- Viltrox will unveil its first large-aperture APO autofocus lens at NAB Show 2026 on April 20 at 9 PM (UTC+8), expanding the EVO series beyond the current 85mm f/2.
- Two new EVO APO lenses are expected at the $275 price point, matching the existing 85mm f/2 EVO — making this the most affordable APO autofocus glass in the market.
- The Shenzhen optics maker will also preview unreleased L-mount lenses, expanded EPIC cinema primes, new DL-mount Raze optics for DJI Ronin 4D, and the NexusFocus autofocus adapter.
- The launch lands while Viltrox is in the middle of a Nikon Z-mount patent lawsuit — the EVO APO focus on L-mount, Sony FE, and the still-licensed Z-mount lineup shows the company hedging its bets.
- Booth C5735 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, April 18–22.
Viltrox is about to drop the biggest third-party lens news of the NAB cycle. The Shenzhen brand has teased its first large-aperture APO autofocus lens for an April 20 reveal at NAB Show 2026 in Las Vegas, expanding an EVO series that currently consists of just one focal length — the popular AF 85mm f/2 EVO.
The company isn’t stopping at one lens. The booth will also show new L-mount glass, an expanded EPIC cinema prime lineup, new Raze optics built for the DJI Ronin 4D, and the NexusFocus autofocus adapter for PL lenses. Taken together, it’s the most ambitious show floor Viltrox has put up — and a direct signal of where the company is heading while its Nikon Z-mount legal fight plays out in the background.
What’s Launching April 20
Viltrox’s teaser imagery shows an EVO-branded barrel with the AF/MF switch visible and the legend “Wide Open. Pure Sight.” — a clear pitch at aperture-driven character. Photo Rumors has reported that two new EVO APO lenses will launch at the event, both at the same $275 price as the existing 85mm f/2 EVO.
Focal lengths aren’t yet confirmed. Digital Camera World is predicting a nifty-fifty based on the teaser’s 58mm filter thread and 0.43m minimum focus distance — details consistent with a 50mm design. A 24mm wide-angle and possibly a 135mm f/1.8 or 35mm f/1.4 are secondary guesses making the rounds. The actual spec sheet drops at 9 PM April 20 in China (April 20, 6 AM Las Vegas), squarely inside NAB show hours.
Pricing puts these firmly in the “buy two, still cheaper than a GM lens” category. For context, Sigma’s newest APO 35mm f/1.4 II Art and Nikon’s native NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.4 both sit well north of $600 — and that’s before anamorphic or specialty APO glass enters the conversation.
Why APO Matters
APO — short for apochromatic — refers to optical designs that correct chromatic aberration across three wavelengths of light instead of the two handled by standard achromats. The practical upshot: fewer purple fringes on high-contrast edges, cleaner color separation, and noticeably sharper rendering at wide apertures. APO glass used to be a Leica-and-Sigma-flagship flex with premium pricing to match; the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 II Art, for example, is explicitly marketed on its APO correction.
Pushing APO correction into a $275 autofocus lens is unusual. If Viltrox delivers something close to the edge-to-edge sharpness its Pro-series lenses manage — on a compact barrel and at that price — it fundamentally changes the math for hybrid shooters balancing a stills and video kit. The teaser copy’s “Wide Open. Pure Sight.” is likely a direct reference to APO performance at maximum aperture.
The L-Mount Roadmap Expands
Viltrox joined the L-Mount Alliance in September 2025 alongside Panasonic, Leica, Sigma, and Samyang. The first native L-mount AF lens from Viltrox — the AF 16mm f/1.8 L — shipped shortly after. At NAB 2026, the booth will preview “several new and unreleased L-mount lenses,” per Newsshooter. No model numbers yet, but the pattern in Viltrox’s other mounts suggests fast primes and a hybrid-focused zoom or two.
For Panasonic S5 II / S1R II shooters and Sigma fp owners, this matters. Native L-mount autofocus glass at Viltrox pricing has been the missing piece in the Alliance’s affordability story — every other mount has had Samyang and Viltrox driving price floors for years.
