Viltrox announces $399 35mm f/1.8 lens for Nikon Z mount

By Hannah Rooke
published

For just $399 you can now get a fast 35mm prime lens with electronic contacts and an aperture ring

viltrox 35mm f/1.8
(Image credit: Viltrox)

Budget lens manufacturer Viltrox has just announced details of a new 35mm f/1.8 autofocus lens for Nikon Z mount cameras. Despite being a relative newcomer to lens manufacturing, Viltrox makes decent glass that won’t break the bank.

For anyone with a full frame Nikon Z camera, such as the Nikon Z7 II (opens in new tab), the Viltrox 35mm f/1.8 is by far the cheapest prime of that focal range available. And for APS-C bodies like the Nikon Z fc (opens in new tab), it becomes an equivalent 52.5mm lens. Made up of ten elements in eight groups including two extra-low dispersion elements, two aspherical elements, and two high refraction index elements it offers crisp images with little aberrations.

• Read more: Best Nikon Z lenses (opens in new tab)

It features nine aperture blades, has a constant aperture of f/1.8 through to f/16 and a minimum focusing distance of 0.4m. Compared to the Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.8 S (opens in new tab), which has a minimum focusing distance of 0.25m, you have to be further away from your subject but so far that's the only downside – at least, until we get one to test the image quality. 

(Image credit: Viltrox)

For a budget lens it has some pretty clever features, including contacts to transfer EXIF data, an AF stepping motor, and it even boasts support for Nikon’s Eye Autofocus. You can also update the lens’ firmware via a built-in USB-C port on the rear mount, so there’s no need to worry about downloading files to an SD card and updating it via the camera.

For filmmakers and those who enjoy manually changing the aperture on the lens itself, you’ll be pleased to know that it comes with an aperture ring as well as a focus ring for ultimate fingertip control. It weighs 370g, which is the same as the Nikon equivalent but it has a slightly smaller diameter (70mm) and a longer barrel (90mm).

The Viltrox 35mm f/1.8 is available to buy directly from the Viltrox store (opens in new tab) for $399 (approximately £293 / AU$ 550). It comes as standard with a lens hood, front and back caps and a carry case for protection. 

Read more: 

Nikon Z7 II review
 (opens in new tab)Nikon Z fc review
 (opens in new tab)Best Nikon cameras (opens in new tab)

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Hannah Rooke
Hannah Rooke
Staff Writer

Having studied Journalism and Public Relations at the University of the West of England Hannah developed a love for photography through a module on photojournalism. She specializes in Portrait, Fashion and lifestyle photography but has more recently branched out in the world of stylized product photography. For the last 3 years Hannah has worked at Wex Photo Video as a Senior Sales Assistant using her experience and knowledge of cameras to help people buy the equipment that is right for them. With 5 years experience working with studio lighting, Hannah has run many successful workshops teaching people how to use different lighting setups.

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