Viltrox 35mm f/1.4 Pro Review: A Beautiful Behemoth

Viltrox has made huge waves in the world of optics, with many saying that it is the Sigma of China. Of course, this is a huge compliment given that Sigma is now famous for making affordable optics that easily compete with OEM lenses. I’ve reviewed many Viltrox lenses now, and I always enjoy the process. They are solid lenses, with ambitious optical goals, and they usually meet these lofty expectations.

I’m a particular fan of the Pro series of Viltrox lenses because it delivers fast optics with excellent correction for a good price. In fact, the 85mm f/1.4 Pro is easily one of my favorite portrait lenses, but can the new $829 35mm f/1.4 Pro have this same impact on me? When I use 35mm lenses, I want them to have faster apertures so that I can get some separation from my subjects. I went into this review hoping that this latest offering from Viltrox could keep the ball rolling.

Viltrox 35mm f/1.4 Pro Review: How It Feels

Viltrox takes a very clean and practical approach to the Pro lens design. Nothing flashy, but everything is built reliably and with ease of use in mind. The 35mm Pro definitely keeps the trend alive with a rugged chassis and professional weather-sealing. However, it also keeps the larger size and bulk of the Pro lenses as well. This is a big chunk of glass weighing in at 26.8 ounces (760 grams), as tested on the Sony E-mount. You can also get this lens for the Nikon Z mount, which turns out to be quite important to the success of this lens. More on this shortly. The filter thread is 77mm, which is not unusual, but there is no denying that the 35mm Pro feels a little larger than it needs to be. At least this size comes with fantastic physical controls.

The manual focus ring is tuned beautifully, with just enough resistance to make focusing accurate. There is a customizable button and controls for switching between autofocus and manual focus. You also get a really nice aperture ring with third-stop increments and a noticeable point of resistance before it clicks into auto aperture control mode. You can also set the aperture ring for smooth operation with the flick of a switch.

Everything on this lens feels solid, works smoothly, and is quick and easy to adjust. The autofocusing experience is also quick and easy, thanks to a powerful voice-coil motor to drive the heavy glass elements. There is a supplied hood that bayonets onto the front of the lens and a USB-C connector built into the lens mount for lens updates.

Viltrox 35mm f/1.4 Pro Review: How It Shoots

I distinctly remember shooting the test charts for this lens, evaluating them, and immediately texting the team a simple “wow”. I expect Viltrox lenses to be sharp, as I do with any modern lens, frankly, but I didn’t expect the consistency I was finding. The center of the image is full of usable detail at f/1.4, with only a slight improvement noticeable as you stop down. However, the corners are equally impressive, with good clarity right to the edge at f/1.4 and very little vignetting. Stopping the lens down will tighten things up and cover even the extremes of the corners, but this lens is made to shoot at f/1.4 and still deliver impressive sharpness anywhere on the image.

Flare resistance is good thanks to the Viltrox lens coatings, with some very minor green ghosting wide-open. Stopping the lens down will create a more sizable field of green across the frame, but it is manageable nonetheless. Contrast is also well maintained, and due to a grey and cloudy day, we torture-tested the lens coatings with a strong COB light up close. It still did pretty well.

Bokeh matters on a lens with such a wide aperture, and the Viltrox 35mm lens handles it well. I like the cat’s eye effect at f/1.4, but the lens does exhibit a bit of a strong halo around the highlights. You will also see some very minor onion rings, and the specular highlights have a polygonal look when stopped down. The bokeh looks fine, and you can absolutely get shallow depth of field at will, but the backgrounds can have a touch of distracting harshness.

Where this lens will show some weakness is in the LoCA department. Longitudinal chromatic aberrations are difficult to get rid of in the editing process, and the color fringing can be very distracting when shooting at wider apertures. The Viltrox isn’t out of control, but it does exhibit a noticeable green/magenta split, and this will show up in some of your pictures.

Viltrox 35mm f/1.4 Pro Review: It Depends on the Mount

Okay, so earlier I stated that the mount is really going to determine how popular this lens will be. The Viltrox is delivering excellent image quality with just a few compromises, and I’d happily use it for even demanding professional photography. However, if you get this lens in Sony E-mount, there is lots of strong competition. The Sony G-Master 35mm f/1.4 is better, but it’s also wildly expensive. The Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art is not that far off, though, and it is a near-perfect lens. You will still save a bit of money going to the Viltrox, but it might not be enough to justify the loss of image quality in comparison.

At $829 the Viltrox is a good bargain, and Nikon Z-mount users don’t have as many options. There is an affordable Nikkor 35mm f/1.4 lens, but it is specifically targeted at a lower price range and doesn’t quite have the same sophistication as the Viltrox.

I’d definitely recommend it on the Nikon mount, where Sigma is not currently supported. Regardless, the Viltrox has some really strong points and is a good value in the fast optics arena. I’m happy to say that the Viltrox Pro series continues to impress as it expands the options available, but make sure you are okay with the weight and size.

Are There Alternatives?

In E-mount, the Sigma is a better lens if you don't mind spending a little more money. It's probably worth it, especially when considering that the Sigma is much smaller and lighter too. In Nikon Z-mount, the Viltrox makes more sense and outperforms the Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.4 at a fairly similar price.

Should You Buy It?

Yes. No matter how you look at it, the Viltrox 35mm f/1.4 Pro delivers professional results at a great price. Just be ready for its hefty proportions.