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Viltrox AF 50mm F2 Air: one-minute overview
This isn’t my first Viltrox lens overview, and nor it can or not it’s my final, as a result of the Chinese language lens maker is on a roll, producing a string of fantastic optics for customers of all ability 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 affords 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 overview – with a good 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 need to try the superb Viltrox 135mm f/1.8 LAB – however the Viltrox 50mm f/2 is a superb informal lens for fans, particularly for portrait pictures, and a super foil to an ordinary zoom.
I’d have most well-liked the lens’s minimal focus distance to be a little bit nearer, which might bolster its on a regular basis pictures credentials, whereas a few exterior controls to hurry up altering settings, akin to an AF / MF change, can be welcome. Nonetheless, the Viltrox AF 50mm F2 Air delivers efficiency and picture high quality that belie its value – 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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Sort: |
Customary 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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Minimal 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: Value and availability
- Out there for Sony E and Nikon Z mounts
- $199 / £229 / AU$319 checklist value, but it surely normally may 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 superb worth prime lens, particularly if you contemplating its construct high quality and optical efficiency.
Value-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
- Out there for Sony E and Nikon Z mounts
The 50mm f/2 Air lens is, because the title suggests, designed with an emphasis on gentle weight over absolute efficiency – it’s positively featherweight, particularly in comparison with options akin 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 might barely really feel the lens. It isn’t usually that I might describe a digicam / lens pairing as rear-heavy, however that is the case right here.
That is additionally glorious worth, with a sale value usually dipping beneath $200 / £200 /AU$319, and the checklist value solely a little bit extra. For context, the Nikon-own f/1.4 lens is double the worth (and double the load), whereas Nikon’s Z 50mm f/1.8 is 4 occasions the worth.
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Viltrox’s lens effectively made too – a rugged metallic barrel and rear mount instil confidence, though there’s no correct weather-sealing to talk of (such are the compromises with such a low-cost lens).
There is a generously sized focus ring with easy and straightforward rotation, and that’s it for controls. No AF / MF change, no optical stabilization, no focus distance limiter – it is a easy bit of substances.
The shortage of controls might, relying on which digicam you pair the lens with, make adjustments to digicam settings a little bit fussy. My digicam doesn’t have an AF / MF change, and since the lens doesn’t both I have to dive right into a menu to change between the 2 focusing strategies, which may be irritating.
In any other case, there’s little to speak about relating to design – it is a easy and light-weight optic that accepts 58mm threaded filters and comes equipped with a good lens hood.
Viltrox AF 50mm f/2 Air: Efficiency
- Brilliant most f/2 aperture splendid for portraiture
- Pretty restricted close-focusing capabilities
- Snappy autofocus velocity
That is no pro-quality lens, however for novices and fans the optical high quality and efficiency of the Viltrox 50mm f/2 Air are completely enough.
The brilliant, zoom lens-beating most f/2 aperture ensures loads of gentle consumption and makes this lens nice for low-light pictures, in addition to for defocusing backgrounds for dreamy portraits. Bokeh is easy 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 a little bit additional sharpening in put up, most customers needs 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 a little bit limiting for close-up pictures – 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 straightforward 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 moderately than the digicam.
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General, the Viltrox AF 50mm F2 Air is a succesful performer, particularly when you think about its compact measurement, low value and vibrant most aperture. For customers on a funds who wish to step up from a standard-zoom equipment lens, this is a perfect alternative.
Viltrox AF 50mm F2 Air pattern gallery
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Must you purchase the Viltrox AF 50mm F2 Air?
Purchase it if…
Do not buy 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 eventualities, typically in truthful 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, typically in truthful climate. Dimension-wise, the digicam and lens are completely balanced, with no trace of wrist pressure as a result of front-heaviness.
To check optical high quality I’ve snapped portraits with the aperture extensive open at f/2, and likewise taken sequence of photos at every aperture setting to match sharpness and verify for lens distortions.