Viltrox 26mm f2.8 EVO for Z and E - first look
p.3 #1Viltrox 26mm f2.8 EVO for Z and E - first look
Mine just arrived and took a few quick grabs with it at various apertures just to confirm all works before heading out with it in a bit. Initial impressions are all good, focuses reasonably close, is sharp even wide open, great color and contrast and of course love its size, especially on my Sony A7Cii. As noted, AF is perhaps a tad slower than normal, but for me it's more than fast enough and a tradeoff I'm happy with to gain the compact size.
This image is nothing special, just shows a closer focus subject wide open. I'm about 14 inches from that rabbit and he's about 6 inches tall. The pic of the lens on the cam is just a cell phone grab for size perspective. Both are sized to 2048 px inside the frames, so best to view at that instead of this forums browser auto fit size.
PS LOVE the magnetic lens cap. I hope this becomes a thing
This image is nothing special, just shows a closer focus subject wide open. I'm about 14 inches from that rabbit and he's about 6 inches tall. The pic of the lens on the cam is just a cell phone grab for size perspective. Both are sized to 2048 px inside the frames, so best to view at that instead of this forums browser auto fit size.
PS LOVE the magnetic lens cap. I hope this becomes a thing
ILCE-7CM2 Viltrox 26mm F2.8 FE lens 26mm f/2.8 1/500s 100 ISO 0.0 EV
Jul 17, 2026 at 02:30 PM
p.3 #2Viltrox 26mm f2.8 EVO for Z and E - first look
Jack Flesher wrote:
Mine just arrived and took a few quick grabs with it at various apertures just to confirm all works before heading out with it in a bit. Initial impressions are all good, focuses reasonably close, is sharp even wide open, great color and contrast and of course love its size, especially on my Sony A7Cii. As noted, AF is perhaps a tad slower than normal, but for me it's more than fast enough and a tradeoff I'm happy with to gain the compact size.
PS LOVE the magnetic lens cap. I hope this becomes a thing
It’s going to look great on my A7c2 as well. I think at this point the only thing I will miss about my GR(s) is the pocketability.
Jul 17, 2026 at 03:43 PM
p.3 #3Viltrox 26mm f2.8 EVO for Z and E - first look
The Viltrox business model: Remove all objections.
Jul 17, 2026 at 05:04 PM
p.3 #4Viltrox 26mm f2.8 EVO for Z and E - first look
Too bad that doesn’t apply at all to the 26. Only the pure image quality saves this one.
philip_pj wrote:
The Viltrox business model: Remove all objections.
philip_pj wrote:
The Viltrox business model: Remove all objections.
Jul 17, 2026 at 05:05 PM
p.3 #5Viltrox 26mm f2.8 EVO for Z and E - first look
So now the question is...who's got a spare Z 26/2.8 lying in a drawer while they play with their new EVO...I want to A/B shoot these guys out 
Jul 17, 2026 at 05:16 PM
p.3 #6Viltrox 26mm f2.8 EVO for Z and E - first look
I'd love to give this little lens a shot but I already own a VERY good copy of the small Sigma 24/3.5i which has superb rendering. I'm not sure I'd use this lens any differently than the Sigma.
Jul 17, 2026 at 05:27 PM
p.3 #7Viltrox 26mm f2.8 EVO for Z and E - first look
With the relatively favourable GBP (at least for now, let's see what our new Prime Minister brings ) I ordered a very reasonably priced one on AliExpress, even factoring in VAT.
I had attempted the Viltrox 20/2.8 and 28/4.5 Chip as EDCs and ended up selling them both. The 20 was... fine? Nothing bad about it except for the vignetting (which is fixable in post) but also nothing spectacular. It was also just too wide as a single-lens walkaround or snapshot lens. The Chip was too constrained in terms of the fixed F/4.5 aperture and iffy AF, I might as well use my iPhone. I'm hoping the 26/2.8 will take the sweet spot between those two lenses and I'm impressed by the reviews and samples I've seen so far, especially the surprisingly clean and voluminous bokeh for a lens this small.
