Viltrox AF 16mm F1.8 FE
Launch MSRP
$549- Weight
- 550g
- Filter
- ⌀77mm
- Min focus
- 0.27m
- Max mag.
- 0.10×
- Formula
- 15E / 12G
- Released
- 2023
Specification sheet
Optical construction
- 4x ED
- 3x Aspherical
- Aperture range
- f/1.8 — f/22
Physical & ergonomics
- Weight
- 550g
- ⌀ × length
- 85.2 × 103.0mm
- Filter
- ⌀77mm
- Weather sealed
- No
- Aperture ring
- Yes · de-click
Autofocus actuator
- Stabilisation
- Body IBIS
- Teleconverter
- Not supported
- AF speed score
- 7.9 / 10
Close-up performance
- Min focus distance
- 0.27m
- Max magnification
- 0.10× (1:10.0)
Optical character
An f/1.8 autofocus ultra-wide that takes 77mm screw-in filters, with a built-in LCD screen showing aperture, focus distance and a live depth-of-field scale. It covers astro, interiors and vlogging at a price well below first-party options.
The aperture ring has an A position and a de-click lever. Internal focusing and a fast STM motor make it easy to use for gimbal video.
Reviewer consensus
Reviewers describe it as one of the most ambitious third-party ultra-wides for E-mount: centre sharpness is high wide open, coma is well controlled for night skies, and build quality is better than the price suggests.
The usual caveats are mid-frame and extreme-corner softness at f/1.8, which improves by f/4, noticeable vignetting, and complex distortion that profiles mostly fix. The LCD is described as a useful novelty rather than essential.
Owner sentiment
Astro and real-estate shooters call it a bargain for a fast 16mm. They like being able to use standard screw-in ND and polariser filters. The DoF readout on the LCD is popular for setting hyperfocal distance at night.
Firmware updates have addressed early AF quirks. Some users report quality-control variation between copies and wish for official weather sealing.
Strengths, weaknesses & performance
Strengths
- +Fast f/1.8 at 16mm with AF
- +Takes 77mm screw-in filters
- +LCD with distance and depth-of-field readout
- +Aperture ring with de-click lever
- +Aggressive price
Weaknesses
- −Corners soft wide open
- −Heavy vignetting at f/1.8
- −No official weather sealing
Six-axis rating
- Sharpness
- 8.0
- Bokeh Rendering
- 7.0
- Autofocus Speed
- 7.9
- Flare Resistance
- 7.2
- Build / Sealing
- 7.8
- Value / Size
- 9.3
Editorial 0–10 ratings synthesised from published reviews.
Technical specifications
| Mount | Sony E (FE) · full frame |
|---|---|
| Focal length | 16mm |
| Category | Ultra-Wide |
| Maximum aperture | f/1.8 |
| Minimum aperture | f/22 |
| Construction | 15 elements in 12 groups |
| Special elements | 4x ED · 3x Aspherical |
| Aperture blades | 9 |
| Focus type | Autofocus |
|---|---|
| Drive | STM (Lead Screw) |
| Minimum focus | 0.27m |
| Max magnification | 0.10× |
| Stabilisation | None (uses body IBIS) |
| Teleconverters | Not supported |
| Weight | 550g |
|---|---|
| Diameter × length | 85.2 × 103.0mm |
| Filter thread | ⌀77mm |
| Weather sealing | No |
| Aperture ring | Yes |
| De-clickable aperture | Yes |
| Release year | 2023 |
| Launch MSRP | $549 USD |
Sources
Specifications
- viltrox.com/products/viltrox-af-16mm-f1-8-fe
Similar focal length alternatives
- VSAF 16mm F1.8 FE vs AF 16mm F2.8 P FE
- VSAF 16mm F1.8 FE vs FE 16mm F1.8 G
- VSAF 16mm F1.8 FE vs 17mm f/4 Zero-D Tilt-Shift
- Samyang/RokinonPrima
AF 16mm F2.8 P FE
16mmF2.8- WT
- 207g
- FLT
- ⌀62mm
- MFD
- 0.12m
- MSRP
- $449
AFWR - SonyG
FE 16mm F1.8 G
16mmF1.8- WT
- 304g
- FLT
- ⌀67mm
- MFD
- 0.13m
- MSRP
- $800
AFWRRING·DC - LaowaZero-D
17mm f/4 Zero-D Tilt-Shift
17mmF4- WT
- 810g
- FLT
- ⌀86mm
- MFD
- 0.25m
- MSRP
- $1,249
MFRING
