In this blog, I’ll be comparing two compact wide-angle lenses for Sony’s full-frame system: the Viltrox 26mm f/2.8 EVO and the Sony 24mm f/2.8 G. Both lenses share the same philosophy, but there are several key differences you should know about. If you’re in the market for a compact wide-angle pancake lens, this comparison should help you decide which one is right for you.

Brand

The Sony is a native lens, made by the same company that makes the camera. Regardless of brand, native lenses tend to offer better integration with the camera system. Viltrox is doing a great job of keeping up, but certain aspects, such as autofocus speed, can still fall behind Sony’s own lenses.

Focal Length

The Sony is 24mm, while the Viltrox is 26mm. In real-world use, you’re unlikely to notice much difference between them. Of course, the 26mm will give you a slightly tighter field of view, but it isn’t something I would factor heavily into the decision-making process.

Price

There is a huge price difference between these two lenses. At the time of writing, the Viltrox costs $300, while the Sony is nearly $800. For most people, this alone will be the main deciding factor.

Build

Both lenses have solid metal construction and feel premium. However, the Sony feels more refined, with a nicer-sounding aperture ring and a much better-damped focus ring. The Sony also has full weather sealing, while the Viltrox only has a rubber gasket around the mount.

Handling

While both lenses are incredibly small and light, the Sony is around twice the size of the Viltrox. This difference is most noticeable on smaller camera bodies such as the A7CR. Honestly, it doesn’t make much difference to how the camera feels in the hand, but it has a significant impact when packing the camera away. With the Viltrox fitted, the camera takes up less space. For people who are travelling light, that could be a major deciding factor. However, I find the aperture and focus rings on the Sony much easier and more intuitive to use.

Features

This is where the Sony completely pulls away from the Viltrox. While both lenses have aperture and focus rings, that’s where the similarities end. The Sony includes several features that the Viltrox doesn’t:

Custom function button
AF/MF switch
Aperture de-click switch
Full weather sealing
Direct firmware updates through the camera

Image Quality

Initially, I thought the Sony would be miles ahead in terms of image quality. After further testing, however, I can say that the differences are much smaller than I expected. In the centre of the frame, both lenses look about the same to me. This applies at both f/2.8 and f/11. In the corners, the Viltrox softens more, but you need to look at the very extremes of the frame to notice a substantial difference. This can also be mitigated by stopping down to between f/8 and f/11. Both lenses produce great photos with pleasing colour and natural contrast. While the Sony has a slight edge here, I can’t say that the difference in image quality alone is worth the extra $500.

Autofocus

Honestly, this is the biggest difference between the two lenses for me. The Viltrox is considerably slower to focus than the Sony. The Sony snaps onto the subject almost instantly, while the Viltrox feels more like a fast focus pull. That isn’t to say the Viltrox is bad, far from it, but when you compare them side by side, the difference is night and day. This makes the decision relatively simple. If you frequently rely on autofocus and shoot sports or other fast-moving subjects, the Sony is the better option. If you mostly photograph still life, travel, nature, cityscapes, or family life, the Viltrox’s autofocus is more than good enough.

Summary

While these lenses might appear quite similar, in some respects they are worlds apart. If image quality is your main priority, the Viltrox may be the smarter financial decision, given that the Sony costs nearly three times as much. While the Sony might be a little sharper in the corners, I don’t think it’s nearly three-times-the-price sharper. If you don’t care about faster autofocus, full weather sealing, or extra features such as the custom function button, go for the Viltrox. If those things matter to you and are worth an additional $500 or so, the Sony is the clear winner. If money is tight, the Viltrox is the obvious choice.