Viltrox AF 40mm F/2.5 Z

Specifications01

MountNIKON Z

Focal length40mm

Max aperturef/2.5

TypeCinema · Prime

Weight180 g

Filter size52 mm

Physical length68 mm

Min focus distance1.1 m

Max magnification0.1408

Aperture blades7

Optical elements10

Groups6

Lens hoodpetal-shaped (bayonet mount, supplied)

Additional Info02

Category["Nikon Z (Full Format)"]

Keywords["Prime","Viltrox","Z-mount"]

Review AuthorKlaus

Review Rating7

Other FeaturesUSB port for firmware updates

Review VerdictThe Viltrox AF 40mm f/2.5 Z is a bit of an oddity as a prime lens. While it performs quite well in most aspects, it doesn't stand out overall. The lens is pretty sharp in the broader image center straight from f/2.5, whereas the outer image field is not overly inspiring at this setting. This improves when stopping down, but even at its optimal setting around f/5.6 the border/corner quality doesn't go through the roof - although a good to very good performance is far from being bad either here. Lateral CAs are well controlled, less so axial CAs. Viltrox doesn't offer profile correction for image distortions. This wasn't really an issue with most of their lenses because they were well-corrected. However, the 40mm f/2.5 Z produces medium pincushion distortion, which can be noticeable in some scenes at least. The vignetting characteristic is decent, especially when auto-corrected. Sun stars are very nicely rendered, and the bokeh is pretty good, too. On the downside, RSA/focus shift may have a negative impact in close focus scenarios. The build quality is pretty good, especially considering the very low price point of just $150 USD. The small, and very lightweight lens body is made of decent-quality plastics based on a metal mount. The focus ring operates smoothly, and the AF is fast enough. Overall, the Viltrox AF 40mm f/2.5 Z seems to be stuck between a rock and a hard place. It's not a pancake lens to benefit from a cuteness factor, and it's not fast enough to compete with the nifty fifty. So this just leaves the 40mm focal length and ultra-low pricing as differentiators.

Review Criteria{"Build Quality":7.5,"Optical Quality":7,"Price / Performance":10}

Review Published2024-06-03T08:53:54+00:00

Optical Construction10 elements in 6 groups (1x ED, 3x HR, 1x aspherical)

Field Notes02

Viltrox AF 40mm F/2.5 for Nikon Z is a fast prime lens intended for general photography on full-frame/small-sensor mirrorless cameras. The wide f/2.5 aperture supports low-light and shallow depth of field.

AI-assisted summary — verify against linked sources

Catalog note · source: opticallimits