{"id":53358,"date":"2024-04-15T08:27:57","date_gmt":"2024-04-15T07:27:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/?p=53358"},"modified":"2024-04-21T11:14:35","modified_gmt":"2024-04-21T10:14:35","slug":"review-viltrox-af-56mm-f-1-7-stm-ed-if-ultra-compact-portrait-lens-aps-c","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/review-viltrox-af-56mm-f-1-7-stm-ed-if-ultra-compact-portrait-lens-aps-c\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Viltrox AF 56mm f\/1.7 STM ED IF – Ultra Compact Portrait Lens (APS-C)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"Review<\/p>\n

Viltrox<\/strong>, a pioneer in autofocus lenses from China, has been on a roll lately, releasing new lenses for both full-frame and APS-C cameras. Their recent APS-C PRO series boasts impressive quality but with a larger size footprint. In stark contrast, their latest creation is this super-compact AF 56mm f\/1.7<\/strong>. Let’s see how this tiny portrait lens performs!<\/p>\n

I tested this lens on a Fujifilm X-S10 with its 26 Mp APS-C sensor.<\/p>\n

Sample Images<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"VILTROX
Fujifilm X-S10 | Viltrox AF 56mm f\/1.7 | f\/2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"VILTROX
Fujifilm X-S10 | Viltrox AF 56mm f\/1.7 | f\/1.7<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"VILTROX
Fujifilm X-S10 | Viltrox AF 56mm f\/1.7 | f\/1.7<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"VILTROX
Fujifilm X-S10 | Viltrox AF 56mm f\/1.7 | f\/1.7<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"VILTROX
Fujifilm X-S10 | Viltrox AF 56mm f\/1.7 | f\/1.7<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

\"VILTROX
Fujifilm X-S10 | Viltrox AF 56mm f\/1.7 | f\/2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Fujifilm
Fujifilm X-S10 | Viltrox AF 56mm f\/1.7 | f\/1.7<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"VILTROX
Fujifilm X-S10 | Viltrox AF 56mm f\/1.7 | f\/1.7<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Most of the sample images in this review and many more can be found in higher resolution here<\/a><\/strong>.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can buy this lens on: Viltrox Store (8% discount)<\/a>, Amazon<\/a>, B&H<\/a> for $ (Affiliate links)
\n<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Specifications<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Focal Length<\/td>\n56mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Angle of View<\/td>\n29.8\u00ba<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
# of Aperture Blades<\/td>\n9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Max Aperture<\/td>\nF1.7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Min Aperture<\/td>\nF16<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Min Focus Distance<\/td>\n0.55 m<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Filter Size<\/td>\n52 mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lens Mount<\/td>\nFuji X, Nikon Z<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Weight<\/td>\nX: 171 g, Z:187 g<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Size (D x L)<\/td>\nX: 65 x 55 mm | Z: 68 x 56 mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Elements\/Group<\/td>\n11\/9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\"\"
Lens Construction | Viltrox AF 56mm f\/1.7<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"VILTROX<\/h2>\n

Disclosure<\/span><\/h2>\n

Viltrox kindly provided this lens for test and review purposes.<\/p>\n

Handling<\/span><\/h2>\n

This is an autofocus lens for APS-C is made of seemingly high end tough plastic. It is a very compact lens, which lacks any weather sealing. The lens has a very simple design without any buttons, switches or rings, except the manual focus ring. The manual focus ring is damped. There is a USB-C port on the metallic lens mount that allows for firmware updates.<\/p>\n

\"VILTROX
Viltrox AF 56mm F1.7 XF | USB-C socket<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The autofocus relies on a quiet and accurate STM type (Stepping Focus Motor). The focusing is not among the fastest I have tested, which could partly be a common trait among some Fujifilm cameras. While it is completely fine for portraits, general purpose, and event works, if you need a fast enough AF for sports, pets, or children photography, you should look elsewhere.<\/p>\n

\"VILTROX
TTArtisan AF 56mm f\/1.8 (left) vs Viltrox AF 56mm f\/1.7 (right)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There is a small plastic lens hood of bayonet type included in the package that does not lock firmly on the lens. It seems to be too short for 56mm (short telephoto) lens, and it does not seem to be very efficient either.<\/p>\n

\"VILTROX<\/p>\n

Viltrox AF 56mm f\/1.7 with a hood on a Fujifilm X-S10<\/p>\n

Optical Features<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"\"
Fujifilm X-S10 | MTF Graph<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

An impressive MTF chart, let’s see if the lens delivers what the MTF chart promises!<\/p>\n

Sharpness (Infinity)<\/span><\/h3>\n

For the infinity sharpness test, we look at three areas of the image, center, mid-frame, and corner, see highlighted areas in the image below!<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
Infinity Sharpness Points of Inspection<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Viltrox AF 56mm f\/1.7 | Fujifilm X-S10 (corners’ exposures adjusted for vignetting)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This is a truly impressive performance. The sharpness is very good to excellent right from f\/1.7, both in the center of the image, in mid-frame and in the corner of the frame. The center is sharper than the corners and stopping down improves the already very good sharpness to excellent by f\/4.<\/p>\n

Sharpness (Portrait)<\/span><\/h3>\n

Let\u2019s look at the points of interest for portraits at the portrait distance: the very center, the center\u2019s inner periphery\u00a0 (1\/3 rule intersection), and the center\u2019s outer periphery (1\/4th intersection).<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
Portrait Sharpness Points of Interest<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n