) I ordered a very reasonably priced one on AliExpress, even factoring in VAT.I had attempted the Viltrox 20/2.8 and 28/4.5 Chip as EDCs and ended up selling them both. The 20 was... fine? Nothing bad about it except for the vignetting (which is fixable in post) but also nothing spectacular. It was also just too wide as a single-lens walkaround or snapshot lens. The Chip was too constrained in terms of the fixed F/4.5 aperture and iffy AF, I might as well use my iPhone. I'm hoping the 26/2.8 will take the sweet spot between those two lenses and I'm impressed by the reviews and samples I've seen so far, especially the surprisingly clean and voluminous bokeh for a lens this small.
Jul 18, 2026 at 04:58 AM
p.3 #8Viltrox 26mm f2.8 EVO for Z and E - first look
Just coming up to speed on the new Viltrox EVO 26mm f/2.8 for Sony and considering adding it to my other 35mm f/1.8 II, 55mm f/1.8, and 85mm f/2 EVOs I already own. I’m using them on my A7V, A7CII, and A7CR. Wondering though if I’m better of sticking with my FE 24mm f/2.8 G, and other small G series lenses that I use on my A7CII and A7CR. Sure it seems smaller but how is its image quality compared to the small G lenses? Any feedback here?
Jul 18, 2026 at 09:11 AM
p.3 #9Viltrox 26mm f2.8 EVO for Z and E - first look
swldstn wrote:
Just coming up to speed on the new Viltrox EVO 26mm f/2.8 for Sony and considering adding it to my other 35mm f/1.8 II, 55mm f/1.8, and 85mm f/2 EVOs I already own. I’m using them on my A7V, A7CII, and A7CR. Wondering though if I’m better of sticking with my FE 24mm f/2.8 G, and other small G series lenses that I use on my A7CII and A7CR. Sure it seems smaller but how is its image quality compared to the small G lenses? Any feedback here?
Almost no one has their 26 in hand yet, give it a few weeks as folks get theirs and start testing it.
Isn't the knock on the 24/2.8 that it has pretty bad corners/vignette and lots of distortion?
Just coming up to speed on the new Viltrox EVO 26mm f/2.8 for Sony and considering adding it to my other 35mm f/1.8 II, 55mm f/1.8, and 85mm f/2 EVOs I already own. I’m using them on my A7V, A7CII, and A7CR. Wondering though if I’m better of sticking with my FE 24mm f/2.8 G, and other small G series lenses that I use on my A7CII and A7CR. Sure it seems smaller but how is its image quality compared to the small G lenses? Any feedback here?
Almost no one has their 26 in hand yet, give it a few weeks as folks get theirs and start testing it.
Isn't the knock on the 24/2.8 that it has pretty bad corners/vignette and lots of distortion?
Jul 18, 2026 at 09:13 AM
p.3 #10Viltrox 26mm f2.8 EVO for Z and E - first look
Mine just arrived. My impressions after 20 shots: Yes, the focusing is slow (though certainly adequate for me). Beyond that...the lens is very impressive.
Jul 18, 2026 at 04:28 PM
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p.3 #11Viltrox 26mm f2.8 EVO for Z and E - first look
I received mine yesterday.
On a Nikon Z5II with latest firmware, AF-S is hardly usable and permanently hunts. AF-C is better, but I prefer AF-S for static objects for its precision.
I hope Viltrox corrects it soon with a firmware update !!
The images look sharp but they don't look as crisp as the 85 EVO shots. The 85 EVO has a Zeiss like micro contrast, making the images pop. But the light was very flat yesterday.
The lens is sharp into the extreme corners. No decentering. Vignetting is easy to correct. It's cooler than 35 EVO and 85 EVO. Distortion is mild. I have not used the hood and got some flare. Better coating certainly would have helped here. It's not a cheap lens after all. Certainly not in Europe.
Bokeh is very nice for 26mm IMHO. I wish the 35 1.8 EVO would have the same bokeh.
The lens is really small. It stands just as much out as the grip on a Z5II.
I hope I was not too hard. Viltrox has to work on the AF with a firmware update.. I will do more testing when the light is better the next days and the sun comes out again.
