Viltrox Enters Micro Four Thirds With Two Affordable F/1.7 Prime Lenses

Viltrox has officially expanded into the Micro Four Thirds ecosystem with the launch of its first autofocus lenses for the mount. The company has introduced the AF 25mm F/1.7 Air and AF 35mm F/1.7 Air, bringing its lightweight and budget-friendly prime lens lineup to MFT cameras.

According to 43 Rumors, the lenses have been announced in China, with a global launch expected in the near future. The move comes shortly after Viltrox expanded its lineup to the L-Mount Alliance, signaling the company’s continued push into additional mirrorless systems.

Viltrox’s First Step Into Micro Four Thirds

Although Viltrox has not officially announced that it has joined the Micro Four Thirds ecosystem, the release of these two lenses marks the company’s first products for the mount. It would not be surprising to see additional MFT lenses follow if the initial launches prove successful.

Both lenses share Viltrox’s familiar Air design philosophy, emphasizing portability without sacrificing a bright maximum aperture. Each lens weighs approximately 170 grams and measures less than 55mm in length, making them well suited to the compact bodies that define the Micro Four Thirds system.

AF 25mm F/1.7 Air

The AF 25mm F/1.7 Air offers a 50mm full-frame equivalent field of view, making it a classic standard prime for everyday photography.

Its optical design consists of 12 elements in 10 groups, including one ED element, two high-refractive (HR) elements, and two aspherical elements to help minimize aberrations while improving contrast and sharpness.

The lens uses a lead screw STM autofocus motor for quiet and smooth focusing, making it suitable for both still photography and video. An internal focusing mechanism keeps the lens length unchanged during focusing, while a 0.29-meter minimum focusing distance and a nine-blade aperture diaphragm provide additional creative flexibility.

AF 35mm F/1.7 Air

The AF 35mm F/1.7 Air provides a 70mm full-frame equivalent focal length, making it particularly well suited for portraits and short telephoto photography.

It features an optical construction of 11 elements in nine groups, including one ED element, two HR elements, and one aspherical element to reduce chromatic aberrations and other optical distortions.

Like its 25mm sibling, the lens is driven by an STM autofocus motor and supports Eye AF and subject tracking when paired with compatible Micro Four Thirds cameras. It also employs an internal focusing design, focuses as close as 0.33 meters, and features a nine-blade diaphragm for smoother background blur.

Compact and Affordable Design

To keep weight and cost down, both lenses feature plastic lens barrels and do not include weather sealing. They also share a common 52mm filter thread, allowing photographers to use the same filters across both lenses.

The compact dimensions and bright f/1.7 aperture make the pair attractive options for photographers looking for lightweight everyday primes without a premium price tag.

Pricing and Availability

Viltrox has not yet announced global pricing or availability for the AF 25mm F/1.7 Air and AF 35mm F/1.7 Air for Micro Four Thirds cameras.

For reference, the APS-C versions of both lenses are currently priced at $179 and are available for Sony E, Nikon Z, and Fujifilm X mounts. Pricing for the Micro Four Thirds versions is expected to be similar.