Viltrox Pancake 28mm F4.5 28mm
Nikon NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8 28mm
What Buyers Say
Viltrox Pancake 28mm F4.5 28mm
The Viltrox AF 28mm f/4.5 pancake lens is widely praised for its ultra-compact size, lightweight design, and excellent value, making it a favorite for street photography and travel. Users note it turns a full-frame camera into a highly portable setup, though the fixed f/4.5 aperture and lack of manual focus ring are limiting for some. Image quality is considered good for the price, but low-light performance and autofocus in dim conditions are common drawbacks. A few users reported a stuck rear lens cap or battery drain on certain Sony models, but overall sentiment is positive for its intended casual use.
Pros
- Ultra-compact and lightweight design
- Excellent value for the price
- Great for street photography and travel
- Sharp image quality for its class
- Built-in lens cover
Cons
- Fixed f/4.5 aperture
- No manual focus ring
- Poor low-light autofocus
- Battery drain on Sony A5100
- Stuck rear lens cap issue
Nikon NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8 28mm
The Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 lens is highly praised for its sharpness, compact size, and excellent low-light performance. Users love its versatility for travel, video, and long exposures, often pairing it with other lenses in the budget trinity. A few note it's not as premium as the S-line or Nikon 14-30mm, but most agree it offers incredible value for the price.
Pros
- Sharp image quality
- Compact and lightweight
- Excellent low-light performance
- Great value for money
- Versatile for travel and video
Cons
- Not as premium as S-line lenses
- Some prefer wider 14-30mm range
- Build not as exceptional as premium trinity
Scores
Specifications
| Viltrox Pancake 28mm F4.5 28mm | Nikon NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8 28mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | wide-angle | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 28 mm | 17 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 28 mm | 28 mm |
| Elements | 6 | 13 |
| Groups | 6 | 11 |
| Aspherical Elements | 2 | 3★ |
| ED Elements | 2 | 3★ |
| Coating | nano multi-coating | Multi-Coated |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/4.5 | f/2.8 |
| Min Aperture | f/4.5 | f/2.8 |
| Constant | ✓ | ✓ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 6 | 9★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | L-Mount | Nikon Z |
| Format | full-frame | full-frame |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.08 kg★ | 0.45 kg |
| Filter Thread | — | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | VCM | Stepping Motor★ |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 420 mm | 190 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 0.11X | 1:5.26★ |
Pros & Cons
Viltrox Pancake 28mm F4.5 28mm
- Strong build (99th percentile)99th %ile
- Strong stabilization (80th percentile)80th %ile
- Below average social proof (9th percentile)9th %ile
- Below average user sentiment (16th percentile)16th %ile
- Below average macro (31st percentile)
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
Nikon NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8 28mm
- Strong user sentiment (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Strong bokeh (89th percentile)89th %ile
- Strong optical (88th percentile)88th %ile
- Strong aperture (86th percentile)86th %ile
- Below average stabilization (35th percentile)
Pricing
Verdict
Scores 86 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 6 of 21 specs.
