Viltrox AF 26mm f/2.8 EVO Full-Frame Pancake Lens Announced for Sony E and Nikon Z

Lens News

by Jakub HanJuly 20^th, 2026

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Viltrox AF 26mm f/2.8 EVO lens is a fast, compact full-frame pancake prime weighing around 130g (4.58oz) with a lens barrel length of only 23.8mm. Offering both focus and aperture rings, an STM autofocus motor, 0.2m close focus, and a 43mm front filter thread, the lens is now available for Sony E and Nikon Z cameras for $299.

The Chinese lens manufacturer Viltrox has recently been announcing new lenses at an increasing pace. During the NAB Show in Las Vegas earlier this year, we talked with Viltrox about their upcoming products, and the company mentioned the EVO series of prime lenses. The newly announced 26mm prime pancake lens fits into this line, bringing an interesting combination of a fast wide-angle full-frame lens with a very compact design. Let’s take a brief look at the details.

Viltrox AF 26mm f/2.8 EVO lens

It is obvious that the new Viltrox AF 26mm lens tries to combine a pancake lens design with a decent maximum aperture while still covering full-frame sensors. Viltrox says:

The goal was not thinness at any cost. It was a full-frame lens compact enough to go everywhere, with the controls photographers actually use.

Optically, the lens comprises 8 elements in 6 groups (including 1 HR and 2 aspherical elements). The 7-bladed aperture is available between f/2.8 and f/16 and can be controlled via the clicked aperture ring. The minimum focusing distance is 0.2m (0.66ft).

Autofocus with STM motor

For autofocus, Viltrox equipped the lens with an STM motor. As the company puts it – “for video, moderate focus transitions are a better fit than large, rapid focus pulls”. That means the AF is likely on the slower side.

During focusing, the lens’s front element moves. Viltrox claims the optical group can extend near minimum focus.

Size, sealing, filter thread

The Viltrox AF 26mm lens weight and size differ depending on the lens mount version:

• Sony E version weighs around 130g (4.58oz), measures only 23.8mm in length, and the diameter is approximately 66mm.
• Nikon Z version weighs around 170g (5.99oz), measures 25.8mm in length, and the diameter is approximately 69.4mm.

Both aperture and focus rings are very thin to fit on the short lens barrel. The aperture ring uses fixed click stops. It does not switch to a de-clicked mode.

As expected for its compact size, the Viltrox AF 26mm lens lacks optical stabilization; you will have to rely on your camera’s IBIS (if your camera has one).

When it comes to weather sealing, Viltrox included a rubber gasket on the mount, but the company claims that the external focusing design is not intended for severe rain, heavy dust, or other harsh environments.

The lens by itself does not have a front filter thread, but the supplied lens hood accepts 43mm front filters when attached. That is an interesting design choice. Note that the magnetic front cap cannot be attached while a circular filter is installed.

Despite the compact size, the lens includes a USB-C port built into the mount. This can be used for future firmware updates via the Viltrox Lens App or Viltrox Lens PC client.

Currently only Sony E and Nikon Z

As I mentioned above, the lens is currently only available for Sony E and Nikon Z lens mounts. Viltrox has not yet officially confirmed whether the lens will be ported to other mirrorless lens mounts, but based on the company’s other lenses, we might see FUJIFILM X and Leica L-mount versions in the future.

Price and availability

The Viltrox AF 26mm f/2.8 EVO lens is now available worldwide. The price has been set to $299 (around €319 including VAT in Europe). The package contains the lens with a magnetic front lens cap, rear lens cap, filter-ready lens hood, and a soft storage pouch. For more information, please visit the Viltrox website.

Do you have experience with any of the Viltrox AF lenses? What do you think about the new 26mm pancake lens? Should there be more compact full-frame lenses available? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section underneath the article.