CameraReview
Viltrox AF 35mm F1.7 Air
UNSCORED
Viltrox · 35 mm · f/1.7 · Fujifilm X, Sony E, Nikon Z mount

Viltrox AF 35mm F1.7 Air

From $179 — 1 offer
KEY FACTS
BrandViltrox
Announcement dateDec 2024
Released2024
Production started2024
Production statusIn Production
What We Like
+Exceptional value at $179 USD; costs fraction of competing branded APS-C lenses
+Compact and lightweight design (170g) ideal for travel and everyday carry
+Wide f/1.7 aperture delivers dreamy bokeh and excellent low-light performance
+Sharp image quality across the frame, especially f/2.8-f/4, with minimal distortion and chromatic aberration
+Fast, quiet STM autofocus with eye and face detection support
+Versatile 52.5mm equivalent focal length suitable for portraits, street, and general photography
Worth Knowing
Plastic body (rather than metal) lacks weather sealing and may feel less premium than higher-end alternatives
No aperture control ring (unusual for Fujifilm users but intentional weight-saving design choice)
Vignetting at f/1.7 requires auto-correction; can be pronounced in RAW without correction
Autofocus struggles in complex, high-contrast scenes with busy backgrounds

General

Brand
Viltrox
Announcement date
Refers to the date the manufacturer publicly announced the upcoming release and general specs of this camera.
Dec 2024
Released
Refers to the year this camera was officially made available for sale.
2024
Production started
2024
Production status
Current status of lens manufacturing (e.g., in production, discontinued).
In Production
Read our notes on general
The Viltrox AF 35mm F1.7 Air offers excellent image quality, fast autofocus, and a lightweight design, making it a top choice for budget-conscious photographers. This inexpensive lens still delivers a surprisingly high level of performance, especially for image sharpness, and is very usable at maximum aperture with excellent results around f/2.8 to f/4. The "Air" series has proven to be a hit with a winning formula of light weight, low price, and surprisingly strong optical performance, typically costing about 50% of competing options.

Optical

Optical Design
11 elements in 9 groups
Special Elements
2 high refractive index (HR), 1 extra-low dispersion (ED), 1 aspherical

Autofocus

Motor Type
STM (stepping motor)
AF Features
Eye and face detection support

Build

Construction
Plastic body with metal mount

Focus

Focus Type
Internal focus with minimal focus breathing

Optics

Min focal length
35 mm
Max focal length
35 mm
Focal range
Shortest to longest focal length of the lens (zoom range start - end )
35 mm
Zoom lens
Zoom allows you to vary the focal length, change between long shots and close-ups
No
Max aperture wide
1.7
Max aperture zoom
1.7
Blades
Number of diaphragm blades in aperture
9020
Autofocus mode
Yes
Closest focusing distance
Minimum distance for a subject to be in focus.
33 cm01500

Physical

Lens weight
170 g
Front filter size
Diameter of attachable filters.
52 mm
Lens mount
The lens mount will tell you what type of lens range you can fit onto the camera body. Often the same camera company will have different lens ranges for different cameras.
Fujifilm X, Sony E, Nikon Z

Features

Weather sealing
Weather sealing capabilities will give you more confidence when shooting in unfavourable conditions.
No