The new Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 Air offers excellent image quality at a very low price. It’s much more affordable than the Fujifilm 35mm f/2 R WR, so let’s see how these two lenses compare.
Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.7 Air
- Focal Length: 35mm
- Max Aperture: f/1.7
- Mount: Fuji X, Sony, Nikon
- Weather-Sealing: ❌
- Weight: 180g
- Released: 2024
- Amazon ($)
Fujifilm 35mm f/2 R WR
- Focal Length: 35mm
- Max Aperture: f/2
- Mount: Fuji X
- Weather-Sealing: ✔️
- Weight: 170g
- Released: 2015
- Amazon ($$)
The Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 Air was announced at the end of 2024, and gives you excellent image quality and f/1.7 for less than $200.
In this comparison, I will go over the advantages for each lens, show you sample images, as well as how they both compare at different photography types.
If you’re in a hurry, the advantages below are all you need to make the final decision.
Advantages of Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 Air
Advantages of Fujifilm 35mm f/2 R WR
Now, let’s see which features and advantages are actually important for your specific needs and which ones only sound good on paper.
Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 vs Fujifilm 35mm f/2: Detailed Comparison
🔭 1. Focal Length
- Viltrox 35mm f/1.7: 35mm
- Fujifilm 35mm f/2: 35mm
- Winner: Tie
Both lenses provide an identical focal length range of 35mm.
I find this focal length to be ideal for portraits, weddings, traveling, street and casual photography. It’s not too wide, but it’s also not too long.
35mm is actually equivalent to a 52.5mm lens on a full-frame camera, and this is one of the most popular lengths of all time.
🎥 2. Maximum Aperture
- Viltrox 35mm f/1.7: Aperture f/1.7
- Fujifilm 35mm f/2: Aperture f/2
- Winner: Viltrox 🏆
The Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 Air brings in a little bit more light. Not by a full stop, but 1/2 stop, which is enough to make a difference in low-light situations.
For weddings, concerts and indoor events, the extra light will allow you to shoot with a lower ISO.
However, as of 2025, all Fujifilm mirrorless cameras have such good ISO performance that the difference between f/1.7 and f/2 isn’t really a deal breaker.
If you do a lot of portraits, it also helps that the slightly bigger f/1.7 results in a shallower depth of field, thus nicer looking bokeh.
📏 3. Dimensions & Weight
- Viltrox 35mm f/1.7: 180g / 0.40lb
- Fujifilm 35mm f/2: 170g / 0.37lb
- Winner: Fujifilm 🏆
The Fujifilm 35mm f/2 R WR manages to weight a tiny bit less, but this difference mainly sounds good on paper.
In the real world, you’ll never notice a 10g difference. Therefore, both lenses are ideal for traveling and compact shooting.
- Viltrox 35mm f/1.7: 64 x 56mm / 2.52″ x 2.20″
- Fujifilm 35mm f/2: 60 x 45.9mm / 2.36″ x 1.80″
- Winner: Fujifilm 🏆
Similar story here. The Fujifilm 35mm f/2 R WR is a little bit smaller than the Viltrox, and it’s enough to make a difference.
Both lenses are small, but the Fujifilm will fit easier into any pocket/part of your camera bag.
🎥 4. Minimum Aperture
- Viltrox 35mm f/1.7: f/16
- Fujifilm 35mm f/2: f/16
- Winner: Tie
The Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 Air and Fujifilm 35mm f/2 R WR both share the same smallest aperture size; f/16.
This is pretty common for 35mm lenses, and I’ve pretty much never wished that it could go smaller than that. Aperture f/16 is more than enough for landscape and time-lapses on a bright day. If you’re looking for smaller aperture sizes, then I suggest you get an ND filter as it will make your life much easier
Plus, shooting with f/16 or smaller raises the risk of losing image quality due to diffraction.
🔬 5. Minimum Focusing Distance
- Viltrox 35mm f/1.7: Minimum focusing distance of 33cm / 12.99″
- Fujifilm 35mm f/2: Minimum focusing distance of 35cm / 13.80″
- Winner: Viltrox 🏆
Another feature where both Viltrox and Fujifilm are pretty much identical.
The 33cm (12.99″) closest focusing distance of the Viltrox is good enough for some close-up photography, such as food or flowers, but it’s absolutely not a crazy macro distance.
