New Release "Chip" Lens AF 28mm F4.5 for Nikon Z-mount

Launch Day
May 28,2025

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Viltrox 28mm F4.5 XF lens thickness comparison with a coin and iPhone, showcasing ultra-thin 15.25mm design

Launch Day February 6,2025

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Viltrox AF 28mm F4.5 Z – The Slimmest Z-Mount Autofocus Lens

Meet the new Viltrox AF 28mm F4.5 Z “Chip” – a lens that flips the script on what a full-frame Z-mount optic can be. At just 16.8mm thick and tipping the scales at 80g, it’s our slimmest, lightest autofocus design yet, slipping effortlessly into a jacket pocket or bag. Whether you’re roaming city streets, chasing travel adventures or simply capturing day-to-day moments, this pocket-friendly powerhouse is your ticket to spontaneous, joy-filled shooting. Slide the lever to pop off the cap, and you’re ready to create—no fuss, no bulky gear, just pure inspiration in your hands.

Explore the boundaries of lightweight photography, starting with a "Chip lens."

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Key Features:

Ultra-Slim & Feather-Light: At just 80g and 16.8mm thick, the AF 28mm F4.5 Z “Chip” is Viltrox’s lightest, thinnest Z-mount autofocus lens yet—ideal for slipping into a pocket or compact bag.
The 28 mm “Golden” Focal Length: A classic choice among street-shooters, this true 28mm on full-frame delivers a natural perspective perfect for bustling city scenes, travel snapshots, and spontaneous portraits.
Whisper-Quiet VCM Autofocus: Thanks to its noiseless voice-coil motor, you get fast, precise focus even in the most dynamic shooting environments—no distracting whirrs, just sharp results.
Slide-Lever Cap & Firmware Upgrade: The innovative slide-lever lets you pop the cap on and off in one satisfying click, while the built-in USB-C port ensures your lens firmware is always up to date.

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Technical Highlights

Optical Excellence:

The AF 28mm F4.5 Z “Chip” packs a precision 6-element, 6-group design—including two ED elements to tame chromatic aberration and two aspherical elements to keep distortion in check. Paired with Viltrox’s HD Nano multi-layer coating (plus waterproof, anti-fouling treatment on the front element), every shot comes through razor-sharp and contrast-rich.

Lens configuration

AF 28mm F4.5 Z MTF Graph

Built to Last

Waterproof & Anti-Fouling Front Coating: Shields the front element from dust, moisture, and fingerprints—so you can shoot worry-free, rain or shine.

Precision Aluminum-Alloy Mount: Engineered for strength and lightness, it locks securely onto your Z-mount camera, giving you rock-solid confidence in every frame.

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Optical Performance: Surprises and Trade-offs

Sharpness & Image Quality

Mounted on a high-resolution full-frame Nikon Z body—like the 45.7MP Nikon Z7 II—the AF 28mm F4.5 Z “Chip” delivers solid center sharpness and pleasing contrast at its fixed F4.5 aperture. It captures fine detail with a natural rendering style, making it a reliable choice for everyday street photography

Nikon Z8 AF 28mm F4.5 Z @Mokkun

Nikon Z8 AF 28mm F4.5 Z @Mokkun

Nikon Z8 AF 28mm F4.5 Z @Mokkun

Nikon Z8 AF 28mm F4.5 Z @Mokkun

The Golden Focal length

True 28mm on full-frame, this is the classic “golden angle for street photography. It offers a natural, immersive field of view that feels intuitive and unobtrusive. Whether you’re farming a bustling market or a quiet alleyway, it captures sweeping scenes and subtle textures alike, unlocking a world of creative possibilities.

Flare & Starbursts

The lens features an HD Nano multi-layer coating and a waterproof, anti-fouling front element, helping to keep the glass clean and protected in a variety of conditions. Its aperture design naturally creates a beautiful 8-point starburst when shooting into strong light, adding a distinctive visual touch.

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Perfect For

Street Photography: The Invisible Tool

When paired with Nikon Z5 or Z6 series bodies, the lens itself weighs just 80g—lighter than a can of soda—keeping your setup ultra-portable. Its true 28 mm field of view (full-frame, uncropped) mirrors the human eye, letting you blend seamlessly into the streets and capture candid moments with ease. In good light, the whisper-quiet VCM autofocus locks onto your subject instantly; in low-light conditions it may hunt slightly, but a half-press of the shutter swiftly reacquires focus.

Travel: The Price of Portability

Whether you’re trekking mountain trails or exploring bustling city markets, simply slide “Chip” into your bag and go. From sweeping landscapes at dawn to impromptu portraits in narrow alleyways, its ultra-compact profile ensures you never miss a shot—without being weighed down.

Creative Experimentation

For hybrid shooters and videographers, the silent autofocus and featherlight build make the AF 28mm F4.5 Z ideal for gimbal rigs and handheld footage. And when night falls, that signature starburst effect transforms ordinary streetlights into sparkling highlights—adding an enchanting visual flourish to every frame.

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Lens Comparison

Character

Thickness

Weight

Lens configuration

Low-Light Performance

Autofocus

Price

Viltrox 28mm F4.5 Z

16.8mm

80g

6 Elements in 6 Groups

99USD

Fujifilm XC35mm F2.0

46.5mm

130g

9 Elements in 6 Groups

199USD

TTArtisan 27mm F2.8

About 35mm

88~100g

6 Elements in 5 Groups

159USD

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While the AF 28mm F4.5 Z “Chip” already wins on sheer portability and whisper-quiet autofocus, its $99 price tag is the real knockout—about a half the cost of Nikon Z 28mm F2.8. Unless you absolutely need that extra stop at F2.8 and the ever-so-slightly crisper corners (and don’t mind paying double times as much), the Viltrox delivers unbeatable value for lightweight, everyday shooting.

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A Specialist, Not an All-Rounder

This AF 28mm F4.5 Z “Chip” isn’t flawless—it with an F4.5 aperture, which limits low-light speed; its corner sharpness can’t quite rival faster, pricier primes; it more than makes up for these trade-offs with its remarkable portability, clever slide-lever design, and ultra-affordable price of just $99. It’s a statement piece that proves cutting-edge optics don’t have to cost a fortune.