Viltrox 33mm f1.4 XF Lens V2 Review Fujifilm X Mount:
If you’re looking for more budget friendly glass, there are actually quite a lot of options these days. For instance, Viltrox has been releasing some decent lenses at a lower price point lately, and one that I’ve been testing is the 33mm f1.4 XF lens V2 for the Fujifilm X Series system. With an asking price of just $279, it’s not only quite a lot cheaper than Fujifilm’s own 35mm f1.4 lens, it’s also cheaper than Fujifilm’s f2 version by more than $100. As some of you know, the 50mm (or 50mm equivalent) is my focal length of choice, so I was definitely intrigued. I decided to give it a try, and here’s what I think of it.
Viltrox 33mm f1.4 XF Lens V2 Build Quality:
In terms of build, the 33mm f1.4 XF lens is very similar to the Viltrox 23m f1.4 I tested before. The 33mm f1.4 is a solid lens with no creaks, rattles or signs or poor workmanship. For the times that you want to manually focus, there’s a focus ring that rotates smoothly with nice resistance to aid in more precise focusing. Like Fujifilm’s own branded lenses, there’s an aperture ring on the lens although there it has no click feature as you rotate it (designed for video). It’s just smooth, and it it works well. It’ll 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, for instance, and as a photographer, I would’ve preferred a clicking one. However, this is a minor issue, and nothing that would stop me from purchasing the lens. Other features of the 33mm f1.4 also include an integrated micro-USB port for making future firmware updates when needed. Lastly, in addition the Fuji X mount, you can get this lens in Sony E mount as well. You can also get it in either black or silver.
↑ The Fuji X-T3 with the Viltrox 33mm f1.4 XF lens.
Ergonomically, a 50mm f1.4 equivalent should be compact, discreet, and easy to handle because a focal length like this is meant to be used for all types of photography. This will be used for street photography, portraiture, fashion, landscape to even just candids. In other words, this is a lens that will probably be attached to someone’s camera quite a bit or if you’re like me, attached to a camera 99% of the time.
So, it’s important that the 33mm f1.4 XF lens is easy to handle. f1.4 lenses are generally larger than their smaller aperture counterparts but I’m happy to report that the Viltrox 33mm f1.4 is quite compact and light. The 33mm f1.4 measures just 2.6 x 2.8″ / 65 x 72 mm, and weighs just 9.52 oz / 270 g. In fact, if you’ve read my Viltrox 23mm f1.4 review, those specs are extremely similar to that lens as well. The 23mm f1.4 measures 2.56 x 2.83″ / 65 x 72 mm, and weighs just 9.17 oz / 260 g. So, like the 23mm f1.4, the 33mm f1.4 handles fantastically, and is an excellent companion to the Fujifilm camera bodies. This lens balances nicely with them, and is compact enough for even more discreet photography like street work.
As for accessories, the Viltrox 33mm f1.4 XF lens contains the same things as the 23mm f1.4. These include a nice box, and 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 33mm f1.4 XF Lens V2 Autofocus:
Autofocus wise, the 33mm f1.4 uses an STM stepping motor with full-time manual focus override. Overall, autofocus is fast, accurate, and near silent. I have no complaints. It’s very similar to the Viltrox 23mm f1.4 I tested as well meaning it’s great. It’s one of those lenses where you just point, and click with no drama whatsoever.
I tried the 33mm f1.4 with a variety of focus modes in my X-T3 along with face detection. I was quite happy with the results. When face detection was used, the lens had no issues locking on to subject’s faces, and producing accurate, sharp photos.
Viltrox 33mm f1.4 XF Lens V2 Image Quality:
As for image quality, the 33mm f1.4 XF is a great performer. I was using the 33mm f1.4 with the X-T3 the entire time, and I was very happy with the results that I was able to get from this combo.
↑ This was taken somewhere around Battery Park City using f8 and 200 ISO.
↑ Here’s a photo taken at wide open aperture using 160 ISO.
For one, this lens is quite sharp. At wide open aperture, the 33mm f1.4 XF lens is sharp in the center with corners being a bit softer. As you stop down, the entire image sharpens up. Like the Viltrox 23mm f1.4, I find my sharpest results were around f5.6 to f8. However, this is if we’re talking testing purposes. In the real world, this lens will produce excellent photos throughout its aperture range, so feel free to use it in any way that you like, especially at f1.4.
↑ Here’s a photo I took at f8 using 160 ISO to test sharpness.
↑ Here’s a 100% crop of the photo above.
↑ This was taken around the Oculus using f8 and 250 ISO.
↑ Here’s a 100% crop of the photo above.
↑ Here’s a photo taken at f1.4 and 160 ISO.
↑ Here’s a 100% crop of the photo above.
