Viltrox AF 35mm F1.2 LAB Z

Reviewers place it among the best fast third-party 35mm lenses. It is very sharp at all distances, with only the extreme corners soft at f/1.2–1.4, and longitudinal CA is among the lowest in its class. Bokeh is smooth with less cat's-eye than Sigma's 35mm f/1.2, and flare resistance is very good.

Autofocus is fast and reliable for people and events. The criticisms are size and weight (970g in Z mount), roughly 2.8 EV of vignetting wide open, slightly wavy distortion and an average-quality hood.

Owners praise the rendering, the AF reliability and the price, and many Nikon shooters see it as a realistic alternative to the much dearer Z 35mm f/1.2 S. Many use it as their main event and street lens despite the bulk.

The common complaints are weight on smaller Z bodies such as the Z5 and Zf, a display that is too bright for astro work, and the ring being a programmable control rather than a marked aperture ring. The later N version answers some of these complaints.