Viltrox AF 28mm f/4.5 Z 28mm
Sigma Contemporary 30mm f/1.4 DC DN 30mm
What Buyers Say
Viltrox AF 28mm f/4.5 Z 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
Sigma Contemporary 30mm f/1.4 DC DN 30mm
The Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary lens is widely praised for its exceptional sharpness, fast f/1.4 aperture, and beautiful bokeh, making it a favorite for low-light and portrait photography on APS-C cameras. Users consistently highlight its solid build quality and excellent value for money. However, some reviewers report inconsistent autofocus, particularly at longer distances, and occasional chromatic aberration or vignetting wide open. A few copies have exhibited noisy or unreliable AF motors, especially in video mode.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness
- Fast f/1.4 aperture
- Beautiful bokeh
- Solid build quality
- Excellent value for money
Cons
- Inconsistent autofocus at distance
- Chromatic aberration wide open
- Vignetting wide open
- Noisy AF motor in some copies
- Soft corners at f/1.4
Scores
Specifications
| Viltrox AF 28mm f/4.5 Z 28mm | Sigma Contemporary 30mm f/1.4 DC DN 30mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | prime | prime |
| Focal Length Min | 28 mm | 30 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 28 mm | 30 mm |
| Elements | 6 | 9 |
| Groups | 6 | 7 |
| Aspherical Elements | 2 | 2 |
| ED Elements | 2 | 5★ |
| Coating | multilayer nanocoating | Super Multi-Layer Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/4.5 | f/1.4 |
| Min Aperture | f/4.5 | f/1.4 |
| Constant | ✓ | ✓ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 6 | 9★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Nikon F |
| Format | full-frame★ | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.06 kg★ | 0.27 kg |
| Filter Thread | — | 52 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Autofocus | HSM |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✗ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 350 mm | 300 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 1:10 | 1:7.14 |
Pros & Cons
Viltrox AF 28mm f/4.5 Z 28mm
- Strong build (100th percentile)100th %ile
- Strong social proof (86th percentile)86th %ile
- Below average user sentiment (16th percentile)16th %ile
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
- Below average stabilization (34th percentile)
Sigma Contemporary 30mm f/1.4 DC DN 30mm
- Strong aperture (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong bokeh (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong social proof (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong build (86th percentile)86th %ile
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
- Below average stabilization (34th percentile)
Pricing
Viltrox AF 28mm f/4.5 Z 28mm offers 3.0x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 82 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 3 of 21 specs.
