The newly unveiled Viltrox AF 9mm f/2.8 Air E lens offers photography enthusiasts an affordable ultra-wide option for APS-C cameras. Priced at $199, this lens promises sharpness and a bright aperture, appealing to those looking to capture expansive scenes without overspending. Weighing just 175 g, it combines portability with solid construction, making it a practical choice for everyday use.
Design and Versatility
Despite being tailored for APS-C cameras, the Viltrox lens is noted to perform well in crop mode on full-frame systems, providing versatility for photographers who use both formats. The lens offers a field of view equivalent to a 13.5mm full-frame lens, allowing for dramatic compositions that require skill and practice. The maximum aperture of f/2.8 enhances usability in indoor and low-light situations, although achieving significant background blur necessitates close proximity to subjects.
Alex Cooke, a photographer and meteorologist based in Cleveland, emphasizes the lens’s robust yet simple construction. It features a metal mount and a USB-C port for firmware updates, ensuring its longevity and adaptability. While it lacks weather-sealing and image stabilization, these omissions are understandable given its price point. Cooke also notes some minor focus breathing, yet it remains inconspicuous for a lens of this type.
Image Quality and Performance
In terms of image quality, the lens performs impressively, especially when wide open at f/2.8. The center shows exceptional sharpness and contrast, while corner sharpness improves significantly when the aperture is stopped down to f/4 or f/5.6. Photographers can expect better clarity, particularly beneficial for landscape and interior shots.
Testing revealed that distortion is present but well-controlled, even with in-camera corrections disabled. The lens exhibits noticeable vignetting at f/2.8, which does not completely resolve even when stopped down, suggesting that post-processing adjustments may be necessary. Cooke points out that the lens manages light sources effectively, displaying only moderate flare under strong illumination, which doesn’t detract from image quality.
The lens has demonstrated commendable performance for astrophotography, with coma well-controlled, making it suitable for capturing night skies. Additionally, defined sun stars appear at f/8, enhancing the overall aesthetic of outdoor photography. The seven-blade aperture creates a pleasing shape in out-of-focus highlights, an unusual feature for lenses in this price range.
For those interested in exploring the full capabilities of the Viltrox AF 9mm f/2.8 Air E lens, Cooke’s detailed review provides valuable insights. As an engaging resource, it highlights the lens’s potential for both amateur and professional photographers looking for quality and affordability in their gear.
