The Nikon Z50 launched over six years ago but until the recent advent of the Nikon Z DX MC 35mm f/1.7 last October, there was only one single own-brand Nikon Z DX prime for this and other APS-C format Z system cameras. That was the Nikon Z DX 24mm f/1.7, launched a couple of years earlier. Of course, you can use full-frame Nikon Z lenses on DX bodies but they’re generally bigger, heavier and more expensive than they need to be. By contrast, a whole trilogy of Viltrox APS-C format Viltrox AF 23mm, 33mm and 56mm f/1.4 fast, metal-bodied primes in Z mount date back to 2021, plus an ultra-wide AF 13mm f/1.4. Viltrox followed those up with several ultra-lightweight ‘Air’ series lenses, as well as a top-end Viltrox AF 27mm F1.2 Pro about a year ago.
All of the above is history rather than news, but here’s the thing. These Viltrox lenses are generally also available in Sony E and Fujifilm X mount versions, where they’re arguably less important because owners of those cameras are comparatively spoilt for choice when it comes to own-brand primes. Nikon shooters have relatively slim pickings.
