Real AF Pancake - Viltrox AF 28mm f/4.5 FE (Sony)

[@TheRealRichardWong]

This is the Indiegogo campaign (with 10-30% discount): www.indiegogo.com/projects/viltrox-af-28mm-f4-5-fe-chips-size-ultra-thin-lens/reft/29304022/am-rw (affiliated link).

[@OneWeekGetAway]

I still has not gone live yet.

[@justonbrazda3846]

@@TheRealRichardWong can I buy yours for 250?

[@rommelbautista6480]

EXCITING! WE NEED MORE PANCAKE OR SMALLER LENS FOR TRAVEL

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Agree. I think lenses these days focus too much on sharpness/technical perfection. We need more good enough but smaller/cheaper lenses to offer different choices for photographers/videographers.

[@ImpulseVigil]

TBH I'd argue that for a vast majority of people, something that's still relatively small but more functional like a 24/2.8 G will make more sense... For a few of us tho, the fact that it's an actual pancake is huge! (no pun intended) I actually own the 24/2.8 already and I'll still be purchasing this because I like pancakes, I like 28mm when shooting people, and I will be about to squeeze this in the front pocket of a waist pack while still carrying two other small lenses (11/4.5, 45/1.8 or 75/1.8, etc.).

[@TheRealRichardWong]

@@ImpulseVigil yes I really agree with what you said. But it’s just really hard for people like us to not love such a tiny af lens

[@JimIBobIJones]

@@TheRealRichardWong There's too much focus on IQ and there's settling for poor quality optics. The pancake lens concept is the ultimate trade-off of image quality for portability. The ones that have decent quality use a extension/collapsing mechanism to be able to fit in a decent array of elements. This is a fixed array of very small lenses. IMHO the image quality is just poor. If I was going to compromise this much for portability I would just go with a full APSC setup, a "premium compact" APSC or even 1" camera instead and get decent glass with a smaller sensor.

[@mediajunkienl]

Instant buy. This is exactly the kind of lens i want to see. Perfect for inconspicuous street photography. Viltrox, if you're reading, please make pancakes for all the bread-and-butter focal lengths, i.e. 24mm, 35/40mm, and 50mm.

[@vicentvanmole]

finally wish is coming . Hope more companies put more effort into this this type of pancake lens , better is 21/15 AF

[@ttbirds1082]

Also looks like a good option for a compact APSC 42mm equiv lens.

[@molybdnum]

4.5 is pretty slow though. There's a bunch of 27mm 2.8 copycat lenses that are very small already, or the Sony 20mm 2.8 pancake which is this "cookie" size but has more features.

[@houghwhite411]

​@@molybdnum such example is brightin star (though it's manual)

[@James.Buchanan]

I'll certainly be picking this up! I wonder though why they didn't just use a circular aperture instead of the blades in the fixed position since it's a fixed f4.5. Even though there isn't much bokeh, when there is, mcdonald's drive-thru image in video for example, you can see the shape of the blades and using a circle may have made it more appealing 🤷‍♂

[@KhoaSV]

I think it's because they wanted sun stars 11:27 But I wish there was an aperture mechanism and manual focus ring, even if it's slightly thicker. Hopefully other manufacturers see the demand and release similar lenses are less bare bones.

[@James.Buchanan]

@@KhoaSV Ah, good point. Looking forward to more of these pancakes!

[@ArminHirmer]

very nice. I wish for a 35mm pancake. 28 is always a little too wide for me. but this one would do even good on a APS-C

[@davemoran6328]

Aha! I've been looking forward to your review on this! Thanks Richard. =)

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Hey Dave, thank you!!

[@toysars]

Its almost criminal that Sony and others are not making more pancakes lenses to go with these compact cameras. I will pre order the lens. Thanks for the review.

[@duvalpenny100]

"cupcake lens" 😂 love that term. You're so right.

[@SharifAbdou]

Thanks for the review Richard. I'm joining the crowd funding campaign through your link. Please encourage Viltrox to also make a 40mm just like the 28mm, I would buy that too.

[@TheRealRichardWong]

I'll pass your message to them! But I'm sure Viltrox is reading the feedback/comments on this video as well, so feel free to let them know what you want 😛

[@gameswithoutfrontears416]

I went for the indiegogo perk that also includes the 20mm lens as Ive been looking for that focal length cheap and lightweight for my A7. Getting both for a good price i had to go for it. Hope I enjoy them both. For me its all about less bulky stuff, not the absolute perfect result.

