Viltrox AF 20mm f/2.8 FE
Announced November 2, 2023
PixelMeter The PixelMeter is our 1–100 aggregate of reviewer scores from trusted publications and creators. Weighted by source tier — not a raw average, and not PetaPixel’s own review.
Reviewer Consensus
Strong
The Viltrox AF 20mm f/2.8 FE is an exceptionally affordable, compact ultra-wide lens that offers strong center sharpness and reliable autofocus for budget-conscious photographers. That said, the lens lacks weather sealing and exhibits noticeable corner softness and vignetting when shot wide open.
Weighted from 22 reviewer scores
Pros
- Fast, quiet, and reliable autofocus
- Compact and lightweight design
- Sharp center image quality
- Excellent value for the price
- Smooth manual focus ring
Cons
- Soft corner performance
- Lack of weather sealing
- Heavy vignetting at wide apertures
- Absence of physical controls or switches
- Complex or mustache-pattern distortion
- Launch price $158 (USD)
- Focal length & aperture 20mm f/2.8
- Mount & coverage Sony E, Nikon Z, L-Mount Full-Frame
- Stabilization None
- Close focus 19 cm (0.17x)
- Filter thread 52mm
- Autofocus motor Stepper motor
- Weight & size 157g (5.5 oz) · 65 x 59.5 mm (2.56 x 2.34 in)
What the Reviewers Say
All 22 expert reviews, weighted into the PixelMeter score.
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- OpticalLimits 6/10
The Viltrox AF 20mm f/2.8 FE is a super affordable ultra-wide lens that is capable of very good results - with a flaw.
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[F]or owners of older Sony models, it’s in dire need of a firmware update to make it work with phase detection.
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The Viltrox AF 20mm F2.8 STM is a surprisingly interesting lens. It might get a little overlooked among the higher profile lenses from Viltrox this year, but the truth of the matter is that it actually fills a need.
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[T]his new Viltrox lens may not be perfect, but for a $169, which is a rock bottom price, it's certainly still quite workable.
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[T]his new Viltrox AF 20mm f/2.8 FE lens may not be perfect, but for $160 it's certainly fantastic value for money.
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I like that the ultra-wide-angle Viltrox AF 20mm F2.8 gives me a useful boost to the field of view of my 24-70mm standard zoom while being compact and lightweight enough to carry around without any inconvenience.
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For $159, this Viltrox AF 20mm f/2.8 FE lens is insane value. While it doesn't have a manual focus/autofocus switch or aperture ring, it excels in terms of form factor, handling, sharpness, and optical quality.
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All right guys, so at the end of the day this is a really good option, I would say, especially for the weight, size, and cost.
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If you are interested in 20 focal length and you want to give it a try, I can highly recommend Vtrox FE 20 f2.8, especially at that price.
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If your budget is tight, then this Viltrox AF 20mm f/2.8 FE lens is worth having a look at.
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Altogether, the Viltrox 20mm f/2.8 lens is a viable choice for any photographer or videographer who is looking for a budget-friendly wide angle prime lens.
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Considering the price point of the lens, I don't think you would go wrong with throwing one in your camera bag.
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I think altogether, considering the size, considering the price, considering that it has autofocus and considering that it is for full-frame, no, it is compatible for both full-frame and APS-C, I'm actually really delighted with this lens.
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If you are looking for a small, lightweight walkabout 20mm for a bit of street photography or a bit of landscape, then this is a really fantastic option, and as you say, only about $159, so it would be a bargain at twice the price if I'm honest.
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For $158, I would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for an affordable wide-angle lens, so I have no doubt that you'll be able to shoot great photos and videos with this lens.
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The Viltrox AF 20mm f/2.8 FE ultra-wide angle lens has a definite use and is a good value for the photographer on the budget. Given the price that this fetches even new, it does deliver images well above expectations when used within the window it needs to do that.
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Viltrox did it again. I highly recommend it and this is it from me.
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[I]s this lens worth its price? I would say - totally. I know there are many similar lenses to this one, but I doubt you will find more bang for your buck.
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It's compact, it's lightweight, it has a very good image quality, and let's be honest, the price is very accessible for all the features that you get with this. This is the one that I plan to use from now on with my gimbals instead of my old Samyang.
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This may be the best value lens that I have ever recommended [...]
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I don't think you can go wrong with this lens.
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So for this trip, for example, I think if you had this lens, like the 20mm by Viltrox, and I have a 24-240mm Sony lens, you can cover the whole range. You won't need anything else.
