Viltrox 23mm f1.4 XF Lens V2 Review Fujifilm X Mount:
Viltrox has been releasing some decent lenses at a lower price for quite some time, and one particular lens that has caught my eye is the 23mm f1.4 XF lens V2. Fujifilm’s own XF 23mm f1.4 is a fantastic piece of glass but it retails for $899 where as the Viltrox version is only $329. That’s a huge difference; in fact, that’s even cheaper than the Fuji XF 23mm f2, which currently retails for $449. So, I decided to see if I could get a Viltrox 23mm on loan, and test it out for myself. I wanted to see how it would measure up. After about a month, this is what I think of it.
Viltrox 23mm f1.4 XF Lens V2 Build Quality:
Let’s take a look at the build first. Overall, the 23mm f1.4 XF is a solid feeling lens that I didn’t have any issue with in terms of build during my entire time with it. There’s a focus ring for the times you choose to manually focus, and it rotates smoothly with good resistance for when you need more precise focusing. There’s also an aperture ring that has no click feature (designed for video). It works well, and it’s tight enough where it will stay in the chosen aperture setting for the most part but I have to admit that I still check right before I shoot to make sure it hasn’t accidentally moved. It’s click-less, and it could move when I have it in my camera bag, and that’s why, as a photographer, I would’ve preferred a clicking one. However, it’s nothing that is a deal breaker. Other features of the lens also include an integrated micro-USB port for making future firmware updates when needed. Lastly, in addition the Fuji X mount, you can get the 23mm f1.4 in Sony E mount as well. You can also get it in either black or silver.
↑ The Fuji X-T3 with the Viltrox 23mm f1.4 XF lens.
Ergonomically, a 35mm equivalent should be compact, easy to handle, and discreet because a focal length like this is so versatile in what it can shoot. People use a 35mm equivalent for a variety of types of photography ranging from street, environmental portraiture, landscape to even just candids of family and friends. In other words, this is a lens that one would take everywhere, and for some, it might even be the lens that’s mounted on their camera most of the time.
↑ Here’s another photo of the same combo.
With that said, the 23mm f1.4 XF lens really fits the criteria of what I think a good 35mm equivalent should be like in terms of ergonomics. f1.4 lenses are generally larger than their smaller aperture counterparts but even then, the Viltrox 23mm f1.4 is quite compact and light. The 23mm f1.4 measures just 2.56 x 2.83″ / 65 x 72 mm, and weighs just 9.17 oz / 260 g. Overall, the Viltrox 23mm f1.4 handles great in the field, and fits great with the Fujifilm camera bodies. The 23mm f1.4 doesn’t make the camera front heavy, for example, and it’s compact enough that you can be pretty discreet when shooting street photography. I was shooting it mainly with my X-T3, and I could easily go all day long with the lens and not feel any fatigue in the end.
As for accessories, the Viltrox 23mm f1.4 XF lens comes in a nice box, and there’s even a cloth pouch for the lens. There’s also a lens hood that is included. It can be reverse mounted for easy storage with the lens.
↑ This is what’s included.
↑ Here’s the lens hood.
Viltrox 23mm f1.4 XF Lens V2 Autofocus:
In terms of the autofocus, the 23mm f1.4 uses a STM stepping motor with full-time manual focus override. Overall, I have to say that the autofocus was fast, accurate, and near silent. I had no complaints to be honest. It was good enough that I essentially just pointed the camera at my subject, and clicked with no worries. There was no drama whatsoever.
I tried the 23mm f1.4 with a variety of focus modes in my X-T3, and of course, I also used the lens with face detection. The results I ended up with were great. The autofocus was able to lock on to faces quite easily, and produce accurate, sharp photos.
Viltrox 23mm f1.4 XF Lens V2 Image Quality:
Image quality wise, the 23mm f1.4 XF is actually quite good. I was very happy with the results that I got when matched with my X-T3.
↑ This was taken in Bay Ridge, and the settings were f7.1 and 200 ISO.
↑ This was taken using f8 and 160 ISO.
↑ This was taken right before a major thunderstorm. The settings were f8 and 2000 ISO.
Sharpness, for example, is great. The 23mm f1.4 XF lens is sharp in the center at wide open aperture with the corners being a bit softer. As you stop down, the entire image sharpens up nicely. I say if you want the sharpest results, you should probably be around f5.6 to f8. It’s actually also where I like to shoot a 35mm (or 35mm equivalent) in general. With that said, you can pretty much shoot this lens at whatever aperture you like, and still get great results. For instance, some are probably considering this lens for its f1.4 aperture, and you can definitely use it.
↑ This was taken with 160 ISO and f4.
↑ Here’s a 100% crop of the photo above.
