aspherical element. Aspherical surfaces help correct distortion, a fault that bends straight edges in street scenes. A single low-dispersion element helps reduce chromatic aberration, the coloured fringes that can appear along high-contrast edges such as branches against bright sky.

Focusing is internal, so the barrel keeps a fixed length while you focus, and the lens stays compact on the camera.