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Lens review

Viltrox AF 23 mm f/1.4 XF

11 October 2020
Maciej Latałło

4. Image resolution

Te resolution test of the Viltrox AF 23 mm f/1.4 XF was based on RAW files from the Fujifilm X-T2. We developped the files using the dcraw program (with the 3-pass X-trans algorithm filter) and analyzed them with the help of Imatest package.

Let's remind here that the best fixed focal length Fujifilm X lenses, tested that way, are able to reach as high as 80 lpmm and the decency level is set near 44-45 lpmm. The resolution record for this sensor amounts to about 83 lpmm.

Now let's see how the Viltrox AF 23 mm f/1.4 XF compares in the frame centre and on its edge – the appropriate graph you can see below.


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Viltrox AF 23 mm f/1.4 XF - Image resolution


Really interesting things can be observed here. The maximum relative aperture perhaps doesn't foreshadow all these fireworks, as you land just slightly above the decency level, but on stopping down the results improve very quickly. By f/2.8 and f/4.0 you already see sensational levels of 83-85 lpmm. What's more, by f/4.0 we recorded a resolution record for the X-T2 sensor which, from now on, officially, amounts to 85.3 +\- 0.9 lpmm. The tested Viltrox can put to shame all its rivals and it does it in great style.

Unfortunately our admiration has to end here. It seems the constructors spare no effort to guarantee the best results in the frame centre but they neglected the edge of the frame. As a result, in order to speak about a decent image quality, you have to close the lens down to f/2.8. What's more, even if you stop down the apertue even further you aren't able to exceed a level of 50 lpmm. Near the maximum relative aperture the area featuring more or less sharp images is rather small and its quality deteriorates very quickly when you approach the edges.

To sum up, in this category you get some important advantages but also many flaws. Still, I suppose, nobody would expect only positive features from a lens with such parameters that costs just $329.

At the end of this part of our test, traditionally, we present crops taken from photos of our resolution testing chart which were saved in the JPEG format along with RAW files, used for the analysis above.

Fujifilm X-T2, JPEG, f/1.4
Viltrox AF 23 mm f/1.4 XF - Image resolution
Fujifilm X-T2, JPEG, f/4.0
Viltrox AF 23 mm f/1.4 XF - Image resolution