LensTip.com

The focal length of the tested Viltrox places it between an equivalent of the classic 35 mm and also very classic 50 mm standard. It's difficult to say why the producer decided to use such parameters but you can say one thing: they are so untypical that the new Viltrox has no direct rivals. It is really difficult to compare it to any other model.

It's worth remembering, though, that it is not the first approach toward a fast lens with an angle of view near 55 degrees. Lately such models have been added to the Micro 4/3 system (OM 20 mm f/1.4), Sony FE (Voigtlander Nokton 1.2/40), or to full frame reflex camera models (the Sigma A 40 mm f/1.4 DG HSM). When you pass to the segment of slower lenses you find even more instruments with such parameters – it's enough to remind here the Batis 2/40, the Nikkor Z 2/40 or the Sony FE 2.5/40.

The Viltrox AF 27 mm f/1.2 is a really bulky lens and the photo below shows it very clearly – the tested lens is positioned between two fast Fujifilm X models, the Fujinon 1.2/56 on the left and the Fujinon 1.4/35 on the right.

Please Support Us If you enjoy our reviews and articles, and you want us to continue our work please, support our website by donating through PayPal. The funds are going to be used for paying our editorial team, renting servers, and equipping our testing studio; only that way we will be able to continue providing you interesting content for free.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - advertisement - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The tested lens starts with a metal mount with an USB-C port that allows you a quick software update. The mount is equipped with a rubber gasket and it surrounds a rear lens, 24 mm in diameter that is positioned practically on the same level as contacts. The area around it is black and matte so from this side everything looks very well.

A black, metal ring, that doesn't move and increase its diameter, is the first part of the proper barrel of the Viltrox AF 1.2/27. On that ring you find a red dot, making the alignment with a camera easier, the serial number and information that it was produced in China.

Then you find a ribbed aperture ring, also made of metal, as wide as 12 mm. It features aperture markings from f/1.2 to f/16 and an A point, allowing the camera to choose the aperture automatically. The ring moves every 1/3 EV step and it doesn't offer you any other working mode but it works properly well, without any hitches.

Further on you find an inscription 'AF 27/1.2 XF' surrounded by the Pro mark from one side and the logotype of the producer from the other side. In this place most of producers also put an AF/MF switch but the tested lens doesn't feature any such thing. You have to choose the focusing mode in the menu of the camera.

A manual focus ring, almost completely covered by fine ribbing and as wide as 26 mm, is the next part of the lens. You don't find any distance of DOF scale on it. Its focus throw amounts to about 270 degrees, a very sensible value, allowing you very precise settings.

Then you see a metal ring that increases its diameter and ends with a hood mount.

The front element of the lens doesn't move, is slightly convex, and comes with a diameter of 47 mm. It is surrounded with a part of the barrel with inscriptions and a non-rotating filter thread, 67 mm in diameter. Among the inscriptions you find information about filter diameter we mentioned earlier, minimum focusing distance (0.28m/0.92ft), and basic parameters of the lens along with different acronyms describing technologies used in the construction. In this case you get STM meaning a stepping motor, APSH and ED describing different types of special lenses, and IF telling about an inner focusing system. I think an inscription 'IMAGE SIZE ϕ28.4mm' is the most interesting one, being perhaps the most complicated way of informing a potential customer that you deal here with a lens designed for cameras with APS-C/DX sensors.

It's worth adding that in case of the Vitrox 1.2/27 different mount variants of this model differ noticeably in functionality of the casing. The Fujifilm X version is the most modest - contrary to it the Sony FE and Nikon Z versions feature a function button and an AF/MF switch.

When it comes to optical construction you deal here with as many as 15 elements positioned in 11 groups. For a bit wider standard lens these numbers are pretty impressive. What's more, there are a lot of special elements inside - two of them are made of low dispersion ED glass and five others are made of high refraction index glass. Additionally, the producers added one aspherical element. Inside, you also find an aperture with eleven blades that can be closed down to a value of f/16 at the maximum.

Buyers get in the box with the lens: both caps, a hood, and a soft pouch with a leather-padded, stiffer bottom.