Added:
Combining the AF-C mode with Single-Point AF on the Nikon Z5 II instead of AF-S and "Pinpoint AF" area mode solves it for now using the Viltrox 26 EVO. Pinpoint AF uses contrast detect.
The weather improved, and I was able to test the 26 EVO in the warm evening sun. Flare is mostly gone with using the hood.
The lens is terrific.
Edited on Jul 20, 2026 at 09:01 PM · View previous versions
On a Nikon Z5II with latest firmware, AF-S is hardly usable and permanently hunts. AF-C is better, but I prefer AF-S for static objects for its precision.
I hope Viltrox corrects it soon with a firmware update !!
The images look sharp but they don't look as crisp as the 85 EVO shots. The 85 EVO has a Zeiss like micro contrast, making the images pop. But the light was very flat yesterday.
The lens is sharp into the extreme corners. No decentering. Vignetting is easy to correct. It's cooler than 35 EVO and 85 EVO. Distortion is mild. I have not used the hood and got some flare. Better coating certainly would have helped here. It's not a cheap lens after all. Certainly not in Europe.
Bokeh is very nice for 26mm IMHO. I wish the 35 1.8 EVO would have the same bokeh.
The lens is really small. It stands just as much out as the grip on a Z5II.
I hope I was not too hard. Viltrox has to work on the AF with a firmware update.. I will do more testing when the light is better the next days and the sun comes out again.
Added:
Combining the AF-C mode with Single-Point AF on the Nikon Z5 II instead of AF-S and "Pinpoint AF" area mode solves it for now using the Viltrox 26 EVO. Pinpoint AF uses contrast detect.
The weather improved, and I was able to test the 26 EVO in the warm evening sun. Flare is mostly gone with using the hood.
The lens is terrific.
Edited on Jul 20, 2026 at 09:01 PM · View previous versions
Jul 18, 2026 at 11:31 PM
p.3 #12Viltrox 26mm f2.8 EVO for Z and E - first look
Never use pinpoint ever except for tripod still-life shooting. That’s just user error 
pete478888 wrote:
I received mine yesterday.
On a Nikon Z5II with latest firmware, AF-S is hardly usable and permanently hunts. AF-C is better, but I prefer AF-S for static objects for its precision.
I hope Viltrox corrects it soon with a firmware update !!
The images look sharp but they don't look as crisp as the 85 EVO shots. The 85 EVO has a Zeiss like micro contrast, making the images pop. But the light was very flat yesterday.
The lens is sharp into the extreme corners. No decentering. Vignetting is easy to correct. It's cooler than 35 EVO and 85 EVO. Distortion is mild....Show more →
pete478888 wrote:
I received mine yesterday.
On a Nikon Z5II with latest firmware, AF-S is hardly usable and permanently hunts. AF-C is better, but I prefer AF-S for static objects for its precision.
I hope Viltrox corrects it soon with a firmware update !!
The images look sharp but they don't look as crisp as the 85 EVO shots. The 85 EVO has a Zeiss like micro contrast, making the images pop. But the light was very flat yesterday.
The lens is sharp into the extreme corners. No decentering. Vignetting is easy to correct. It's cooler than 35 EVO and 85 EVO. Distortion is mild....Show more →
Jul 19, 2026 at 06:39 AM
p.3 #13Viltrox 26mm f2.8 EVO for Z and E - first look
Further observations: I'm pleased with the sharpness, lack of fringing, and nice out-of-focus areas. And while the focus is slow-ish to acquire initial focus, it seems to keep up pretty well after that.
Also, the manual focus ring, in spite of being hilariously tiny, works reasonably well.
Stuck inside until the smoke cloud passes again, but here's a few from around the house (all at ƒ2.8):
Also, the manual focus ring, in spite of being hilariously tiny, works reasonably well.
