In late 2024, Viltrox announced the new Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.7 Air lens. It’s incredibly compact and offers great image quality, so let’s compare it to the Fujifilm XC 35mm f/2 to see which of these two is better.
Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.7 Air
- Focal Length: 35mm
- Max Aperture: f/1.7
- Mount: Fuji X
- Weather-Sealing: ❌
- Weight: 180g
- Released: 2024
- Amazon
Fujifilm XC 35mm f/2
- Focal Length: 35mm
- Max Aperture: f/2
- Mount: Fuji X
- Weather-Sealing: ❌
- Weight: 130g
- Released: 2020
- Amazon
The Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 Air has a slightly bigger aperture, renders colors beautifully, and costs even less than the already affordable Fujifilm XC 35mm f/2.
In this comparison, I will go over the advantages for each lens, show you some 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 XC 35mm f/2
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 XC 35mm f/2: Detailed Comparison
🔭 1. Focal Length
- Viltrox 35mm f/1.7: 35mm
- Fujifilm 35mm f/2: 35mm
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 slightly faster shutter speed. This helps reduce the blur and make your subject appear more “frozen”.
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. It makes the Viltrox a bit better for wedding and professional portrait use, but the bokeh difference will be minimal.
📏 3. Dimensions & Weight
- Viltrox 35mm f/1.7: 180g / 0.40lb
- Fujifilm 35mm f/2: 130g / 0.29lb
- Winner: Fujifilm 🏆
The Fujifilm XC 35mm f/2 weighs 50g less, largely due to its smaller aperture.
Let me put it this way. If the Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 weighs just enough that you don’t completely forget you have it mounted, the Fujifilm XC 35mm 35mm f/2 is pretty much as light as air.
it doesn’t get better than either of these two lenses if you’re looking for an ultra lightweight companion to travel with.
- Viltrox 35mm f/1.7: 64 x 56mm / 2.52″ x 2.20″
- Fujifilm 35mm f/2: 58 x 47mm / 2.28″ x 1.85″
- Winner: Fujifilm 🏆
Similar story here. The Fujifilm XC 35mm f/2 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.
For casual, day to day photography where you have the camera on your wrist strap or want to hide the camera, the Fuji will be a bit easier to do that with. A liiittle bit.
🎥 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 XC 35mm f/2 both share the same smallest aperture size; f/16.
This is pretty common for 35mm lenses, and I’ve never really 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 / 13.78″
- 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: Tie
Nothing special here, as both lenses are so cheap due to a lack of proper weather-resistance.
Does this mean they will dissolve in rain?
No, of course not. Almost all lenses can handle light amount of rain, snow and bad weather. I own a ton of non-sealed gear and have never had any issues.
However, it’s true that if I do go on trips or places where there’s a high chance of storms/high humidity, or dust/sand, I do bring some weather-resistant gear to make my life easier. You’ll just have to be a bit more careful in such scenarios.
🎦 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 XC 35mm f/2 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: $199
- Winner: Viltrox 🏆
The Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 is around $20 cheaper, which makes this buying decision quite challenging.
However, with both lenses having similarly good image quality, colors, and overall performance, the bigger f/1.7 aperture does make the Viltrox more appealing in my eyes.
Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 vs Fujifilm XC 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 XC 35mm f/2: Comparison Table
Better specifications are highlighted in green.
| 🎥 Lens Specification | Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 Air | Fujifilm XC 35mm f/2 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 0.14x |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 33cm / 12.99″ | 35cm / 13.78″ |
| Aperture Ring | No | No |
| 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″ | 58 x 47mm / 2.28″ x 1.85″ |
| Weight (g) | 180g / 0.40lb | 130g / 0.29lb |
| Hood Included | Yes | No |
| Released | 2024 | 2020 |
| Price | Amazon | Amazon |
So, which lens is the better one?
Choose the Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 Air if:
- You often shoot in low-light and need every bit of light
- You often shoot portraits and wish for the biggest aperture
Choose the Fujifilm XC 35mm f/2 if:
- You want an incredibly lightweight lens
