Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 XF Review
Viltrox AF 33mm F1.4 XF for Fujifilm X-mount shown on the Fujifilm X-Pro3
Viltrox 33mm f/1.4 Review
In August 2022, I got a chance to review the Viltrox XF 13mm f/1.4 XF and came away quite impressed. I especially found it interesting that Viltrox is filling a spot in the Fujifilm X-mount lineup that is not covered by either Fujifilm or other lens manufacturers.
The scenario is slightly different with the Viltrox XF 33mm f/1.4 XF as we can draw direct comparisons to the excellent Fujifilm XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR.
My friend, Goran, is usually an Olympus shooter but recently got himself a Fujifilm X-H1 and decided that he would feel the Fujifilm system out but not go all the way with a set of expensive lenses. Instead, he got a couple of Viltrox primes and has kindly lent them to me for this review and an upcoming review for the Viltrox AF 23mm f/1.4 XF.
Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 XF - Introduction
The Viltrox 33mm f/1.4 XF was released in mid-April 2020, and notably, this perhaps slightly odd focal length lens was introduced approximately a year and a half before the Fujifilm version saw the light of day.
It is available for Fujifilm X, Canon EF-M, Nikon Z, and Sony E mounts and in three colors; Black, silver, and a limited edition white.
The lure of Viltrox lenses is the lower price point, where you can buy a lens for substantially less than a Fujifilm equivalent but often this lower price point can result in trade-offs and I will get into these below.
At the time this review was posted the Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 XF was listed at $279.00.
Pacific Boulevard, Vancouver, Fujifilm X-Pro2, Viltrox 33mm f/1.4 @ f/3.6
Viltrox 33mm f/1.4 - Handling and Specs
As it happens 33mm is not an odd focal length at all, but merely an odd number. 33mm gives you a 50mm field of view in full-frame terms. At the time the Viltrox 33mm was released Fujifilm did not have a lens at this focal length but instead used 35mm which is more like a 53mm.
You may find this insignificant but the 3mm difference actually makes a noticeable difference.
The Viltrox 33mm f/1.4 has a standard filter size of 52mm, a weight of 9.52 oz, 270 g, and dimensions of 2.6 x 2.8", 65 x 72 mm, and is slightly lighter than its Fuji counterpart but almost identical in size.
The balance is near perfect on my Fujifilm X-Pro3 or X-Pro2 and overall the lens has a good quality feel to it. The metal lens hood certainly elevates the experience.
The Viltrox 33mm f/1.4 has an STM stepping AF motor and for most scenarios, it works just fine. It is not quite as snappy as my Fujifilm lens and occasionally hunts a bit especially when shot wide open.
The internal focusing is a welcome feature as it prevents the lens from protruding as you focus. One ED element, one HR element, and HD nano multi-layer coating are mentioned in the optical formula the lens has 9 diaphragm blades ensuring decent-looking bokeh.
If you are a video shooter you will be happy to hear that the aperture ring is clickless, meaning you can adjust the aperture seamlessly for your footage.
As a stills photographer, I am not crazy about this solution and it would have been wonderful to have a switch so that you could toggle between clickless and clicked aperture stops.
The aperture ring, perhaps due to its clickless nature, is also a bit too tight for my liking. It does, however, have a nice quality feel to it.
Viltrox 33mm f/1.4 in Action
Despite the few quibbles I have with the aperture ring the Viltrox 33mm f/1.4 is a joy to use mostly because it does not feel cheap despite its much lower price tag.
It almost feels like you are carrying a Fujifilm lens. The aperture ring, however, is placed a bit closer to the camera on the Viltrox and ergonomically I prefer the Fujifilm counterpart in this regard.
Viltrox 33mm f/1.4 vs. Fujifilm XF 33mm f/1.4
The Fujifilm XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR is currently listed at $799.00 or almost three times the value of the Viltrox 33mm f/1.4. So why would you, with good conscience, spend so much more for the Fujifilm lens?
I have already touched on some of the differences above but will dive a bit deeper. The Fujifilm XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR is one of my favorite lenses in the Fujifilm XF lineup and I did not expect the Viltrox to seriously challenge it.
It will never be a completely fair comparison as I have used the Fujifilm lens for about 18 months and only used the Viltrox over a few days but there are noticeable differences, especially if you plan to shoot your lenses wide open.
