Viltrox AF 35mm F1.2 LAB N FE review - excellent value and sharp - is this the lens of your dreams?

The Viltrox AF 35mm F1.2 LAB N FE lens is a full-frame lens designed for Sony E and Nikon Z mount cameras. It features a robust metal construction, weather-resistant design, and a de-clickable aperture ring.

The lens is constructed from 15 elements arranged in 10 groups, including three high refractive index elements, five extra low dispersion elements, and two ultra precision aspherical elements. This exotic optics design maintains sharpness across the frame while controlling chromatic aberration and other optical defects.

The lens features a f/1.2 maximum aperture, allowing plenty of light to reach the sensor, which is useful for low-light photography. It also enables very shallow depth-of-field, especially when the lens is focused close to its minimum distance of 34cm.

The lens has a dedicated aperture ring, which is marked at f/1.2, f/1.4, and then in whole stops to f/16, with clicks at one-third stop intervals. There is also an A setting that hands aperture control to the camera. A switch allows the ring to be de-clicked for smooth exposure adjustments during video recording.

The lens is large and heavy, with a diameter of 89.2mm, a length of 121.8mm, and a weight of 910g. However, it feels well-made, with an aerospace-grade metal barrel and a plated brass mount. The lens has seals to resist dust and moisture, while the front element has a coating that repels water, dirt, and fingerprints.

The lens features a broad manual focus ring, which is ridged and easy to locate while looking through the viewfinder. The aperture ring sits closer to the camera, with no lock, but the clicks give clear feedback as it moves through the settings.

The lens also features two customizable function buttons, positioned one above the other on the left side of the barrel. Unfortunately, the Sony A7R VI that the reviewer used for this review only recognizes the first button, labelled Fn1.

The lens's autofocus system is fast, accurate, and decisive, working well with Sony's subject and eye-detection systems. The lens's focusing system is also quiet and its transitions are smooth, making it suitable for video as well as stills.

The lens's image quality is impressive, with plenty of detail and central sharpness that is very good at f/1.2. Corner sharpness is also impressive, with no need to avoid using f/1.2 when the subject extends beyond the center of the frame. There is some vignetting at f/1.2, but it is gradual and disappears by f/2.8.

Distortion is controlled very well, with a very slight hint of pincushion distortion. Chromatic aberration and flare are also kept nicely in check. The out-of-focus areas are rendered smoothly, making it easy to separate a subject from its surroundings while retaining some sense of the wider environment.

The lens's bokeh is attractive, with out-of-focus highlights handled nicely without any obvious internal aberrations or distracting outlines. Highlights towards the edges of the frame can become slightly cat's eye shaped at the widest aperture, but this is quite common.

The Viltrox AF 35mm F1.2 LAB N FE lens is a great option for photographers who want a lens that delivers excellent optical performance and creative potential. Its 35mm focal length is versatile, making it suitable for environmental portraits, documentary photography, street scenes, events, landscapes, and low-light work.

### Key Features

| Feature | Value | | --- | --- | | Price | $999 / £869 | | Filter Diameter | 77mm | | Min focus | 0.34m | | | 121.8x 89.2mm, 910g | | Lens Mount | Sony E or Nikon Z |

### Verdict

The Viltrox AF 35mm F1.2 LAB N FE lens is an excellent value for photographers who want a lens that delivers impressive optical performance and creative potential. Its robust metal construction, weather-resistant design, and de-clickable aperture ring make it a great option for photographers who want a lens that can handle a variety of shooting situations.