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Register/Sony E-mount/Viltrox/Wide
Viltrox AF 28mm F4.5 FE — Three-quarter front view
Three-quarter front view© VILTROX
ViltroxChip

Viltrox AF 28mm F4.5 FE

FE · PRIME
28mm
APERTURE
1:4.5
AF

Launch MSRP

$99
Weight
60g
Filter
—
Min focus
0.38m
Max mag.
0.11×
Formula
6E / 6G
Released
2024
AlternativesCompare with…
01

Specification sheet

Optical construction

6
Elements
6
Groups
2 LD · 2 ASPH
8 rounded blades
  • 2x ED
  • 2x Aspherical
  • HD Nano Coating
Aperture range
f/4.5 — f/4.6

Physical & ergonomics

CHIP
Weight
60g
⌀ × length
60.3 × 15.3mm
Filter
—
Weather sealed
No
Aperture ring
No

Autofocus actuator

VCM
Autofocus
Stabilisation
Body IBIS
Teleconverter
Not supported
AF speed score
6.6 / 10

Close-up performance

Min focus distance
0.38m
Max magnification
0.11× (1:9.1)
0.11×
0×0.25×0.5× half macro1.0× macro
02

Optical character

Nicknamed the "Chip", this is a 60g, 15.3mm-thin autofocus pancake that turns a small full-frame Sony into a jacket-pocket camera. The aperture is fixed at f/4.5, there is no focus ring, and a slide lever opens and closes a built-in lens cap.

Six elements, including two ED and two aspherical, give decent sharpness for street and documentary work. A voice-coil motor handles focus, and a USB-C port takes firmware updates. A fixed octagonal stop produces eight-point sunstars.

Reviewer consensus

Reviewers judge the image quality acceptable to good for the size and price. Centre detail is fine for everyday shooting, lateral CA is low, and distortion is minor. Contrast and corner resolution trail Sony's compact G primes, and there is heavy vignetting of almost 3 EV, sometimes with a blue corner cast.

Autofocus is quick in good light but can be blunt in dim conditions, and there is no manual focus override. Flare from light sources just outside the frame can be severe, though it still compares well with other pancakes.

Owner sentiment

Owners love how small it makes an A7C or A7 body and many call it the most fun lens they own at $99. The built-in cap and the eight-point sunstars come up often.

The quirks are the fixed f/4.5 aperture, no filter thread, the need to open the cap before powering on, a loose rattle from the focus group when the camera is off, and slow focusing at night.

03

Strengths, weaknesses & performance

Strengths

  • +Only 60g and 15.3mm thin
  • +Built-in sliding lens cap
  • +Autofocus at a $99 price
  • +Low lateral CA and distortion
  • +USB-C firmware updates

Weaknesses

  • −Fixed f/4.5 aperture
  • −No manual focus ring or filter thread
  • −Heavy vignetting
  • −Prone to veiling flare

Six-axis rating

SHARPBOKEHAFFLAREBUILDVALUE
Sharpness
6.9
Bokeh Rendering
5.5
Autofocus Speed
6.6
Flare Resistance
6.2
Build / Sealing
6.8
Value / Size
9.0

Editorial 0–10 ratings synthesised from published reviews.

04

Technical specifications

Optics
MountSony E (FE) · full frame
Focal length28mm
CategoryWide
Maximum aperturef/4.5
Minimum aperturef/4.6
Construction6 elements in 6 groups
Special elements2x ED · 2x Aspherical · HD Nano Coating
Aperture blades8
Focus
Focus typeAutofocus
DriveVCM
Minimum focus0.38m
Max magnification0.11×
StabilisationNone (uses body IBIS)
TeleconvertersNot supported
Body
Weight60g
Diameter × length60.3 × 15.3mm
Filter threadNone
Weather sealingNo
Aperture ringNo
De-clickable apertureNo
Release year2024
Launch MSRP$99 USD
05

Sources

Specifications

  • viltrox.com/products/28mm-f4-5-fe
  • viltrox.com/products/28mm-f4-5-fe.json
  • phillipreeve.net/blog/review-viltrox-28mm-4-5-af-pancake/
  • digitalcameraworld.com/reviews/viltrox-af-28mm-f45-fe-review
06

Similar focal length alternatives

  • VSAF 28mm F4.5 FE vs Argus 28mm f/1.2 FF
  • VSAF 28mm F4.5 FE vs 28mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art
  • VSAF 28mm F4.5 FE vs FE 28mm F2
  • LaowaArgus

    Argus 28mm f/1.2 FF

    Laowa Argus 28mm f/1.2 FF
    28mmF1.2
    WT
    562g
    FLT
    ⌀62mm
    MFD
    0.50m
    MSRP
    $599
    MFRING·DC
  • SigmaArt

    28mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art

    Sigma 28mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art
    28mmF1.4
    WT
    925g
    FLT
    ⌀77mm
    MFD
    0.28m
    MSRP
    $1,599
    AFWR
  • Sony

    FE 28mm F2

    Sony FE 28mm F2
    28mmF2
    WT
    200g
    FLT
    ⌀49mm
    MFD
    0.25m
    MSRP
    $450
    AFWR