Viltrox AF 55 mm f/1.8 EVO review

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Viltrox AF 55 mm f/1.8 EVO

24 June 2026

Maciej Latałło

4. Image resolution

Our resolution test (resolution meaning the MTF50 function values) of Sony FE lenses is based on RAW files from the 42.4 Mpix sensor of the Sony A7R II, the Sony A7R III, or the Sony A7R IIIa cameras. In the case of this kind of detector, the decency level is about 39-41 lpmm, the best fixed focal lenses have been able to slightly exceed 80 lpmm and record breaking lenses can get as high as 85 lpmm or even 90 lpmm.So far, our list of such record-breakers features the Sigma A 17-40 mm f/1.8 DC (89.9 lpmm), the Meike 85 mm f/1.4 FF STM (90.2 lpmm) and the Sony FE 50 mm f/1.4 GM (90.9 lpmm).

Let's check how the Viltrox AF 55 mm f/1.8 EVO fares in the frame centre, on the edge of the APS-C/DX, and on the edge of full frame.

Viltrox AF 55 mm f/1.8 EVO - Image resolution

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The results in the frame centre are really excellent. Already at the maximum relative aperture the lens exceeds a very high level of 70 lpmm, and on stopping down MTFs get very quickly to over 80 lpmm. The best result we observed by f/2.8 and it reached 85.7 lpmm with a measuring error on a level of 0.5 lpmm.

It's worth comparing these results to the results of its direct rivals. We didn't include the performance of the Zeiss Sonnar 1.8/55 FE out of pity – it's an old lens, optically much simpler. Of course we still can remind here that its best resolution results were reached by f/2.8-5.6 and they hovered around 60-62 lpmm.

The graph above indicates clearly that the Viltrox is able to prevail even if you stack it up with lenses that are newer than the Sonnar and optically far more complex. The Nikkor Z 1.8/50 seems to be a tad sharper on stopping down but the majority of that advantage might stem from the fact that we tested it on a bit more densely-packed sensor of the Nikon Z7. Still there are no doubts that in the most important range of apertures from f/1.8 to f/2.8 the cheapest Viltrox also fares the best.

Now let's return to the first graph, presented in this chapter, and look closer at the Viltrox's results on the edge of the frame.

When it comes to the APS-C/DX sensor the results are excellent. Even at the maxkum relative aperture you deal with a very good level near 60 lpmm and on stopping down the aperture the lens approaches brilliant values that exceed 75 lpmm.

On full frame the performance on the edge can also be described in superlatives only. By f/1.8 you observe a good level of almost 55 lpmm and by f/4.0 the MTFs hover around excellent values close to 70 lpmm.

Overall applying apertures near f/4.0 means that you get outstandingly sharp images across the frame, as their resolution never decrease significantly below 70 lpmm. Impressive indeed!

To sum up it is clear that Viltrox has been lately on a roll, giving us one exceptional lens after the other. The AF 55 mm f/1.8 EVO certainly fits into this trend.

At the end of this chapter, traditionally, we present crops taken from photos of our resolution, which were saved as JPEGs along with RAWs we used for the analysis above.

A7R IIIa, JPEG, 55 mm, f/1.8