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If there’s one lens that satisfied me that Viltrox is a third social gathering lens producer to essentially be careful for, it’s the Viltrox AF 16mm f1.8 full-frame lens. This lens blew me away from the second I took it out of the field. The construct high quality for this value level was jaw-dropping. The sharpness practically made me tear up with happiness. And the autofocus wasn’t simply speedy; I can’t keep in mind one body the place it missed the mark. It’s virtually too good to be true, besides it’s. Viltrox knocks it out of the park with this lens, which can certainly be successful with panorama, cityscape, structure, and night time sky photographers.
The Large Image
The autofocus on the Viltrox AF 16mm f1.8 lens is blazing fast; the sharpness is unimaginable for a lens at this value level, and the construct high quality is outstanding. The distortion? Nearly non-existent. Climate sealing? You bought it. Desire a bodily aperture ring? It’s there for you. Apprehensive about your 77m screw-on filters being left unused? Not anymore; this lens has no bulbous entrance component. Briefly, Viltrox might have simply created the proper ultrawide lens for beginner {and professional} photographers and videographers. Presently out there for Sony’s FE mount, it’ll quickly make its method to extra manufacturers’ cameras. This lens may and will produce other producers shaking of their boots. It’s a fascinatingly good lens for such an reasonably priced value, and it’ll tick off all of the containers that many photographers (and videographers) searching for an ultrawide lens would have.
There’s actually no approach this lens is getting lower than 5 stars for its wonderful efficiency and incredible worth for cash. Need one? You will get it from Amazon immediately.
Professionals
Distinctive sharpness, even at f1.8 (sure you learn that proper. It’s f1.8, not f2.8)
Tremendous-useful LCD display on the highest that additionally acts as a distance scale
Surprisingly low minimal focal distance of 27cm(10 5/8 in).
Aperture ring with de-click choice
Actually fast autofocus
Climate sealed
Solely USD 549
Simply 550g (19.4 oz) in weight
USB-C port permits firmware updates sooner or later
Two programmable FN (perform) buttons
Non-bulbous entrance component permits you to use 77mm screw-on filters.
Cons
Presently solely out there for Sony FE mount. I hope that is launched for different mounts ASAP.
I want the lens hood wasn’t manufactured from plastic. It doesn’t go together with the premium really feel of the lens physique.
Gear Used
I used the Viltrox AF 16mm f1.8 with a Sony a7 III digital camera. At instances Maven magnetic filters had been used.
Innovation
That is presumably the quickest 16mm autofocus lens, with a large aperture of f1.8. It’s not fairly the quickest ultrawide lens although; that honor goes to the lately introduced Sigma 14mm f1.4 lens.
A number of firsts seem to have made their method to Viltrox with this lens. They’ve added an MF/AF change right here, one thing that appears to be lacking in the remainder of their lineup. Whereas they do have aperture rings on a lot of their different lenses, this one appears to be the primary that has a de-click choice for this ring. Viltrox has additionally cleverly added two programmable perform buttons on this lens. And the cherry on the cake is the helpful LCD display on the highest of the lens.
Ergonomics
The ending on this lens is similar to most of Viltrox’s current lenses. What instantly distinguishes this mannequin, visually, is the LCD display on the highest. This shows focal distance whilst you’re autofocusing or manually focusing. It additionally reveals aperture values, amongst different issues.
Coming in at round half a kilo in weight, this lens feels stable in your palms. Including to that stable really feel is the smooth-finished all-metal physique. Even the handbook focus ring seems to be manufactured from steel. At no level do you are feeling such as you’re utilizing a sub-1000 USD lens.
Construct High quality
A lot of the ultrawide third social gathering lenses I’ve used to date have all the time felt like a compromise of some kind. That’s virtually instantly evident if you first maintain the lens. They’ve typically regarded plasticky and low-cost or don’t have the highest quality supplies on the skin. Optically they could do the job, however they’ve not typically made you wish to use them for ardour tasks as a result of they don’t really feel good to the contact. This lens is sort of the other of all of these lenses on this regard.
You’re getting climate sealing and dirt resistance within the Viltrox AF 16mm f1.8 FE lens. The lens mount can be manufactured from steel which aids on this.
Would it not have actually value far more to have a steel lens hood too? I can’t say for certain, however the plastic lens hood simply doesn’t go together with the texture of the lens. Not a deal breaker in any approach although.
