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The Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.2 LAB lens is the second full frame autofocus lens in the company’s flagship line, after the 135mm LAB, which was released in 2024. And, like the 135mm LAB lens, the 35mm continues to raise the bar and offers photographers outstanding quality and performance at a much more affordable price.
Build Quality
Upon unboxing the 35mm LAB, I was immediately struck by the robust build quality of the lens. It’s a fairly large and heavy lens and feels like a premium item. According to Viltrox, the lens is constructed with “aviation-grade magnesium-aluminum alloy,” and it certainly feels extremely well made, from the click of the control ring to the feel of the buttons and switches and the overall size and weight of the lens (it is hefty for sure!). The 35mm LAB is weather-sealed and has a red gasket around the metal lens mount, which I found to be a stylish touch. It comes with a hard plastic lens hood, front and rear caps, as well as a lens pouch, all in a large black box emblazoned with the “LAB” logo. The body of the lens feels like a combination of high-quality plastics and metals, and in no way does it feel cheap or unable to withstand the demands of a professional who is shooting in rough conditions. It actually feels better made than some premium OEM lenses I’ve used, and it’s very clear that Viltrox means business with the new 35mm f/1.2 LAB lens from the moment you pick it up and mount it to your camera.
Handling
The lens has a variety of buttons and dials, as well as a digital display, which seems to be the new trend in high-end mirrorless lenses. There is an AF/MF switch, a switch that allows users to turn the aperture click on or off (something video shooters will appreciate), and two function buttons, which can be user-programmed via the Viltrox app to do various functions, including focus lock, an A-B focus preset, and also the ability to turn the digital screen on or off, for those of you who don’t want to use another screen. The aperture/control ring is wide, well placed, has a firm click, and works well with or without the click engaged. The manual focus ring is also large and easy to find while looking through the EVF, as are the two function buttons. Paired with a Sony a7R III and a7R V, which I used for this review, I found the overall handling to be excellent, with the weight being the only downside—although again, this should be expected with a fast high-end prime lens. Viltrox has done an excellent job placing buttons and dials just where we photographers expect them to be, which made it very easy to acclimate to the 35mm LAB in no time. All in all, it’s a simple and intuitive design.
Image Quality
The image quality from the 35mm LAB is stellar, with great color, contrast, and detail. Shooting at f/1.2, the 35mm LAB delivers gorgeous bokeh, with a dreamy rendering of the background and a subtle transition from the background to the subject. In my studio, I was very impressed with the sharpness, color, contrast, and overall quality the lens delivered for a number of portrait shoots. The images are extremely sharp with a lot of detail, and the lens handles even the 61 megapixels of the a7R V without issue.
The pleasing bokeh makes the 35mm an excellent option for portraiture. At f/1.2, it does exhibit some “cat’s eye”-shaped bokeh balls, but this is largely eliminated at around f/2. When shooting wide open, the 35mm LAB is very sharp in the center, although the edges do lose some of that sharpness. Wide open, there is some chromatic aberration in the center, but excellent color and contrast as well. At f/4, the lens is very sharp across the board and stays sharp up to f/16. You can see more samples in my video review linked above.
Flare control is also quite impressive, and while shooting into direct midday sunlight, there was little to no flare to be seen. The 35mm LAB has notable close focus capability as well, with a minimum focus distance of 0.34 m, which makes the lens suitable for occasional nature or other close-up work. Overall, the image quality is excellent.
Autofocus
The 35mm LAB features Viltrox’s proprietary HyperVCM motor, which has a double floating magnetic suspension system. According to the company, this system “ensures precision focusing” whether shooting fast-moving subjects or videos. The focus is indeed fast and quiet; however, when using an older Sony a7R III, there is a considerable difference in the speed when shooting in AF-C versus AF-S. The focus is also near silent, with only a very faint sound to be heard when focusing in a quiet room. When shooting at f/1.2, there is some focus breathing, which I would describe as moderate. A focus breathing clip is also in my video review, for those interested.
LCD Screen
The 35mm LAB has the latest fad in lenses—a small LCD screen located top center of the lens when it’s mounted to a camera. Although this might seem like a gimmick, I did find it useful for viewing and changing aperture values, and there are users who will appreciate seeing the exact distance from subject, which it can also display. The ability to upload a personalized photo as a startup screen is also a fun touch.
Viltrox App
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the Viltrox app, which allows users to adjust the settings for the two function buttons, change the startup image, and also install firmware updates, all via Bluetooth. The app works very well, connects to the lens fast, and is easy to use. Although I usually don’t want to download more apps to my phone, I was pleased with how well and simply the Viltrox app worked for all the functions it is supposed to do, including a firmware update, which was fast and easy to install.
Conclusion
Viltrox continues to push the boundaries when it comes to third-party lens manufacturers, and it’s clear that they are throwing down the gauntlet with their new LAB line of lenses. The 35mm f/1.2 LAB boasts excellent image quality, robust build and handling, an extremely fast maximum aperture, and all the modern bells and whistles that a top pro lens is expected to have, without the sticker shock of manufacturer lenses. At $999, the 35mm LAB is sure to be popular with many photographers who shoot in a variety of genres.
What I Like
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Excellent image quality
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Built for battle!
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Lots of features
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Fast autofocus
What I Didn’t Like
- Moderate focus breathing
- Heavy
Specifications
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Mount Type: E-Mount
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Format: Full Frame (FF)
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Lens Construction: 10 groups, 15 elements
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Focal Length: f = 35 mm
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Angle of View: 64.2°
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Maximum Aperture: f/1.2
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Minimum Aperture: f/16
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Aperture Blades: 11
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Focusing Range: 0.34 m – ∞
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Focus System: Dual-floating internal focusing system
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Focus Motor: VCM
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Focusing Mode: Manual, Autofocus
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Maximum Magnification: 0.17×
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Dimensions: Ø 89.2 × 121.8 mm
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Weight: Approx. 920 g (excluding lens caps and hood)
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Filter Thread Diameter: 77 mm