Viltrox 35mm F1.4 Pro and Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art Compared

TechRadar’s Timothy Coleman compared Viltrox’s AF 35mm F1.4 Pro with Sigma’s 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art, a lens he has used for almost 15 years. He tested both on a Nikon Z6 II, attaching the Sigma through an F-mount to Z-mount adapter. The Viltrox was unveiled in Nikon Z-mount and Sony E-mount versions; no L-mount version had been announced.

With both lenses wide open at f/1.4, Coleman found the Viltrox slightly sharper and better at controlling chromatic aberration. The differences were most apparent when inspecting images closely, and might not be visible on a laptop. The Sigma also showed longitudinal chromatic aberration in some cases. Vignetting was roughly comparable, and the two lenses produced similar bokeh.

Coleman also compared sequences shot at f/1.4, f/1.8, f/2, f/2.8, f/4 and f/5.6. At f/4 and f/5.6, he found that sharpness evened out and most optical differences became negligible, though chromatic aberration remained more pronounced in the Sigma. He reported no meaningful size or weight advantage for either lens when used with the Z6 II and adapter. He also noted that the Viltrox’s exterior scratched easily, while his heavily used Sigma continued to perform well.