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Viltrox is raising the bar again for third-party lens manufacturers, this time with their AF 35mm F1.2 LAB Lens for the Sony FE mount. With a custom LCD display, configurable FN buttons, and exceptional image quality that their LAB series of lenses has proven to exhibit, this lens is set to stun you with its results.
The reports are true—Viltrox has just announced its AF 35mm F1.2 LAB FE mount lens, which is making 35mm focal length lovers drool everywhere. At this point, I’d be willing to wager that 35mm is the focal length for which prime lenses are available in most aperture options. Aside from the usual f1.4 and f1.8 models, you’ve also got f2.8 options, f3.5 too, f8 as well, and of course, f1.2 has had some recent releases too in the 35mm focal length. Of course, the f1.2 models have typically been heavy, bulky, and oh so pricey. Remember Sigma’s 35mm f1.2 Art DG DN lens? It felt incredibly imbalanced on any Sony camera and put off our Editor-in-Chief, Chris Gampat, from the Sony mount for a while. While it produced fantastic images for the most part, the girth and weight ultimately proved too cumbersome. In his review of that lens, he detailed:
“Tempted by the innovation and a tremendous editorial discount from Sigma, I decided to pull the trigger and get the lens for Sony E Mount. Sure, it delivers beautiful images, and there’s something to be said for a fast 35mm lens. On paper, this is a lens that I’m sure you and I both would be smitten for. But in reality, that’s not the case. Like the Sigma FP, when you put the gargantuan Sigma 35mm f1.2 Art DG DN on a Sony a7 style camera, it’s really unbalanced. Sure, the image quality is terrific. But sling it around you, and you’ll feel just how mammoth the entire package is.”
From what I’ve seen so far, this lens from Viltrox probably won’t be recreating any of those pain points during his review. Right now, the two main competitors for this lens, if you can call them that, would be the aforementioned Sigma (available in FE and L mounts), and the Nikon 35mm F1.2 S Z mount lens, their best ever 35mm. Here’s an overview of the salient tech specs for these 3 lenses:
Tech Specs Comparison
| Viltrox AF 35mm F1.2 LAB FE | Nikon NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.2 S | Sigma 35mm F1.2 DG DN Art | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lens Mount | Sony E-mount | Nikon Z-mount | Sony E-mount, L-mount |
| Angle of View | 64.2° | 63° | 63.4° |
| Maximum Aperture | f/1.2 | f/1.2 | f/1.2 |
| Minimum Aperture | f/22 | f/16 | f/16 |
| Weight | 910g | 1060g | 1080g (Sony E), 1090g (L) |
| Dimensions (D × L) | 89.2 × 121.8 mm | 89.5 × 150 mm | 87.8 × 138.2 mm (Sony E) |
| Filter Size | 77 mm | 82 mm | 82 mm |
| Minimum Focusing Distance | 0.34 m | 0.3 m | 0.3 m |
| Maximum Magnification Ratio | 0.17× | 0.2× | 0.196× |
There’s More
The Viltrox AF 35mm F1.2 LAB FE is at least 10% lighter than the other two models we’re comparing here, but where it greatly stands out on its own is in the price factor. You’d expect a brand new release to be pricey, but Viltrox has launched this lens at just USD 999. If the results are anything like what we saw from their other LAB lens, the 135mm f1.8 model, then I’d say the money is more than worth it. The filter thread size is just 77mm, too, meaning your screw-on filters won’t have to be too pricey. Aside from the visible features on the exterior, the Viltrox AF 35mm F1.2 also has a couple of other great features under the hood:
- Quad HyperVCM motor – their patented autofocus system accelerates focus speed by 150% compared to traditional STM motors. It does this by dynamically adjusting lens groups to compensate for spherical aberration and field curvature, giving you quiet 100ms near-to-far focus transitions
- 15 optical lens elements, including five extra-low dispersion (ED) segments, three high-refractive-index elements, and two ultra-large precision aspherical (UA) lenses for exceptional clarity in your photos
Constructed using aerospace-grade magnesium alloy, this lens is sealed for dust and splash resistance, and has a water and stain-resistant front lens coating. The two customizable Fn buttons can be configured using the Viltrox app on your smartphone, and the aperture ring can be clicked/de-clicked as per your convenience, much like many of their other lenses.
I also expect Viltrox to launch this lens on the Nikon Z mount very soon. If you’re someone for whom the Z 35mm f/1.2 S is priced out of range, then you might have this more affordable option coming your way. Be sure to keep an eye out for our full review of the FE mount version in the next few weeks.
All images seen in this article are used with permission and provided for use by our Viltrox reps
