In the event you’re all about capturing these sweeping landscapes or immersive cityscapes, the Viltrox 20mm f/2.8 lens would possibly simply be your new greatest good friend. Out there in each E and Z mounts, this surprisingly cheap lens quietly snuck underneath the radar for lots of people final yr. Maybe due to the worth level at solely $158, many didn’t take into account it, considering low value, low high quality.
Nonetheless, this lens is surprisingly good for the worth and a lens that may simply be price contemplating if you’re searching for a large angle prime.
Construct High quality
The Viltrox AF 20mm f/2.8 feels surprisingly stable in your fingers; it doesn’t really feel low cost or flimsy regardless of its light-weight design. Constructed from high-quality plastic supplies, the main focus ring has a pleasant tactile really feel to it, not too unfastened, but dampened sufficient for exact focusing. The lens hood and lens cap are constructed from the identical high-quality plastic because the physique, and the lens hood locks in place rapidly, one thing I’m actually glad that Viltrox has now sorted, as I hated preventing with the 85mm lens hood.
The lens includes 10 components in 8 teams, has a seven-blade diaphragm, and an inside STM autofocus which retains the lens very compact at solely 80mm, together with the lens hood. 
The lens has a minimal focus distance of 19 cm, an aperture vary of f/2.8 – f/16, and filter thread dimension of 52mm. The lens weighs a mere 152 g, and when connected to the Sony a7R V, retains the entire type issue small and light-weight.
Efficiency
In terms of capturing huge angle pictures, this lens didn’t disappoint. The 20mm focal size provides you that good steadiness between capturing a large subject of view and sustaining sharpness and element. Whether or not I used to be taking pictures landscapes or structure, the lens returned crisp photographs with vibrant colours and nice distinction.
I opted for the assessment to not focus stack in order that I might see the place this cheap lens couldn’t ship, and it was solely in direction of the corners that sure, the lens did get mushy. To be sincere, I used to be anticipating this on the value, however not a lot as to dissuade me from utilizing the lens. Persevering with to make use of the lens for wider vistas with nearer foreground components, I’ll, in fact, be focus stacking.
The autofocus was quick and correct and really hardly ever missed. More often than not, it was resulting from consumer error of being nearer than the minimal distance. To date, I haven’t used it for any video, however I don’t assume there can be an issue as a result of silent autofocus motor. The lens doesn’t comprise any picture stabilization, however at this value, I wouldn’t anticipate it to.
Though not required for the scene, I opted to pano-stitch a few photographs simply to see if the lens might full this proficiently, and it proved to haven’t any points in doing this. Each of the pictures beneath are a sequence of 5 photographs stitched collectively.
As I shoot numerous woodland pictures, this appeared the perfect place to check out the sharpness of the lens. It might be a keeper if it might deal with this with out stacking and supply me with the element I used to be looking for. I used to be conscious that it would not be as sharp because the top-end vary of lenses but it surely was price testing it out. Admittedly, once more, I used to be shocked by what it returned in total sharpness.
Professionals
- Its compact and light-weight design makes it good for journey and on a regular basis taking pictures.
- Returns sharp photographs
- Though plastic, it has a stable construct high quality.
- Quick and correct autofocus efficiency.
- Extensive f/2.8 aperture permits for glorious low-light efficiency.
- Finances-friendly value level contemplating different huge angle lenses available on the market.
Cons
- Nook sharpness. It’s not that dangerous contemplating the worth level and improves when stopped down.
- Lack of climate sealing could also be a priority for some.
Conclusion
Admittedly, I’m a Viltrox fan and have used their lenses on a number of completely different our bodies, and never as soon as have I been dissatisfied. This lens is certainly one of their least expensive lenses and an important choice for photographers who wish to broaden their huge angle prime vary with out breaking the financial institution. Positive it gained’t compete with the higher-end vary of lenses or native lenses, however with its stable construct high quality, glorious efficiency, and budget-friendly value level, it’s an important addition to any digicam bag.
Contemplating the worth level of the lens, I do not assume you’d go improper with throwing one in your digicam bag. The sharpness falls off in direction of the corners, as you’d anticipate, however not drastically sufficient to place you off. For $158, I’m fairly pleased to stack photographs when wanted utilizing the lens, figuring out that the returned photographs can be sharp edge-to-edge. I nonetheless cannot recover from the standard you get for the worth, properly executed Viltrox. Out there for each Sony E mount and Nikon Z mount, you possibly can try the lens here.