Cinema Lineup — EPIC, Raze, NexusFocus
On the cinema side, three distinct product families share the booth:
- EPIC Cinema Primes — Viltrox’s 1.33x full-frame anamorphic lineup in PL mount. The existing set covers 25mm through 135mm at T2.0, with unified 0.8 MOD gears and matched barrels. NAB 2026 adds new focal-length options to that set, though Viltrox hasn’t named them yet.
- Raze Cinema Lenses — a new DL-mount line designed specifically for the DJI Ronin 4D integrated camera system. No published focal lengths or pricing, but the partnership angle is unusual: most third-party cinema glass chases PL and E-mount first, not DL.
- NexusFocus F1 — an autofocus adapter that adds AF to manual PL lenses. Previously reviewed by CineD in March 2026, the adapter is aimed at camera ops who want to keep vintage and specialty glass in rotation without giving up autofocus on modern cinema bodies.
The Nikon Z-Mount Lawsuit in the Background
The NAB launch comes at a messy moment for Viltrox. Nikon filed a patent infringement suit over Z-mount electronics earlier in 2026, and the fallout has already pushed Sirui and Meike to pull Z-mount lenses from retailers. Tamron and Sigma remain unaffected under existing licensing agreements; Viltrox’s status is still being litigated.
Against that backdrop, spreading the EVO APO launch across Sony FE, L-mount, and still-selling Z-mount stock reads as deliberate hedging. If the Nikon case ends badly, Viltrox has momentum in three other mount ecosystems to fall back on. If Viltrox wins or settles, it’ll have a head start on APO glass across every major mirrorless mount simultaneously — exactly the “multi-mount simultaneous launch” pattern Tamron committed to at CP+.
FAQ
When exactly is the Viltrox EVO APO launch?
9 PM April 20, 2026 in China (UTC+8). That’s 6 AM in Las Vegas, during NAB Show week. Viltrox’s booth at NAB is C5735 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
How much will the EVO APO lenses cost?
Viltrox has confirmed the two announced EVO APO lenses will launch at the same $275 price point as the existing AF 85mm f/2 EVO. Exact per-lens pricing at retail launch may vary by mount.
What focal lengths are the new EVO APO lenses?
Unconfirmed as of April 16. Teaser details (58mm filter thread, 0.43m minimum focus distance) have industry watchers predicting a 50mm f/1.4 or f/1.8 as the primary launch lens, with a 24mm wide-angle, 35mm f/1.4, or 135mm f/1.8 among the likely secondary options. The actual spec sheet is scheduled for the April 20 reveal.
Which mounts will the EVO APO lenses support?
The existing 85mm f/2 EVO ships in Sony E (FE) and Nikon Z. Viltrox’s NAB booth materials indicate L-mount versions are in the roadmap. Canon RF and Fujifilm X are possible but not yet confirmed for the EVO APO launch.
Is Viltrox still selling Nikon Z-mount lenses despite the lawsuit?
Yes — unlike Sirui and Meike, Viltrox has not pulled its Nikon Z-mount lineup from stores. The lawsuit is still ongoing. The existing AF 85mm f/2 EVO Z remains available at $275, and Nikon Z is expected to be among the supported mounts for the new EVO APO lenses.
Where This Fits
The EVO APO reveal is the latest move in a year that’s already seen Viltrox go head-to-head with Sigma’s Art line (the 35mm f/1.2 Lab), get sued by Nikon, and quietly ship pro-grade glass at under-$300 street prices while the incumbents raised theirs. The company’s trajectory remains “make Leica-adjacent optics at Samyang money.” NAB 2026 is the biggest stage yet for that pitch.
Whether the reveal lives up to the teaser depends on actual optical performance — APO designs are genuinely difficult to hit, and cut-price versions can show their compromises at edge field, in focus shift, or in stopped-down vignetting. Full hands-on analysis will land once Viltrox publishes MTF charts and independent labs get samples, which typically runs two to four weeks post-NAB.
Featured image: Viltrox AF 85mm f/2 EVO FE design details. Image credit: Viltrox.
Reporting sources for this article:
Image Sources:
- Viltrox AF 85mm f/2 EVO FE press images – Featured image and existing EVO lens detail shots.
- Viltrox NAB 2026 launch teaser – Official Viltrox teaser graphic for the April 20 EVO APO reveal.
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