The Viltrox 24mm f1.8 for Nikon Z has been around for a while. It was one of Viltrox’s first autofocus lenses for Nikon’s mirrorless mount, so yeah—I’m late to the party. But showing up late has its perks: I grabbed mine brand new for under €250 (to be fair with a special deal). That’s an insane deal for a full-frame autofocus prime. So, how good is it really?
Build Quality, Handling & Autofocus
This lens instantly reminded me of Viltrox’s first AF primes for Fujifilm—like the 23mm, 33mm and 56mm. It has a metal barrel, a red badge on the side, and yes, a proper aperture ring. Sure, it’s not clicked, but I’ll take a smooth ring over diving into menus any day. To me, lenses should feel like tools—not plastic toys.
One thing I do miss, though, is an AF/MF switch. I tend to switch to manual focus often, and having a physical toggle would be really convenient. But I get it: compromises have to be made to hit this price.
Autofocus performance was… mixed at first. Especially in video, I noticed some minor hunting during talking head shots. Thankfully, Viltrox includes a USB-C port right on the lens mount for firmware updates. After a quick update, the AF became snappy, quiet, and stable—even for video work. That update feature alone is a pretty big deal in this price range.
Image Quality: Wide Open? Totally Usable.
Let’s be honest—nobody’s buying a 24mm f1.8 for landscapes at f11. I bought it for the wide aperture. My standard zoom starts at f4, and for a bokeh nerd like me, that’s just not enough.
So, I shot this thing wide open as often as I could—and it delivered. It’s not clinically sharp at f1.8, especially in the corners, but the center is totally usable. And with a little boost in contrast and structure in Lightroom, images really come to life.
Stopping down to f/2.8 or f/3.2 brings a visible boost in sharpness across the frame. Chromatic aberration? Minimal. Vignetting? Yep, it’s there—but I actually like it. Depending on the subject, I sometimes even add more in post to give my shots a bit more depth.
My Verdict for Viltrox 24mm f1.8: Not Perfect, but Surprisingly Great
No, the Viltrox 24mm f1.8 isn’t perfect. It lacks weather sealing, the aperture ring doesn’t click, and there’s no focus switch. But none of that really matters when you look at the price-to-performance ratio. This lens punches way above its weight.
I use it for street photography, landscapes, and YouTube videos—especially for A-roll footage. I love the perspective it gives me: wide enough to show context, but not so wide that it warps my face. (Bonus: I look slightly slimmer on camera. Big win.)
If you’re looking for a fast 24mm prime for Nikon Z that won’t break the bank, this one’s absolutely worth a look. Just know what you’re getting: a capable, no-nonsense lens that prioritizes function over finesse.
I ordered mine directly from the official Viltrox store, but keep in mind: import duties may apply depending on your country. If that’s a concern, check for local resellers—you might pay a little more, but shipping is faster and hassle-free.