[@billmoyer3254]

Super form factor! Thanks for the review Richard!

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Thank you Bill!

[@the_wiki9408]

It's like the Panasonic 14mm 2.5 but for FF.

[@bldfear]

Looks like a nice lens. I wish it was a 16-70 f 1.4 in a similar size.

[@lepyti]

😂

[@gabviho]

lmao

[@viltroxofficial]

Thank you Richard🤗

[@cmck1777]

Holy sh*t the money already left my account

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Oh how come?

[@cmck1777]

@@TheRealRichardWong I love 28mm lenses and snall lenses. It’s a bit disappointing this is only 4.5 but still. It will replace my Sony 16mm f2.8

[@martinruiz398]

If it is a fixed aperture then why are there aperture blades? wouldn't it make sense to just make the iris the correct size? I wonder if the blades can be removed and what the result would be.

[@PriyankoSings]

This lens was perfect untill you said you can't change the aperture, that's a deal breaker for me.

[@a.k.8150]

For me too

[@dipo2000]

I agree with you

[@BasedStory]

That gutted me when he said that. It would be perfect if you could change aperture even if its just to f8 and f16 lmao

[@GungKrisna12]

and no way to attach filters

[@Keilikeramen]

Me too I though can use for hiking but edge sharpness is important for me

[@Mithinco]

It's just a baby!

[@alexanderweber3447]

The smallest I had was from Pentax, 40mm 2.8 limted and there was an XS version a little bit slimmer. But it was for DSLR....

[@nocturnal1970]

That was an APSC lens and Pentax registration distance helped it's flatness. I owned the 40 Ltd

[@alexanderweber3447]

@@nocturnal1970 Yes but It had worked at the K1 in Full frame Mode too ....

[@nocturnal1970]

@@alexanderweber3447 Yes as I said big registration distance, mirrorless is less than 1/2 Pentax

[@KwasnikPictures]

Awesome! Need this for L-Mount!!

[@TheRealRichardWong]

You are the 99th person on this thread mentioned this!! 😂

[@KwasnikPictures]

@@TheRealRichardWong 🤣🤣🤣

[@tadc]

Literally just the other day I took delivery of a TTArtisans AF 27mm F2.8 pancake lens for APS-C. Slightly taller than the Viltrox because it has an aperture ring on it. At $149 a little heavier on the wallet. Richard could have mentioned it as an alternative.

[@TheRealRichardWong]

yes true, if you shoot with APSC, the TTArtisan would be an alternative option if you want to have more controls and don't mind the lens is a bit thicker.

[@georgemahlum6542]

Great video review...I am planning on getting one for a7c street fun...Cheers

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Enjoy it!

[@dennisD..]

Hope they release an L-mount version. Would be a good pairing with the S9.

[@NicolasMorin-p7c]

Thek should have put a ND on that lever instead of a lens protection cap. That would have been genius !

[@shock_me]

L mount! S9 let's go.

[@LukesMushrooms]

I hope Panasonic will contribute in the crowdfunding campaign and this lens would also come to the L-mount to be paired with S9 :))

[@amermeleitor]

L mount is a closed mount for third party. Only members of the alliance can produce AF lenses for the mount

[@ralphlumbres]

@@amermeleitor Meike has L mount AF lenses. Did they join the alliance? If so then maybe other companies like Viltrox should do too.

[@TheRealRichardWong]

@ralphlumbres Meike has not joined the alliance

[@ralphlumbres]

@@TheRealRichardWong Then it means it is possible to make AF lenses for L mount without joining the alliance?

[@ulfjonsson2122]

As always a very interesting video. You make me want an A7C with this lens. Regards Ulf.

[@shirakawanaoya]

Man I wish one of these companies copied in any way the canon EOSM 22mm pancake for a Sony cam. That lens was so good.

[@frankwong9486]

I wonder how fast if we remove the fix aperture or get a slightly larger /smaller apefture after modifications 🤔

[@itsbeaties8902]

that is sick

[@cameraprepper7938]

It will be great on an APSC Camera as a 42mm equivalent Lens !

[@ralphlumbres]

I hope they make an L mount version!

