Viltrox Pro AF 27mm F1.2 E-mount Review: Better than Ever on Sony

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

This video is sponsored by Fantom Wallet. Visit store.fantomwallet.com and use code DUSTIN15 to get 15% off

[@russellcameronthomas2116]

Have it on pre-order. I have the Vitrox 75mm f1.2 (APS-C) and 16mm (FF) f1.8. Excited to add this one.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

You'll enjoy it!

[@ridgefield]

Thank you for the review. I always enjoy your comprehensive review including both positives and negatives. To add one thing, the plastic hood actually protects the lens better by absorbing an impact. It doesn't feel great, but it is more practical.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

That may be true, though I'm not sure that has ever been scientifically tested and documented.

[@lionheart4424]

Great review! As Fuji shooter kinda sucks that the Sony version was improve but its still cheaper than the Fuji version (at least last time I checked).

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Fuji has a pretty tight limitation on certain features thus far, and the AF performance on Fuji is still a long ways behind other prominent brands.

[@PedroLeitao]

Full frame version needed!

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Word on the street is that Viltrox will have a LAB series 50mm F1.4 in the future, which is somewhat similar.

[@LudwickMa]

I think he means we need a 27mm full frame version. 27/28 full frames for Sony are either too old/average. Keep up the great work

[@stevesvanderpool8653]

Superb review!

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Sergey_Sergeev]

Your dother became so beautiful!

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

She really has.

[@neutrinostorm]

THANK YOU for uploading this review to KZbin. I saw this video on your channel a few days ago and I'm happy to see it in 4K now. Interesting fact about using this lens in full frame: The 7R V uses a 1.3 crop in 8K video and the mechanical vignetting is outside the limit. So you get a near perfect 35mm film lens for 8k. Best regards from Lower Saxony to Canada 🙂

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

That's a very interesting observation. It would be a very nice 8K lens because of the high resolution.

[@Pharesm]

Hah! This was exactly the video I needed! Pure luck! I had been interested in the Viltrox 75mmf1.2, but didn't like the focusing for video. I didn't know about the 27mm f1.2! This lens will suit me better anyway. Thanks for the detailed review!

[@kaapiosimpanssibonobo1864]

Great review, really digging the lens! I now have the Samyang AF 24 f/1.8 on an a6600, which gives me around 35mm focal length. Love it, though sometimes a bit wide, but I get by. Any sense switching to this to get a bit more even playground for my taste? I'd loose some on MFT and magnification, and I do like me some close ups every now and then. The Samyang is already a great lens, though this build quality and 'oompf' on the Viltrox really speaks to me..

[@JoseVegaCoto]

I bought it because of your review hehe. It is an amazing glass

[@matthewqin3672]

Yes, as you said the coma is great, I have noticed that a few astronomy photographer being using it. I think it's a perfect lens.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

It's pretty close. One of my recent favorites.

[@stevenwaldstein2249]

Thank you for the video. This is a lens I really wanted to hear more about since I took a dive into Viltrox 75/1.2 for Sony last year. 40mm full frame is a focal length I’ve really sought out a lot since I’m always switching between 35mm and 50mm when using full frame. Trying to decide if I want to compromise to APS-C to utilize it. Currently have an A7RV, A7CR, and A6700 but admit a lot of my APS-C lenses are about 200 grams lighter. Size wise it appears about the size of FE 35mm f/1.4 but smaller than the 50mm f/1.2 GM I have. We will see. Also still own my Zeiss Batis 40mm f/2 CF that it would compete with. I’m wondering how they compare with each other. Thanks again. Take care.

[@maggnet4829]

Just buy full frame lenses with a proper equivalent aperture and you'll realise that they can be just as light as apsc. For example, if you can live with 50mm instead of 40mm, take a 50mm f1.8 full frame lens and you have actually less weight. I'm suggesting here the 50mm, since nobody currently offers a 40mm f1.8 for full frame. Though, you could get the Samyang 45mm 1.8 if you want to get closer to that focal length, but it doesn't compare in image quality.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

While I agree with @maggnet4829 about buying lighter full frame lenses, the reality is that there isn't any 50mm F1.8 lens for Sony that is anywhere close to the optical performance of this lens.

[@stevenwaldstein2249]

@@DustinAbbottTWI Agree. The best full frame AF 40mm that I know of is the Zeiss Batis 40mm/2 CF that I already own that is only 361 grams. That said I’m not sure its IQ is as good as the new Viltrox 27/1.2 may be. That’s one of the questions I’m interested in learning the answer to. Of course the Sony GM 35/1.4 and 50/1.4 GM are FF, lighter, and have excellent IQ. I happen to own both so maybe I should just use those on FF and leave it at that. Otherwise both of those are 3x the cost of the Viltrox.

[@rsat9526]

Excellent review.....So many praise for this lens. Cant wait for this to come out for Sony......the question is when?

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

They will start shipping in early February, I believe.

