Along with the Sigma 16-300mm, this lens was the second one I packed for my recent trip to Japan. In a previous post, I mentioned how I was unsure about which lenses to bring, but then Sigma Marketing Singapore reached out, and my good friend Ivan Joshua Loh handed me this compact prime lens to try out. So, these are the two lenses I took with me on my Japan trip. (And by the way, I also brought along the Instax Wide Evo, but that is for the other day.)
Intro
The Viltrox “Air” series has gained significant popularity among photographers, and Viltrox shows no signs of slowing down. Following the release of the Viltrox 56mm f1.7 and Viltrox 35mm f1.7, the company introduced the latest addition to the “Air” family, the Viltrox 25mm f1.7, in February 2025. This completes the “Air” trinity.
Right: Fuji X-M5 . Viltrox 25mm f1.7 @ 25mm . f1.7. 1/125″ . ISO 1000 . Nostalgic Negative
Design and Build Quality
As part of the “Air” series, this lens follows the same design language as the other two “Air” lenses, staying true to the series’ characteristics. It features the same plastic build, is lightweight at just 170 grams, and has a 52mm filter size. It also lacks an aperture ring. I previously mentioned that the Viltrox 35mm f1.7’s plastic material is resistant to fingerprints, and this lens shares the same feature.
Right: Fuji X-M5 . Viltrox 25mm f1.7 @ 25mm . f1.7. 1/12800″ . ISO 320 . Nostalgic Negative
Overall, it feels comfortable to hold and pairs nicely with the smallest Fuji camera, the X-M5. And yes, it comes with a plastic petal lens hood.
Image Quality
While the image quality doesn’t quite match the “Pro” or “Lab” series, the results are still solid, offering good contrast and sharpness when wide open. While it may not reach the benchmark set by Fujifilm’s compact prime lenses, like the XF 23mm f2 WR, I think it’s more than sufficient for social media posts and even prints, as long as you’re not too particular.
Right: Fuji X-M5 . Viltrox 25mm f1.7 @ 25mm . f1.7. 1/8500″ . ISO 320 . Nostalgic Negative
That said, the vignetting appears more pronounced than on the 35mm variant, which isn’t to my preference. As for chromatic aberration, Viltrox has done a good job here, as it’s not noticeable to my eyes.
When it comes to sun stars, the lines appear softer, similar to the Viltrox 35mm f1.7.
Focusing
The lens is equipped with a Stepper Motor (STM), and in my experience, it performs quite well. While it isn’t as fast as high-end prime lenses, the focusing speed is still decent, and it locks onto subjects effectively. During my testing on a trip, even in low-light conditions, I didn’t encounter any issues with misfocusing or focus-pulling. The only time it struggles is when I’m too close to the Minimum Focus Distance (MFD).
Right: Fuji X-M5 . Viltrox 25mm f1.7 @ 25mm . f1.7. 1/125″ . ISO 320 . Nostalgic Negative
Focusing from MFD to infinity is relatively quick, especially considering its price point, and Eye-AF functions properly as well.
Minimum Focus Distance (MFD)
I was hoping for a closer Minimum Focus Distance (MFD), but unfortunately, it’s 30cm. It’s not terrible, though I wish it were a bit closer for a better perspective. On the bright side, I’m pleased to see that the image quality remains consistent and doesn’t degrade.
Price Point
At 176 USD, this lens is priced similarly to its two siblings. It seems to be part of Viltrox’s strategy to keep the price of all three lenses competitively low in order to attract more photographers. However, Viltrox faces stiff competition from TTArtisan, which offers similar lenses at an even lower price point.
Right: Fuji X-M5 . Viltrox 25mm f1.7 @ 25mm . f1.7. 1/125″ . ISO 1250 . Nostalgic Negative
Others
An interesting detail is that all the “Air” lenses share the same weight and filter size. This is great for photographers looking to travel light with minimal filters. In fact, combining the X-M5 with all three “Air” lenses results in a total weight of 865 grams (355 grams for the camera + 170 grams for each lens x3).
Right: Fuji X-M5 . Viltrox 25mm f1.7 @ 25mm . f1.7. 1/15000″ . ISO 320 . Classic Negative
Like most third-party brands, it includes a USB-C port for firmware updates, which is located at the rear of the lens.
Who is this for?
At 25mm (equivalent to 37.5mm on full-frame), the focal length falls somewhere between 35mm and 40mm. Personally, I find it quite comfortable. During my trip, I had no issues using this focal length for street photography, product shots, and environmental portraits.
Conclusion
Probably due to my preference for the focal length, I find myself liking this lens more than the Viltrox 35mm f1.7. One of the things I appreciate about these trinity lenses is that they all share the same size, filter size, and weight. It’s a smart design choice that allows Viltrox to maintain a consistent philosophy across three different focal lengths.
Viltrox has created a solid budget-friendly trinity lineup, which is great for new photographers who either have a limited budget or don’t want to invest in more expensive lenses. The image quality is quite good for the price. If you’re a fan of Viltrox, this lens is a great starting point for prime lenses. That said, I still think TTArtisan offers a more cost-effective option.
Thank you for reading.
Disclaimer:
1. All the shots taken here are shot by me.
2. Most of the shots are straight out of the camera with some shots edited via In-Camera Raw Processing.
3. The opinions are based on my experience. If there is any mistake, please kindly drop me a message and I will gladly make the amendment.
4. I reserve ownership of these images, if you wish to use my images, please notify me.
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Alwin Kok 