Viltrox Pancake 28mm F4.5 28mm
Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
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
Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
This lens is widely praised for its excellent optics, lightweight design, and quiet STM autofocus, making it a great everyday and travel lens. Users note it rivals Canon's L-series in image quality while being much more affordable, though some mention the plastic mount and lack of weather sealing as drawbacks. Verified buyers highlight its sharpness, effective image stabilization, and value for money, especially when purchased as a kit lens. However, a few users report limitations with autofocus points on certain camera bodies and note it is not a true macro lens.
Pros
- Excellent image quality rivaling L-series
- Lightweight and compact design
- Quiet and smooth STM autofocus
- Effective image stabilization
- Great value for money
Cons
- Plastic mount instead of metal
- No weather sealing
- Limited autofocus points on some bodies
- Not a true macro lens
- Inferior image quality to 18-135mm
Scores
Specifications
| Viltrox Pancake 28mm F4.5 28mm | Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | wide-angle | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 28 mm | 18 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 28 mm | 55 mm |
| Elements | 6 | 12 |
| Groups | 6 | 10 |
| Aspherical Elements | 2★ | 1 |
| ED Elements | 2★ | — |
| Coating | nano multi-coating | Super Spectra coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/4.5 | f/32 |
| Min Aperture | f/4.5 | 4-5.6 |
| Constant | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 6 | 7★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | L-Mount | Canon EF-S |
| Format | full-frame★ | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✓★ | — |
| Weight | 0.08 kg★ | 0.21 kg |
| Filter Thread | — | 58 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | VCM | STM★ |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stabilization Stops | — | 4 stops★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 420 mm | 250 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 0.11X | 1:4★ |
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)
Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
- Strong stabilization (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
- Strong af (86th percentile)86th %ile
- Strong build (83rd percentile)83rd %ile
- Strong versatility (83rd percentile)83rd %ile
- Below average bokeh (4th percentile)4th %ile
- Below average aperture (5th percentile)5th %ile
- Below average user sentiment (30th percentile)
Pricing
Verdict
Scores 62 overall, wins 3 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 22 specs.
