Viltrox EVO 35mm f/1.8 Review

Portrait and wedding ceremony photographers, have you ever tried a 35mm prime but? If not, you would possibly simply be dwelling beneath a rock. Honestly? After 20+ years as knowledgeable, out of all of the veteran photographers I’ve met, a minimum of half of them are completely obsessive about their 35mm prime. (The different prime lovers are obsessive about a 50mm, and I believe they’re flawed! I’m one of many 35mm lovers; spoiler alert!)

Today, I’m penning this Viltrox 35mm f/1.8 EVO overview with the hope that I’ll persuade each learners and skilled professionals alike to attempt it out. Whether you’ve already used a dozen totally different 35mm primes, or that is your very first prime lens, listen…

Here’s what you actually need to know: the Viltrox EVO lineup caught my consideration just lately as a result of it’s a considerable departure from many third-party, beginner-oriented, “affordable alternative” lenses from years previous: On this 35mm prime, the optics and the mechanics are each excellent, providing spectacular picture high quality and rugged construct high quality. And but, the value tag remains to be funds pleasant, at $395. Considering the APO and ED optics and the intensive function set, (de-clickable aperture ring, AF/MF swap, Fn button, climate sealing, and extra) …that’s an unbelievable worth that’s value trying out. Without any additional ado, let’s dive into this lens overview!

Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.8 EVO | Specifications

• FOCAL LENGTH & ANGLE OF VIEW: 35mm, 63° (full-frame)
• LENS MOUNT(S): Sony E (FE full-frame), Nikon Z (Full-Frame)
• APERTURE & RANGE: f/1.8-f/16, 9 rounded blades
• STABILIZATION: No
• AUTOFOCUS: totally inner focusing, silent STM motor
• MANUAL FOCUS: Digitally managed, devoted bodily ring, devoted AF/MF swap
• OPTICAL CONSTRUCTION: 13 parts in 10 teams, 2 ED, 3 HR, 1 UA (aspherical)
• MECHANICAL BUILD: Metal barrel & mount, climate sealed
• MAGNIFICATION & FOCUS DISTANCE: 0.15X magnification, ~13.4” (0.34m) shut focus
• FILTER THREADS & HOOD: 58mm, plastic hood included
• SIZE: Φ2.71×2.99 in. (69x76mm)
• WEIGHT: 12.52 oz (355g) (naked lens)
• PRICE: $395

Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.8 EVO Review | Who Should Buy It?

A 35mm prime is a really common lens. It’s helpful for every thing from informal candid pictures of on a regular basis life, to critical skilled portrait work, and naturally each picture and video purposes. If you’re taking away something from this overview, it’s that you need to most likely personal a 35mm prime, if not this one!

I do strongly imagine that this specific prime is a good selection; it’s every thing that you just’d need in such a lens. It’s small and light-weight sufficient to only depart it in your digital camera on a regular basis for many of your images, but it surely’s additionally skilled sufficient to belief for high-paying work. The 35mm focal size is great for footage of all various kinds of topics, not simply folks; it balances the power to blur a background whereas additionally nonetheless together with extra of a scene in comparison with a “normal” 50mm lens.

So, who ought to contemplate this Viltrox 35mm f/1.8 EVO? Almost everybody, certainly, however with just a few caveats that we’ll go over now…

Portrait Photography

First and foremost, I really like a very good 35mm for portraits. Compared in opposition to another focal size, 35mm lets me give my topics a bit room to breathe, whereas not worrying an excessive amount of about distortion or different points associated to scale and topic distance. While many photographers favor a ~50mm prime for these identical causes, I’m a passionate panorama photographer as my pastime, so, I truly favor 35mm over 50mm with regards to portraits.

Honestly? The outcomes from this modestly priced (and weighted) f/1.8 prime are adequate that I’d advocate it to everybody who’s curious about portraits, from the newbie to the high-end luxurious portrait photographers. (We’ll speak about f/1.8 versus f/1.4 and f/1.2 later!)

Wedding Photography & Video

Of course, portrait images in a candid, environmental scenario additionally occurs at weddings. So, as a lot as I like to recommend a 35mm prime to portrait photographers, it robotically applies to weddings much more! I really like a very good 35mm prime for candid snapshots as a bride or groom is preparing, or wedding ceremony visitors as they collect at cocktail hour, and even on the dance ground on the wedding ceremony reception!

