When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission. Image: Viltrox Viltrox gave us a preview of its AF 35mm F1. 2 Lab FE lens back at CP+, but today, it's making the lens available to purchase and releasing full details about it.
As the name implies, it's a full-frame lens for Sony's E-mount, and the company says it combines "cutting-edge optical performance" with "professional-grade handling. "
The lens is made up of 15 elements in 10 groups, with five ED elements, three high-refractive-index elements and two aspherical lenses. The company also says it features nano multi-layer coatings to reduce flare and ghosting, as well as a moisture-resistant coating on the front element.
Image: Viltrox
Viltrox says the lens has an "advanced dust and moisture-resistant design. " It features two programmable buttons, a multi-function ring that can be set to have clicks or no clicks, and a display that you can customize via Viltrox's app to show information such as your aperture setting or focusing distance. The lens also has a USB-C port for firmware upgrades, weighs 920g (32oz) and is 122mm (4. 8") long.
Autofocus is handled by a pair of "HyperVCM" linear motors, which the company says should silently provide fast, accurate tracking for both stills and video. It has a minimum focusing distance of 0. 34m (13. 4").
It's exciting to see a new Lab lens from Viltrox, as the 135mm F1. 8 lens with the badge was quite well-received, especially given its price. The AF 35mm F1. 2 Lab is available to order today and costs $999.
Press Release:
Viltrox AF 35mm F1. 2 LAB FE
Full-Frame Ultra-Large-Aperture Autofocus Prime Lens “Flagship, Redefined“
Brief Introduction to the LAB Exploration Series
Viltrox has always been dedicated to the relentless pursuit of optical excellence, continuously exploring the infinite possibilities of image creation. The LAB series represents the pinnacle of Viltrox’s optical innovation, pushing the boundaries of traditional technology to deliver an unprecedented imaging experience. As the latest masterpiece in the LAB series, the AF 35mm F1. 2 LAB continues Viltrox’s commitment to exceptional image quality and outstanding performance, setting a new benchmark for flagship full-frame, large-aperture prime lenses.
Lens Introduction:
The AF 35mm F1. 2 LAB is the second full-frame, large-aperture autofocus prime lens in Viltrox’s LAB series. It integrates Viltrox’s cutting-edge optical technology, pushing the resolution and bokeh performance of the F1. 2 aperture to new heights. Featuring a professional lens control system and custom color display with startup animations, it offers an efficient and personalized shooting experience. Whether for portraits, street photography, or nightscapes, this lens delivers exceptional optical performance, capturing every detail and unleashes limitless creative potential.
Exploring Optical Excellence
AF 35mm F1. 2 LAB redefines flagship-level resolution, achieving a groundbreaking leap in optical performance. Designed to fully meet the demands of ultra-high-pixel sensors, it delivers razor-sharp detail from rear to far, capturing even the finest textures of skin, hair, and other intricate subjects.
Even at maximum aperture, it maintains exceptional edge-to-edge sharpness, ensuring consistent image quality across the frame. This guarantees remarkable detail retention for post-cropping flexibility, offering an unparalleled shooting experience and creative freedom.
F1. 2 Ultra-Wide Aperture
Pure Clarity in Darkness
The F1. 2 aperture excels in creating exceptional bokeh while significantly enhancing light transmission, allowing for sharp, noise-free images even in challenging low-light conditions without the need for additional lighting. The lens adapts seamlessly to complex lighting scenarios, offering unparalleled sharpness and purity in every shot.
Dreamy, Immaculate Bokeh
The F1. 2 ultra-large aperture creates an exquisite background blur, with smooth, delicate bokeh and no optical vignetting at the edges, rendering a dreamy visual effect. Whether for portrait photography or nightscapes, the lens easily renders perfect separation between the subject and background, presenting a visually striking composition.
Innovative Aperture Blade Drive Technology
The lens aperture drive adopts the Viltrox HyperVCM motor technology, delivering more precise and efficient aperture control.
Flagship Optical UA Lens (Ultra-Large & Precision Aspherical Lens)
The manufacturing of aspherical lenses poses immense technical challenges. Breaking through traditional craftsmanship constraints and exorbitant cost limitations, Viltrox UA lenses spare no effort in innovative optical design. This breakthrough effectively reduces onion-ring bokeh artifacts while achieving both high resolution and exquisitely smooth bokeh rendering, ultimately delivering refined and exceptional imaging performance.
Viltrox HyperVCM for Fast & Precise AutoFocus
The AF 35mm F1. 2 LAB features Quad Viltrox HyperVCM motors, powered by Viltrox's proprietary core technology, delivering robust focusing power while significantly improving autofocus speed and precision. Whether shooting static subjects or tracking dynamic motion, the lens achieves swift, quiet, and micron-level accurate focusing, capturing every fleeting moment with ease.
Compared to traditional STM motors:
150% faster autofocus speed
Micron-level positioning accuracy
100ms switching from closest to farthest focus points
Supports face/eye recognition autofocus and other camera feature, securely locking onto subjects for a top-tier autofocus experience.
