New Release "Chip" Lens AF 28mm F4.5 for Fujifilm X-mount

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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Launch Day February 6,2025

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Viltrox AF 28mm F4.5 XF : The World’s Thinnest Auto-Focus Lens

The Viltrox AF 28mm F4.5 XF lens redefines the traditional lens design with its ultra-thin "Chip lens" design (only 15.25mm thick and weighing just 60g), making it a new, portable choice for Fujifilm X-series users. It easily fits in your pocket, making it the ideal companion for travel, street photography, and daily captures.

Viltrox 28mm F4.5 XF mounted on Fujifilm X-T5, demonstrating compact size and balanced portability

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

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Key Features:

· Ultra-Slim & Featherlight: At just 60g and 15.25mm thick, it’s Viltrox’s lightest and thinnest autofocus lens yet—perfect for tossing into a pocket or compact bag.

· 28mm Golden Focal Length: Equivalent to 42mm on full-frame, offering a natural perspective ideal for street scenes, travel, and candid moments.

· Quiet VCM Autofocus: A noiseless voice coil motor ensures fast, precise focusing, even in dynamic environments.

· Fujifilm Film Simulation Ready: Pair it with Fuji’s iconic film modes (like Classic Chrome or Acros) for rich, retro-style JPEGs straight out of the camera.

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Technical Highlights

Optical Excellence:
The 6-element, 6-group design includes 2 ED lenses (reducing chromatic aberration) and 2 aspherical lenses (minimizing distortion). Combined with HD Nano Multilayer Coating, it delivers sharp, contrast-rich images with minimal flare.

Viltrox 28mm F4.5 XF ultra-thin lens (15.25mm) compared to a credit card and iPhone 15

Lens configuration

Viltrox 28mm F4.5 XF lens cross-section showing 2 ED and 2 aspherical elements

AF 28mm F4.5 XF MTF Graph

Built to Last

Waterproof Front Coating: Repels dust and moisture for worry-free shooting.

Aluminum Alloy Mount: Durable yet lightweight, ensuring secure attachment to your camera.

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Optical Performance: Surprises and Trade-offs

Sharpness & Image Quality

On the Fujifilm X-T5 ’s 40MP sensor, the center sharpness at F4.5 is impressive, easily matching the Fujifilm XF18mm F1.4 at the same aperture.

Viltrox 28mm F4.5 XF lens in hand with Fujifilm X-E4, showcasing pocket-friendly travel setup

Street photo sample with Viltrox 28mm F4.5 XF: natural 42mm equivalent view for candid moments

Low-light test of Viltrox 28mm F4.5 XF: handheld night street scene at ISO 3200

Close-up of Viltrox 28mm F4.5 XF USB-C port for future firmware updates

The Golden Focal length

The 28mm focal length is equivalent to approximately 42mm in full-frame, the golden standard for street photography. A realistic and detailed perspective that captures both expansive scenes and intricate details, empowering photographers with creative freedom and infusing street photography with endless charm and surprise

Flare & Starbursts

In backlit conditions, the lens’s coating performs decently, with minor flare when shooting directly into light sources. However, side lighting can produce distracting streaks. Interestingly, stopping down to F8 creates an 8-point starburst effect, adding a touch of magic to night scenes.

Street photography sample with Viltrox 28mm F4.5 XF: candid shot of cafe scene using Fujifilm Classic Neg film simulation

Backlight performance test of Viltrox 28mm F4.5 XF lens: sunset with 8-point starburst effect at F8 aperture

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Perfect For:

Street Photography: The Invisible Tool

Paired with the Fujifilm X-E4, this setup weighs less than a can of soda. The 28mm focal length (42mm equivalent) offers a natural perspective, perfect for candid shots. The VCM autofocus is quiet and fast enough in good light, though it occasionally hunts in low-light conditions.

Travel: The Price of Portability

Throw it in your bag and shoot everything from landscapes to spontaneous portraits.

Creative Experimentation

For video, the silent autofocus and lightweight design make it a good choice for gimbal work. The unique starburst effect (via its front element design) adds magic to city lights at night.

Macro shot of autumn leaves using Viltrox 28mm F4.5 XF, highlighting texture details and vintage-style bokeh

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Lens Comparison

Character

Thickness

Weight

Lens configuration

Low-Light Performance

Autofocus

Price

Viltrox 28mm F4.5 XF

15.25mm

60g

6 Elements in 6 Groups

99USD

Fujifilm XC35mm F2

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 Viltrox dominates in portability and autofocus performance, its $99 price tag is the true game-changer – less than 1/2 the cost of the Fujifilm XC35mm F2 ($199). Unless you specifically need the XC35mm’s brighter F2 aperture and marginally better edge sharpness (which requires twice the investment), the Viltrox delivers unmatched value for lightweight shooting.

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Conclusion: A Specialist, Not an All-Rounder

The Viltrox AF 28mm F4.5 XF is far from perfect – its edge softness, fixed aperture, and flare resistance are clear limitations. But at $99, it redefines value for money: you get a wallet-sized autofocus lens, a unique shooting experience, and a bold statement from a rising Chinese optics brand.