Viltrox AF 56mm f/1.4 STM
Summary
The Viltrox AF 56mm f/1.4 STM is a solid optical performer — a short telephoto prime (84mm equivalent) with f/1.4 maximum aperture. The lens is priced at approximately ~$500 USD. Please check the official product page for sample images, manuals, and firmware updates.
Genre Suitability
- Excellent for: Street, Travel, Sport, Wildlife
- Adequate for: Landscape, Architecture, Portrait
- Avoid for: Macro
Strengths
- Fast linear motor autofocus
Weaknesses
- Noticeably soft corners wide open
- Low macro capability (0.1x magnification)
- No built-in optical stabilization
Specifications 20/20
| Optical construction | 10 elements in 9 groups (1 ED, 1 HR) |
| Coating | HD Nano multilayer coating |
| Focal length | 56mm |
| Max aperture | f/1.4 |
| Sweet spot | f/5.6 |
| Aperture blades | 9 (circular) |
| Sunstar points | 18 (soft — circular blades) |
| Max magnification | 0.1x |
| Min focus distance | 600mm |
| AF motor | LM |
| OIS | No |
| Weather sealed | No |
| Aperture ring | Yes |
| Clickless aperture | Yes |
| Focus ring | Yes |
| Focus by wire | Yes |
| Distance scale | No |
| Rotating front | No |
| Tripod mount | No |
| Weight | 216g |
| Diameter | 55mm |
| Length | 51.5mm |
| Filter thread | 52mm |
| Year | 2021 |
Optical Quality 10/14
| Center (wide open) | 1.5 |
| Corner (wide open) | 0.5 |
| Center (stopped) | 1.5 |
| Corner (stopped) | 1.0 |
| Astigmatism | 1.0 |
| Longitudinal CA | 1.0 |
| Lateral CA | 1.5 |
| Distortion | 1.0 |
| Vignetting (wide open) | 1.5 |
| Bokeh | 1.0 |
Sharpness
- Good center sharpness wide open
- Noticeably soft corners wide open
- Good center resolution stopped down
- Acceptable corner sharpness stopped down
Aberrations
- Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
- Well-controlled lateral CA
- Moderate astigmatism
Rendering
- Acceptable bokeh rendering
- Mild vignetting wide open
Distortion
- Moderate distortion, handled by camera profiles
All optical scores are based on lab measurements and field tests from trusted review sources. For details on how we score lenses, see our scoring methodology.
Genre Fit
~ Landscape Photography 3/5
Landscape Photography prioritizes corner-to-corner sharpness at stopped-down apertures and good flare resistance.
- Acceptable corner sharpness stopped down
- Good center resolution stopped down
- Moderate distortion, handled by camera profiles
- Well-controlled lateral CA
- Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
- Moderate astigmatism
~ Architecture Photography 3/5
Architecture Photography prioritizes geometric precision with minimal distortion and even corner sharpness.
- Acceptable corner sharpness stopped down
- Good center resolution stopped down
- Moderate distortion, handled by camera profiles
- Well-controlled lateral CA
✓ Street Photography 4/5
Street Photography prioritizes sharp stopped-down performance and a fast enough aperture for low light.
- Good center resolution stopped down
- Fast f/1.4 aperture
- Good center sharpness wide open
- Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
✓ Travel Photography 4/5
Travel Photography prioritizes balanced image quality in a lightweight package.
- Good center resolution stopped down
- Lightweight at 216g
- Fast f/1.4 aperture
- Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
~ Portrait Photography 3/5
Portrait Photography prioritizes smooth bokeh and critical center sharpness wide open for subject isolation.
- Acceptable bokeh rendering
- Good center sharpness wide open
- Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
- Mild vignetting wide open
✓ Sport Photography 4/5
Sport Photography prioritizes sharp wide-open center performance to freeze action at fast shutter speeds.
- Good center sharpness wide open
- Fast f/1.4 aperture
- Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
- Well-controlled lateral CA
✓ Wildlife Photography 4/5
Wildlife Photography prioritizes center sharpness across apertures for distant subjects.
- Good center sharpness wide open
- Good center resolution stopped down
- Fast f/1.4 aperture
- Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
- Well-controlled lateral CA
✗ Macro Photography 1/5
Macro Photography prioritizes stopped-down center sharpness and high magnification for close-up detail.
- Good center resolution stopped down
- Low magnification (0.1x)
- Moderate distortion, handled by camera profiles
- Well-controlled lateral CA
- Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
- Acceptable bokeh rendering