Whether you do picture and/or video, any kind of occasion work ought to a minimum of contemplate 35mm. Especially one like this EVO 35mm f/1.8, with its de-clickable aperture ring for exact, clean iris management.

(If you’re a videographer, nevertheless, do pay particular consideration to the assorted crops of your digital camera sensor; typically recording 4K 60p video for instance would possibly trigger your digital camera to crop in fairly a bit, and “ruin” the 35mm angle of view. This additionally applies to digital picture stabilization, through which case a 24mm prime may be a greater possibility since it would truly yield a ~35mm remaining outcome. Do your homework!)

Vloggers & Content Creators

The extra informal, “real life” varieties of video creators must also contemplate this lens, with one specific word that I’d like to supply: If you’re doing loads of vertically oriented video, a 35mm prime lens (or perhaps a 24mm) is probably going a a lot better selection than a 50mm, due to its horizontal angle of view when in vertical orientation.

Also, in case you’re placing your digital camera on a gimbal stabilizer, you actually care about weight! This EVO prime is without doubt one of the highest-quality lenses in such a light-weight, compact package deal.

Cinema & Movie Makers

Don’t get me flawed about informal use and “semi-professional” work, after all. Considering the wonderful picture high quality and the rugged construct high quality, I believe this EVO lineup is prepared for very high-end productions. (NOTE: We’ll speak concerning the authorized issues a bit bit later, for these of you on the Nikon Z mount…)

Fashion & Editorial Photography

Again, the identical recommendation applies: If you’re a high-end portrait photographer who’s extraordinarily discerning with regards to picture high quality, you’re in the suitable place. However, I do assume {that a} critical skilled must even have a 50mm or 85mm prime (or longer) to go along with such a medium-wide prime.

Candid & Street Photography

Oppositely from the opposite varieties of images with human topics, candid & road images is a style the place this lens would possibly actually by no means depart your digital camera! In truth, 35mm is the most well-liked focal size (equal) on fixed-lens cameras, the final time I checked. If you’re principally simply doing informal candids of something and every thing, whether or not picture and/or video, a compact, dependable 35mm prime must be your major lens.

Landscape & Nightscape Photography

Most panorama and nightscape photographers will begin with a wider lens, I think, however don’t low cost the improbable outcomes you may get with a wonderful 35mm! I discover it to be an ideal complement to a 20mm or 24mm prime, for while you want a bit bit extra easy of a composition.

Even wide-open at f/1.8, this lens really shines with its optics delivering beautiful element within the night time sky. I used to be really impressed by the wide-open outcomes. In truth, the primary take a look at picture I noticed at f/1.8, I believed it was taken at f/2.8, it was that good! 

Viltrox 35mm f/1.8 EVO Review | Pros & Cons

Image Quality

For those that don’t know, APO stands for Apochromatic. It simply signifies that the optics have parts that are made to just about get rid of annoyances like colour fringing, aberration, and so on. What does this truly imply in the true world? The technical element of this lens is actually spectacular. It’s not simply sharp, however even the best particulars are crisp, contrasty, and vibrant with correct colours.

I notably recognize this when utilizing “lower” megapixel cameras like ~24MP, since you usually tend to enlarge or zoom in to 200% when cropping or making an enormous print of your pictures. For a marriage photographer who’s utilizing a Sony A9 collection or a Nikon Z6 collection, this is a superb lens!

Sharpness

I’ll let the outcomes communicate for themselves; even large open at f/1.8, and even off-center, the extent of element is beautiful.

Bokeh

Background blur is one factor that portrait and candid photographers are at all times involved about. I examined the Viltrox EVO AF 35mm f/1.8 II each close-up and at larger distances, in among the most difficult situations with regard to bokeh. Even when the background is filled with “nasty” issues like sticks and twigs, the bokeh remains to be nice, it’s very clean and creamy.

In the previous, f/1.8 prime lenses have been relegated to newbie standing as a result of their optics weren’t professionally designed; they have been meant to be compact and low-cost, and “back in the day”, that meant a compromise on refined issues like bokeh. Not anymore; this Viltrox EVO lens provides all of it! I’m now solely assured in utilizing an f/1.8 prime for skilled portraiture or in different conditions the place shallow depth is crucial.

