Gerald Undone 135mm review blog

Gerald Undone review

Viltrox AF 135mm f/1.8 LAB Lens Review: The Budget King of Portrait Lenses

The Viltrox AF 135mm f/1.8 LAB lens is a bold entry into the high-performance telephoto category for Sony E-mount users. In his detailed review, Gerald Undone compares it to the premium Sony 135mm G Master. Gerald highlights its budget-friendly price, impressive optical quality, and competitive performance despite minor trade-offs in build and autofocus speed. The review underscores Viltrox's ambition to challenge higher-priced alternatives while offering value to photographers and videographers looking for a versatile telephoto option.

Strength and Sophistication: The 135mm Lens Story

Gerald Undone reviews the Viltrox AF 135mm f/1.8 LAB lens, noting its sturdy metal construction but heavier weight (1300 grams) compared to the Sony G Master (950 grams), which he attributes to its lower price. He highlights the lens's similar features to the G Master, including the focus range selection and de-clickable aperture ring, while adding a modern LCD display for aperture and focus distance. Though not fully weather-sealed, it offers some basic protection against dust and moisture.

Optical Performance: Impressively Sharp

Gerald Undone praises the Viltrox AF 135mm f/1.8 LAB lens for its impressive sharpness, especially at close focus, where it outperforms the Sony G Master. He highlights the excellent bokeh, with smooth, pleasing out-of-focus areas. While minor differences like slightly polygonal corner highlights are noted, they are not significant. Overall, Gerald appreciates the lens’s exceptional image quality at a more affordable price compared to the G Master.

Autofocus: Competitive and Reliable

The Viltrox AF 135mm f/1.8 LAB lens delivers impressive autofocus performance, matching the Sony G Master's speed and accuracy for both photography and video applications. Gerald observed that while the autofocus is nearly silent, the Viltrox occasionally emits faint noise, unlike the Sony's completely silent motor. Nevertheless, the Viltrox stands out at its price point, offering reliable and fast autofocus capabilities.

Value Proposition: Half the Price for Equal or Better Performance

Priced at approximately $900 compared to the Sony G Master’s $2100, the Viltrox lens offers remarkable value for money. Gerald noted its ability to deliver performance on par with or even slightly exceeding the G Master in many categories, all while costing less than half as much.

 

“For less than half the price, you’re getting a lens that’s a few percent better in most categories. It’s a no-brainer for anyone who doesn’t mind the added weight,” he concluded.
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Comparison 

Sharpness
135mm
Viltrox
Sony

Bokeh
135mm
Viltrox
Sony

Flare & Sunstars
135mm
Viltrox
Sony

Distortion & Vignetting
135mm
Viltrox
Sony

Final Thoughts

Gerald Undone concluded that the Viltrox AF 135mm f/1.8 LAB lens is a standout achievement, trading compactness and some premium features for exceptional image quality and usability. It provides high-end performance at a fraction of the cost, making it a compelling choice for photographers seeking value.

“Viltrox did a fantastic job with this lens. It’s a few percent better in almost every category while costing a fraction of what you’d pay for the Sony G Master,” he noted.

Ideal for budget-conscious portrait photographers, this lens excels in sharpness and bokeh, with manageable heft.
Poster

Reprinted from(https://youtu.be/QfcIpjtZ1s4?si=1xANmqIdCxnhV6-E)