Viltrox has continued to hit their stride as a lens maker, and, while most of 2023 has been focused on more upscale lens options like the full frame 16mm F1.8 for Sony FE and the excellent Pro lineup for APS-C (the 27mm F1.2 and 75mm F1.2 lenses), Viltrox has managed to also deliver a very interesting lens for the budget side of the equation. The Viltrox AF 20mm F2.8 STM is a very interesting option for Sony FE, Nikon Z, and Fuji X mounts. It’s a wide angle prime lens with a moderately fast aperture of F2.8, but is also very compact (under 60mm long) and weighs only 157g. It also carries a price tag of just $158 USD, which you can lower another 8% by buying from Viltrox and using the code “DUSTINABBOTT”. That makes it an extremely affordable alternative to lenses like the Tamron 20mm F2.8 or even the Sony FE 20mm F1.8 G. But does the performance of the lens make it a worthwhile alternative? Find out my thoughts by watching my original video review or reading my text review. You can also enjoy the video below where I use the lens for travel and document my thoughts.

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Thanks to Viltrox for sending me a review loaner of this lens. As always, this is a completely independent review. *The tests and most of the photos that I share as a part of my review cycle have been done with the Sony a7RV along with the Sony Alpha 1 that serve as my benchmark cameras for Sony lenses along with the Sony a7C2 that I happened to be reviewing at the same time.

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As noted, the Viltrox AF 20mm will be available in three lens mount initially (my review has been done on Sony’s full frame E-mount), but one of those mounts is APS-C only (Fuji X). Fuji’s 1.5x APS-C crop means that the lens will have an effective focal length of 30mm, and, while that is less interesting than 20mm on full frame, it remains a useful focal length. Both Sony and Nikon also have APS-C cameras that share their respective mounts, so the compact size and low weight of the Viltrox AF 20mm makes it an interesting lens for APS-C there, too.

20mm is in the sweet spot for landscape type photography on full frame, with an angle of view of 91.6°. It allows you to get beautiful, dynamic images that really pop.

It just so happened that I received a loaner of the Sony a7C2 for review at the same time as the Viltrox, and it was a wonderful pairing for that compact camera. Many of the images shown in this review were taken with that lightweight combo. I would call the Viltrox AF 20mm F2.8 one of the best wide angle options currently available if you want to travel light. Enjoy the sample photos below.

Photos of the Viltrox AF 20mm F2.8

Photos taken with the Viltrox AF 20mm F2.8

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