Viltrox 40mm f/2.5 AF Lens for Nikon Z Full Frame Cameras! Only $158!?!?

Viltrox has released a new 40mm f/2.5 prime lens for Nikon Z Full Frame cameras. It is very small and light. This makes it easy to take with you. The price is only $158 USD. Can it be any good at that price? Watch this video to find out.
Viltrox 40mm f/2.5 Af Link! a.co/d/hBlUleq
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[@PhilThach]

12:08 is hibiscus not hydrangea. Whoops.

[@MrTmiket0007]

Thanks so much for sharing another woderful video like always Phil!

[@PhilThach]

Thank you!

[@patriciablyler6484]

Great review Phil! Looks like a really nice inexpensive lens.

[@PhilThach]

Thank you, Patricia!

[@francopromedia]

Nice review, the lens looks very sharp and has great colors. 🎉

[@PhilThach]

It’s a pretty special lens for the money.

[@TimChilders]

Looks like a great little lens. I wish Canon had not stopped allowing 3rd party AF lenses on their RF line.

[@PhilThach]

I don’t understand how they make lenses that perform so well and sell them so inexpensively. I agree, I wish Canon would open up their mount to third-party manufacturers.

[@mikedaniel1955]

I will consider this lens for sure! Thanks Phil!~

[@PhilThach]

Thank you!

[@adrianalfordphotography]

Nice review Phil. It’s such a good lens for the price. I love the light weight on my Z7 and perfect for gimbal work 👍🙏

[@PhilThach]

Thank you, Adrian! I can’t decide if I’m more surprised by the quality output of the lens or the low price but when you combine the two of those together, it makes for a really intriguing package.

[@ses4vols]

Nice lens review. On a side note you can use aps c lenses on a full frame. The Nikon cameras put you in dx crop mode (less megapixels). I use my 40mm f2.8 dx macro lens on my Z6ii.

[@PhilThach]

Thank you! You are correct of course. I should have been more clear that you can't use the lens and take advantage of the larger sensor but you certainly can use the lens in APSC/DX crop mode.

[@leonfisher]

That lens is a bargain to be sure. I've mentioned in the past several times; Heather does have beautiful eyes.

[@PhilThach]

She really does! ❤️

[@bobdrawbaugh4207]

Looks like another great buy from Viltrox.

[@PhilThach]

Definitely.

[@davidipema7898]

i have the 13mm 1.4 for my sony , viltrox makes good lenses

[@PhilThach]

I have that lens too. It’s a good one. ✅

[@carlmcneill1139]

I bought the Nikon 40mm on black Friday the year before last for street photography. I love that lens. I would like to see a comparison video between the two lenses just to see the difference. The Nikon lens is very sharp. It's hard to believe it's not an S lens. It isn't weather sealed either. The micro contrast is really good as well. It's probably twice the price of the Viltrox lens but it's still a reasonably priced lens. It and the 28mm are the cheapest lenses I own. I prefer to have native Nikon lenses but it's good to have options for those that want to save money. I'm glad Nikon allows third party lenses. I just saw that Canon will now show it. I'm still waiting for Tamron and Sigma to make more lenses in their popular focal lengths. Viktrox is stepping in and taking their share of the third party lenses.

[@USGrant21st]

First of all Nikon 40/2 is not a sharp lens, it's simple optical design shows spherical aberrations, which softens the image especially at close range. The Viltrox isn't very sharp wide open, but it improves significantly as you close it down. At f/5.6 and especially f/8, Viltrox has an outstanding resolution and contrast at the center. So if you use it for daylight shooting, the images from it look a lot sharper and contrasty than from Nikon 40/2. But the bokeh shows the opposite. Nikon lens, again due to its' simple design, has rather smooth bokeh. Viltrox bokeh is complex, sometimes fine, sometimes ugly. Nikon is also better when it comes to flare, Viltrox can sometimes produce very colorful flares. And yes, AF is faster with Nikon lens.

[@carlmcneill1139]

@@USGrant21st do you own both the Nikon and Viltrox lenses?

[@USGrant21st]

@@carlmcneill1139 yep

[@carlmcneill1139]

@@USGrant21st which do you prefer?

[@USGrant21st]

@@carlmcneill1139 that's a difficult question. I would say if you shoot people, or animals Nikon is a better choice. The softness, especially of the bokeh creates a more pleasing picture. Nikon is also better focusing, and is better in low light, so it would be my choice indoors as well. For objects like buildings, cars, or even landscapes I would say Viltrox shows better looking crisper pictures.

[@Beaver-be8vk]

Wish I had a Nikon. No brainer

[@PhilThach]

Great little lens for the money for sure.

[@USGrant21st]

The fact that you are not seeing CA is because you are not looking for it. The lens shows some lateral CA, and quite significant LoCA. In that regard Nikon 40/2 is much better.

[@PhilThach]

You must have better eyes than I do because I didn’t see any noticeable chromatic aberration of any variety. I haven’t tried the Nikon 40 F2 but I would sure hope it’s better because it costs nearly twice as much.

[@USGrant21st]

@@PhilThach Lateral CA is easy to see in tree leaves against the sky in the corners. Longitudinal CA is easy to see on shiny subjects as they go out of focus. You don't need "better eyes," look at image at a pixel level and they will be obvious.

[@davefrancis2581]

Hopefullly Heather is charging you modeling fees !!

[@PhilThach]

If she did I'm sure I couldn't afford it. :)