Viltrox Expands LAB Series with Z-Mount 35mm f/1.2
The Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.2 LAB is now available for Nikon Z-mount mirrorless cameras, expanding the company’s flagship LAB series beyond its earlier Sony E-mount release. Designed for full-frame use but also compatible with APS-C bodies, the lens targets users seeking a very fast 35mm prime at a price significantly lower than Nikon’s own Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.2 S.
The optical design is unchanged from the E-mount version and consists of 15 elements arranged in 10 groups. These include five extra-low dispersion elements, three high-refractive-index elements, and two aspherical lenses. The Chinese company states that this configuration is intended to maintain high sharpness across the frame at f/1.2 while controlling aberrations, vignetting, and distortion. An 11-blade circular aperture is used to shape out-of-focus rendering, although the shallow depth of field at this focal length and aperture remains the dominant characteristic. The minimum focusing distance is 0.34 meters, resulting in a maximum magnification of 0.17×.
Autofocus is driven by Viltrox’s Quad HyperVCM voice-coil motor system, which supports face and eye detection on compatible Nikon Z cameras. The company claims fast and quiet focus operation, along with reduced focus breathing for video work. For video use, the lens also includes a de-clickable aperture ring and is designed to minimize audible focus noise.
In terms of physical construction, the lens follows the LAB series design language: it features a magnesium alloy barrel, a metal mount, and weather sealing throughout. On the barrel are two customizable function buttons, an AF/MF switch, an aperture ring with a click/de-click selector, and a wide focusing ring. A small OLED display on the top of the lens can show parameters such as aperture and focus distance. Firmware updates can be applied via a USB-C port built into the mount.
The Nikon Z-mount version is slightly larger and heavier than the Sony E-mount model, weighing approximately 970 grams and measuring 124 mm in length. Aside from these dimensional differences, functionality and features remain the same across mounts.
Here are some sample pictures, courtesy of Viltrox:
With a launch price of €999 in Europe, the Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.2 LAB positions itself as a lower-cost alternative to Nikon’s first-party 35mm f/1.2 S lens, which remains substantially more expensive. Within the Nikon Z system, it sits above the more affordable f/1.8 and f/1.4 options in terms of aperture and size, while undercutting Nikon’s flagship offering on price.