Efficient Control for Professional Experience
The AF 35mm F1. 2 LAB is equipped with a comprehensive professional control system, enabling photographers to adjust settings more efficiently and unlock creative possibilities.
Multi-Functional Ring
Multi-functional control ring supports quick adjustments of parameters such as aperture and focus, adapting to the needs of various shooting scenarios.
Customizable Fn Buttons
The lens is equipped with two customizable Fn buttons, allowing users to assign shortcut functions according to their shooting needs. Additional configurations can be made via the Viltrox Lens APP, thereby enhancing operational efficiency.
AF/MF Switch
Seamlessly switch between autofocus and manual focus modes to adapt to different shooting requirements.
Click/Stepless Aperture Adjustment
Easily switch between stepped and stepless aperture adjustments for the ultimate creative flexibility.
Customizable Color Display for a Personalized Experience
The AF 35mm F1. 2 LAB is equipped with a custom color display, allowing users to personalize settings through the Viltrox Lens App. Features such as startup animations and parameter previews offer a unique identity to the lens, while providing an entirely new level of control. In specialized shooting environments, the color display can also show real-time information such as the lens aperture and object distance, enhancing shooting precision and creative control in all time.
Built for All Conditions: Dust and Moisture Resistance
The AF 35mm F1. 2 LAB features a high-grade dust- and moisture-resistant design, offering reliable durability against harsh conditions like sand, rain, and challenging environments. Built to meet the demands of professional photographers, it ensures dependable performance in any shooting scenario.
Ultra-high dustproof and drip-resistant construction - Effectively prevents sand, dust, and water droplets from entering the lens interior, ensuring the delicate internal components remain undamaged.
Water- and stain-resistant coating on front lens
Aerospace-grade full-metal housing
Get More Immersed in Backlit Shooting
15 elements in 10 groups optical structure: 5 ED lenses, 3 high refractive index lenses, 2 UA lenses.
Even in strong light conditions, the lens delivers excellent color reproduction and contrast, resulting in unparalleled image performance.
Even in strong light conditions, the lens delivers excellent color reproduction and contrast, resulting in unparalleled image performance.
Excellent chromatic aberration control effectively reduces purple or green fringing in high-contrast shooting conditions.
High-definition multi-layer nano coating, Effectively suppresses flare and ghosting during backlit shooting, ensuring pure and sharp images.
Outstanding Video Performance, Focused on Creativity
The advanced Viltrox Quad HyperVCM motor eliminates noise from traditional gear-driven motors, delivering quieter focusing and faster autofocus tracking for video shooting.
With excellent focus breathing control, this lens ensures smoother focus transitions, unleashing endless creative potential for video production.
Superior Distortion and Vignetting Control
The advanced optical design of the AF 35mm F1. 2 LAB ensures uniform light distribution even at its maximum aperture, significantly reducing vignetting. Additionally, it excels in distortion control, ensuring minimal edge distortion for a more authentic visual experience.
0. 34m MOD: Exceptional Details
Dual floating focus design significantly enhances close-up image quality, ensuring excellent close-up resolution while continuously optimizing aberrations across the entire focal range. From close-up to infinity, the sharpness remains consistently balanced throughout.
With a minimum focusing distance of 0. 34m, the AF 35mm F1. 2 LAB is perfect for close-up photography, effortlessly capturing intricate textures and fine details in any scene.
Details
Material: Magnesium-aluminum alloy die-coating; Aerospace-grade metal material.
OTA (Over-the-Air) Updates: Bluetooth connectivity for firmware upgrades through the Viltrox Lens App.
LAB Signature Design: A unique marking that identifies the lens as part of the exclusive LAB Series.
Inspiring Creative Scenarios
Portrait Photography
With its large F1. 2 aperture and exceptional bokeh, it effortlessly captures the delicate textures and emotional expressions of portraits, making It especially ideal for environmental portraits and street portraits.
Street Photography
The 35mm standard focal length is ideal for street photography, offering a natural perspective to capture fleeting street moments. The F1. 2 wide aperture ensures bright and sharp images even in challenging lighting conditions.
Night and Low-Light Photography
The ultra-wide F1. 2 aperture allows the lens to perform exceptionally in night and low-light environments, without additional light sources, making it easy to achieve high-quality night photography.
Still Life and Detail
With a minimum focusing distance of 0. 25m, this lens excels at close-up shots, capturing intricate details in still life photography or fleeting expressions in street photography with precision and clarity.
Viltrox AF 35mm F1. 2 Lab Specifications
Principal specificationsLens typePrime lensMax Format size35mm FFFocal length35 mmLens mountSony E, Sony FEApertureMaximum apertureF1. 2-16Aperture ringNoNumber of diaphragm blades11OpticsElements15Groups10Special elements / coatings5 ED, 3 high refractive index, 2 UAFocusMinimum focus0. 34 m (13. 39″)AutofocusYesMotor typeLinear MotorFull time manualUnknownDistance scaleNoDoF scaleNoPhysicalWeight920 g (2. 03 lb)Diameter89 mm (3. 5″)Length122 mm (4. 8″)MaterialsMagnesium-aluminum alloySealingYesFilter thread77 mm. dpreview.com
2025-4-17 16:00
