A standard zoom lens is the go-to choice for many of us but for landscapes, cityscapes, architectural interiors and more besides, the minimum focal length of around 24mm to 28mm can feel a little limiting. Pop this Viltrox 20mm lens on an FX format body, put your eye to the viewfinder and it feels like taking the blinkers off, shoehorning much more of a scene into the image frame. It’s a useful addition to a standard zoom and at just 68x61mm and 173mm in weight, it’s pretty much small enough to carry around in a spare pocket.
Despite its bargain basement price tag, the lens feels sturdy and robust, features a metal mounting plate and comes with a petal shaped hood. Indeed, there’s even a USB-C port built into the mounting plate for applying firmware updates, if and when needed. As with the other lenses on test, this one features a linear stepping motor-based autofocus system, which is quick, smooth and virtually silent.
The optical layout is similarly impressive, featuring two aspherical elements, two ED (Extra-low Dispersion) elements and one HRI (High Refractive Index) element. The overall aim is for good clarity and contrast, with a reduction in chromatic aberrations. HD Nano multi-layer coatings are applied to combat ghosting and flare, and there’s even a fluorine coating on the front element.
Performance