The following chart presents a comparison between basic parameters of the Viltrox 1.8/16 and other lenses of this class designed for full frame mirrorless cameras. Out of this group only the Sony can be called a direct rival of the tested lens because the Canon is much slower and the Laowa, with slightly different parameters, is also a manual lens.

In the following photo the Viltrox AF 16 mm f/1.8 is positioned between the Voigtlander Apo-Lanthar 2/50 and the rival Sony FE 16 mm f/1.8 G. The physical dimensions of the Viltrox and the Sony differ significantly but you have to add that the Sony is exceptionally small for this class of equipment. The dimensions of the Viltrox are exactly what you should expect from a lens with such an angle of view and aperture, providing you also a possibility to attach normal filters. They shouldn't surprise anyone.

The tested lens starts with a metal mount with an USB-C port that allows you a quick software update. The mount is equipped with a rubber gasket and it surrounds a contact plate and a plastic 30x23 mm frame. Right below you find a rear element, 28 mm in diameter. From this side everything looks very well.

Please Support Us If you enjoy our reviews and articles, and you want us to continue our work please, support our website by donating through PayPal. The funds are going to be used for paying our editorial team, renting servers, and equipping our testing studio; only that way we will be able to continue providing you interesting content for free.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - advertisement - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

A black, metal ring, that doesn't move and increase its diameter, is the first part of the proper barrel of the Viltrox AF 1.2/27. On that ring you find a red dot, making the alignment with a camera easier, the serial number and information that it was produced in China.

Then you find a ribbed aperture ring, also made of metal, as wide as 11 mm. It features aperture markings from f/1.8 to f/22 and an A point, allowing the camera to choose the aperture automatically. The ring moves every 1/3 EV step and it can be declicked. Its performance is good, without any hitches.

Further on you see a liquid crystal display that is activated after switching the camera on. It shows you information about the working mode, aperture values, and also the distance from the photographed object. In the MF mode it also can display depth of field. On the one hand I am against too complicated solutions and introducing energy-consuming electronic parts where they are not necessary. Maybe I think so because I am an astrophysicist by training and also an amateur astrophotographer so I am alergic to anything that shines in the dark even though it's not needed. On the other hand I admit this solution is really useful - the display is stylish, clear, momentarily it can makes your work easier.

Personally I appreciated this feature during the resolution test when, after taking a series of photos of our chart based on the autofocus, I switched the lens to the manual mode. Basing on the distance values I saw on the display I could pace myself with millimeter accuracy and effectively looking for the proper position of the focus. It made my work a lot easier, especially as nowadays focus rings are usually focus-by-wire instruments so they are devoid of any markings. We are never sure about their position. To sum up at first I was sceptical about the idea of a display on the lens but finally I found it really useful.

Looking from above on the left side of the LCD window you find a red marking with some symbols, an AF/MF switch and two programmable function buttons, Fn1 and Fn2. On the other side of the display you see the logo of the producer and the CLICK ON/OFF switch used to control the aperture ring mode.

A manual focus ring is the next part of the lens. It is 26 mm wide, completely covered by fine ribbing. You can't find on it any markings but in this case they are simply not needed – all information will be displayed. The ring performs properly well and is well damped. Running through the whole distance range needs a turn through an angle of 180 degrees, a significant value, allowing you very precise settings.

Metal rings that increase their diameter are next. They end with a hood mount and on one of them you find an inscription 'AF 16/1.8 FE'. The lens can also be bought as a Nikon Z version – instead of FE letters you'll see a Z.

The front element of the lens doesn't move, is slightly convex, 48 mm in diameter. It is surrounded by a part of the barrel with inscriptions and a non-rotating filter thread, 77 mm in diameter. I admit that I am very pleased by the fact that you can use normal filters with such a fast, ultra wide angle lens.

Among the inscriptions you find information about filter diameter we mentioned earlier, minimum focusing distance (0.27m/0.9ft), and basic parameters of the lens along with different acronyms describing technologies used in the construction. In this case you get STM meaning a stepping motor, APSH and ED describing different types of special lenses, and IF telling about an inner focusing system. I think an inscription 'IMAGE SIZE ϕ43.3mm' is the most interesting one, being perhaps the most complicated way of informing a potential customer that you deal here with a lens designed for full frame cameras. After all the diameter of small format amounts exactly to 43.3 mm.

The producers boast of weather-sealing gaskets that are supposed to increase the resistance of the Viltrox 1.8/16 against moisture and dust. What's more, the front element is covered by a special HD Nano coating.

When it comes to optical construction you deal here with as many as 15 elements positioned in 12 groups. There are a lot of special elements inside - four of them are made of low dispersion ED glass and three others are spherical elements. Inside, you also find an aperture with nine blades that can be closed down to a value of f/22 at the maximum.

Buyers get in the box with the lens: both caps, a hood, and a soft pouch which protective properties are a matter of discussion.