Stuck inside until the smoke cloud passes again, but here's a few from around the house (all at ƒ2.8):
ILCE-7RM6 Viltrox 26mm F2.8 FE lens 26mm f/2.8 1/30s 5000 ISO 0.0 EV
ILCE-7RM6 Viltrox 26mm F2.8 FE lens 26mm f/2.8 1/30s 320 ISO 0.0 EV
ILCE-7RM6 Viltrox 26mm F2.8 FE lens 26mm f/2.8 1/160s 100 ISO 0.0 EV
ILCE-7RM6 Viltrox 26mm F2.8 FE lens 26mm f/2.8 1/80s 100 ISO 0.0 EV
ILCE-7RM6 Viltrox 26mm F2.8 FE lens 26mm f/2.8 1/125s 100 ISO 0.0 EV
Jul 19, 2026 at 06:55 AM
p.3 #14Viltrox 26mm f2.8 EVO for Z and E - first look
RoamingScott wrote:
Never use pinpoint ever except for tripod still-life shooting. That’s just user error
pete478888 wrote
I received mine yesterday.On a Nikon Z5II with latest firmware, AF-S is hardly usable and permanently hunts. AF-C is better, but I prefer AF-S for static objects for its precision.
I hope Viltrox corrects it soon with a firmware update !!
The images look sharp but they don't look as crisp as the 85 EVO shots. The 85 EVO has a Zeiss like micro contrast, making the images pop. But the light was very flat yesterday.
The lens is sharp into the extreme corners. No decentering. Vignetting is easy to correct. It's cooler than 35 EVO and 85 EVO. Distortion is mild. I have not used the hood and got some flare. Better coating certainly would have helped here. It's not a cheap lens after all. Certainly not in Europe.
Bokeh is very nice for 26mm IMHO. I wish the 35 1.8 EVO would have the same bokeh.
The lens is really small. It stands just as much out as the grip on a Z5II.
I hope I was not too hard. Viltrox has to work on the AF with a firmware update.. I will do more testing when the light is better the next days and the sun comes out again.
Added:
Combining the AF-C mode with Single-Point AF on the Nikon Z5 II instead of AF-S and "Pinpoint AF" area mode solves it for now using the Viltrox 26 EVO. Pinpoint AF uses contrast detect.
Pinpoint AF (or Spot AF) uses a very small, highly precise focal area meant exclusively for stationary subjects. Single Point AF uses a slightly larger, standard box that focuses more quickly, handles fine-tuning, and works for both still and moving subjects
From Peltier
I am normally more into landscapes, and like exact focus. Works fine with a Z7 and Z5II and all my other lenses.
Jul 19, 2026 at 07:09 AM
p.3 #15Viltrox 26mm f2.8 EVO for Z and E - first look
pete478888 wrote:
On a Nikon Z5II with latest firmware, AF-S is hardly usable and permanently hunts. AF-C is better, but I prefer AF-S for static objects for its precision.
I hope Viltrox corrects it soon with a firmware update !!
The images look sharp but they don't look as crisp as the 85 EVO shots. The 85 EVO has a Zeiss like micro contrast, making the images pop. But the light was very flat yesterday.
The lens is sharp into the extreme corners. No decentering. Vignetting is easy to correct. It's cooler than 35 EVO and 85 EVO. Distortion is mild. I have not used the hood and got some flare. Better coating certainly would have helped here. It's not a cheap lens after all. Certainly not in Europe.
Bokeh is very nice for 26mm IMHO. I wish the 35 1.8 EVO would have the same bokeh.
The lens is really small. It stands just as much out as the grip on a Z5II.
I hope I was not too hard. Viltrox has to work on the AF with a firmware update.. I will do more testing when the light is better the next days and the sun comes out again.
Added:
Combining the AF-C mode with Single-Point AF on the Nikon Z5 II instead of AF-S and "Pinpoint AF" area mode solves it for now using the Viltrox 26 EVO. Pinpoint AF uses contrast detect.Pinpoint AF (or Spot AF) uses a very small, highly precise focal area meant exclusively for stationary subjects. Single Point AF uses a slightly larger, standard box that focuses more quickly, handles fine-tuning, and works for both still and moving subjects
From Peltier
I am normally more into landscapes, and like exact focus. Works fine with a Z7 and Z5II and all my other lenses.
