Viltrox LAB and EVO Lenses Highlight Third-Party Surge at CP+ 2026

Viltrox emerged as a clear third‑party contender at CP+ 2026 with two EVO primes that carry an apochromatic tag: a 35mm f/1.8 and a 55mm f/1.8, both described as designed for full‑frame cameras and reported to use a 58mm filter thread and close‑focusing distances of 0.34 m and 0.43 m, respectively. The roundup singled Viltrox out by name, writing, "Viltrox is also one of the big contenders, and they have also unveiled new lenses for their users: 35mm f1.8 EVO and 55mm f1.8 EVO."

The broader CP+ floor has shifted into sharper focus since Photokina closed, and that change framed much of the messaging that followed these reveals. "After the closure of Photokina, the CP+ tradeshow in Japan became the central hub for photographers and manufacturers from around the world," the roundup noted, and it argued that "one of the year’s big stories was the quality and breadth of third‑party lens announcements." The coverage concluded that "the spotlight was stolen by third‑party lens manufacturers," underscoring how non‑first‑party optics dominated booth talk.

The EVO pair’s apochromatic branding drew the most attention in the roundup’s writeup. The Phoblographer stated, "If you’re not in the know, then you probably will disregard these lenses as standard copies. But the Apochromatic design makes these really, really unique." The piece went on to claim that "Apochromatic lenses offer really intense micro‑contrast and bokeh and are considered to be the pinnacle of the Leica M and L mount. These are bound to be very special." Those qualitative claims anchor the technical selling point Viltrox is using to differentiate these EVO primes from lower‑cost alternatives.

CP+ coverage also catalogued a wider wave of third‑party activity. SongRaw showcased AF 50mm f/1.2 and 85mm f/1.2 lenses for full‑frame mount, Meike displayed an 85mm f/1.4 II for Nikon, Sony, and L‑mount plus a 24mm f/3.8 prototype described as having details unavailable, and an image caption showed Schneider‑Kreuznach × LK Samyang 200mm and 300mm lenses in a screenshot from Photo Rumors. That dispersion of products underlined the roundup’s assessment that "It was also clear how the Chinese lens market is maturing so fast."

The CP+ narrative threaded price and purpose into the technical announcements, noting market positioning: "Given how people like bokeh, but can’t afford first‑party lenses, these offerings are for those who want a second lens without breaking their bank." What remains open for verification are several hard specs and launch details: the LAB series mentioned alongside EVO was not described in the supplied text, and no release dates, MSRPs, mount options beyond "full‑frame," optical formulas, autofocus performance, or weights were provided. Those gaps set the next practical beats: confirm Viltrox’s APO implementation, clarify which mounts the EVO and LAB lines will ship in, and obtain official pricing and availability to test whether the EVO optics deliver the micro‑contrast and bokeh the roundup predicts.