The Viltrox AF 135mm f/1.8 Lab FE lens is an exceptional addition to the full frame mirrorless ecosystem, designed for photographers seeking exceptional optical performance with professional features. Although it shines as a portrait lens, its versatility makes it an excellent choice for a wide range of subjects, from landscapes to event photography. With a bright f/1.8 aperture and fast autofocus, this lens delivers breathtaking clarity and dreamy Bokeh that makes every shot better.
build quality
Viltrox made it AF 135mm F1.8 Lab FE Keeping in mind both the photographer and durability. The sturdy metal body is solid and heavy, weighing in at 1,235 grams. At first, I thought this would be an issue for extended shooting, but in reality, it wasn’t, and I carried it throughout the day without thinking twice about it. Its weather-sealed construction ensures reliability in challenging environments, while the multi-coated front element resists dust, water and stains, making it a dependable choice for photographers in a variety of environments and conditions. The inclusion of controls like a focus limiter and a customizable Fn button ensure that you can adapt the lens to your specific shooting style if necessary.
There is no optical stabilization on the lens, although I did not expect it. The aperture ring has a direct click on/off function, but it doesn’t have a notch, so you’ll have to rely on your viewfinder or lens LCD. However, the aperture can be re-specified on your camera if you prefer.
The lens’ optical design includes 9 elements and 11 diaphragm blades in 14 groups, repeatedly delivering astonishingly sharp images. A front filter size of 82 mm completes the lens body. There’s also a USB Type-C port on the mount for future upgrades.
The lens size is 93 x 145.7 mm, which increases to 204 mm when the solid lens hood is added. Incidentally, the hood is internally coated with soft felt material to reduce reflections.
The LCD display on the lens, which I found myself using occasionally, is also customizable at one point through the Viltrox app. This LCD feature is more common on the Viltrox Pro series lenses and is a great feature in certain lighting situations. For me, the jury is still out on how often I’ll use it, but perhaps that will change over time.
Key Specifications
- focal length: 135 mm
- Maximum Aperture: F/1.8
- Minimum Aperture: f/16
- Lens Mount: Currently only Sony E
- Lens Format Coverage: full frame
- Focus Type: autofocus
- image stabilization: No
- Filter Size: 82 mm (front)
Display
The Viltrox AF 135mm f/1.8 LAB FE excels where it matters most: optical performance. The clarity and sharpness of the images achieved by this lens can lead you to believe that the photos have come from a quite expensive lens. The lens captures precise detail and texture with precision, and I could talk about how sharp the resulting images are – but you’ll have to try to see it for yourself. Be careful: this sharpness may make you realize that some of your other lenses are not as sharp as you first thought.
Its HyperVCM motor delivers fast, accurate autofocus, making it perfect for both stills and video. The lens effortlessly tracks moving subjects, ensuring critical focus for fleeting moments. Although, admittedly I haven’t tried it for video yet. The bright f/1.8 aperture allows for excellent performance in low light and creates smooth, creamy Bokeh due to the 11-bladed diaphragm. I found that continuous autofocus was better when using the lens, as it proved to be faster than single autofocus. This was not detrimental to the lens’ performance in any way; However, I found that the continuous autofocus was a little faster at locking on to the subject.
Pros
- Excellent sharpness across the frame
- Beautiful Bokeh with f/1.8 aperture
- Professional-grade construction and weather sealing
- fast autofocus
- Versatile control features like customizable buttons and focus limiter
- Competitive price point for this quality of glass
Shortcoming
- Weight may be an issue for some people
final thoughts
Viltrox AF 135mm F1.8 Lab FE The lens easily balances optical excellence, strong build quality and practical features. Although it is a dream lens for portrait photographers, its versatility ensures that it can adapt to a wide variety of shooting scenarios. I found that I was carrying it with me more often than I expected. Whether you’re capturing the subtle expressions of a subject or the fine details of a dynamic scene, this lens delivers stunning clarity.
For anyone looking to advance their photography, this lens is undoubtedly a worthwhile investment – ​​yet not one that will crush your bank balance. you can buy one for yourself Here,