I don't know who Peltier is, I prefer to read the manual, and I have confirmed what is said there myself.
- With a focus point smaller than that employed for single-point AF, pinpoint AF is used for pinpoint focus on a selected spot in the frame.
- Focusing may be slower than with single-point AF.
- Recommended for shots involving static subjects, such as buildings, in-studio product photography, or close-ups.
- This option is only available when photo mode is selected and [Single AF] is chosen for focus mode.
It's not a mode you should judge AF performance on, let alone use for ANYTHING that is moving (including yourself, handheld).
RoamingScott wrote
Never use pinpoint ever except for tripod still-life shooting. That’s just user errorpete478888 wrote
I received mine yesterday.On a Nikon Z5II with latest firmware, AF-S is hardly usable and permanently hunts. AF-C is better, but I prefer AF-S for static objects for its precision.
I hope Viltrox corrects it soon with a firmware update !!
The images look sharp but they don't look as crisp as the 85 EVO shots. The 85 EVO has a Zeiss like micro contrast, making the images pop. But the light was very flat yesterday.
The lens is sharp into the extreme corners. No decentering. Vignetting is easy to correct. It's cooler than 35 EVO and 85 EVO. Distortion is mild. I have not used the hood and got some flare. Better coating certainly would have helped here. It's not a cheap lens after all. Certainly not in Europe.
Bokeh is very nice for 26mm IMHO. I wish the 35 1.8 EVO would have the same bokeh.
The lens is really small. It stands just as much out as the grip on a Z5II.
I hope I was not too hard. Viltrox has to work on the AF with a firmware update.. I will do more testing when the light is better the next days and the sun comes out again.
Added:
Combining the AF-C mode with Single-Point AF on the Nikon Z5 II instead of AF-S and "Pinpoint AF" area mode solves it for now using the Viltrox 26 EVO. Pinpoint AF uses contrast detect.
From Peltier
I am normally more into landscapes, and like exact focus. Works fine with a Z7 and Z5II and all my other lenses.
I don't know who Peltier is, I prefer to read the manual, and I have confirmed what is said there myself.
- With a focus point smaller than that employed for single-point AF, pinpoint AF is used for pinpoint focus on a selected spot in the frame.
- Focusing may be slower than with single-point AF.
- Recommended for shots involving static subjects, such as buildings, in-studio product photography, or close-ups.
- This option is only available when photo mode is selected and [Single AF] is chosen for focus mode.
It's not a mode you should judge AF performance on, let alone use for ANYTHING that is moving (including yourself, handheld).
Jul 19, 2026 at 07:23 AM
p.3 #16Viltrox 26mm f2.8 EVO for Z and E - first look
I think it has the pop
MikeEvangelist wrote:
Further observations: I'm pleased with the sharpness, lack of fringing, and nice out-of-focus areas. And while the focus is slow-ish to acquire initial focus, it seems to keep up pretty well after that.
Also, the manual focus ring, in spite of being hilariously tiny, works reasonably well.
Stuck inside until the smoke cloud passes again, but here's a few from around the house (all at ƒ2.8):
MikeEvangelist wrote:
Further observations: I'm pleased with the sharpness, lack of fringing, and nice out-of-focus areas. And while the focus is slow-ish to acquire initial focus, it seems to keep up pretty well after that.
Also, the manual focus ring, in spite of being hilariously tiny, works reasonably well.
Stuck inside until the smoke cloud passes again, but here's a few from around the house (all at ƒ2.8):
Jul 19, 2026 at 08:39 AM
p.3 #17Viltrox 26mm f2.8 EVO for Z and E - first look
Garmadon wrote:
I think it has the pop
Also, the manual focus ring, in spite of being hilariously tiny, works reasonably well.
Stuck inside until the smoke cloud passes again, but here's a few from around the house (all at ƒ2.8):
I don’t like the OOF rendering of the tree foliage in the patio shot; it looks weird. It’s not terrible, just don’t like it. BUT I agree the focused subjects have a real nice sharp pop. All in all, it’s such an ideal type lens for my a7C II that it’s a no-brainer must-buy for me.
