The following chart presents a comparison between the parameters of the tested Viltrox and other 35 mm models with an aperture ranging from f/1.7 to f/2.0 designed for smaller sensors than full frame. The Viltrox AF 35 mm f/1.7 Air sticks out with the most complex optics but when it comes to weight and dimensions all lenses, presented here, are small, shapely, and lightweight instruments.
In the photo below the Viltrox 1.7/35 is positioned between its faster rivals, the Fujinon XF 35 mm f/1.4 R and the Sigma C 30 mm f/1.4 DC DN. The Fujinon, despite a better aperture fastness, doesn't differ from the Viltrox when it comes to physical dimensions, a feature that should be appreciated. Still, it had its consequences in the optical performance. It's not an accident that its successor, the Fujinon XF 33 mm f/1.4 LM WR is much bigger.
The Viltrox AF 35 mm f/1.7 Air starts with a metal mount which rim features an USB-C port that allows you to join the lens to a computer and install software updates. Inside the mount you can find a black ring with embedded contacts that surrounds a rear element of the lens, 20 mm in diameter. This element doesn't move and is positioned practically on the same level as the contacts. From this side everything looks very well.
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The proper body of the lens is covered by black plastics. It starts with an immobile ring with a white dot that makes an alignment with a camera easier, the logo of the company, a model number, a serial number, and information about the place of production, China. Then the ring increases its diameter and on the already enlargened part you find another producer's logo, and an inscription 'AF 35/1.7 XF'.
A manual focus ring, as wide as 24 mm and completely covered by rubber ribbing, is the next part of the lens. It is a focus-by-wire construction without any distance and/or DOF scale, that turns with a slight but still tolerable resistance. The range depends slightly on the speed of your turning – when you move the ring slower you can reach a value of about 300 degrees, if you turn it quicker it drops to near 250 degrees. Both values are so significant that allow you very precise manual settings.
Further on, you see another immobile ring that ends with a hood mount. It can be properly aligned with the help of a white mark on the edge of the lens.
The front element of the tested Viltrox is convex, immobile, just 23 mm in diameter. It is surrounded by a part with fine ribbing that turns into a ring with the name and basic parameters of the lens. Here you also find information about the detector's size (APS-C Frame), the minimum focusing distance value (0.3m/1ft), filter diameter that amounts to 52 mm and also a series of abbreviations that indicate different technologies applied: STM, meaning a silent Stepping Motor, ASPH - aspherical elements inside the construction, ED - low dispersion glass elements, and IF meaning internal focusing (the lens doesn't rotate or change the focal length while focusing). All of this is surrounded by a non-rotating filter thread with a diameter of 52 mm.
When it comes to optical construction, you deal here with 11 elements positioned in 9 groups. Among them you can find one ED element, two elements made of high refractive index glass (HR) and one aspherical element. As you see the producers weren't skimpy when it comes to special elements, a fact worth emphasizing especially that the price of this model is very reasonable. Inside you can also find a round aperture with nine blades that can be closed down to a value of f/16 at the maximum.
Buyers get in the box with the lens: both caps, a petal-type hood, and a soft case. The case is perhaps not very solid but the fact that that it is added to the bundle at all should be praised. After all we're speaking about an instrument that can be bought for less than $180. Nowadays even much more expensive lenses don't have an accessory kit as rich as this one. Like in case of other Viltrox devices, you also get up to 5-year warranty period.