Ease Of Use
I feel it’s incredible that Viltrox has allowed the usage of screw-on filters right here. Particularly since their 20mm f1.8 lens has such a bulbous entrance component. They’ve stored the filter thread diameter to the extra widespread 77mm measurement, making it a lot simpler for me to make use of my present filters. Gone are the times when ultrawide lenses required you to purchase costly filter adapters and ponderous sq. filters.
You possibly can customise these two FN buttons to the assorted choices that your Sony mirrorless digital camera permits you. It’s tremendous cool to see these in Viltrox lenses now, as they open up many prospects for skilled photographers that require frequent utilization of those options.
Focusing
Nothing to complain about within the autofocus division. I lately reviewed Viltrox’s 35mm f1.8 lens, which, whereas it was good to autofocus, wasn’t nice. This 16mm f1.8 lens isn’t just quicker to autofocus but additionally supremely extra correct. I don’t suppose I missed focus (even barely) on any pictures whereas utilizing the Viltrox AF 16mm f1.8 FE lens. And their STM stepping motor is so silent that you just hear nothing. It really works properly with face and eye auto-focus modes.
The handbook focus ring has round 200 levels of rotation. It’s silky {smooth} however not so {smooth} that you must micro-adjust it to nail the main focus.
Focus respiration is perhaps extra noticeable if you happen to do loads of video with this lens. For photographers, the main focus respiration on the Viltrox AF 16mm f1.8 lens is admittedly no biggie.
“This 16mm f1.8 lens isn’t just quicker to autofocus but additionally supremely extra correct.”
Picture High quality
Vast angle distortion, particularly on the edges, could be very properly managed on this lens. The distortion is sort of undetectable, I’d say.
Bokeh
I used to be skeptical about getting a lot bokeh out of this 16mm lens, however the 1.8 aperture actually shines right here. The 9 aperture blades provide you with creamy, {smooth} bokeh balls. The depth of subject falloff seems so nice.
Coloration Rendition
I wouldn’t say colours are flat, however somewhat extra on the life like facet. Anticipate to wish to bump up saturation just a bit bit throughout edits. Particularly the browns and greys.
Lens Character
Flare within reason properly managed, even at slender apertures. Nothing dramatic to be seen right here.
Take a look at the palm tree within the above two photos to look at the distortion on the sides of the lenses. Viltrox has managed to virtually eradicate barrel distortion right here, which I can’t say I’ve seen in lots of third social gathering ultrawide lenses.
Sharpness
That is the standout function of this lens. Viltrox is completely killing it right here, and even at f1.8 the sharpness of the topic actually jumps out at you.
It’s arduous to even consider this lens will be so sharp at f1.8. That is the sort of sharpness wide-angle lenses exhibit at apertures f8 and above.
Additional Picture Samples
From day one, The Phoblographer has been large on transparency with our viewers. Nothing from this overview is sponsored. Additional, a number of of us will publish opinions and present a number of modifying within the pictures. The issue then turns into that anybody and everybody can do the identical factor. They’re not exhibiting what the lens can do. So we now have a piece in our Additional Picture Samples space to point out edited and unedited pictures. From this, you may make a call for your self.
Unedited
Edited
Who Ought to Purchase The Viltrox AF 16mm f1.8 Lens?
If getting ultrawide cityscape, panorama, and even night time sky pictures, with an excellent vast aperture of f1.8 and virtually distortion-free outcomes is what you’re searching for, you received’t be dissatisfied by this lens. It’s in all probability their finest one to date, and if it is a signal of issues coming from Viltrox, then different manufacturers have one thing main to fret about.
Tech Specs
Taken from the Viltrox Retailer product web page:
Viltrox AF 16mm f1.8 Lens Assessment: The Good Ultrawide?
The autofocus on the Viltrox AF 16mm f1.8 lens is blazing fast; the sharpness is unimaginable for a lens at this value level, and the construct high quality is outstanding. The distortion? Nearly non-existent. Climate sealing? You bought it. Desire a bodily aperture ring? It is there for you. Apprehensive about your 77m screw-on filters being left unused? Not anymore; this lens has no bulbous entrance component. Briefly, Viltrox might have simply created the proper ultrawide lens for beginner {and professional} photographers and videographers. Presently out there for Sony’s FE mount, it’s going to quickly make its method to extra manufacturers’ cameras. This lens may and will produce other producers shaking of their boots. It is a fascinatingly good lens for such an reasonably priced value, and it’ll tick off all of the containers that many photographers (and videographers) searching for an ultrawide lens would have.
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