Viltrox AF 33mm F1.4 XF Definitive Review | 4K

[@JungleCatImages]

This lens ROCK!!! I got one for $199 and I'm very impressed. I had/have the 35 f2, which I really like before it got damaged, but I don't feel I'm missing anything shooting the Viltrox. Nice sharpness, focus accuracy and rendering.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

It's a nice lens for the money, for sure.

[@curtis.strange]

I love the cricket sounds, good ambiance haha

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Lots of those out there.

[@rdog77]

I know I'm a little late to the game here guys but I really like these definitive reviews. I always watch Dustin Abbotts back catalogue of reviews they’re so informative and it's good to see sample shots. Love hearing your insight on these reviews. fyi I'm not always chasing the perfect most sharpest lens but a good deal is a good deal. Thank you for putting this together! I already own the Fuji 35mm F2, but was wonder if I was missing out.....

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Glad you like them!

[@pierrelaviolette670]

I love your reviews, you allow us to see just how well a lens performs. I’m going to go for the Fuji F2 lens but I appreciate Viltrox offering an autofocus alternative.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Absolutely.

[@adam_mawz_maas]

Fuji also sells the XC 35mm f2 for $199, which has the same optics and AF as the $399 XF version, but comes in a cheap plastic barrel with plastic mount.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Interesting.

[@jeremystilgar]

Your videos are amazing. So glad I've discovered them. I've been playing them while at work. Has made it so much easier to get through the day. :p Excellent job. I appreciate that you incorporate your real world shorts (which are fantastic!) into your reviews.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Thank you very much.

[@kordoz10]

Its a fantastic lens, I have it with Sony E bayonet, really sharp, some Ca on f1.4 but not so bad when stopped to f1.7

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

It's a good lens for the money, for sure.

[@AndreasRavnestad]

Thanks for a very interesting and thorough review. Seems like a fair performance for the price, but not my first choice. Still waiting for the Viltrox 56mm AF to become available. Hope you will review that one too :)

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

I definitely plan to. I'm going to cover the 23mm next.

[@keepitreal3363]

great review Dustin! i have the 35f2 ,35f1.4 and the mitakon 35mm 0.95 and i find that the mitakon f0.95 to be an awesome lens.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Nice

[@Nightshade1881]

I have the mitakon 0.95 you think this would be a good buy ? I already got the 23mm and 85mm I got a 12mm f2 and a nikkor 105mm for telephoto stuff I should be fine with my mitakon 35mm ?

[@keepitreal3363]

@@Nightshade1881 yes the mitakon is an awesome lens! produces beautiful colour rendering and centre sharpness is great at 0.95.

[@alberte6109]

I've always wanted something brighter than f1.8 since I borrowed my dad's Nikon D80 and often use it with the 50mm f1.8. I should be able to buy an XT3 and this lens in a few months :).

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Enjoy!

[@skelly8185]

I appreciate the honesty really... I needed to find out if it was as sharp as Fuji or up to the task of pro work. Now I feel I am well informed. Thumbs up!

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Audimann]

I am happy with my Fuji 35mm 1.4. Yes old design but do not really care about that. Love the noise it makes,. Bzzz, klung, kling😁

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

LOL - you're in the minority over enjoying focus sound!

[@Audimann]

@@DustinAbbottTWIyeah true, but some people are nowadays oversensitive to anything. Even the (wrong) placement of a certain button on a camera can make someone go nuts.

[@josecolon8143]

Best wishes and blessings, always, to you Minister! Stay safe and healthy! I remember when you had less than 2K followers, congratulations you almost hit the 100K! BLESSINGS ✨🌟✨

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

It's been amazing to watch the growth of the channel. Definitely looking forward too 100K

[@APOLLOSTEES]

Great review, I've heard others chose the Fuji 35mm F2 over the Viltrox 33mm F1.4. This helped me to see why 👍🏽

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Glad it was helpful!

[@michaelyang6705]

This is a good cost-effective lens, but its optical quality is not so satisfactory, especially the color fringing. I found that for Fuji users who want a focal length of 35mm with a fast aperture, Samyang 35mm F1.2 ED AS UMC CS may be a good choice. Are you interested in making a review for it?

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

I don't recall having reviewed that lens, but it's not on my roadmap for the immediate future.

[@BenjaminKanarek]

The newest firmware does improve the AF speed.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

I had the most recent firmware as of the day of the review.

[@-OEG]

@@DustinAbbottTWI what was the firmware version you had back then?

[@kingsamvisuals]

I was between this and a 35mm XC. Decided the 35mm f2 will be my first lens

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

I really like that lens. It's one of the most impressive bargain priced Fuji lenses.

[@SantanKGhey1234]

thx Dustin

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

You're welcome.

[@etienneswart8700]

Oh that insect 😢 Have ordered mine today

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Enjoy!

[@sclogse1]

I know, a year late, (but always a better deal now) I'd like to know how these lenses perform in boost mode when changing focus from your clock to thing to back wall... I'd even wonder if it improves depending on the colors of your objects.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

I haven't tested it in boost mode, though I do think that things have improved via firmware update in general. Varying contrast will affect focus, obviously, but I use standard elements every time to provide at least some scientific quality to my tests from lens to lens.

[@BikeLife154]

What did you think of the Fuji 35mm f1.4? Fair review of the viltrox!

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

I haven't done a thorough review of it, yet, so I'm just looking at other reviews.

[@BikeLife154]

Dustin Abbott thanks for the reply!

[@sclogse1]

Here's an odd question. If designers didn't sweat barrel distortion as much as they do, could that in any way improve corner sharpness?

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

I would say that's unlikely. Extreme distortion typically destroys corner sharpness in the process of trying to correct for it. And if you don't correct it, the corners aren't overly useful because the geometry of things is so distorted

[@zequiel4725]

Greetings probably won't see this comment but if you do, i'm deciding between this lens and the sigma 30mm f 1.4 for my sony a6400, they are pretty similar but i like this viltrox build quality much more, any thoughs? i couldn't find a review from you of the sigma 30mm f 1.4. Love your content, thank you.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

I did review the 30mm Sigma back in the day. The Viltrox has the better build quality, so I think it is a safe choice.

[@ericusjtm28]

Fuji has actually 3, 35mm options one xc line lens and two xf lineup lenses the F1.4 and the f2 lens

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Yes, though the XC is the same lens optically as the XF F2 lens.

[@gerben4875]

Hi Dustin, thx for your review. I just got the 33 1.4 and I dont find the lens to be 'softish' close up on 1.4 (in the middle) at all! Perhaps you just have a higher expectation of sharpness?

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

That's entirely possible. I review hundreds of lenses.

[@Vinterloft]

@@DustinAbbottTWI There was a stealth update to this lens. They removed the plaque with the gold text on it and shortened it somewhat, it got even quieter IMO as well. (Can't really tell definitively since I sold the old one before the new one arrived) As for image quality, it seems to be the same in sharpness and longitudinal chroma, but slightly better in lateral chroma and a lot better in contrast at 1.4. My guess is their main objective here was to improve the lens coatings.

[@paldo771]

Seems like with Viltrox latest firmware(V 1.0.9). Focus is quick and constant now..

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

They have been really good to continue to update firmware on their products.

[@edlondon3717]

The issues you point out in this lens are really no different than on a high end Zeiss....this lens gets a 10 out of 10 from me

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Hi Ed, I'm not sure how many high end Zeiss lenses you've used, but that's not the conclusion I would draw. It's a fun lens, though, so enjoy!

[@tomallen6073]

Just spend the few extra dollars and buy the Fuji.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

In this case, I do think the 35mm F2 is a very good lens.