Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 XF 35mm

Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 XF 35mm

Viltrox
97 Overall Score
vs
Tamron Di III VC 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2

Tamron Di III VC 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2

Tamron
74 Overall Score

What Buyers Say

Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 XF 35mm

85 out of 100 high confidence 95 reviews

The Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.7 lens is widely loved for its sharp image quality, fast aperture, and surprisingly low price. Users praise its lightweight design, compact size, and quick autofocus, making it an excellent everyday walk-around lens. Some note autofocus can be noisier or slower than premium lenses, and a few report chromatic aberration in high-contrast scenes. A handful of complaints involve inconsistent packaging or compatibility misunderstandings, but the overall sentiment is overwhelmingly positive.

Pros
  • Sharp image quality wide open
  • Fast f/1.7 aperture for low light
  • Lightweight and compact design
  • Great value for the price
  • Fast and accurate autofocus
Cons
  • Autofocus noise in quiet environments
  • Chromatic aberration in high contrast
  • No weather sealing
  • Slow autofocus in low light
  • Missing aperture ring
👍 Image quality 45
👍 Value for money 35
👍 Build quality 30
🤔 Autofocus performance 28
👍 Bokeh 15
👍 Low light performance 18

Tamron Di III VC 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2

85 out of 100 high confidence 60 reviews

The Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 G2 is widely praised for its sharpness, lightweight design, and excellent value compared to pricier OEM alternatives like the Sony 70-200mm GM II. Users highlight fast autofocus, effective image stabilization, and solid build quality, making it a favorite for sports, wildlife, and everyday telephoto shooting. A few concerns include the lack of a 200mm reach, potential dust ingress on the extending front, and isolated reports of gray market units without full warranty. Overall, it delivers professional-grade results at a fraction of the cost.

Pros
  • Exceptional sharpness across zoom range
  • Lightweight and portable design
  • Excellent value for money
  • Fast and accurate autofocus
  • Effective image stabilization
Cons
  • Lacks 200mm reach of competitors
  • Extending front element may collect dust
  • Gray market units without full warranty
  • Not parfocal
  • Incompatible with teleconverters
👍 Sharpness 18
👍 Value for money 15
👍 Weight and portability 14
👍 Autofocus performance 12
👍 Image stabilization 8
👍 Build quality 10

Scores

Street
Viltrox
96
Tamron
54
Macro
Viltrox
94
Tamron
77
Portrait
Viltrox
94
Tamron
49
Budget
Viltrox
89
Tamron
73
Video Cinema
Viltrox
81
Tamron
73
Landscape
Viltrox
60
Tamron
77
Travel
Viltrox
69
Tamron
74
Professional
Viltrox
73
Tamron
69
Wildlife Sports
Viltrox
69
Tamron
69

Specifications

Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 XF 35mmTamron Di III VC 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2
Optics
Typeprimezoom
Focal Length Min35 mm70 mm
Focal Length Max35 mm180 mm
Elements1120
Groups915
Aspherical Elements13★
ED Elements14★
Coatinghigh-definition multi-layer coatingBBAR-G2
Aperture
Max Aperturef/1.7f/22
Min Aperturef/1.7f/2.8
Constant✗✓★
Diaphragm Blades99
Build
MountFujifilm XSony E
FormatAPS-Cfull-frame★
Weather Sealed✗✓★
Weight0.18 kg★0.85 kg
Filter Thread52 mm67 mm
AF & Stabilization
AF TypeSTM (Stepping Motor)★VXD
Stabilization✓✓
Stabilization Stops—5 stops★
Focus
Min Focus Distance35 mm★300 mm
Max Magnification1:7.71:2.6

Pros & Cons

Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 XF 35mm

  • Strong macro (97th percentile)97th %ile
  • Strong bokeh (96th percentile)96th %ile
  • Strong aperture (95th percentile)95th %ile
  • Strong build (87th percentile)87th %ile
  • Below average versatility (34th percentile)

Tamron Di III VC 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2

  • Strong optical (98th percentile)98th %ile
  • Strong stabilization (97th percentile)97th %ile
  • Strong social proof (86th percentile)86th %ile
  • Strong versatility (78th percentile)
  • Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
  • Below average bokeh (25th percentile)

Verdict

★ Winner: Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 XF 35mm

Scores 97 overall, wins 6 of 9 usage categories and 3 of 22 specs.

Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 XF 35mm Better at:

MacroBudgetStreetPortraitProfessionalVideo Cinema

Tamron Di III VC 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 Better at:

TravelLandscape