The new Viltrox AF 15mm f/1.7 lens promises to deliver wide angle photography at an incredibly accessible price point of just $239. For anyone shooting with APS-C cameras, this could represent exactly the kind of affordable glass that opens up creative possibilities without breaking the bank.
Coming to you from Christopher Frost, this thorough video puts the Viltrox AF 15mm f/1.7 through comprehensive testing to see if it lives up to its promising specifications. Frost evaluates the lens on a Sony a7CR in APS-C crop mode, revealing that while the lens delivers decent sharpness wide open at f/1.7, the real magic happens when you stop down to f/2.8, where sharpness becomes exceptional. The build quality proves surprisingly solid for such an affordable lens, featuring a metal mount and USB-C port for firmware updates, though you won't find any weather-sealing here. At just 170 grams, it strikes a nice balance between portability and substantial feel in your hands.
Key Specs
- Focal Length: 15mm (22.5mm full frame equivalent on APS-C)
- Maximum Aperture: f/1.7
- Minimum Focus Distance: 9 inches
- Filter Thread: 58mm
- Weight: 0.4 lb
- Available Mounts: Sony E, Fujifilm X, Nikon Z
- Optical Design: 12 elements in 10 groups
The testing reveals both strengths and notable weaknesses. While autofocus performance impresses with quick, accurate, and nearly silent operation, the lens suffers from significant vignetting issues that persist even at smaller apertures like f/5.6. Perhaps more concerning, Frost discovered that in-camera corrections don't seem to work properly on his test copy, meaning you'll need to address vignetting in post-processing. The lens also exhibits some chromatic aberration at wider apertures, though this clears up by f/5.6.
What makes this lens particularly appealing is its 20-centimeter minimum focus distance, which opens up creative close-up possibilities that many wide angle lenses simply can't match. The 15mm focal length on APS-C gives you the full frame equivalent of about 23mm, providing that perfect wide angle perspective that adds drama without going into extreme fisheye territory. For indoor shooting or situations where you need that bright f/1.7 aperture, this lens could prove invaluable, especially considering alternatives in this focal length typically cost significantly more. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Frost.