In the following comparison photos you can see the different performance at f/1.4, f/2.8, and f/4 for both lenses. Please click to view larger images.
The Fujifilm XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR vs. Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 XF @ f/1.4
The Fujifilm XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR vs. Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 XF @ f/4
The Fujifilm XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR vs. Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 XF @ f/2.8
The Fujifilm XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR vs. Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 XF @ f/2.8
For general use, screen size images, or for posting on Instagram you are not likely to see much difference in the performance of these two lenses but I will admit I was a bit surprised to see how much better the Fujifilm XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR performed wide open at f/1.4.
The performance is more even at f/4 at farther distances. The same trend shows though at closer distances when shot wide open but in the last image the Viltrox lens shows strong traits and it is very hard to see differences at f/2.8 at the closer distance.
You can read my review of the XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR here:
Waterfront Station, Vancouver, Fujifilm X-Pro2, Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 XF @ f/3.6, Acros film simulation
Viltrox 33mm f/1.4 - Image Quality
Overall after editing my selected images for this review, I found the Viltrox 33mm f/1.4 to be a decent performer but I could tell the wow factor from my Fujifilm XF 33mm f/1.4 was missing. I reminded myself of the price difference and was probably willing to accept the flaws of the Viltrox lens.
If you mostly shoot your lenses stopped down, you will not notice the weakness of the Viltrox 33mm f/1.4 as much but in the same breath, you should perhaps ask yourself. Why buy a fast f/1.4 lens if you are not planning to shoot it wide open?
Conclusion
I have been a bit harsh on the Vitrox AF 33mm f/1.4 XF but only because I put it neck and neck with one of Fujifilm’s finest lenses that will set you back almost three times the cost of the Viltrox lens.
I hope the sample images in this review will show that you are able to capture nice images with this lens and remember our demands vary tremendously.
If you are a seasoned pro or about to head out on a trip of a lifetime and hope to capture the best possible images I would strongly suggest you take a serious look at the Fujifilm XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR but if you are just starting out or perhaps do not demand the ultimate image quality the Viltrox 33mm will get you out of the gate at a more affordable price point.
It is exciting to see where Viltrox is going with their newest lenses such as the Viltrox AF 13mm f/1.4 XF, Viltrox AF 75mm f/1.2 XF, and the upcoming Viltrox AF 27mm f/1.2 XF.
I know we are not talking about the same focal length and you will be paying a bit more for these later released lenses but it is a proposition worth considering over the earlier lenses such as 33mm f/1.4.
Pros
Affordability
Great build quality
Metal lens hood
Cons
Performance at lower f-stops
Please see more sample images below.
Price / Availability
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Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 XF - B&H Photo
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Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 XF - Sample Images
Please see the sample images below. Editing was done in Capture One and I used Fujifilm film simulations for some of the photos, especially Classic Neg. and Acros.
Please click to view larger images.
Cactus Club, Beach Drive, Vancouver, Fujifilm X-Pro3, Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 XF @ f/4
Granville Bridge, Vancouver, Fujifilm X-Pro2, Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 XF @ f/3.6
University Canada West, Vancouver, Fujifilm X-Pro2, Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 XF @ f/3.6
Sunset Beach Park, Vancouver, Fujifilm X-Pro2, Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 XF @ f/5.6
Downtown, Vancouver, Fujifilm X-Pro2, Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 XF @ f/1.4
TCC Pedestrian Plaza, Vancouver, Fujifilm X-Pro2, Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 XF @ f/8
TCC Pedestrian Plaza, Vancouver, Fujifilm X-Pro2, Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 XF @ f/8
Granville Bridge, Vancouver, Fujifilm X-Pro2, Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 XF @ f/5.6
Third-Party Lenses for Fujifilm X-Mount
7Artisans 35mm f/0.95
7Artisans 55mm f/1.4 II
TTArtisan 17mm f/1.4
TTArtisan 23mm f/1.4
TTArtisan AF 27mm f/2.8
TTArtisan AF 35mm f/1.8
TTArtisan 35mm f/0.95
TTArtisan 50mm f/0.95
TTArtisan 50mm f/1.2
TTArtisan 50mm f/2
Viltrox AF 13mm f/1.4 XF
Viltrox AF 23mm f/1.4 XF
Viltrox AF 56mm f/1.4 XF
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