What's the difference between the Fujifilm XF 23mm F1.4 R and the Viltrox Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4?

The XF 23mm F1.4 R leads on a more compact 63 mm barrel, closer 0.28 m focusing. The Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 leads on a lighter 270g body, a 9-blade diaphragm, quicker, quieter stepping-motor autofocus.

Which is smaller, the Fujifilm XF 23mm F1.4 R or the Viltrox Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4?

The Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 is the smaller, lighter lens at 270g and 72 mm long, versus 300g for the XF 23mm F1.4 R.

Which is faster, the Fujifilm XF 23mm F1.4 R or the Viltrox Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4?

Both open to f/1.4, so they gather the same light and give the same depth-of-field control.

Fujifilm XF 23mm F1.4 R vs Viltrox Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4: full comparison

The Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 leads on more of the measurable specs, but the XF 23mm F1.4 R counters on a more compact 63 mm barrel and closer 0.28 m focusing.

Read the full XF 23mm F1.4 R review →Read the full Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 review →

The short version

The Fujifilm XF 23mm F1.4 R and Viltrox Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 are two X-mount primes at different focal lengths — the XF 23mm F1.4 R (35mm equivalent) and the Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 (50mm equivalent). The Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 is the newer design, from 2020.

On the spec sheet the XF 23mm F1.4 R pulls ahead with a more compact 63 mm barrel and closer 0.28 m focusing.

The Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 answers with a lighter 270g body, a 9-blade diaphragm, and quicker, quieter stepping-motor autofocus.

So which one? Start with the focal length you actually want to shoot: the 35mm-equivalent XF 23mm F1.4 R or the 50mm-equivalent Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4. Once that's settled, Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 has the edge on the specs above.

Where the XF 23mm F1.4 R wins

+a more compact 63 mm barrel
+closer 0.28 m focusing

Where the Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 wins

+a lighter 270g body
+a 9-blade diaphragm
+quicker, quieter stepping-motor autofocus

Who should buy the XF 23mm F1.4 R or Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4?

Buy the XF 23mm F1.4 R if…

Pick the XF 23mm F1.4 R if a more compact 63 mm barrel and closer 0.28 m focusing matter to you. Photographers who shoot 35 mm-equivalent at f/1.4 and close, and street photographers who zone focus and want a real distance scale. Read the full XF 23mm F1.4 R review for the details.

Buy the Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 if…

Pick the Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 if a lighter 270g body and a 9-blade diaphragm matter to you. Anyone who wants a fast autofocusing normal prime without paying Fujifilm prices, and who shoots single-shot rather than tracking. Read the full Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 review for the details.

XF 23mm F1.4 R vs Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4: pros and cons

Fujifilm XF 23mm F1.4 R	Viltrox Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4
Sharp wide open at close range, where the XF 23mm F2 R WR is not. Clutch focus ring with engraved distance and depth-of-field scales, hard infinity stop. Eleven-element formula keeps colour fringing lower than the XF 35mm F1.4 R. 0.28 m macro mode on a 35 mm-equivalent prime.	f/1.4 autofocus normal prime at roughly a third of the native price. Strong centre sharpness from f/1.4, even across the frame by f/2.8. Fast, effectively silent stepping-motor autofocus — quiet enough for video. User-updatable firmware over a USB port in the mount. HD Nano coating handles backlight without the milky wash cheap glass shows.
300g and 63 mm long — it dominates a small body. DC-motor autofocus is slow and audible, driving a lot of glass. No weather sealing. Discontinued, so it is a used-only purchase and prices have stayed high.	Clickless, unmarked aperture ring — smooth for video, imprecise for stills. No weather sealing and no stabilization. 270g and 72 mm long, noticeably bigger than the XF 35mm F1.4 R. Compatibility depends on firmware; the original needed a hardware revision for the X-Pro3. Viltrox's own store no longer lists the X-mount version, so future support is uncertain.

Pros and cons mirror the in-house XF 23mm F1.4 R review and Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 review.

XF 23mm F1.4 R vs Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4: full specs

Spec	XF 23mm F1.4 R 23 mm · f/1.4 · 300g	Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 33 mm · f/1.4 · 270g
Optical
Focal length	23 mm	33 mm
35mm equivalent	35 mm	50 mm
Maximum aperture	f/1.4	f/1.4
Minimum aperture	f/16	f/16
Optical construction	11 elements in 8 groups	10 elements in 9 groups
Special elements	1 aspherical element	1 ED element, 1 high-refractive-index element, HD Nano coating
Aperture blades	7	9
Focus & Stabilization
Min. focus distance	0.28 m	0.40 m
Max. magnification	0.1×	0.1×
Autofocus motor	DC motor	Stepping motor
Optical stabilization	No	No
Physical
Filter thread	62 mm	52 mm
Diameter × length	72 × 63 mm	65 × 72 mm
Weight	300g	270g
Weather sealing	No	No
Min. operating temp	—	—
General
Announced	2013-09-04	2020-04-21

Highlighted cells are best in class between these two. Specs sourced from the manufacturers' public product pages.

In-depth reviews

For the full long-form review of each lens, see the Fujifilm XF 23mm F1.4 R review and the Viltrox Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 review. Each carries the full spec breakdown, pros and cons, and where the lens sits in the X-mount lineup.