I did discover that occasionally, on sure issues like stars or distant tree branches, the “edge” of focus can appear to have a faint edge or double edge to it. This may be as a result of APO optics being so good at correcting nearly all colour aberrations, and it’s not a priority for 99% of photographers.

Colors & Contrast

Another space the place third-party lenses used to fall quick in years previous was with regard to paint forged and the general vibrance of the photographs. I’ll let the photographs on this overview communicate for themselves; simply know that in each case I’ve utilized very minimal modifying and total I’m very impressed by the colours & distinction.

Vignetting & Distortion

Mirrorless lenses nearly all have one factor in widespread: they depend on a lens “profile” to appropriate any optical flaws of distortion or vignetting. This is customary within the business now, which has good and dangerous outcomes. On the one hand, utilizing a lens profile to appropriate minor vignetting and distortion permits a lens to be extra inexpensive and extra moveable. On the opposite hand, typically lens makers attempt to get away with an excessive amount of “secret” correction, and the true picture your lens is creating might need horrible distortion or pitch-black vignetted corners.

In the case of the Viltrox EVO 35mm f/1.8, I used DxO PhotoLab 9 to entry the uncooked picture information, and I discovered that vignetting and distortion are each shockingly low! This makes it a wonderful selection for my pastime, which is, adventurous nightscape images.

Sunstars & Flare

The flare traits are very distinctive; typically this can be a lovely factor, and occasionally it’s a slight annoyance. Personally, for portrait images I actually love having a lens with distinctive flare traits. Just watch out the way you’re framing your compositions, and also you’ll get pleasure from a lens that delivers imagery akin to a classic lens however with trendy optical sharpness and so on.

Color Fringing, Aberration, Coma & Astigmatism

Here is the place many lenses totally fail my most rigorous testing metric, and right here is the place this Viltrox EVO prime lens completely shines. For such a small lens, it has no enterprise delivering such flawless picture high quality! I keep in mind when lenses costing (and weighing) 2-3X greater than this had horrible coma, astigmatism, and colour fringing when used wide-open.

Even within the excessive corners, for demanding topics such because the night time sky, picture high quality was improbable, even at f/1.8. I ought to word that Viltrox’s highest-end lens collection, the LAB collection, has a kind of glass ingredient known as a UA ingredient, and that expertise has been used on this lens, too!

Macro & Close-Up Photography

 I did just a few fast checks on the closest focusing distance, simply to see if the picture high quality modified in any respect, and to get an concept of simply what a ~13.4-inch minimal focusing distance (0.15x magnification) regarded like. Obviously, this isn’t a “macro” lens, however for close-up element pictures of most unusual topics, I used to be very happy.

Design & Durability

Now, let’s speak concerning the bodily high quality of this lens! Optically, it’s certainly practically excellent, however one in every of my different major issues about this lens was the mechanics, the general construct high quality. Simply put, an inexpensive third-party lens might be a dangerous funding, if it’s not constructed to the identical requirements as a reputation model.

In this case, I used to be very pleased to find that the Viltrox EVO lens (and I think the others within the EVO lineup) are constructed very solidly, with a tight-fitting mount together with a climate seal. In dealing with, on a mid-sized skilled digital camera physique comparable to a Sony A7 collection, the EVO 35mm f/1.8 felt skilled and well-balanced.

Ergonomics & Portability

One of the largest the explanation why I really like f/1.8 primes is their portability and dealing with. In my wedding ceremony images days, I cherished nothing greater than reaching for a light-weight f/1.8 lens later within the night, to offer my wrists a break from the lengthy hours holding a 24-70mm f/2.8 and 70-200mm f/2.8.

That continues to be one in every of my favourite issues about this lens, and one of many the explanation why I’d contemplate it to be an ideal all-around prime lens for on a regular basis picture/video creation. It’s light-weight, however strong. It balances very effectively whether or not you’re capturing one-handed and searching on the rear LCD, or holding the digital camera as much as your eye with each fingers.

Autofocus Performance

Especially on the Sony E (FE) mount, I’ve come to utterly belief lenses to only at all times nail focus each time. Even with quicker prime lenses comparable to f/1.4 or f/1.2, I anticipate responsive, quiet focusing that may be very constant and dependable. Of course, that is partly as a result of developments in topic detection & monitoring that every totally different digital camera provides, however a lens can completely make or break the autofocus as a result of that’s the place the main target motor resides.

