Viltrox AF 28mm f/4.5 Chip Lands on L-Mount for $99
Viltrox has launched its AF 28mm f/4.5 Chip lens for L-Mount at $99, making it the only autofocus pancake available for the mount and a direct answer to the Panasonic Lumix 26mm f/8.
Viltrox today launched the AF 28mm f/4.5 Chip L, a full-frame autofocus pancake lens for L-Mount cameras, available now for $99.
It is the second non-cine Viltrox lens to arrive on L-Mount since the company joined the L-Mount Alliance in September 2025, following the AF 16mm f/1.8 released in February.
The Lens Panasonic Should Have Shipped with the S9
The AF 28mm f/4.5 Chip is not a new design.
Viltrox debuted it for Sony E-mount in October 2024, brought it to Nikon Z roughly six months later, and also released a native Fujifilm X-mount version delivering a 42mm equivalent focal length.
Each time the lens has moved to a new mount, it has kept its $99 price tag. The L-Mount version is no exception.
The lens weighs 60 grams and measures just 13.2mm thick — slightly thinner than the Sony E-mount version.
At that size, it pairs naturally with the Panasonic Lumix S9 and the Sigma BF, two of the most compact full-frame L-Mount bodies on the market.
Digital Camera World summed up the comparison plainly: "I wish this lens was available for the S9 at launch, as I think it would have utterly transformed the reception that greeted the camera."
What You Give Up for 13mm of Thickness
The Chip L has a fixed aperture at f/4.5. There is no aperture ring and no way to stop down.
It also has no manual focus. The VCM autofocus motor handles all focusing, and there is no physical or electronic override.
For video work, VCM motors are typically quieter than STM, which benefits in-camera audio recording.
Focus breathing has been flagged as higher than average in prior reviews of the E-mount version, likely due to limited space for focus element travel in such a compact design.
That makes this lens well-suited for documentary, travel, and street video — less so for scripted narrative work where breathing control matters.
To compensate for the inability to stop down and produce sun stars, Viltrox incorporated a polygonal aperture plate that mimics starburst effects around point light sources.
The lens also ships with an integrated slide-lever lens cap, a USB-C port for firmware updates, and an HD nano multi-layer coating to reduce flare and ghosting.
There is no weather sealing, which is worth noting for outdoor run-and-gun use.
Competitive Context
Before today, L-Mount shooters looking for a compact lens had few real options.
The Panasonic Lumix S 26mm f/8, released alongside the S9 in May 2024, is the closest analog. It weighs 58 grams and retails for $199 — but it is manual focus only and fixed at f/8.
The Viltrox undercuts it by $100, shoots two stops faster, and adds autofocus.
The SG-Image AF 35mm f/2.2 is the only other autofocus option in this space on L-Mount, starting at $149. It opens to f/2.2, but it weighs 163 grams and measures 36mm long — more than twice the weight and nearly three times the thickness of the Viltrox.
The 7artisans 35mm f/5.6 pancake matches the $99 price point but offers manual focus only.
At $99 with autofocus, the Viltrox AF 28mm f/4.5 Chip L is currently the only autofocus pancake for L-Mount at this price.
The Signal in the Noise
The fixed aperture and no-manual-focus design are deliberate constraints, not oversights. They are what makes this lens small enough to disappear on a camera body.
For street documentary, travel video, and candid work, those constraints matter less. Set the camera to auto and the lens essentially turns a Lumix S9 into a modern point-and-shoot.
For narrative filmmakers who need aperture control and breathing-free focus pulls, this is not the right tool.
The L-Mount ecosystem has grown slowly since launch, and Viltrox's pace of L-Mount releases has been cautious — two lenses in ten months, while six new full-frame lenses shipped to E-Mount and Z-Mount in the same period.
The Chip L is a low-risk, high-utility addition for L-Mount shooters who have been waiting for a compact everyday lens. At $99, the barrier to trying it is low.
Specs & Pricing
| Focal Length | 28mm (Full Frame) |
| Maximum Aperture | f/4.5 (fixed) |
| Autofocus | VCM (Voice Coil Motor) |
| Manual Focus | None |
| Optical Formula | 6 elements in 6 groups |
| Special Elements | 2 ED, 2 Aspherical |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 0.32m (~1 ft) |
| Weight | 60g (2.1 oz) |
| Thickness | 13.2mm (0.5 in) |
| Diameter | 60.3mm |
| Coating | HD Nano multi-layer; waterproof + anti-fouling front |
| Aperture Plate | Polygonal (starburst effect) |
| Lens Cap | Integrated slide-lever |
| Connectivity | USB-C (firmware updates) |
| Mount | L-Mount (native) |
| In-Camera Corrections | Yes, via native L-Mount support |
| Weather Sealing | None |
The Viltrox AF 28mm f/4.5 Chip L is available now at $99. It can be purchased directly through Viltrox's website and is also listed at B&H Photo.
