Credit: Viltrox
When Viltrox announced their LAB series, many photographers raised their eyebrows. Could a relatively newcomer to the high-end lens market really compete with industry giants like Sony and Canon? After extensive testing of the Viltrox LAB 135mm f/1.8, I can confidently say that this lens isn’t just competing – it’s changing the game entirely.
Professional Portrait Performance at Half the Price
Credit: Viltrox
The Viltrox LAB 135mm f/1.8 represents a bold step into professional-grade optics, targeting the same market as Sony’s G Master and Canon’s L series lenses. Priced at $899, it’s less than half the cost of the Sony 135mm f/1.8 G Master, its direct competitor. But make no mistake – this isn’t a budget lens masquerading as premium glass. It’s a serious piece of optical engineering that delivers outstanding results.
Build Quality and Physical Characteristics
The first thing you’ll notice about the Viltrox LAB 135mm f/1.8 is its substantial presence. Weighing in at 45.9 ounces (1,300 grams), it matches the heft of professional 70-200 f/2.8 lenses. The build quality is impressive, featuring weather sealing throughout and an 82mm filter thread that’s consistent with other professional options in its class.
The lens incorporates some thoughtful modern touches, including a USB-C port cleverly integrated into the mount for firmware updates. There’s also an LCD panel displaying distance scale, focus distance, and aperture information – though traditional photographers might prefer simple printed markers.
Optical Performance That Punches Above Its Weight
Credit: Viltrox
Where the Viltrox LAB 135mm f/1.8 truly shines is in its optical performance. The center sharpness at f/1.8 is remarkable, delivering bright, contrasty, and crisp images. While there’s some vignetting wide open, it’s comparable to what you’d find in the Sony G Master, and stopping down to f/4 effectively eliminates it.
The bokeh characteristics are particularly noteworthy, thanks to an 11-bladed aperture design. At f/1.8, backgrounds melt away beautifully, with specular highlights showing minimal cat’s eye effect. By f/2.8, any remaining cat’s eye effect disappears completely, resulting in consistently pleasant background blur that’s essential for portrait photography.
Autofocus and Practical Application
The dual VCM motor system provides quick and accurate autofocus performance. While it might not match the absolute speed of Sony’s native options for sports photography, it’s more than capable for portrait work and general photography. The lens integrates seamlessly with Sony’s advanced in-camera autofocusing modes, including Eye AF, which performs flawlessly.
Close-focus capabilities are impressive, achieving a 1:4 life-size reproduction ratio at its minimum focus distance of 28 inches (0.7 meters). This versatility makes it excellent for tight portrait details and creative close-up work.
Real-World Performance
In practical use, the Viltrox LAB 135mm f/1.8 proves itself as a worthy professional tool. The combination of sharp optics and beautiful bokeh rendering makes it particularly suited for portrait photography. The lens exhibits minimal longitudinal chromatic aberration (LoCA), and what little exists is easily corrected in post-processing.
Worth the Investment?
Despite some minor quirks – like the somewhat clunky aperture ring implementation and its substantial weight – the Viltrox LAB 135mm f/1.8 represents exceptional value for professional photographers. It delivers image quality that rivals lenses costing twice as much, with build quality to match.
For Sony E-mount photographers seeking a professional-grade portrait lens without the premium price tag, the Viltrox LAB 135mm f/1.8 is a compelling option. It proves that exceptional optical performance doesn’t always require a premium price tag, and sometimes the newcomers can teach the established players a thing or two about value.
Final Verdict
The Viltrox LAB 135mm f/1.8 isn’t just a good lens for the money – it’s a genuinely excellent lens that happens to be affordably priced. While it may not have the brand cachet of Sony or Canon, its performance speaks for itself. For photographers who prioritize image quality and value over brand names, this lens represents one of the best values in professional portrait photography today.
