Viltrox Viltrox LAB Series AF 135mm f/1.8 Lens for Sony E Review
The Viltrox 135mm F1.8 is heavy, expensive, and its bokeh ranks in the bottom 1% of all lenses. For a portrait prime, that's a fatal flaw.
Overview
The Viltrox AF 135mm F1.8 LAB FE is a lens that tries to be a jack of all trades but ends up a master of none, and its price tag makes that a tough pill to swallow. The one thing you need to know? It's heavy, expensive, and its optical performance, especially for bokeh, ranks shockingly low for a lens with this focal length and aperture. It has some neat tricks, like decent close-focusing ability, but you're paying a premium for a lot of compromises.
Performance
What surprised me the most was how poorly it scored in the areas you'd expect it to dominate. For a 135mm f/1.8 lens, landing in the 1st percentile for bokeh and aperture performance is frankly baffling. The stabilization is solid, sitting in the 88th percentile, and the macro performance is surprisingly decent at 78th. But the core promise of creamy background blur and low-light prowess seems to have gotten lost in translation.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- The stabilization is genuinely excellent and a real highlight. 82th
- Its close-focus capability is better than most in its class, giving you some macro-like flexibility. 76th
- The autofocus speed is reportedly fast, thanks to that HyperVCM motor. 69th
Cons
- The bokeh quality is ranked in the bottom 1% of all lenses. For a portrait-length prime, that's a deal-breaker. 14th
- It's a chonker at over 1200 grams. Your neck and your camera bag will feel it.
- No weather sealing means you're stuck shooting in perfect conditions.
- For $899, the optical performance just doesn't justify the cost.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | Telephoto |
| Focal Length Min | 135 |
| Focal Length Max | 135 |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | f/1.8 |
Build
| Mount | E-mount |
| Weight | 1.2 kg / 2.7 lbs |
| Filter Thread | 82 |
AF & Stabilization
| AF Type | Autofocus |
| Stabilization | No |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 135 |
| Max Magnification | 0.25x |
Value & Pricing
At $899, this lens is not worth it. You're paying flagship money for mid-tier optical results and a brick-like build. There are better-performing and better-built options for this kind of cash.
vs Competition
This is a weird one. It's a 135mm prime, but its listed competitors are mostly 35mm and standard zoom lenses, which tells you it doesn't fit neatly into a category. If you want a dedicated portrait lens with beautiful bokeh, look at the Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM or even the Sigma 135mm f/1.8 DG DN Art—they'll cost more, but they deliver where it counts. If you're on a budget and want a sharp, fast prime, the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 is half the price and weight, with much more consistent results.
| Spec | Viltrox Viltrox LAB Series AF 135mm f/1.8 Lens for Sony E | Meike Meike 55mm F1.8 Pro Full Frame AF STM Lens High | Viltrox VILTROX 25mm F1.7 f/1.7 AF Lens for Fuji X Mount, | Canon Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM Lens | Tamron Tamron Di III Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD Lens for Sony | Nikon Nikon S-Line Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II Lens (Nikon Z) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 135mm | 55mm | 25mm | 24mm | 17-70mm | 24-70mm |
| Max Aperture | f/1.8 | f/1.8 | f/1.7 | f/1.8 | f/2.8 | f/2.8 |
| Mount | E-mount | Sony E | Fujifilm X | Canon RF | Sony E Mount | Nikon Z |
| Stabilization | false | true | true | true | true | true |
| Weather Sealed | false | false | false | false | false | true |
| Weight (g) | 1230 | 201 | 400 | 269 | 544 | 676 |
| AF Type | Autofocus | STM | STM | Autofocus | Autofocus | Autofocus |
| Lens Type | Telephoto | - | - | Zoom | Zoom | Zoom |
Verdict
I can't recommend the Viltrox AF 135mm F1.8 LAB FE. Its fundamental flaws in optical quality for its intended purpose, combined with the high price and hefty build, make it a hard pass. Unless you absolutely need its specific blend of stabilization and close-focusing at this focal length and have no other options, your money is better spent elsewhere.