↑ This was taken with 200 ISO and f8.
↑ Here’s a 100% crop of the photo above.
↑ Here’s a photo I took at f1.4 and 160 ISO.
↑ Here’s a 100% crop of the photo above.
↑ Here’s another photo I took at f1.4 but from a farther distance. I used 160 ISO.
↑ Here’s a 100% crop of the photo above.
Other optical traits include good contrast and color rendering. There is very slight barrel distortion but nothing that is an issue. There is also vignetting at wide open aperture, which is to be expected. Stopping down to just f2, reduces vignetting quite a bit. By f4 it’s practically non-existent. Nothing out of the ordinary here. As for flare, the Viltrox 23mm f1.4 XF lens has HD Nano multi-layer coating applied to individual elements to suppress flare and ghosting for greater contrast and color fidelity. It seems to work because none of this was an issue while I was using it.
↑ This was taken using f8 and 1600 ISO.
↑ This was taken using f5 and 160 ISO. The autofocus is fast enough that I caught this while we were both walking.
↑ Here’s a photo taken at f5.6 and 4000 ISO.
Viltrox 23mm f1.4 XF Lens V2 Bokeh:
I must admit that I don’t shoot 35mm or 35mm equivalent lenses wide open much as I like to stop them down, and exploit the large depth of field for the type of photography that I do with this focal length. When I did use the Viltrox 23mm f1.4 XF lens at its wide open aperture, I was pleasantly surprised by its nice and buttery smooth bokeh. The 23mm f1.4 employs a nine-blade diaphragm that I feel produces a decent shallow depth of field. We all have personal preferences when it comes to bokeh but as far as I’m concerned, I didn’t find anything harsh or weird about the bokeh that was produced by this lens.
↑ This was taken wide open with 160 ISO.
↑ Here’s another photo taken with f1.4 and 160 ISO.
↑ Here’s one more taken with 160 ISO and f1.4.
Pros And Cons:
Pros:
- Well-made.
- Compact and light.
- Comes with cloth pouch and lens hood.
- Fast and accurate autofocus.
- Great image quality.
- Fast f1.4 aperture.
- Fantastic price.
Cons:
- Not really a fan of the click-less aperture ring.
Viltrox 23mm f1.4 XF Lens V2 Verdict:
Overall, I think the Viltrox 23mm f1.4 XF lens is a great option for those who are in the Fujifilm X Series system, and are looking for a fast 35mm equivalent. It has a lot going for it, such as, build, ergonomics, autofocus, and image quality. To top it off, the price makes this lens quite a bargain, and allows more users to be able to get a 35mm equivalent lens with a large maximum aperture.
↑ This was taken on the East Side of Canal Street. The settings were f8 and 160 ISO.
If you were to compare this lens to the Fuji XF 23mm f1.4 R lens, the latter would win. I reviewed the Fuji XF 23mm f1.4 a while back when it was first released (review here), and it’s still one of my favorite lenses in the Fujifilm catalogue. In addition to the build, the Fuji edges the Viltrox out in image quality as well.
↑ This was taken under the FDR Drive. The settings were f5.6 and 160 ISO.
I kind of look at the Fuji 23mm f1.4 as the perfect 35mm equivalent for the X Series system where as the Viltrox needs a bit more polish to get there. That’s not in anyway an insult to the Viltrox 23mm though. The price difference is huge, so it’s kind of expected, and even then, the Viltrox can definitely hold its own. With that said, at the price of $899, the Fuji 23mm f1.4 is definitely a lot more expensive than the Viltrox, and for some, the gains that they get from the Fuji version might not be enough to justify the extra cost. The Viltrox is a good lens; the Fuji version is better but it isn’t going to help me sell more photos. With the extra money, I could buy another focal length, which might serve me better, especially if I am just starting out in the Fuji system. I really did find the Viltrox to offer quite a lot, especially for the money.
↑ Here’s a photo of Doyers Street taken with f8 and 400 ISO.
The aperture ring is still something that I am not a fan of, and I wish there was a clicking version. But it’s a very, very minor inconvenience, and not something I would consider a deal breaker, especially given the price.
↑ This photo in Chinatown was taken with f11 and 250 ISO.
A lot of us love large maximum aperture lenses but they are, often times, a lot more expensive. I feel the Viltrox 23mm f1.4 kind of levels the playing field a bit. This is a decent lens that offers a lot, and costs less than even Fuji’s own 23mm f2 version. That’s pretty cool in my book, and don’t forget, this lens also has autofocus as well. So, if you’re looking for a 35mm equivalent lens, and want a large maximum aperture without a heft price tag, the Viltrox 23mm f1.4 is a great option to consider.
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