Viltrox AF 56mm f/1.7
Summary
The Viltrox AF 56mm f/1.7 is a strong optical performer — a short telephoto prime (84mm equivalent) with f/1.7 maximum aperture. The lens is priced at approximately ~$250 USD. Please check the official product page for sample images, manuals, and firmware updates.
Genre Suitability
- Excellent for: Street, Travel
- Adequate for: Nightscape, Landscape, Architecture, Portrait, Sport, Wildlife
- Avoid for: Macro
Strengths
- Well-controlled aberrations
- Smooth, pleasant bokeh
- Negligible distortion
- Fast linear motor autofocus
Weaknesses
- Noticeably soft corners wide open
- Noticeable vignetting wide open
- Low macro capability (0.11x magnification)
- No built-in optical stabilization
Specifications 19/20
| Optical construction | 11 elements in 9 groups (4 ED, 3 HR) |
| Coating | HD Nano multilayer coating |
| Focal length | 56mm |
| Max aperture | f/1.7 |
| Sweet spot | f/2.8 |
| Aperture blades | 9 (circular) |
| Sunstar points | 18 (soft — circular blades) |
| Max magnification | 0.11x |
| Min focus distance | 550mm |
| AF motor | LM |
| OIS | No |
| Weather sealed | No |
| Aperture ring | No |
| Clickless aperture | — |
| Focus ring | Yes |
| Focus by wire | Yes |
| Distance scale | No |
| Rotating front | No |
| Tripod mount | No |
| Weight | 260g |
| Diameter | 65mm |
| Length | 54.7mm |
| Filter thread | 52mm |
| Year | 2024 |
Optical Quality 13/14
| Center (wide open) | 1.0 |
| Corner (wide open) | 0.5 |
| Center (stopped) | 2.0 |
| Corner (stopped) | 1.0 |
| Coma | 1.5 |
| Astigmatism | 1.0 |
| Longitudinal CA | 2.0 |
| Lateral CA | 2.0 |
| Distortion | 1.5 |
| Vignetting (wide open) | 0.5 |
| Vignetting (stopped) | 1.0 |
| Bokeh | 1.5 |
| Flare resistance | 1.0 |
Sharpness
- Acceptable center sharpness wide open
- Noticeably soft corners wide open
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Acceptable corner sharpness stopped down
Aberrations
- Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
- Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
- Well-controlled coma
- Moderate astigmatism
Rendering
- Smooth, pleasant bokeh
- Noticeable vignetting wide open
- Moderate residual vignetting stopped down
- Acceptable flare resistance with modern coatings
Distortion
- Minimal distortion
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
~ Nightscape Photography 3/5
Nightscape Photography prioritizes coma control, astigmatism correction, and a fast aperture for short star exposures.
- Well-controlled coma
- Moderate astigmatism
- Fast f/1.7 aperture
- Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
- Acceptable center sharpness wide open
- Noticeably soft corners wide open
- Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
- Noticeable vignetting wide open
~ Landscape Photography 3/5
Landscape Photography prioritizes corner-to-corner sharpness at stopped-down apertures and good flare resistance.
- Acceptable corner sharpness stopped down
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Minimal distortion
- Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
- Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
- Moderate residual vignetting stopped down
- Acceptable flare resistance with modern coatings
- Moderate astigmatism
- Well-controlled coma
~ Architecture Photography 3/5
Architecture Photography prioritizes geometric precision with minimal distortion and even corner sharpness.
- Acceptable corner sharpness stopped down
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Minimal distortion
- Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
- Moderate residual vignetting stopped down
- Acceptable flare resistance with modern coatings
✓ Street Photography 4/5
Street Photography prioritizes sharp stopped-down performance and a fast enough aperture for low light.
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Fast f/1.7 aperture
- Acceptable center sharpness wide open
- Acceptable flare resistance with modern coatings
- Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
- Well-controlled coma
✓ Travel Photography 4/5
Travel Photography prioritizes balanced image quality in a lightweight package.
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Lightweight at 260g
- Fast f/1.7 aperture
- Acceptable flare resistance with modern coatings
- Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
~ Portrait Photography 3/5
Portrait Photography prioritizes smooth bokeh and critical center sharpness wide open for subject isolation.
- Smooth, pleasant bokeh
- Acceptable center sharpness wide open
- Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
- Noticeable vignetting wide open
~ Sport Photography 3/5
Sport Photography prioritizes sharp wide-open center performance to freeze action at fast shutter speeds.
- Acceptable center sharpness wide open
- Fast f/1.7 aperture
- Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
- Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
~ Wildlife Photography 3/5
Wildlife Photography prioritizes center sharpness across apertures for distant subjects.
- Acceptable center sharpness wide open
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Fast f/1.7 aperture
- Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
- Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
✗ Macro Photography 1/5
Macro Photography prioritizes stopped-down center sharpness and high magnification for close-up detail.
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Low magnification (0.11x)
- Minimal distortion
- Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
- Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
- Smooth, pleasant bokeh