The brand new Viltrox AF 15mm f/1.7 lens guarantees to ship broad angle images at an extremely accessible value level of simply $239. For anybody capturing with APS-C cameras, this might characterize precisely the sort of reasonably priced glass that opens up inventive potentialities with out breaking the financial institution.
Coming to you from Christopher Frost, this thorough video places the Viltrox AF 15mm f/1.7 by way of complete testing to see if it lives as much as its promising specs. Frost evaluates the lens on a Sony a7CR in APS-C crop mode, revealing that whereas the lens delivers respectable sharpness broad open at f/1.7, the actual magic occurs if you cease all the way down to f/2.8, the place sharpness turns into distinctive. The construct high quality proves surprisingly strong for such an reasonably priced lens, that includes a metallic mount and USB-C port for firmware updates, although you will not discover any weather-sealing right here. At simply 170 grams, it strikes a pleasant steadiness between portability and substantial really feel in your palms.
Key Specs
Focal Size: 15mm (22.5mm full body equal on APS-C)
Most Aperture: f/1.7
Minimal Focus Distance: 9 inches
Filter Thread: 58mm
Weight: 0.4 lb
Obtainable Mounts: Sony E, Fujifilm X, Nikon Z
Optical Design: 12 components in 10 teams
The testing reveals each strengths and notable weaknesses. Whereas autofocus efficiency impresses with fast, correct, and almost silent operation, the lens suffers from important vignetting points that persist even at smaller apertures like f/5.6. Maybe extra regarding, Frost found that in-camera corrections do not appear to work correctly on his check copy, that means you may want to deal with vignetting in post-processing. The lens additionally reveals some chromatic aberration at wider apertures, although this clears up by f/5.6.
What makes this lens notably interesting is its 20-centimeter minimal focus distance, which opens up inventive close-up potentialities that many broad angle lenses merely cannot match. The 15mm focal size on APS-C offers you the complete body equal of about 23mm, offering that good broad angle perspective that provides drama with out going into excessive fisheye territory. For indoor capturing or conditions the place you want that vivid f/1.7 aperture, this lens might show invaluable, particularly contemplating options on this focal size usually value considerably extra. Try the video above for the complete rundown from Frost.
