Lens Viltrox 28mm f4.5

[Harry Cutts]

I have just received a Viltrox 28mm fixed f4.5 AF pancake lens for my Sony A7c. I paid £65 for it which included shipping. Had a quick walk through the park to see if it was any good and I have to say that it surpassed what I was expecting.
OK, its not a G master but it is fine, and I have no excuse to not slip it in my pocket.
I have included a couple of shots taken with it, with minimal editing. I think this is a keeper for me, even though I have lenses that are better 🙂

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[rayvonn]

I have just received a Viltrox 28mm fixed f4.5 AF pancake lens for my Sony A7c. I paid £65 for it which included shipping. Had a quick walk through the park to see if it was any good and I have to say that it surpassed what I was expecting.
OK, its not a G master but it is fine, and I have no excuse to not slip it in my pocket.
I have included a couple of shots taken with it, with minimal editing. I think this is a keeper for me, even though I have lenses that are better 🙂
View attachment 521653View attachment 521654View attachment 521655

Your the second amongst us to get into this, I think @Brownie was the first but it wasn't suitable for his purposes. I'm thinking this lens could be very handy for street.

 

[Brownie]

Good looking samples! I simply decided against it, but I may still get one someday. I can see it making more sense on one of Sony's compact bodies, the A7c seems a perfect fit.

 

[Harry Cutts]

For the little money that it cost, it seemed worth a try and I am pleasantly surprised. The A7c is now truly pocketable and an ideal EDC. I still have my serious lenses and A7R4 when I need to use larger lenses which balance better on a more substantial body 🙂

 

[CraigC]

Hard to go wrong for the price. The size is great and the IQ looks to be perfectly adequate for an everyday carry. I've also considered it for my A7c, but haven't pulled the trigger yet.

 

[serhan]

It is a perfect match with A7C🙂

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Also there is a firmware update which I still need to update:

AF 28/4.5 FE

This is Viltrox official online flagship store preliminarily based on US and EU areas. Product range covers photography equipment such as Camera Lens, Video Monitor,Mount Adapter and LED photographic light, etc. To get the best after-sales service and quality-assured Viltrox products, please come to Viltrox Store!

viltrox.com

 

[Brownie]

Also there is a firmware update which I still need to update:

AF 28/4.5 FE

This is Viltrox official online flagship store preliminarily based on US and EU areas. Product range covers photography equipment such as Camera Lens, Video Monitor,Mount Adapter and LED photographic light, etc. To get the best after-sales service and quality-assured Viltrox products, please come to Viltrox Store!

viltrox.com

Does that fix the issue where if you turn the camera on with the lens cap closed it can damage the lens? That's one of the reasons I didn't buy it, knowing me I'd wreck it right off.

Nice shots BTW. You guys are going to make me jump on the wagon!

 

[serhan]

Does that fix the issue where if you turn the camera on with the lens cap closed it can damage the lens? That's one of the reasons I didn't buy it, knowing me I'd wreck it right off.

Nice shots BTW. You guys are going to make me jump on the wagon!

I am sure I did that, I mean I opened the camera when the lens was closed... I have not updated the firmware since it needs to be done on a ipad and also need to find the right cable... The firmware update says it fixed known issues, not very clear on what those are...

 

[Harry Cutts]

I haven't updated the firmware yet either and didn't know about the lens issue. I will look into updating it but it seems to be a fiddly process. I am on version .01 and the latest seems to be .06.

 

[Harry Cutts]

What a change 24 hours makes, a few more samples

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[Brownie]

I haven't updated the firmware yet either and didn't know about the lens issue. I will look into updating it but it seems to be a fiddly process. I am on version .01 and the latest seems to be .06.

Yeah, I saw something about having to use a cellphone app to update? If you find a different way please let me know. I have a company phone and downloading apps is frowned upon. @serhan mentions an iPad, so maybe it can be done on a computer or any device?

Here's the lens issue:

"The only control is a tiny slider on the front that opens/closes a built-in lens cover. The built-in lens cover makes perfect sense in that carrying a separate lens cap would nearly double the carry size of this lens. However, the cover is somewhat recessed, and the range of movement of the lens during autofocus can move the lens forward beyond where the cover slides. Unfortunately, that means the focus motor can slam the lens into the closed lens cover, which isn't good."

It goes on to say:

"Sony bodies generally will drive the lens through its full focus range at power-up, so you want to make sure that the cover is open before you turn the power on."

So, I wonder if they can change that with firmware, or if it remains at the mercy of the camera?

