Viltrox has introduced a 15mm F/1.7 lens to their Air lineup for APS-C cameras, the first wide-angle in the series. It’s compact enough to fit in your pocket and priced at $239, which puts it firmly in the budget category. That might be enough reason to take notice, but it also raises a few questions, such as whether a lens this small and this fast can deliver the kind of quality most shooters expect, even from an entry-level lens. Let’s have a look. Viltrox continues to expand their lineup across multiple fronts. Last month, they announced their first aerial lens, and at last year’s IBC 2024, they showed us the LUNA, a 42-420mm T5.6 cine zoom lens for large format cameras. The Viltrox Air series focuses on compact, affordable lenses for APS-C creators. That range, from entry-level autofocus primes to specialty cinema glass, shows how Viltrox is positioning itself as a brand with surprising breadth. Small but mighty What stands out most to me about the Viltrox 15mm F/1.7 Air lens is its combination of speed, size, and price. Most other wide-angle lenses that are this small either stop at f/2 or f/2.8, or they get bigger and pricier if they’re faster. The Viltrox weighs only 180g/6.34 oz to 195g/6.9 oz (varies slightly by mount), and is about 56mm (2.2in) in length, truly small enough to fit in your pocket. Like other lenses in the Air series, this one is also minimal in weight and size without sacrificing too much...
Published By: CineD - Yesterday