Besides the 33mm f1.4 XF lens being quite sharp, there are other excellent traits like nice contrast and color rendering. There is vignetting at f1.4, which isn’t out of the ordinary. Stopping down to just f2 greatly reduces it, and by f4, it’s nearly all gone. As for flare, the 33mm f1.4 uses HD Nano multi-layer coating on individual elements to suppress flare and ghosting for greater contrast and color fidelity. It definitely worked because I wasn’t having any issues with things like flare under normal shooting conditions.
↑ This was taken around Battery Park City using 2500 ISO and f5.6.
↑ Here’s a photo taken from Bay Ridge Brooklyn. I used f11 and 500 ISO.
↑ Here’s a photo taken at f1.4 with 160 ISO.
Viltrox 33mm f1.4 XF Lens V2 Bokeh:
A lens like this is going to be used for many situations where one wants good bokeh, and I’m happy to report that what the Viltrox 33mm f1.4 XF lens produces with some help from its nine-blade diaphragm, is very smooth and inviting. I didn’t do a direct comparison between this lens and Fujifilm’s XF 35mm f1.4 but I do own the latter, so I have a lot of experience with it. Maybe there are some small differences but the overall quality from the Viltrox 33mm f1.4 is pretty much on par to the Fujifilm version in my eyes. It really is just buttery smooth, and at least with the subjects I photographed, I didn’t see anything really harsh in the background.
↑ This was taken with f1.4 and 160 ISO.
↑ Here’s another photo taken at f1.4 using 160 ISO.
↑ Here’s one more photo taken at f1.4 with the camera set at 160 ISO.
Pros And Cons:
Pros:
- Well-made.
- Compact and light.
- Comes with cloth pouch and lens hood.
- Fast and accurate autofocus.
- Great image quality.
- Nice Bokeh
- Fast f1.4 aperture.
- Great price.
Cons:
- Not really a fan of the click-less aperture ring.
Viltrox 33mm f1.4 XF Lens V2 Verdict:
If you’ve been following my blog for a while now, you probably know that the 50mm (or 50mm equivalent in this case) is my favorite focal length, and it’s what I use the most by far when I do my fashion and boudoir shoots. It’s just a focal length that works for me, and it’s probably because I started my photography in my teens with a Leica M3 and just a 50mm Summicron. Old habits don’t die, I guess ;). With that said, the perfect 50mm for me is usually an f1.4 version because I find this type of lens to have a nice balance when it comes physical size, weight, performance, light gathering capability, and shallow depth of field. I expect a lot from a 50mm f1.4, and as I said before, it’s what I use most for my own work. I have to say, I am rather impressed by the Viltrox 33mm f1.4 XF lens, especially given the price.
↑ This was taken at f1.4, and I used 160 ISO.
The 33mm f1.4 really does have a lot to offer. It’s well made, it has excellent ergonomics, the autofocus is dependable, and the image quality is great. The lens does all of this yet comes in at a very reasonable $279. The only issue that I had with this lens was I didn’t like the de-clicked aperture ring but this is in no way a deal breaker to me.
↑ Here’s one more taken with f1.4 and 160 ISO.
I still don’t think it quite measures up to the Fuji XF 35mm f1.4 R lens. The Fuji edges the Viltrox out in image quality and overall build. Even though the Fuji version was a first generation X Series lens, it still is one of my favorites to this day, and just an excellent performer overall.
↑ I used f8 and 160 ISO here.
I look at the Fuji 35mm f1.4 as their perfect 50mm f1.4 equivalent where as the Viltrox, while a great lens, is something that needs a bit more polish to get there. I said something similar about the Fuji 23mm f1.4 in my Viltrox 23mm f1.4 review. This isn’t an insult to the Viltrox 33mm in any way though. The price difference between these two lenses are huge, and the 35mm f1.4 is a Fujifilm lens made for Fujifilm camera bodies. So, one expects the Fujifilm lens to be better, especially for their own cameras. However, the Viltrox can still definitely hold its own. The Viltrox is already a good enough lens that for some, the extra cost of the Fujifilm lens might not even be justifiable to them. For instance, if you’re a pro photographer, it won’t make you extra money by having the Fujifilm version. With the extra money saved, one might even benefit more by buying another focal length to expand the system. As I said before, I own the Fujifilm version, which I love. In fact, I bought it with the X-Pro1 when it originally came out, traded it in later on, regretted it, and the re-bought it again. However, I didn’t feel like I was really losing out much by using the Viltrox one.
Overall, like the Viltrox 23mm f1.4, I feel like the 33mm f1.4 levels the playing field a bit by being at a price point where more people can get a faster 50mm equivalent lens. This is a very decent lens for the Fujifilm X Series system that is even cheaper than Fujifilm’s 35mm f2 lens. So, if you’re looking for a fast 50mm equivalent Fujifilm compatible lens with autofocus without the hefty price tag that is often associated with f1.4 or larger maximum aperture lenses, the Viltrox 33mm f1.4 is an excellent lens to consider.
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