Viltrox AF 28mm f/4.5 pancake FF lens for E/FE: Third Party Lens Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

Expert news, reviews and videos of the latest digital cameras, lenses, accessories, and phones. Get answers to your questions in our photography forums.

www.dpreview.com

 

[Harry Cutts]

Well, I managed to update the firmware after much head scratching. I had firmware 1.05 and the latest is 1.06.
Steps 1, download the app Android or OIS 2, register, just follow the instructions, fairly straight forward 3, connect lens to PC/Mac via USB cable 4, Make sure blue tooth is connected 5, select the lens you want to update on the app ( it will tell you the current firmware and if there is an update, asks if you want to update 6, click update and wait for it to finish, take a couple of minutes, then asks you to wait 20seconds for update to complete, it will display the current firmware to confirm the update.
Sorted, PHEW, I'm not really very good with tech and was around when we were still using chalk and a board 🙂

Hope this helps anyone with a Viltrox lens with a USB port

PS I have also sorted out the lens issue. I had an old scratched filter that was never used so I removed the glass ( a hammer comes in handy, but don't cut yourself on the shards ) . I used a 58mm but I'm sure a 55mm would work as well. Applied a thin layer of super glue to the edge of the filter and positioned it as centrally as possible before applying pressure, left it for a few hours and now use a 58mm lens cap and leave the switch in the open position ( or you could use a filter but flare may be an issue here ) I just need to clean up a bit of residue now but will let it set for 24 hours.

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[Brownie]

Well, I managed to update the firmware after much head scratching. I had firmware 1.05 and the latest is 1.06.
Steps 1, download the app Android or OIS 2, register, just follow the instructions, fairly straight forward 3, connect lens to PC/Mac via USB cable 4, Make sure blue tooth is connected 5, select the lens you want to update on the app ( it will tell you the current firmware and if there is an update, asks if you want to update 6, click update and wait for it to finish, take a couple of minutes, then asks you to wait 20seconds for update to complete, it will display the current firmware to confirm the update.

I'm confused: If you connect the lens to the computer with a USB cable, why do you need to enable Bluetooth?

Nice job on the lens cap!

 

[Harry Cutts]

I have no idea but that seems how it works, as I said, i'm not great with tech 😉 I think the bluetooth connects the phone and computer and the cable transfers the update to the lens, that's just a guess though.

 

[Brownie]

I have no idea but that seems how it works, as I said, i'm not great with tech 😉 I think the bluetooth connects the phone and computer and the cable transfers the update to the lens, that's just a guess though.

Ahhh! So you need a phone AND a computer?! Wow, nothing complicated about that! 🤣

My hat's off to you!

 

[Harry Cutts]

I'm not sure if you can just connect the lens to the phone, but I didn't have a USBc to lightning cable so couldn't try that 🤔😵‍💫

 

[Jonathan F/2]

I just ordered this lens. I'll post photos when I receive it! This is the kind of lens that will motivate me to bring my camera body instead of using my phone!

 

[Jonathan F/2]

This lens arrived last night and was sitting on my front porched when I woke up this morning! I mounted it on the A9mk1 and took it for a quick morning test drive! 😃

My initial observations of this lens is that it's a total homage of the Olympus 8mm f/8 BCL fisheye lens in terms of exterior design. Whomever designed this lens, must be an Olympus fan! Mounting this lens is f**k'ing mind blowing! The fact that it's auto focus, f/4.5 and has a decent 28mm FOV lens, makes it a street shooter fantasy lens! I looked at samples elsewhere, but no one seems to get it. This is a lens meant to capture the moment, shoot first, don't ask questions later and brought in-close quarters on some gritty/humid street in Bangkok. Also a lens like this needs to be used on a camera body with none of that rolling shutter nonsense. It's right at home on my Sony A9 in full electronic shutter!

A few quick samples:

Sample Photos with the VIltrox 28mm f/4.5 Pancake lens for Sony FE mount. Shot with Sony A9 mark I. Los Angeles, California USA. by jonathanf/2, on Flickr

Sample Photos with the VIltrox 28mm f/4.5 Pancake lens for Sony FE mount. Shot with Sony A9 mark I. Los Angeles, California USA. by jonathanf/2, on Flickr

Sample Photos with the VIltrox 28mm f/4.5 Pancake lens for Sony FE mount. Shot with Sony A9 mark I. Los Angeles, California USA. by jonathanf/2, on Flickr

Sample Photos with the VIltrox 28mm f/4.5 Pancake lens for Sony FE mount. Shot with Sony A9 mark I. Los Angeles, California USA. by jonathanf/2, on Flickr

Sample Photos with the VIltrox 28mm f/4.5 Pancake lens for Sony FE mount. Shot with Sony A9 mark I. Los Angeles, California USA. by jonathanf/2, on Flickr

Sample Photos with the VIltrox 28mm f/4.5 Pancake lens for Sony FE mount. Shot with Sony A9 mark I. Los Angeles, California USA. by jonathanf/2, on Flickr