[@amermeleitor]

L. Mount is a closed mount. Only for members of the alliance. No third party allowed

[@ralphlumbres]

@@amermeleitor so Meike, 7artisans and TTartisans joined it too? Then Viltrox should join too then.

[@chictravel1156]

Please review samyang remaster slim

[@SSsRoy777]

Fabulous tiny lens for my a7c😍😍😍

[@TheRealRichardWong]

AF lens can't be any smaller than that

[@darrenchin6859]

Seeing this makes me wonder even more why Lumix couldn’t have made their pancake lens with AF!

[@simontravels9379]

I am so excited! This type of lens should have come out years ago. I don't know why the big boys (Sony, Canon ,Nikon ) don't make it. Shame on them.

[@cliopascua]

Is this better than when I use Sony 20mm F2.8 pancake lens for my Sony A7C? Thank you

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Sony 20mm f/2.8 is a APSC lens

[@larsltj]

Really nice. Where is the Z mount version?

[@TheRealRichardWong]

I will probably come in the near future.

[@nightdonutstudio]

Cool. Hope to see the review of the new Samyang pancake 3 lens system. That is interesting offer as well.

[@TheRealRichardWong]

I'll see if i get a chance when it arrives New Zealand

[@neilmontgomery3470]

Do you put a vignette on the parts of the video where you are recording yourself in your studio?

[@TheRealRichardWong]

I used a grid with my studio lighting so i creates a bit of natural light falloff. But i do also add a bit of vignetting during post. Does the vignetting look too much to you?

[@hainguyen6514]

Alright, this is it.

[@enshongmiranda]

What the Panasonic 26mm f8 should've been. 😂 Panasonic should be embarrassed releasing that crappy lens.

[@benjamindover4337]

Is it too late to get them to replace the sliding lens cap with a sliding ND filter?

[@TheRealRichardWong]

@@benjamindover4337 good idea but probably too late

[@BYMMooVs]

Nice review. Want it for Nikon z mount.

[@Enlightenment_2025]

Even 7 artisan 18mm f 6.3 is also less saturated than ordinary lenses. I prefer saturated look, though. I just learned that these pancake lenses are called UFO lenses in Korea.

[@possisvideos]

great. ill get one.❤

[@andre_mee]

Does it work well on an FX30 (Aps-c)?

[@TheRealRichardWong]

@@andre_mee I don’t see why not :)

[@classic.cameras]

I have 13 different 28mm lenses. From the monster Sigma ART for Sony to Nikkor 28mm f2.8 AIS to Sony FE 28 f2 and many other vintage 28's. Love the 28mm lenses. I think if I came across this lens in the future used, I would probably but it. Great review but at a f4.5 its a no for me.

[@nocturnal1970]

You need to see a shrink

[@zeroken]

wait for the Z Mount

[@stkuj]

No brainer !

[@Photografather]

Is it possible to use Filters e.g. ND Filter with 43mm?

[@nocturnal1970]

Yes, with blu-tac 😮

[@Photografather]

@@nocturnal1970 what do you mean with blu-tac?

[@nocturnal1970]

@@Photografather google it... Stick it on

[@TheRealRichardWong]

There is no filter thread

[@seansaca]

Perhaps you can DIY a magnetic solution considering Richard’s magnet stuck to the lens

[@masterche1980]

Send this video to Panasonic bosses.

[@TheRealRichardWong]

🤣😅

[@BuzYoutube]

day one for me

[@DVinstapics]

A constant f4.5 aperture isn't that bad honestly. But it automatically makes it a bad choice in low light, this is a street photography/travel photography during the day only lens

[@__Lento__]

watch and learn panasonic

[@nocturnal1970]

Borderline use a good smartphone, for example, Pixel 8 pro instead if you own one. I probably won't be buying this for S5ii and no L-mount anyway. I wish Lumix would make their own pancake AF, smaller than Sigma Contemporary although their 15mm f4 is small enough, 28mm f4 could be smaller than that but bigger than this Viltrox if AF was silent, faster and better vignetting/overall IQ. Waste of time with that 26mm f8 thing!

[@markkrell7845]

AF performance with the limitation f4.5 only is deal breaker to me. f4.5 in zone focus is too shallow for streeting photography.

[@jackrussellt2211]

Viltrox is a joke with ignoring the L-Mount.

[@nocturnal1970]

I'm not worried, it's not good enough.

[@JericTamayo]

Makes the Lumix 28mm f/8, in comparison, a total joke.