Viltrox AF 56mm f/1.7 E Lens for Sony E This was my first time trying a Viltrox lens. To be honest, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I’ve used a lot of third-party lenses but never these. Well, I was amazed by the sharpness of this lens. I’m excited to share both my good and bad experiences with this powerhouse of a lens in such a small package.
I went through a bit of a stormy experience with the Viltrox AF 56mm f/1.7 lens. I’m always excited to talk about new products I try and love, as well as share any hiccups I encounter along the way. As a staff writer here at AFstoppers, Viltrox sent me their AF 56mm f/1.7 lens for testing. Right out of the box, my first impression was how small and light this lens is at only 170 grams (5.9 ounces). After reviewing other heavy zoom or telephoto lenses recently, this was quite the opposite. At 56mm APS-C, this lens is an 85mm full frame equivalent. This focal length shines for portrait, landscape, street and product photography. With a strong set of features on paper, it’s a great choice for many photography styles.
key features
- Lightweight and Portable: Ultra-light 170g design, easy to carry anywhere, making it ideal for travel and street photography.
- Advanced Optical Performance: 56mm f/1.7 aperture, 9 groups, 11 elements, with 4 ED and 3 high refractive elements for sharp, clear images and beautiful bouquet.
- Fast and quiet autofocus: The STM motor ensures quick, silent focusing. Supports eye/face autofocus.
- Durable and reliable: Waterproof and anti-fouling coating on the front lens, sturdy metal mount, built to withstand daily use and challenging environments.
- Versatile Compatibility: Supports 52 mm diameter standard filters; The Type-C interface allows easy firmware updates to keep your lens at best performance.
- Optimized for video: Minimal focus breathing, internal focus design, and stable performance make it a reliable choice for creators.
You may be familiar with the concept of Nifty 50. This is what makes a 50mm prime lens a solid part of your kit. They are often affordable and tried and tested. Well, I just checked The price at B&H, and the Wiltrox AF 56mm f/1.7 lens is only $180. This is a very accessible and affordable lens that can provide you with high quality without breaking the bank. If you’re a new photographer, switching from a different camera body brand and need a lens, or simply want to add more lens options to your kit, you can easily purchase a few different focal lengths. With these kinds of prices, you’ll have a kit of super-sharp, lightweight primes at the price of a high-end zoom. Compared to a zoom, yes, you have to change lenses, but the big deal is the cost savings and higher quality.
Another aspect of this particular lens that most Viltrox lenses do not have is that it does not have the manual aperture ring that we are now accustomed to seeing on many new lenses. This mount has a dedicated ring on the base that allows you to control your aperture on the lens instead of using a dial on your camera. By not including this manual aperture ring and saving on manufacturing costs, the lens fits into a more accessible price bracket. So this could be an advantage or a disadvantage for you, depending on how important that feature is.
autofocus scares
The lens arrived just before my series of back-to-back autumn trips—the perfect time to test it out and make landscape photos. However, immediately, I started having problems with it. Every time I went to take a picture, it would search for several seconds, sometimes much longer, before settling on its focus. I haven’t had this problem with any other lens. I tried messing with the camera settings, but ultimately it came down to the lens.
I contacted Wiltrox and they told me there was a known issue and a firmware update. After updating, the lens looks just fine, and I am very relieved. I want to reiterate how sharp this lens is. Everything about it is amazing except the focusing issue, so fixing that one thing was a burden off my shoulders. I was really enjoying the lens, and I didn’t want to reject it. Now it is working perfectly, I can give it my full approval and then to some extent. So I won’t let it stop you, but I will always share things like this. Again, in this case, I am very grateful for the quick solution. If anyone with a similar problem stumbles upon this article while searching for a solution, update your lens firmware immediately – it’s an easy solution. you can find them Firmware update and how-to guide by clicking here.
in the area
Now back to the fun part. As far as lenses in the field go, even before the firmware update, once focused, I can’t say enough about how fast this thing is! Oh God! This may be one of the sharpest lenses I’ve ever worked with. From edge to edge and at any aperture setting, photos taken with it come out perfectly crisp. With the widest aperture of f/1.7, I was able to capture beautiful low-light landscape imagery displaying fine detail. That wide open, you both reduce noise and, combined with a fast lens, present much more color, detail and contrast.
One of my favorite photos I took last autumn was with this lens. I was in Pennsylvania, USA, enjoying the autumn colors and elk. One morning, I went up a hill just before sunrise to see an elk herd, the sound of which I could hear in the distance. The elk were wrapped in a veil of fog, grazing, and occasionally fighting – it was autumn, after all. As the sun started rising over the hill, the fog slowly cleared. This created the most gorgeously layered creation. The rolling hills almost looked like islands floating in the mist. I immediately switched from my telephoto to the Viltrox AF 56mm f/1.7 on Elk. With an 85mm equivalent focal length on my full frame camera, I captured the entire scene by creating panoramas, each slice at 1/400 sec, f/14, ISO 5,000. The final image really captures how it felt to be standing there – true to life in colour, depth and mood.
As autumn developed, I began creating more images and each time, my respect for Viltrox grew. From sunrise to sunset, sudden aurora nights to flat-take macro-like scenes, I had a lot of fun reviewing this lens. Having never used their products, I now have several photos taken with the Viltrox AF 56mm f/1.7 that I like in my portfolio.
conclusion
I’m glad I was able to try this Viltrox lens because it put the brand on my radar. Now I’m starting to see Viltrox, in the last month or so, come out with even more lenses. I’m excited to follow them and see what else they release, because at these prices, yes, please! Plus, this level of quality being affordable allows you to try focal lengths and styles that you might not have wanted to do at first, simply because of how expensive the lenses are. As a nature photographer, I have my eye on their new super wide lenses, which are perfect for astrophotography. Have you ever tried Viltrox lenses before? Any favourites? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
In the meantime, if you want to add the Viltrox AF 56mm f/1.7 to your kit, you can find This and the rest of the Viltrox lenses are here at B&H.com,