[@nickscott8488]

Thankyou for great review. I'm considering swapping for this for the 35mm1. 4 on my A7CR. I know about the crop factor but would you think that would be a reasonable swap? I can buy another lens with the savings.

[@xhenriquefps]

I was just yesterday wondering when would this lens come to emount 😅😅😅

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

I think they will start shipping in early February

[@deepseadiver8191]

Nice review. Thanks!

[@shang-hsienyang1284]

If you have a 24 megapixel APS-C camera and a 24 megapixel FF camera, would you prefer to use the Viltrox on the APS-C or the Zeiss Batis 40mm f/2 on the FF camera?

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

I'd probably lean towards the Viltrox. The Batis is ridiculously expensive for what it is.

[@AR-vf7vg]

Alas, it does not cover fullframe. I was so dissapointed when I 'investigated' that when it came out. It would have complemented my DG DN f1.2 35mm. 75mm f1.2 for fullframe also would be so ...popular I would think (as there definitely are many, me included, f1.2 50mm users). So both could still happen, with an extreemly strong brand impact would Sony offer them as GM options...

[@maggnet4829]

It's an APSC lens that in fact performs similar to a 40mm f1.8 lens on full frame. You can't compare that to an f1.2 lens for full frame. There is a reason the high performing ones of those cost a multitude of the price. lol

[@AR-vf7vg]

@@maggnet4829 I didn't compare it.

[@maggnet4829]

@@AR-vf7vg Then how come you where disappointed?

[@AR-vf7vg]

@@maggnet4829 Man... The designation of the lens. It's not written on it "for cropp../not for full frame. (And "influencers(!) like to not make it understud before You click and watch.. =Huge winn of undue monetizing clicks.) Sorry but I dont understand how/what You dont understand.

[@maggnet4829]

@@AR-vf7vg Ok, now I understand you. There are many that try/would like to use APSC lenses on full frame (and hope it covers most of the sensor). The video goes into that part.

[@dsimms6]

Would you recommend getting this one or the Sigma 23mm 1.4?

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

I personally prefer this one, as I find the build and features nicer along with nicer rendering (bokeh, color) in general.

[@GilbertTV]

im so impressed by this & the 75mm F1.2 ..love to try them & I'd also love if Viltrox would make a Full frame 27 & 75mm too ..now that would be super exciting

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

There's no projected 27 and 75mm, but they are going to release 35, 50, 85, and 135mm lenses

[@GilbertTV]

I look fwd to that.. thanks @@DustinAbbottTWI

[@jopppsss]

Nice review!. Btw do you have a review of the Viltrox 23mm 1.4?

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

I do: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e4fTp2iOe9-IkK8

[@charbelesber1257]

Great review as always, between this one and sigma 23mm f1.4 on 24 Mp sony , which one is the best ? I remember you did a video comparing both on fuji

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

I'm a real fan of this Viltrox because the bokeh is so nice while also being extremely sharp. The Sigma is every bit as sharp (and much smaller), but the overall rendering and look of images is so much nicer from the Viltrox.

[@charbelesber1257]

@@DustinAbbottTWI truly helpful thanks a lot, cheers from Ottawa !

[@nattapongbenyapant680]

Can you compare with sony 24 f1.4gm in apsc mode

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Unfortunately I don't have that lens on hand.

[@paulhernandez346]

Very nice and detailed review. Do you have any idea how this lens compares to the Sigma 30mm F1.4 in terms of autofocus performance?

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

I find it better, but that's largely because this is a much newer lens and thus benefits from new autofocus technology.

[@paulhernandez346]

@@DustinAbbottTWI Thank you for responding. I am strongly considering this as an upgrade to my Sigma 30mm for my A6400. The Sigma has done very well over the years but the amount of CA and inconsistent AF performance is something that has really annoyed me. Do you think this is a worthy upgrade to the Sigma 30mm? I am not in any way a professional which is why I'm only looking for one prime lens with a versatile focal length (within the 30mm range) that can do well in both landscape and portrait shots.

[@Jmarzphotography]

So is this a 1.4 hour on ff? Sony a74 apsc mode

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Yes and no. The physical aperture is F1.2, so exposure would be the same on full frame or APS-C. An F1.2 aperture is F1.2 no matter what camera you put it on, so the shutter speed is always going to be the same. What changes is the depth of field and the field of view which is effected by the crop factor of the camera.

[@maggnet4829]

Do you have the impression that Viltrox improved the flaring for the Sony version, or is it pretty much the same?

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

I think the optics are the same; there is just improvements to the features and the focus algorithms work better on Sony.

[@maggnet4829]

@@DustinAbbottTWI Thanks for the reply! By the way, the advice to use f1.6 for best bokeh is gold! For me the swirly bokeh was somewhat of a bummer, particularly for daylight usage.

[@matthewqin3672]

I think it should be like 35mm vision on full frame

[@matthewqin3672]

but I dont think it's a good choice on full frame, cuz Sony has 35mm f1.8 lens, and it's great too.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

I certainly wouldn't buy it to solely use on full frame when there are so many good 35mm options.