The Naughty 40: Viltrox 40mm f/2.5 Sony FE Mount Review
You know that classic, trusty nifty 50? Well, what if I told you there's a new contender in town that's breaking all the rules? Enter the Viltrox 40mm f/2.5, or as I like to call it, the "Naughty 40." It's not quite a nifty 50mm, but this 40mm gem is redefining what a standard lens can be, with just the right amount of sass.
Now, you might be wondering, "Why the Naughty 40?" Well, if you're familiar with the nifty 50, you'll know it’s called nifty for a reason—it's compact, versatile, and gives you that perfect field of view. But here's the twist: 40mm isn’t 50mm, and it's certainly not nifty because, well, 40mm is 4cm, not 5. So what do we call it? Naughty.
The Viltrox 40mm f/2.5, without the lens hood.
I’ve been putting this Viltrox 40mm through its paces with some street photography, and I have to say, it’s been a refreshing change. If, like me, you usually stick to 35mm, switching things up to 40mm might be just what you need to reinvigorate your creative flow. I've previously been loyal to my Lumix GX80 paired with a 20mm f/1.7 (equivalent to 40mm), but lately, I've been all about 35mm. So, getting my hands on this Naughty 40 felt like a welcome reunion with an old friend—only better.
What I love about the Viltrox 40mm f/2.5 is its size and weight. It's compact, lightweight, and yes, it might feel a little "plastic fantastic," but it certainly doesn’t skimp on image quality. And if you’re a 35mm shooter who hasn’t dabbled much in 40mm, here’s the scoop: the difference in field of view is minimal, almost negligible when shooting portraits or street scenes. I’ve taken some portraits of my friend MC down at Salford Quays, and honestly, you’d be hard-pressed to spot any significant difference unless you’re comparing side-by-side shots.
Now, let’s talk about performance. In a head-to-head with the Samyang 35mm f/2.8, the Viltrox’s f/2.5 aperture gives it a slight edge in brightness and depth of field. That extra 5mm of focal length combined with the lower f-stop makes for a slightly shallower depth of field, which can be a real asset if you're all about that bokeh life. That said, for my street photography, I tend to shoot around f/4, f/5.6, or even f/7.1. Wide open isn’t usually my style for street, but this lens has been a joy to shoot with, even for some sneaky hip-level shots on my a7C II.
All the images you’re seeing from the Naughty 40 have been edited with my Kodak film stock preset pack
So, is the 40mm focal length a great all-rounder? Absolutely. If you’re someone who oscillates between 35mm and 50mm, the Viltrox 40mm f/2.5 could be the sweet spot you didn’t know you needed. And considering we haven’t really seen an affordable full-frame 40mm option for Sony E-mount until now, this lens is definitely worth considering. The Sony G lens might be a tempting alternative, but it’s also a bigger investment—especially if you’re working with a tighter budget.
Of course, if you're on a crop sensor, there are other 40mm equivalents from brands like 7artisans, TTArtisan, and even Viltrox. It’s great to see more options becoming available, especially with good autofocus performance becoming the standard.
A quick heads-up: vignetting is the biggest issue with this lens. You can manually remove it in Lightroom or your preferred editing software, but ideally, we’d see some profile corrections baked in soon. The Samyang 35mm f/2.8 already has those in Lightroom, which makes the correction process seamless.
In summary, the Naughty 40 is a solid addition to the lineup, offering a bit of a different flavor for those who love to play between 35mm and 50mm. It's compact, lightweight, and performs well, making it a fantastic budget-friendly option for Sony shooters. And remember, this isn't the only 40mm you can get for Sony E-mount—there's also that Sony G lens, which I reviewed a few years back (excuse the production quality).
So, are you ready to get a little naughty with your photography? Give the Viltrox 40mm f/2.5 a try, and you might just find your new favorite lens.
