Viltrox AF 56mm f/1.7 for Sony: Affordable Prime Lens That Shines

The Viltrox AF 56mm f/1.7 for Sony offers impressive optical performance at a budget-friendly price of €167. With its compact and durable build, the lens delivers sharp images, smooth bokeh, and minimal chromatic aberrations, even at wide apertures. Though autofocus is slightly slower, it’s near-silent and reliable for general photography. Compared to pricier alternatives like Sony’s FE 50mm f/1.8 and Sigma’s 56mm f/1.4, the Viltrox stands out as an excellent value option for Sony APS-C users, combining solid image quality and affordability.

Despite its affordability, the Viltrox AF 56mm f/1.7 E doesn’t compromise on build quality. The lens is made from high-quality matte plastic with a metal mount, giving it a solid, durable feel. The internal focusing mechanism ensures that the lens doesn’t extend during use, keeping it compact. Weighing just 170g, it’s lightweight and portable, yet still feels well-constructed. However, the lens lacks an AF-MF switch and an aperture ring, meaning all adjustments must be made through the camera. A small, petal-shaped lens hood is also included.

Autofocus and Handling

The lens uses an older stepping motor (STM) for autofocusing, which is almost silent but slightly slow. For manual focus, it employs a by-wire system. One handy feature is the micro-USB port on the lens mount, allowing users to update the firmware.

Optical Performance

Distortion:
The 56mm f/1.7 E shows minimal pincushion distortion in RAW images, and any remaining distortion is easily corrected with the built-in profile in editing software.
Vignetting:
Wide-open at f/1.7, vignetting is significant, with a light falloff of 2.4EV. However, it becomes manageable at f/2.2 and mostly disappears by f/2.8. Auto-correction helps reduce this issue further, although it remains more pronounced than in the Fujifilm version of the lens.
Sharpness (MTF Resolution):
Sharpness is where this lens really excels. Even wide open at f/1.7, the center is sharp, and stopping down to f/2.8 or f/5.6 produces outstanding results. However, diffraction softens the image starting at f/8, though f/11 is still usable. Field curvature is minimal, and the lens sample tested had good centering quality.

Bokeh and Chromatic Aberrations

Bokeh:
This lens delivers pleasing bokeh, thanks to its medium telephoto focal length and large aperture. Out-of-focus highlights are circular and smooth in the center of the image, even when shot wide open. However, as you move toward the edges, the shape of the highlights distorts into “cat eyes,” which can be improved by stopping down the aperture to f/2.8 or f/4.
Chromatic Aberrations (CAs):
Lateral chromatic aberrations are negligible, averaging just 0.1 pixels at the image borders. Longitudinal chromatic aberrations, or bokeh fringing, are also well-controlled. Any slight color fringing disappears by f/2.8.

Build and Usability

For a lens in this price range, the Viltrox AF 56mm f/1.7 E feels surprisingly well-made. While it lacks the premium feel of more expensive lenses, the plastic used is of decent quality, and the focus ring operates smoothly. Although there’s no weather-sealing, the internal focusing design should help protect the lens in most conditions.

The autofocus, while slower than some might prefer, is reliable for most non-action photography uses. For portraits, street photography, and general use, the AF speed will be adequate.

Competition

In the Sony E-mount world, the Viltrox AF 56mm f/1.7 faces stiff competition. Sony’s FE 50mm f/1.8 is more expensive but offers a classic design with slow autofocus. The Sony E 50mm f/1.8 OSS provides optical image stabilization (OSS), which may be appealing for users of Sony cameras without in-body stabilization, though it’s priced significantly higher than the Viltrox. Another formidable competitor is the Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN, which is faster but much more expensive. Cheaper options, such as the TTArtisan AF 56mm f/1.8 E, don’t quite match the build or optical quality of the Viltrox.

Conclusion

For just €167, the Viltrox AF 56mm f/1.7 E is a fantastic deal, especially for photographers who don’t need the faster f/1.4 aperture. It delivers impressive sharpness, smooth bokeh, and well-controlled chromatic aberrations, all in a lightweight and compact package. While the autofocus speed may not satisfy action photographers, for everyday use on Sony APS-C cameras, this lens is a top contender in its class.