Viltrox AF 24mm f/1.8 vs Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.8

One of many few corporations that makes third-party, autofocus lenses for Nikon Z (and for Sony E) is Viltrox, a Chinese language firm centered on prime lenses. The AF 24mm f/1.8 and AF 35mm f/1.8 caught my eye, and I examined them side-by-side within the area and within the lab. Right here’s what I discovered.

Preliminary Issues

The primary distinction between these two lenses isn’t their construct high quality or optical efficiency. It’s, in fact, the focal size.

I’d encourage you to decide on between the Viltrox AF 24mm f/1.8 and Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.8 based mostly on focal size slightly than every other issues. As you’ll see in a second, they’re fairly comparable performers, anyway. However as a result of I used each lenses head-to-head fairly extensively, I felt that it will be price writing a devoted comparability in case you’re nonetheless on the fence.

By way of bodily development, the 2 lenses have very comparable construct high quality and design, with an all-metal development, a clickless aperture scale, and no climate sealing. Each lenses really feel strong and durable in-hand, however their sparse designs are about what you’d anticipate for such cheap lenses.

Talking of worth, the Viltrox AF 24mm f/1.8 and Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.8 each price $380. I’d truly argue that this can be a level in favor of the Viltrox 24mm f/1.8. Usually talking, 24mm primes are usually costlier than 35mm primes, and there’s a much bigger market of 35mm primes to select from as effectively.

Even the burden and dimension of the 2 lenses are mainly similar. Each lenses weigh 370 grams (0.82 kilos) for the Nikon Z model and 340 grams (0.75 kilos) for the Sony E model. The 35mm lens is a hair longer than the 24mm lens – 4 millimeters to be precise. Within the area, I saved pulling the improper lens out of my bag as a result of they seemed mainly interchangeable!

Picture High quality

1. Vignetting

Each lenses have important vignetting wide-open, however the 35mm f/1.8 is healthier than the 24mm f/1.8 right here (by about 1/3 of a cease). That sample holds as you cease down. The 35mm f/1.8 reaches negligible vignetting ranges by about f/4, whereas the Viltrox 24mm f/1.8 nonetheless has noticeable vignetting even on the narrowest apertures of f/11 and f/16.

2. Distortion

The 2 lenses measure nearly precisely the identical degree of distortion within the lab: 0.83% pincushion on the 24mm lens, and 0.80% pincushion on the 35mm lens. Nonetheless, in apply, the Viltrox AF 24mm f/1.8’s distortion is extra of a wavy, mustache-like form that’s tougher to appropriate in post-processing. The Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.8’s pincushion distortion is much more common in form, so I’d give it the nod on this comparability.

3. Lateral Chromatic Aberration

Viltrox has achieved a very spectacular job holding chromatic aberration to the naked minimal on each lenses! Though the degrees are a bit greater on the 24mm f/1.8, it’s nonetheless low sufficient to be negligible.

4. Sharpness

The 2 lenses have been extraordinarily comparable up to now. May sharpness be the deciding issue?

Each lenses have acceptable sharpness – nothing nice, however we’ve seen worse. The 24mm f/1.8 reaches greater highs, but additionally reaches decrease lows. The 35mm f/1.8 is extra constant throughout the body. Each lenses have excessive ranges of area curvature that may result in uncommon leads to a lab atmosphere, such because the corners showing sharper than the midframes.

Conclusion and Suggestions

Each lenses have nearly an similar development and very comparable optical efficiency. So, all of it comes all the way down to what I discussed firstly: select based mostly on the focal size that you simply want!

The Viltrox AF 24mm f/1.8 is a strong possibility when you want a third-party, autofocus 24mm lens on a funds. In the meantime, I believe that the case for the Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.8 is barely weaker, since there are extra 35mm options in the marketplace at the moment.

However both method, you’re mainly getting the identical efficiency, simply at a distinct focal size. Neither lens will win any data of their efficiency, however they’re promoting for a great worth of $380, and so they don’t have any deadly flaws (besides, presumably, the dearth of climate sealing when you plan to shoot in excessive environments).

You possibly can test the present costs, and assist my testing efforts at Photography Life, on the following B&H affiliate hyperlinks:

Let me know within the remark part when you’ve got any questions on these two lenses! I’ve used them each within the area extensively and could be pleased to assist.