It would be awesome if Viltrox would make a companion pancake 40mm EVO…a nice less-expensive alternative to Sony’s 24G/40G combo.
I think it has the pop
MikeEvangelist wrote
Further observations: I'm pleased with the sharpness, lack of fringing, and nice out-of-focus areas. And while the focus is slow-ish to acquire initial focus, it seems to keep up pretty well after that.Also, the manual focus ring, in spite of being hilariously tiny, works reasonably well.
Stuck inside until the smoke cloud passes again, but here's a few from around the house (all at ƒ2.8):
I don’t like the OOF rendering of the tree foliage in the patio shot; it looks weird. It’s not terrible, just don’t like it. BUT I agree the focused subjects have a real nice sharp pop. All in all, it’s such an ideal type lens for my a7C II that it’s a no-brainer must-buy for me.
It would be awesome if Viltrox would make a companion pancake 40mm EVO…a nice less-expensive alternative to Sony’s 24G/40G combo.
Jul 19, 2026 at 09:02 AM
p.3 #18Viltrox 26mm f2.8 EVO for Z and E - first look
I have submitted my feedback to them for a Mark II of sorts of their current 40mm to be along these lines.
I do think it would 1) have to be a pancake (or at least a muffin) and 2) stay at f/2.5 to "protect" the 35 EVO. Both would be perfectly fine with me.
darbo wrote:
Also, the manual focus ring, in spite of being hilariously tiny, works reasonably well.
Stuck inside until the smoke cloud passes again, but here's a few from around the house (all at ƒ2.8):I don’t like the OOF rendering of the tree foliage in the patio shot; it looks weird. It’s not terrible, just don’t like it. BUT I agree the focused subjects have a real nice sharp pop. All in all, it’s such an ideal type lens for my a7C II that it’s a no-brainer must-buy for me.
It would be awesome if Viltrox would make a companion pancake 40mm EVO…a nice less-expensive alternative to Sony’s 24G/40G combo.
I do think it would 1) have to be a pancake (or at least a muffin) and 2) stay at f/2.5 to "protect" the 35 EVO. Both would be perfectly fine with me.
darbo wrote:
Garmadon wrote
I think it has the popMikeEvangelist wrote
Further observations: I'm pleased with the sharpness, lack of fringing, and nice out-of-focus areas. And while the focus is slow-ish to acquire initial focus, it seems to keep up pretty well after that.Also, the manual focus ring, in spite of being hilariously tiny, works reasonably well.
Stuck inside until the smoke cloud passes again, but here's a few from around the house (all at ƒ2.8):
It would be awesome if Viltrox would make a companion pancake 40mm EVO…a nice less-expensive alternative to Sony’s 24G/40G combo.
Jul 19, 2026 at 09:15 AM
p.3 #19Viltrox 26mm f2.8 EVO for Z and E - first look
darbo wrote:
I don’t like the OOF rendering of the tree foliage in the patio shot; it looks weird. It’s not terrible, just don’t like it. BUT I agree the focused subjects have a real nice sharp pop.
Not sure I can agree. That's a very busy/tricky background and most lenses do far worse. Considering what this lens is, I think it did a good job of it.
Personal preferences are important, of course.
I don’t like the OOF rendering of the tree foliage in the patio shot; it looks weird. It’s not terrible, just don’t like it. BUT I agree the focused subjects have a real nice sharp pop.
Not sure I can agree. That's a very busy/tricky background and most lenses do far worse. Considering what this lens is, I think it did a good job of it.
Personal preferences are important, of course.
Jul 19, 2026 at 09:36 AM
p.3 #20Viltrox 26mm f2.8 EVO for Z and E - first look
Poked my head outside for a few minutes this morning.
ILCE-7RM6 Viltrox 26mm F2.8 FE lens 26mm f/2.8 1/2000s 100 ISO 0.0 EV
ILCE-7RM6 Viltrox 26mm F2.8 FE lens 26mm f/2.8 1/40s 100 ISO -0.7 EV
Jul 19, 2026 at 09:36 AM