An excellent worth for an ultra-wide lens, and unexpectedly good efficiency
Introduction
Right now, I’m reviewing the Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 – a quick, wide-angle prime lens out there with autofocus for Nikon Z and Sony E mounts. Though Viltrox is a funds Chinese language producer, they’ve positioned the AF 16mm f/1.8 as higher-end than most of their lenses. It encompasses a de-clickable aperture ring, two customized operate buttons, an illuminated show, and an optical design with 4 ED and three aspherical glass parts. It additionally options intensive climate sealing and an all-metal development, making this lens – at the least on paper – similar to a few of Nikon or Sony’s higher-end primes.
My expertise with Viltrox’s autofocus lenses up to now has been lower than excellent, although. I beforehand reviewed the Viltrox AF 24mm f/1.8 and the Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.8, and my impression was that each lenses had been middling at greatest – no climate sealing, iffy high quality management, and mediocre picture high quality. They work fantastic as funds decisions however undoubtedly aren’t on the identical degree as Nikon or Sony’s comparable lenses.
I wasn’t actually planning to assessment extra Viltrox tools within the close to future given my impression of these two lenses, however then they introduced the Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 in Might of 2024. The upper-end options and weird 16mm focal size had been sufficient to catch my consideration. Particularly as a Nikon shooter – Nikon’s widest f/1.8 lens (at the least on the time of this assessment’s publication) is the Z 20mm f/1.8 S. And whereas Sony does have a 14mm f/1.8 GM, at $1600, it’s a reasonably specialised lens. By comparability, the Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 prices simply $580. For that mixture of worth, focal size, and most aperture, it’s just about distinctive.
After all, distinctive doesn’t imply good. We’re nonetheless coping with a third-party producer with a so-so observe document. Would the Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 buck expectations and carry out at a excessive degree? Or wouldn’t it show to be nothing greater than low cost optics in a fancier shell? To reply these questions, I examined this lens extensively each within the lab and within the discipline. This assessment summarizes my findings and explains the whole lot it is advisable to know in regards to the Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8.
Construct High quality
The Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 weighs 550 grams (1.2 kilos) and measures 103 mm (4.1 inches) lengthy. This places it about 50 grams heavier than the Nikon Z 20mm f/1.8 S and about 100 grams heavier than the Sony 14mm f/1.8 GM – nothing excessive, however if you happen to’re attempting to avoid wasting each ounce, there are lighter choices on the market.
A part of the marginally heftier weight is little question because of the all-metal development of this lens. And it does really feel good and strong to carry. I nonetheless lean towards high-quality plastic lenses personally (much less weight, much less chilly), however I can not deny the reassuring really feel of a steel lens.
Viltrox will need to have listened to the complaints in my 24mm f/1.8 and 35mm f/1.8 opinions, as a result of they’ve added climate sealing all through the 16mm f/1.8. I’d be snug utilizing this lens in troublesome climate circumstances like rain or mud – there are not any exterior shifting elements or any motive to be involved. In my time with this lens, it dealt with the weather and not using a drawback.
Now let’s cowl the dealing with options of the Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8.
Dealing with
The Viltrox 16mm f/1.8 handles very effectively – a lot better than the opposite Viltrox lenses I’ve used up to now, which had been very minimalist in nature. This lens has a spotlight ring, a (de-clickable) aperture ring, an AF-MF change, two customized operate buttons, a USB-C port, and an digital show. Viltrox just about threw the kitchen sink at this lens. Other than a second management ring (they selected a devoted aperture ring as an alternative), there’s nothing lacking right here from a dealing with perspective.
If you wish to management aperture in your digicam as an alternative of the lens, put the aperture ring to “A.” I want that the ring might lock there, really, as I discovered it typically slipped to one of many common aperture settings in my bag. As for the opposite controls, the primary operate button may be assigned in-camera. The second customized operate can’t be assigned in all cameras – nevertheless, it could possibly nonetheless be used to leap between two saved focus distances when the lens is in handbook focus mode. That is doubtlessly helpful for switching between close to and much distances in videography, or leaping to a saved infinity focus place for Milky Means photographs.
All in all, the Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 has nice construct high quality and dealing with. It’s consistent with rather more costly lenses and a transparent step up from the opposite two Viltrox lenses I’ve examined up to now.
Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 Specs
- Mount Kind: Nikon Z and Sony E Mount
- Focal Size: 16mm prime
- Angle of View (Full Body): 105°36′
- Most Aperture: f/1.8
- Minimal Aperture: f/22
- Aperture Blades: 9
- Filter Dimension: 77mm
- Lens Parts: 15
- Lens Teams: 12
- Particular Parts: 4 ED, 3 aspherical
- Anti-Reflection Coatings: HD Nano Multi-layer Coating
- Picture Stabilization: No
- Inside Focusing: Sure
- Management Rings: Focus and aperture
- Perform Buttons: 2
- Focus Motor: STM
- Minimal Focus Distance: 27 cm (10.6 inches)
- Most Magnification: 0.1× (1:10)
- Mount Materials: Metallic
- Climate/Mud Sealing: Sure
- Dimensions (Size × Diameter): 103 × 85 mm (4.1 × 3.4 inches)
- Weight: 550 g (1.21 lbs)
- MSRP: $580 (verify worth for Sony and for Nikon, and see used costs)
The following web page of this assessment covers the optical traits of the Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8, together with focusing efficiency and sharpness exams within the lab. So, click on the menu beneath to go to “Optical Options”: