Reviews

SG-Image 25mm f1.8 – The Fresh Face

Just like the mobile phone industry, where new brands and manufacturers frequently emerge with bold innovations and/or competitive offerings, the photography market is no stranger to fresh faces aiming to make their mark. In this case, the latest entrant is SG-Image, also known by its Chinese name, 深光影像.

SG-Image 25mm f1.8
SG-Image 25mm f1.8 with lens cap

Intro

Although SG-Image is still a relatively new name in the photography world, the company is quickly positioning itself as a serious contender in the camera lens and imaging technology space. Impressively, they’ve already built a lineup of around 13 lenses — a well-rounded mix that includes both manual and autofocus options, models designed for full-frame and APS-C sensors, and even a selection of cinematic lenses. It’s a diverse and ambitious range for such a young brand.

X-M5 with SG-Image 25mm f1.8
X-M5 with SG-Image 25mm f1.8

Following the release of their 55mm f1.8, SG-Image has now introduced the 25mm f1.8, marking their second autofocus lens made available to the global market. Generously, the team at SG-Image, who have been nothing but kind and supportive, sent me a unit of the 25mm lens (which offers a 37.5mm equivalent field of view on full-frame) to test out.

Fuji X-M5 . SG-Image 25mm f1.8 @ 25mm . f1.8 . 1/100″ . ISO 3200 . Nostalgic Negative

Before diving into the details, I’d like to express my thanks to the good guys at SG-Image for sending the lens. I truly appreciate their support. However, as always, their gesture has no influence on my opinions; this review remains entirely independent and unbiased.

Design and Build Quality

The lens feels great in the hand, compact and lightweight at just 145 grams. Its metal construction gives it a solid, premium feel, which I definitely appreciate. In terms of size, it’s quite comparable to the Fujifilm XF27mm f2.8 (about 10mm taller), making it a nice fit for smaller camera bodies.

Fuji X-M5 . SG-Image 25mm f1.8 @ 25mm . f1.8 . 1/125″ . ISO 1600 . Nostalgic Negative

That said, there are a couple of trade-offs. Unlike the XF27mm, this lens doesn’t feature an aperture ring, something some users may miss. It also uses a larger 52mm filter thread, compared to the 39mm size on the XF27mm.

One more thing to note: although many online sources mention that the lens includes a hood, the unit I received did not come with one.

Image Quality

The image quality at wide open is decent enough for the price tag. That said, the sharpness at the center is above the passing mark, but you will notice some softness at the corners. Contrast is also on the softer side.

Fuji X-M5 . SG-Image 25mm f1.8 @ 25mm . f1.8 . 1/125″ . ISO 2500 . Nostalgic Negative

As for chromatic aberration and vignetting, both are present but manageable in real-world use. Stopping down to f/2 or f/2.8 noticeably improves overall image quality, tightening up sharpness and contrast.

Fuji X-M5 . SG-Image 25mm f1.8 @ 25mm . f1.8 . 1/250″ . ISO 320 . Nostalgic Negative

However, if you’re hoping for striking sunstar effects, this lens may fall short — it doesn’t particularly excel in that area.

Fuji X-T5 . SG-Image 25mm f1.8 @ 25mm . f16 . 1/180″ . ISO 125 . Nostalgic Negative

Focusing

It is equipped with the standard Stepper Motor (STM), and I have no complaint with the focusing capability. It is fast, snappy, has no strong sign of focus pulling, and locks to the subject quite accurately.

Fuji X-T5 . SG-Image 25mm f1.8 @ 25mm . f1.8 . 1/80″ . ISO 320 . Nostalgic Negative

If you are interested in doing manual focus, the focus ring is fine, not the best but not the worst either.

Minimum Focus Distance (MFD)

Fuji X-M5 . SG-Image 25mm f1.8 @ 25mm . f1.8 . 1/1700″ . ISO 320 . Classic Negative
Fuji X-T5 . SG-Image 25mm f1.8 @ 25mm . f1.8 . 1/950″ . ISO 125 . Nostalgic Negative

Considering its compact size and budget-friendly price, the 30cm minimum focusing distance (MFD) is fairly acceptable. However, in my tests, getting close to the subject at that distance introduced noticeable softness and a drop in contrast compared to other shots. Stopping down to around f2.8 helps recover sharpness and improves overall image quality in close-up situations.

Price Point

Priced at just 69 USD, this lens comes with a highly attractive price tag that’s easy on the wallet. In fact, it’s even more affordable than the already budget-friendly TTArtisan 23mm f1.8, which retails for around 127 USD.

Fuji X-T5 . SG-Image 25mm f1.8 @ 25mm . f1.8 . 1/80″ . ISO 1250 . Nostalgic Negative

Others

It comes with a USB-C port, but it is located externally and not hidden at the rear lens element like others do. It is protected with a rubber seal, and it is not easy for me to spot it for the first time.

There is no mention about weather protection so be sure to avoid doing something risky to the lens.

Fuji X-T5 . SG-Image 25mm f1.8 @ 25mm . f1.8 . 1/80″ . ISO 250 . Nostalgic Negative

Lastly, it comes with 4 colours; black, silver, red and orange. Although the colors only appears on the focus ring, at least it’s a good attempt.

SG-Image 25mm f1.8 Silver and Black
X-M5 with SG-Image 25mm f1.8
X-M5 with SG-Image 25mm f1.8

Who is this for?

This lens is highly versatile, coming very close to the 23mm focal length that I personally favor. It works well across a range of genres, including street photography, landscapes, environmental portraits, and photojournalism.

Fuji X-T5 . SG-Image 25mm f1.8 @ 25mm . f1.8 . 1/480″ . ISO 125 . Nostalgic Negative
Fuji X-T5 . SG-Image 25mm f1.8 @ 25mm . f1.8 . 1/250″ . ISO 125 . Nostalgic Negative
Fuji X-T5 . SG-Image 25mm f1.8 @ 25mm . f1.8 . 1/80″ . ISO 125 . Nostalgic Negative

If you’re after something wider than 27mm (equivalent to 40mm on full-frame) but still want a compact setup, this is a solid choice.

Given its price point, it’s an easy recommendation for beginner photographers, also suitable to gift to someone.

Conclusion

SG-Image surprised me on how cheap one autofocus lens can be. Although it is not a perfect lens by any means, the image quality is still decent for social media sharing.

Fuji X-T5 . SG-Image 25mm f1.8 @ 25mm . f1.8 . 1/150″ . ISO 125 . Nostalgic Negative
Fuji X-T5 . SG-Image 25mm f1.8 @ 25mm . f1.8 . 1/2400″ . ISO 125 . Classic Negative

While an attractive price tag gives healthy competition among the third-party manufacturers, I hope it will not compromise the overall user experience with the lens.

Fuji X-T5 . SG-Image 25mm f1.8 @ 25mm . f1.8 . 1/2700″ . ISO 125 . Classic Negative
Fuji X-T5 . SG-Image 25mm f1.8 @ 25mm . f1.8 . 1/7000″ . ISO 125 . Classic Negative

During my test, I was told there was a new firmware for the lens to update. While updating the lens is a breeze, navigating the website to download the firmware is a little confusing. And the website isn’t in English; it might be a problem for non-Chinese-speaking photographers to find it. I have included the link to the general firmware download page below, and scroll to the lens and download. The link might be working in the future. Also, please do your own due diligence to ensure everything is clean before downloading, etc.

SG-Image firmware download center

Thank you for reading.

Disclaimer:
1. All the shots taken here were taken by me.
2. Most shots are straight out of the camera, with some edited via In-Camera Raw Processing.

3. The opinions are based on my experience. If there is any mistake, please kindly message me, and I will gladly make the amendment.
4. I reserve ownership of these images. If you wish to use my images, please notify me.

If you like my works, please follow me on either one of the 2 Instagram accounts:

If you have a Facebook account, feel free to join Fujifanboys FB group.

If you like my content and you want to show some support and keep this blog alive, you can buy me a coffee here.

photowalk

Viltrox 25mm f1.7 – “Air” Trinity Completes

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.)

Viltrox 25mm f1.7

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.

Fuji X-M5 . Viltrox 25mm f1.7 @ 25mm . f1.7. 1/125″ . ISO 640 . 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.

Fuji X-M5 . Viltrox 25mm f1.7 @ 25mm . f1.7. 1/1100″ . 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.

Fuji X-M5 . Viltrox 25mm f1.7 @ 25mm . f1.7. 1/12800″ . 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.

Fuji X-M5 . Viltrox 25mm f1.7 @ 25mm . f16. 1/150″ . ISO 320 . Nostalgic Negative

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).

Fuji X-M5 . Viltrox 25mm f1.7 @ 25mm . f1.7. 1/125″ . ISO 1250 . 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.

Fuji X-M5 . Viltrox 25mm f1.7 @ 25mm . f1.7. 1/5400″ . ISO 320 . Nostalgic Negative
Fuji X-M5 . Viltrox 25mm f1.7 @ 25mm . f1.7. 1/2900″ . ISO 320 . Nostalgic Negative
Fuji X-M5 . Viltrox 25mm f1.7 @ 25mm . f1.7. 1/3800″ . ISO 320 . Nostalgic Negative

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.

Fuji X-M5 . Viltrox 25mm f1.7 @ 25mm . f6.4. 1/250″ . ISO 160 . 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).

Fuji X-M5 . Viltrox 25mm f1.7 @ 25mm . f1.7. 1/2400″ . 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.

Viltrox 25mm f1.7 USB-C port

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.

Fuji X-M5 . Viltrox 25mm f1.7 @ 25mm . f5.6. 1/900″ . ISO 160 . Nostalgic Negative
Fuji X-M5 . Viltrox 25mm f1.7 @ 25mm . f1.7. 1/18000″ . ISO 160 . Nostalgic Negative
Fuji X-M5 . Viltrox 25mm f1.7 @ 25mm . f5.6. 1/300″ . ISO 320 . Nostalgic Negative

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.

Fuji X-M5 . Viltrox 25mm f1.7 @ 25mm . f5.6. 1/1250″ . ISO 320 . Nostalgic Negative

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.

Fuji X-M5 with Viltrox 25mm f1.7

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.
5. If you are interested in this lens and also wish to support me, this is the affilinate link to purchase.

If you like my works, please follow me on either one of the 2 Instagram accounts:

If you have a Facebook account, feel free to join Fujifanboys FB group.

If you like my content and you want to show some support and keep this blog alive, you can buy me a coffee here.

Reviews

TTArtisan 25mm f2 – A Tiny Street Lens

TTArtisan focuses very much on portability and compactness and TTArtisan 25mm f2 is another product born from this idea.

TTArtisan 25mm f2

Before I begin, I thank TTArtisan for their tremendous support towards me. For readers out there, you can rest assured that I am and always give my honest opinions for their products and that’s including this lens.

TTArtisan 25mm f2
TTArtisan 25mm f2

Intro

At 38mm full-frame equivalent focal length, it reminds me of the point-and-shoot film camera back in those days. I remember it was just a fixed focal length and I think it was quite common back then before it goes wider and wider and wider…

Fuji X-Pro 3 . TTArtisan 25mm f2 @ 25mm . f2 . 1/100″ . ISO 250 . Classic Negative

It is not a common focal length by today’s standards and I believe this focal length is not every photographer’s first focal length in mind.

Fuji X-Pro 3 . TTArtisan 25mm f2 @ 25mm . f2 . 1/100″ . ISO 400 . Classic Negative

Design & Build Quality

The design element of this TTArtisan 25mm f2 follows exactly the same as the TTArtisan 50mm f2. Modern, minimalistic, and sleek are probably the best words to describe this lens.

The aperture ring still comes with that enjoyable and satisfying clicky experience. As for the manual focus ring, it is still as smooth as the other TTArtisan lenses. Basically, you are assured that this lens’s quality is maintained at TTArtisan’s standard.

The lens cap is the screw-in type. It is up to individuals to love it or hate it. As for me, more like I have to get used to it.

Fuji X-Pro 3 . TTArtisan 25mm f2 @ 25mm . f8 . 1/2000″ . ISO 160 . Classic Negative

At 167.4 grams, the weight of this lens is really good to hold. Although it is not as light as the newly announced TTArtisan AF 27mm f2.8, it is still the lightest among their manual lens lineups.

Fuji X-Pro 3 . TTArtisan 25mm f2 @ 25mm . f4 . 1/950″ . ISO 160 . Classic Negative

There is one thing that I have never mentioned in all my manual lens reviews. In case you wonder, the lens does protrude a little when you rotate the focus ring to the Minimum Focus Distance (MFD).

It has a small filter size of 43mm. If you are looking for a hood to put it on, it is still able to find one online. Please note that no hood is included.

Image Quality

The image quality from this lens is surprisingly good and I meant it. Who would expect a lens that is so affordable yet has decent image quality? Typically we expect some will cut corners somehow.

Also, you will also observe some vignetting for wide-open shots. This is a common behavior for TTArtisan lenses and this applies to other third-party lenses too.

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 25mm f2 @ 25mm . f2 . 1/80″ . ISO 1000 . Classic Chrome
Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 25mm f2 @ 25mm . f2 . 1/80″ . ISO 320 . Classic Chrome

Focusing

From MFD to infinity, the focus throw is approximately 160°. In my view, this compact lens gives quite an ample amount of “distance” for more precise focusing.

Like most manual lenses, the result is might not at its sharpest at the infinity marking. Rotate slightly backward on the focus ring to get a better result.

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 25mm f2 @ 25mm . f2 . 1/80″ . ISO 400 . Classic Chrome

Minimum Focus Distance (MFD)

This lens has an MFD of 25 cm which means it can do quite a close-up shot if you want to. You will also notice some softness when shooting at MFD wide-open. I think it is acceptable and pretty much-expected behavior.

Fuji X-Pro 3 . TTArtisan 25mm f2 @ 25mm . f2 . 1/2700″ . ISO 160 . Classic Negative
Fuji X-Pro 3 . TTArtisan 25mm f2 @ 25mm . f2 . 1/2700″ . ISO 160 . Classic Negative

Price Point

While I thought that the TTArtsian 50mm f2 is the cheapest lens, this 25mm has set a whole new record of 55 USD. Yes, this is how much this lens costs. It can go even lower with occasional promotion from TTArtisan.

Fuji X-Pro 3 . TTArtisan 25mm f2 @ 25mm . f2 . 1/2500″ . ISO 160 . Nostalgic Negative
Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 25mm f2 @ 25mm . f2 . 1/100″ . ISO 320 . Acros

Others

There are always pros and cons for all lenses. This lens is no exception. Well, it depends on how you see this negative thing. If you point the lens facing to a light source at a specific angle at f2, you will have a light-blooming effect. Some people love it, and some people don’t. As for me, I kind of love it as it gives an additional special character to the lens. The blooming effect will get reduced with a smaller aperture. But beyond the light-blooming effect, it can also introduce some unique flare. So please beware. Lens hood might be able to solve this problem. If you happened to own this lens and a compatible lens hood, please let me know if it does solve it.

Fuji X-E3 . TTArtisan 25mm f2 @ 25mm . f2 . 1/60″ . ISO 2000 . Classic Chrome
Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 25mm f2 @ 25mm . f2 . 1/80″ . ISO 640 . Classic Chrome
Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 25mm f2 @ 25mm . f2 . 1/80″ . ISO 1000 . Classic Chrome
Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 25mm f2 @ 25mm . f2 . 1/90″ . ISO 320 . Classic Chrome

Who is this for?

This is easily one of the most affordable and usable lenses to consider if you want to experience what it is like using a fully manual lens. The focal length of this lens is very easy to adapt to and is very suitable for genres like street, journalist, documentaries, landscapes, cityscapes, and even portraits.

Fuji X-Pro 3 . TTArtisan 25mm f2 @ 25mm . f2 . 1/500″ . ISO 160 . Classic Negative
Fuji X-Pro 3 . TTArtisan 25mm f2 @ 25mm . f2 . 1/1400″ . ISO 160 . Classic Negative

For photographers who want to let their older Fujifilm cameras have their “second life”, you can consider getting one too. It might spice up your love with the cameras again.

Fuji X-Pro 3 . TTArtisan 25mm f2 @ 25mm . f2 . 1/3500″ . ISO 160 . Classic Negative
Fuji X-Pro 3 . TTArtisan 25mm f2 @ 25mm . f2 . 1/1600″ . ISO 160 . Classic Negative

Conclusion

TTArtisan surprised me once again with this lens. At USD 55, this is the cheapest manual lens ever produced by TTArtisan yet. But they do not compromise on both build quality and image quality. In fact, I am surprised by how usable the images are at wide open and the build quality is as good as other TTArtisan lenses. This is easily a recommendation from me to a photographer wanting to experience manual lenses.

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 25mm f2 @ 25mm . f2 . 1/80″ . ISO 640 . Classic Chrome
Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 25mm f2 @ 25mm . f2 . 1/80″ . ISO 3200 . Classic Chrome

I love to see more of this compact lens series with an affordable price point in the near future. Please continue to give us some surprises.

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.

If you like my works, please follow me on either one of the 2 Instagram accounts:

https://www.instagram.com/alwinkok_

https://www.instagram.com/alwin.portraits

If you have a Facebook account, feel free to join Fujifanboys FB group.

If you like my content and you want to show some support, you can buy me a coffee here.