We Review the Viltrox 35mm f/1.2 FE LAB: Flagship Performance, Remarkable Value

Lenses just like the Sigma 35mm f/1.2 Art and Sony 35mm f/1.4 GM have lengthy ruled the short 35mm area on Sony E-mount. But Viltrox, with its new 35mm f/1.2 FE LAB, is aiming proper on the prime finish. Is this newest access in Viltrox’s already spectacular LAB collection a competitor for the best-performing 35mm on E-mount?

Specifications and Design

The Viltrox LAB 35mm f/1.2 is the second one access in Viltrox’s top rate “LAB” collection, coming after the well-regarded 135mm f/1.8. It makes a powerful, albeit hefty, first impact. The construct high quality feels prime finish, with a magnesium-aluminum alloy frame, climate sealing, and cast really feel within the hand. At round 920 g, it’s no longer gentle, however it’s nonetheless extra manageable than Sigma’s 1,600 g+ identical.

The lens options an OLED show for concentration distance and aperture, together with a couple of customizable buttons and a transfer for toggling between AF and MF. The 77mm clear out thread and integrated bayonet hood spherical out a pro package deal. Using extra commonplace 77mm filters is a undeniable plus, because it simplifies your equipment and saves cash, particularly for the ones already invested in that measurement, when in comparison to 82 or 86mm filters.

One of the one hiccups in design is the aperture ring. While it helps clicked and de-clicked modes, the implementation leaves room for refinement. The ring can really feel inconsistent, and in real-world use, I discovered myself proceeding to simply use digicam controls (even if I infrequently use the aperture ring on any lens).

Also provide at the 35mm, similar to at the 135mm LAB, is the USB-C port within the mount. This permits for firmware updates without having a dock. You can move even additional by means of updating wirelessly by means of Viltrox’s iOS or Android app.

Lens Performance

Optical efficiency is the massive tale right here. This is without doubt one of the sharpest 35mm primes I’ve used, without reference to value. The 35mm continues the LAB collection thought of an “optics-first” lens line, the place nearly each and every choice in design turns out adapted to offer the finest optical efficiency. Setting the bar so prime for optics, whilst retaining quality-of-life options like nice AF efficiency and heading off making the lenses prohibitively pricey, is an outstanding balancing act from Viltrox.

Center sharpness at f/1.2 is superb, or even huge open, it delivers excellent distinction and element throughout many of the body. Stop down just a bit and function will get even higher, with nice effects already coming by means of f/2.

Autofocus is every other win, being each very speedy and quiet. Viltrox’s use of 4 Voice Coil Motors ends up in snappy and assured focusing, even in difficult lights. Tracking on Sony our bodies just like the a7R V works in addition to may also be anticipated, with the one limitation being a most burst fee of 15 fps, one thing value noting just for the sports activities and match shooters working the most recent Sony flagship our bodies.

Autofocus additionally carried out nicely when huge open and in low gentle, with the digicam ready to nail concentration on even skinny slices (suppose eyes, rings, or plant life) at f/1.2.

Flare resistance is a standout characteristic. For a quick lens with a reasonably complicated optical method, the LAB 35mm assists in keeping distinction prime and artifacts to a minimal, even if taking pictures without delay into gentle resources.

There’s reasonable vignetting at f/1.2 of round 2 stops, which may also be simply corrected with fashionable sensors. Stopping all the way down to f/2 reduces any vignetting to near-negligible ranges.

Chromatic aberration efficiency may be first rate. Both longitudinal and lateral chromatic aberration are impressively nicely managed, with backgrounds closing freed from distracting colour fringing. On one or two pictures, I may just impress a tiny little bit of yellow/blue fringing on out-of-focus spaces at f/1.2, however this required me to take a look at to carry it out.

The bokeh itself is excellent, with natural-looking specular highlights and satisfying background blur. At f/1.2, you’ll get sturdy topic separation even at moderated distances, with the in-focus topic having nice distinction and sharp options towards a pleasantly smoother background. The design tradeoff of such clean bokeh additionally implies that sunstars are cushy and undefined, a results of the lens’s 11 rounded blades.

Coma and distortion are each treated rather nicely. There’s just a little of coma huge open, however it clears up temporarily by means of f/2. Distortion is gentle and correctable, and Adobe profiles will have to be to be had quickly. The rather wavy, mustache-like distortion can be a bit disturbing to right kind manually, however even uncorrected, I by no means spotted it disrupting my pictures.

Comparison to Sony and Sigma

Compared to Sony’s 35mm f/1.4 GM, the Viltrox LAB is sharper in maximum spaces and gives a complete forestall extra gentle. The tradeoff? Sony’s lens is significantly smaller and lighter. But in case you’re chasing low-light efficiency or topic separation, the Viltrox offers you extra of each. Also, take into account Sony intentionally nerfs third-party steady taking pictures, with Sony’s 35mm able to running at upper body charges on our bodies just like the a1 or a9, and the Viltrox lens being restricted to 15 fps. While much less of a attention for a 35mm in comparison to one thing like a 70–200mm, it’s nonetheless value a point out, if simply to get Sony to desert this consumer-unfriendly coverage.

The Sigma 35mm f/1.2 Art is a extra direct competitor, being an identical in aperture and equivalent in optical ambition. The Viltrox fits or beats the Sigma in flare keep watch over, measurement, and weight, all whilst undercutting it by means of more or less $500 in keeping with MSRP when the Sigma was once to be had. The Sigma does retain a slight edge in coma keep watch over, which would possibly topic to astrophotographers. But for weddings, portraits, and normal low-light taking pictures, the Viltrox is a extra compelling choice.

Sigma additionally makes the 35mm f/1.4 DG DN, a reliable and inexpensive choice. Compared to Viltrox’s 35mm, the Sigma is available in a bit inexpensive and a excellent bit smaller, however provides up the joys issue of an f/1.2 aperture. Sigma’s lens additionally has just a little worse longitudinal chromatic aberration. For some running makes use of, like wedding ceremony pictures, I’d suppose the burden financial savings of the Sigma would possibly simply be definitely worth the small downgrade in symbol high quality. The Viltrox, then again, gives a degree of symbol high quality even past the Sigma 35mm, together with much more topic isolation at f/1.2, for a near-enough value distinction.

Conclusion

The LAB 35mm f/1.2 is a professional-grade lens at a worth level that makes it viable for severe fans. It’s sharp and speedy, with each and every characteristic it’s essential need (or even some you didn’t know you wanted, like an OLED show on most sensible). The best genuine problem is the heftier measurement and weight in comparison to Sony’s slower 35mm f/1.4 or Sigma’s 35mm f/1.4.

Overall, Viltrox may well be hanging out one of the crucial most enjoyable lenses in contemporary reminiscence, with the Air line turning in nice efficiency in a compact package deal, and this 2nd access within the LAB line continues to provide best-in-class optics at unparalleled pricing.

The LAB 35mm f/1.2 is that can be purchased now from B&H.

What I Liked

• Outstanding sharpness, even at f/1.2

• Fast and correct autofocus

• Excellent flare resistance

• High-end construct with climate sealing

• Very aggressive pricing for a flagship lens

What Could Be Improved