Viltrox lenses are a better option than Nikon’s Z-mount native lenses. There, I stated it. And that is coming from somebody who has used Nikon for 40 years and will even be considerably of a “fanboy.” I’ve been impressed with Viltrox lenses for a number of years now—and personal three—however the brand new Viltrox AF 135mm f/1.8 LAB full body is an entire new stage of spectacular.
When Nikon introduced their 135mm f/1.8 Plena, I did a little bit day-dreaming and drooling. On the similar time. It’s a completely fabulous lens, the one Nikon lens for the Z system that I actually desired. I might see myself utilizing it for video work, particularly. However I couldn’t justify the massive $2,500 price ticket for the variety of occasions I’d use it.
A yr or so later, having acquired over my fantasizing of a quick 135mm, alongside comes the Viltrox AF 135mm f/1.8 LAB full body. Now my curiosity has been reignited. LAB is a brand new line of uncompromising premium lenses from Viltrox that sit above their PRO lens vary.
These pretty people at Viltrox despatched me one. To say I used to be impressed is an understatement. The second you slide off the attractive black field lid, peel away the plastic wrap, and maintain it, you already know you’ve acquired a premium lens in your palms. It feels pretty much as good as Nikon’s Plena. A Plena weighs 995 g, and the Viltrox is a little bit heavier at 1,265 g. I can dwell with that. Each use 82mm filters, which pleases me as my finest filters are all 82mm, and I don’t like utilizing step-down rings if I might help it.
So the Viltrox 135mm feels as nicely constructed and reassuring because the Nikon 135mm. However how does it carry out? I don’t have a Plena to do a side-by-side comparability, however I’ve performed with the Plena, so I’m accustomed to it—however that doesn’t matter anyway. What’s essential is taking Viltrox’s 135mm out and about and utilizing it in real-life conditions, and searching on the outcomes.
Testing the Viltrox 135mm LAB f/1.8
A 135mm lens is ideal for tight portraits, nonetheless life, and wildlife. For me, I exploit this focal size for journey and panorama. It’s nice for selecting out constructing particulars or a lone tree in a discipline.
I’m late to the get together with this lens assessment as a result of I needed to dwell with it for a few months and use it for quite a lot of eventualities—from meals, portraits, to out of doors motion.
My first precedence was to check the autofocus, paired with my Nikon Z6 III. I used to be eager to see how the attention monitoring performs in difficult low mild or backlit scenes, and the way the lens performs for close-up pictures corresponding to meals or choosing out flowers in a discipline.
The lens, working with the digital camera’s eye monitoring, did an excellent job. OEM lenses are stated to carry out the very best with focus monitoring, however this lens dealt with quite a lot of situations in addition to any of my native Nikon Z-mount lenses.
Capturing vast open at f/1.8, the picture high quality is unbelievable. The corners are sharp, and there’s no noticeable vignetting—one thing that’s frequent when taking pictures with quick lenses at their widest aperture. As for distortion, I didn’t actually discover something.
The candy spot for sharpness seems to be round f/4. Though at f/1.8 and f/5.6 it performs extremely nicely and stays excellent to f/11. That is the sort of lens I doubt you’d use past f/5.6. I actually wouldn’t, as a result of this lens is all about separation of your topic from the background. We wish a stunning creamy blurred background, and this lens delivers it in spades.
Out-of-focus backgrounds are actually superbly rendered, and brilliant highlights are clean circles that impress at f/1.8 to f/2.8, thanks partially to the 11-blade aperture. They begin to be much less buttery past f/4.
The primary enchantment of a 135mm lens for me is for video work. There are a number of considerate options on this lens that cater to videographers and filmmakers, which I admire.
There’s the power to pick guide focus, and though you gained’t pull concentrate on a focus-by-wire lens in addition to you’d on a helicoidal cine lens, there’s a second FN (operate) button on the lens that means that you can set A and B focus factors and toggle between them with minimal focus respiration. It’s a little bit quick, so it really works finest when you’re taking pictures 60 or 120 frames per second and gradual the clip down in submit.
The lens additionally incorporates a de-click swap for the aperture ring, do you have to want clean aperture racking—one thing Nikon’s native 135mm doesn’t have.
What I Love
The Viltrox 135mm feels good to carry and function. You may really feel the standard, and this provides one confidence.
Sharpness is just about faultless.
The mud and climate sealing is great.
The lens comes with an extended hood, flocked inside, and that includes a rubber entrance edging—a considerate element.
What I Don’t Like
With different Viltrox lenses, you’ll be able to go to their web site to obtain the newest firmware updates. Easy. It’s a slight inconvenience that you simply even have to replace a lens, however straightforward to do.
With the 135mm LAB, you’ll be able to’t try this. You need to obtain an app to your telephone. I don’t do apps, however I caved in and tried. And couldn’t get it to work. After half an hour, I deserted it. Alternatively, you’ll be able to obtain an app to your laptop. So I attempted that, however my MacBook Professional wouldn’t let me set up the software program for worry of malware, and I needed to override that warning. Not one thing I really feel comfy doing, actually.
I wanted the newest firmware replace as a result of the lens wouldn’t work on my Nikon Z6 III or Z9. As soon as I acquired previous all that messing about, every part was superb.
Viltrox AF 135mm f/1.8 LAB Full Body Specs
Mounts: Nikon Z-mount or Sony E-mount
Lens Parts: 14/9
Focal Size: 135mm
Aperture: f/1.8 – f/16
Variety of Aperture Blades: 11
Capturing Distance: 0.72 m – ∞
Focus Mechanism: Inner focus-by-wire
Focus Mode: MF, AF
Lens Measurement: Φ93 x 147.6 mm
Weight: 1,265 g
Filter Measurement: 82mm
Conclusion
Viltrox has gone from energy to energy over the previous couple of years, making some fabulous lenses. That is probably the most spectacular lens I’ve had my palms on so far. I extremely advocate this lens if portraiture, nonetheless life, and even wildlife is one thing that’s essential to you, and also you need unbelievable—dare I say just about faultless—efficiency for a really cheap worth.
This lens feels good to carry, it’s nicely constructed, and the added performance—do you have to require it—could be very nicely thought out and carried out.
It performs in addition to the Nikon Plena 135mm f/1.8—at a 3rd of the fee.
You should purchase it right here for $899.
