- The second professional lens in the Viltrox “LAB” series arrives for Nikon Z cameras
- The AF 35mm F1.2 LAB prime was already available for Sony E-mount
- It costs $999 / £959 (around AU$1,900)
It’s no secret that I’m a fan of Viltrox lenses – the Chinese lens maker has established itself in my mind as a serious alternative to expensive proprietary lenses (and Sigma), following a series of cutting-edge, affordable optics, led by its “LAB” series of pro prime lenses. And as a Nikon user, I just saw the excellent news: the Viltrox AF 35mm F1.2 LAB is finally available for the Nikon Z mount.
We’ve previously reviewed Sony’s E-mount version of the Viltrox AF 35mm F1.2 LAB and gave it a top score of 5 out of 5 – it’s an exceptionally high quality lens, available at 50% less than Sony’s superb Sigma 35mm f/1.2 DG II Art and Sony’s dated Sony FE 35mm F1.4 GM.
The price difference is even greater compared to Nikon’s version, the Z 35mm f/1.2 S, which is out of my price range at almost three times the price. However, I can now get a similar professional grade large aperture lens for a fraction of the cost.
It’s not just a dream anymore, it’s the affordable pro prime I’ve always wanted
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A large aperture 35mm lens is a lens I’ve wanted to purchase for my Nikon Z camera since I switched from DSLR to mirrorless years ago. I have a history with this type of lens – I took most of my documentary photography for years while living in East Africa with a trusty Sigma Art 35mm f/1.4 lens paired with my Nikon DSLR camera.
Mirrorless lenses such as Nikon Z lenses are generally much more expensive than their DSLR counterparts, and that’s why Viltrox is such a breath of fresh air. I can now get an optically superior 35mm lens, with an even wider f/1.2 aperture than before, for a triple-digit price – $999 / £959 (around AU$1,900). Meanwhile, Sigma offers the Viltrox at a close price, at about half the price of the Nikon lens.
As our review highlights, the Viltrox AF 35mm F1.2 LAB boasts excellent build quality with weather sealing, a convenient digital display, exceptional sharpness, and low-light capabilities with its f/1.2 maximum aperture.
I’ve personally reviewed Viltrox’s other LAB lens, the AF 135mm F1.8, and its only drawbacks are that it feels too heavy and the autofocus is slightly slow. I again expect the same issues with the Viltrox’s professional wide angle regarding weight, but I have fewer concerns with the autofocus performance which is apparently snappier.
I can’t wait to put the Viltrox AF 35mm F1.2 LAB on my Nikon camera and start shooting!
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