Viltrox adapts a fab four of its compact and lightweight Air series prime lenses, creating new L-mount editions

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The range of Viltrox L-mount camera lenses has just jumped up from four to six, thanks to four new 14mm, 20mm, 40mm and 50mm prime options

Viltrox L-mount Air lenses
(Image credit: Viltrox)

There are four new Viltrox ‘Air’ series L-mount lenses breezing in, namely the Viltrox AF 14mm f/4.0 Air L, Viltrox AF 20mm f/2.8 Air L, Viltrox AF 40mm f/2.5 Air L and Viltrox AF 50mm f/2.0 Air L.

Typical of the breed, they’re all very compact and ultra-lightweight, yet sturdily built with metal rather than plastic mounting plates. Also like other Air lenses, they’re outrageously good value for money.

Air lenses are optimized for video as well as stills, and the ultra-wide viewing angle of the 14mm puts it in prime territory for vlogging, when you want to present to camera at arm’s length and include a good portion of background to set the scene. (Image credit: Viltrox)

All of the new L-mount lenses are full-frame compatible, which seems entirely appropriate as there doesn’t seem a whole lot of point making APS-C format L-mount lenses. For context, Viltrox became a fully paid-up member of the L-mount alliance in September 2025. The first fruit was the highly sophisticated Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 L, followed by the extremely basic, half-inch thick Viltrox AF 28mm f/4.5 ‘chip’ lens. Occupying the middle ground in terms of size, features and price, the four L-mount Air series lenses are remakes of the previously available Nikon Z and Sony E mount versions.

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The compact, lightweight nature of the L-mount Air lenses makes them ideal for use on similarly compact full-frame cameras, like the Panasonic Lumix S9, as pictured here. (Image credit: Viltrox)

I think the four lenses cover a good spread, catering to ultra-wide-angle and wide-angle perspectives through to a standard ‘nifty fifty’. The 40mm lens neatly bridges the gap between a wide-angle and standard prime, making it ideal for street photography and walkabout shooting.

The 40mm has a slightly wide but very natural perspective, making it ideal for environmental portraiture and for shooting inside and out. (Image credit: Viltrox)

So just how compact and lightweight are these lenses? Well, they measure just over a couple of inches long, and weigh in at around 6 ounces (the 50mm lens weighs just over 7 ounces). Even so, they feature stepping motor autofocus systems and include aspherical, ED (Extra-low Dispersion) and Hri (High Refractive index) optical elements. They also come complete with lens hoods and USB-C ports in their mounting plates, for applying firmware updates if and when required. All of the lenses are optimized for video as well as stills, making the useful for hybrid photographers.

The 50mm has the fastest aperture rating of the four lenses, at f/2. This helps to gain a fairly tight depth of field for isolating a subject against a blurred background, as well as being useful in low lighting conditions. (Image credit: Viltrox)

As for the bottom line, here are those bargain price tags… The 14mm and 50mm lenses go on sale for $199 / £190 / AU$299, the 20mm costs just $168 / £165 / AU$240 and the 40mm sells for $176 / £165 / AU$265. Why stop at just one?

Check out our guide to the best L-mount lenses

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Matthew Richards
Matthew Richards

Matthew Richards is a photographer and journalist who has spent years using and reviewing all manner of photo gear. He is Digital Camera World's principal lens reviewer – and has tested more primes and zooms than most people have had hot dinners! 


His expertise with equipment doesn’t end there, though. He is also an encyclopedia  when it comes to all manner of cameras, camera holsters and bags, flashguns, tripods and heads, printers, papers and inks, and just about anything imaging-related. 


In an earlier life he was a broadcast engineer at the BBC, as well as a former editor of PC Guide.

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