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Viltrox AF 50mm F2 Air: one-minute evaluation
This isn’t my first Viltrox lens evaluation, and nor it can or not it’s my final, as a result of the Chinese lens maker is on a roll, producing a string of wonderful optics for customers of all talent ranges and budgets. Coming in on the reverse finish of a current cinema lens that could cost up to $200,000, the 50mm f/2 Air prices lower than $200 / £200 / AU$320, and gives glorious worth for cash.
It’s a tiny and light-weight prime that is obtainable for Sony E and Nikon Z mounts – I had the latter for this evaluation – with an honest most f/2 aperture for defocusing backgrounds. You don’t get the sharpest element or creamiest bokeh I’ve ever seen – for these you will wish to try the wonderful Viltrox 135mm f/1.8 LAB – however the Viltrox 50mm f/2 is a wonderful informal lens for fans, particularly for portrait images, and a great foil to a regular zoom.
I’d have most well-liked the lens’s minimal focus distance to be somewhat nearer, which might bolster its on a regular basis images credentials, whereas a few exterior controls to hurry up altering settings, equivalent to an AF / MF change, could be welcome. However, the Viltrox AF 50mm F2 Air delivers efficiency and picture high quality that belie its worth – and the actual fact it squeezes proprietary camera-brand options with its aggressive pricing is the cherry on the cake.
Viltrox AF 50mm F2 Air specs
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Type: |
Standard prime |
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Mount: |
Nikon Z-mount / Sony E-mount |
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Sensor: |
Full-frame |
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Focal size: |
50mm |
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Max aperture: |
f/2 |
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Minimum focus: |
1.67ft / 0.51m |
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Filter measurement: |
58mm |
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Dimensions: |
Φ68 x 58.6mm |
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Weight: |
7.8oz / 220g |
Viltrox AF 50mm f/2 Air: Price and availability
- Available for Sony E and Nikon Z mounts
- $199 / £229 / AU$319 record worth, but it surely normally could be discovered for much less
Hovering across the $200 / £200 / AU$320 mark and sometimes obtainable for rather less, the Viltrox AF 50mm f/2 Air is a wonderful worth prime lens, particularly if you contemplating its construct high quality and optical efficiency.
Price-wise, it jogs my memory of the previous Canon EF and Nikon F-mount low-cost nifty fifties for DSLRs, being an reasonably priced first prime for fans. There’s dangerous information for some although – Viltrox’s lens is just obtainable for Sony E and Nikon Z lens mounts.
Viltrox AF 50mm f/2 Air: Design
- Weighs simply 7.8oz / 220g
- No exterior buttons or controls
- Available for Sony E and Nikon Z mounts
The 50mm f/2 Air lens is, because the identify suggests, designed with an emphasis on mild weight over absolute efficiency – it’s positively featherweight, particularly in comparison with options equivalent to Nikon’s own Z 50mm f/1.4.
It’s a small lens, too. I paired the 50mm f/2 Air with a Nikon Z6 II, and I may barely really feel the lens. It’s not usually that I’d describe a digicam / lens pairing as rear-heavy, however that is the case right here.
This can be glorious worth, with a sale worth usually dipping underneath $200 / £200 /AU$319, and the record worth solely somewhat extra. For context, the Nikon-own f/1.4 lens is double the worth (and double the burden), whereas Nikon’s Z 50mm f/1.8 is 4 instances the worth.
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Viltrox’s lens nicely made too – a rugged metallic barrel and rear mount instil confidence, regardless that there’s no correct weather-sealing to talk of (such are the compromises with such a low-cost lens).
There’s a generously sized focus ring with clean and simple rotation, and that’s it for controls. No AF / MF change, no optical stabilization, no focus distance limiter – it is a easy bit of drugs.
The lack of controls may, relying on which digicam you pair the lens with, make modifications to digicam settings somewhat fussy. My digicam doesn’t have an AF / MF change, and since the lens doesn’t both I must dive right into a menu to change between the 2 focusing strategies, which could be irritating.
Otherwise, there’s little to speak about concerning design – it is a easy and light-weight optic that accepts 58mm threaded filters and comes equipped with an honest lens hood.
Viltrox AF 50mm f/2 Air: Performance
- Bright most f/2 aperture ideally suited for portraiture
- Fairly restricted close-focusing capabilities
- Snappy autofocus velocity
This isn’t any pro-quality lens, however for freshmen and fans the optical high quality and efficiency of the Viltrox 50mm f/2 Air are completely adequate.
The vivid, zoom lens-beating most f/2 aperture ensures loads of mild consumption and makes this lens nice for low-light images, in addition to for defocusing backgrounds for dreamy portraits. Bokeh is clean sufficient – I didn’t actually spot the ugly ‘onion ring’ impact that may be evident in low-cost optics.
Optical readability is completely acceptable, even when this is not the sharpest 50mm lens I’ve used. With somewhat additional sharpening in publish, most customers ought to be completely proud of the outcomes.
I shot all photos in JPEG and uncompressed uncooked, and with lens corrections switched off there are slight indicators of chromatic aberration, however the Viltrox has an affordable deal with on such distortions.
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I discovered the 1.67ft / 0.51m minimal focus distance somewhat limiting for close-up photographs – the utmost magnification is a modest 0.11x. This is not actually a macro lens in any means, and maybe even much less of an on a regular basis lens, with portraiture being its strongest swimsuit.
With such a small and light-weight assortment of ashperical (ASPH), ED and IF lens parts, the 50mm f/2’s STM autofocus motor has a simple job – these lens parts are moved with ease for fast and exact autofocus. Not as soon as did I understand sluggish autofocus on account of the lens slightly than the digicam.
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Overall, the Viltrox AF 50mm F2 Air is a succesful performer, particularly when you think about its compact measurement, low worth and vivid most aperture. For customers on a funds who want to step up from a standard-zoom package lens, this is a perfect selection.
Viltrox AF 50mm F2 Air pattern gallery
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Should you purchase the Viltrox AF 50mm F2 Air?
Buy it if…
Don’t purchase it if…
How I examined the Viltrox AF 50mm F2 Air
- I’ve used it over a mortgage interval of a number of months
- I paired the lens with a Nikon Z6 II
- I’ve used it in a variety of situations, usually in honest climate, and checked picture high quality on the varied aperture settings
I paired a Z-mount model of the Viltrox AF 50mm F2 Air with a Nikon Z6 II for a number of months, throughout which period it has seen reasonable use, usually in honest climate. Size-wise, the digicam and lens are completely balanced, with no trace of wrist pressure attributable to front-heaviness.
To take a look at optical high quality I’ve snapped portraits with the aperture huge open at f/2, and likewise taken sequence of photos at every aperture setting to match sharpness and verify for lens distortions.