In this case, the Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.8 EVO makes use of a just about silent STM stepper motor, and it does certainly constantly nail focus for each picture and video purposes. Even in extraordinarily tough lighting conditions, I may belief the lens to nail focus.

Manual Focus Performance

For issues like nightscape or astro-landscape images, after all, I normally flip the lens to “MF” and amplify a vivid star within the body to realize most precision. I discovered that the handbook focusing precision of this lens was excellent, permitting me to completely give attention to stars or different difficult topics with ease.

Features & Customizations

One of the ultimate points the place inexpensive lenses are likely to let me down is, their “bells and whistles”. I’ve gotten used to funds pleasant lenses falling into the “no frills” class, and in some circumstances, not even together with a lens hood!

Thankfully, the Viltrox EVO 35mm is what I’d name fully-featured. It has a devoted AF/MF swap, versus a customizable “FN1/FN2” swap that annoys me on another lenses. It has a customizable Fn button, too, for many who want it. Also, after all, there’s the aperture ring, which provides a swap to de-click it for clean video use. The solely omissions of word are an iris locking swap, which is usually good to have, and a “command dial” which is after all solely a risk on Nikon (or Canon) mirrorless cameras anyhow; Sony doesn’t supply such a perform.

Viltrox 35mm f/1.8 EVO Review | Value & Competitors

Honestly? The realm of 35mm primes is sort of as crowded because the vary of 50mm primes, and that’s a very good factor! If you desire a massively heavy f/1.2 prime lens, you may get one. If you desire a reasonably balanced f/1.4 prime, there are loads of these, too! There are simply too a lot of them to completely cowl all of your choices by way of the worth proposition in comparison with your alternate options.

With that mentioned, right here’s why I contemplate the Viltrox EVO 35mm f/1.8 to be a wonderful worth in comparison with its rivals: It’s one of many solely (if not the one) 35mm f/1.8 prime lenses to supply APO optics, and it does this at an inexpensive value. In different phrases, you received’t discover a higher worth with regards to picture high quality. For beneath $400, you’re getting picture high quality value 2-3X extra.

Another key facet of worth, to me, is how the skilled outcomes present up in such a small package deal. That’s the benefit of the compromise of f/1.8 versus f/1.4; I get

NOTE: Nikon Z-mount customers, please needless to say we now have heard some rumors about authorized issues and the Viltrox lenses on the Z mount. Considering that each of those latest EVO lenses can be found on  Z-mount, I need to say that it’s possible some kind of authorized decision has both already been reached, or is more likely to be. Still, it’s one small motive why some photographers could select to stay with title model lenses, or “authorized” third events comparable to Tamron or Sigma. Having mentioned that, neither of these third events makes a 35mm full-frame prime for the Z mount, regardless of each having some glorious optics of their household.

Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.8 EVO Review | Conclusion

All in all, I used to be not simply pleasantly shocked, however really blown away by the outcomes from this modest trying 35mm prime. Its measurement and its price ticket each had me fooled; I felt there was a threat that it could really feel low-cost and ship sub-part outcomes, and my issues couldn’t have been farther from the reality.

Therefore, this EVO lens will get a really sturdy advice from me, for each learners and professionals alike. Whether you create pictures or movies, whether or not you’re a portrait & wedding ceremony photographer otherwise you’re a wilderness journey nightscape photographer, we now have a brand new champion of portability and affordability! Make no mistake, the competitors is fierce, and this can be a high-end f/1.8 prime lens in a class that’s full of enticing choices. However, for me personally, I’d select this feature for nearly every thing I do.

The Viltrox EVO AF 35mm f/1.8 II is at the moment obtainable on the Sony E mount and the Nikon Z mount for $395. This is a little more than its EVO siblings, the brand new 55mm f/1.8 EVO ($370) and the marginally older 85mm f/2 EVO ($275). We hope that this EVO line will develop, each by way of different focal lengths and different mount choices! In specific, I’d like to see a Viltrox 24mm f/1.8 EVO sometime sooner or later, and I’d like to see the Canon RF mount lastly settle for extra third social gathering optics comparable to this. Either approach, we’ll preserve you up to date, so remember to keep within the loop with our e-newsletter checklist!