The same goes for Fujifilm with its 35cm (13.80″) minimum focusing distance. Enough to cover needs of 90% situations, but you might miss those super close situations every now and then (I know I do, but it’s the same for most 35mm lenses).
⛅ 6. Weather-Sealing
- Viltrox 35mm f/1.7: ❌
- Fujifilm 35mm f/2: ✔️
- Winner: Fujifilm 🏆
This is the biggest advantage of the Fujifilm 35mm f/2 R WR!
The WR in its name stands for Weather Resistant, which means you can travel much more stress-free.
Almost all lenses (non-WR) can handle light amount of rain, snow and bad weather, but for those who do most of their work in difficult environments, the Fujifilm 35mm f/2 R WR is a better lens.
🎦 7. Image Stabilization
- Viltrox 35mm f/1.7: ❌
- Fujifilm 35mm f/2: ❌
- Winner: Tie
Neither of these lenses feature Image Stabilization technology.
That’s why they’re so compact and affordable! Plus, if your Fuji camera has built-in stabilization, you’re not missing out on anything.
💿 8. Aperture Blades
- Viltrox 35mm f/1.7: 9 diaphragm blades
- Fujifilm 35mm f/2: 9 diaphragm blades
- Winner: Tie
Same bokeh performance for both Viltrox and Fujifilm lenses. 9 blades makes them both equally good for portraits, pets, food and photos with a smooth looking bokeh.
📽 9. Filter Size
- Viltrox 35mm f/1.7: 52mm filter size
- Fujifilm 35mm f/2: 43mm filter size
- Winner: Fujifilm 🏆
The Fujifilm 35mm f/2 R WR uses much smaller filters, which means you’ll spend less money on them.
While 52mm filters of the Viltrox 35mm are also super cheap and easy to find, there’s a noticeable price difference between them. This is even more true if you plan on buying UV, ND, Polarizing filters etc., as the costs can add up quickly.
💲 10. Price
- Viltrox 35mm f/1.7: $179
- Fujifilm 35mm f/2: $399
- Winner: Viltrox 🏆
The Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 is much cheaper.
You could actually get 2 x Viltrox 35mm lenses for the price of one Fujifilm 35mm! The ~$210 you save is enough for filters and maybe even another Viltrox lens.
Seeing as image quality and performance between these two is pretty much identical, it makes the Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 Air an absolute steal!
Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 vs Fujifilm 35mm f/2: Photography Type
From 1 being the worst, 5 being the best.
It’s best to choose a lens that suits your favorite photography types, or offers you something that your current gear is not good enough for.
Due to their 35mm focal length, they’re pretty much the same for most types of photography scenarios.
However, the slightly bigger f/1.7 gives the Viltrox an advantage in portrait and low-light photography. It results in brighter images and a shallower depth of field.
Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 vs Fujifilm 35mm f/2: Comparison Table
Better specifications are highlighted in green.
| 🎥 Lens Specification | Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 Air | Fujifilm 35mm f/2 R WR |
|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 35mm | 35mm |
| 35mm Equivalent | 52.5mm | 52.5mm |
| Mount | Fujifilm X | Fujifilm X |
| Maximum Aperture | f/1.7 | f/2 |
| Minimum Aperture | f/16 | f/16 |
| Filter Size | 52 mm | 43 mm |
| Maximum Magnification | 0.13x | 0.13x |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 33cm / 12.99″ | 35cm / 13.8″ |
| Aperture Ring | No | Yes |
| Focus Type | Autofocus | Autofocus |
| Motor Type | Stepper Motor | Stepper Motor |
| Lens Construction | 11 elements in 9 groups | 9 elements in 6 groups |
| Aperture Blades | 9 | 9 |
| Image Stabilization | ❌ | ❌ |
| Weather Sealing | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Dimensions (mm) | 64 x 56mm / 2.52″ x 2.2″ | 60 x 45.9mm / 2.36″ x 1.80″ |
| Weight (g) | 180g / 0.40lb | 170g |
| Hood Included | Yes | Yes |
| Released | 2024 | 2015 |
| Price | Amazon | Amazon |
So, which lens is the better one?
Choose the Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 Air if:
- You want to save around $200 for a high quality 35mm lens
- You want better low-light performance (portraits, astro, night time)
- You don’t need the best weather-sealing
- You don’t need an aperture ring
Choose the Fujifilm 35mm f/2. R WR if:
- You need weather-sealing for challenging weather situations
- You prefer using an aperture ring
