Viltrox AF 16mm F/1.8 Z

Specifications01

MountNIKON Z

Focal length16mm

Max aperturef/1.8

TypeCinema · Wide · Prime

Weight550 g

Filter size77 mm

Physical length103 mm

Barrel diameter85 mm

Min focus distance0.27 m

Max magnification0.1

Aperture blades9

Optical elements15

Groups12

AutofocusYes

StabilizationNo

Weather sealedNo

Lens hoodpetal-shaped (bayonet mount, supplied)

Approx price$580

Additional Info02

TypeUltra wide-angle prime

Category["Nikon Z (Full Format)"]

Keywords["Prime","Ultra-wide","Viltrox","Z-mount"]

Angle Of View105.6°

Review AuthorKlaus

Review Rating7.5

Other FeaturesLCD display, 2 custom buttons, clickless aperture mode, dust-sealing, aperture ring, USB port for firmware updates

Review VerdictThe Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 Z continues to impress in Nikon Z mount as well. The tested sample showed excellent center performance even at f/1.8. The outer image field isn't quite as sharp but it's already usable at f/1.8 and good to very good at medium aperture settings. Image distortions are negligible even in RAW images. Auto-correction is advisable for vignetting which is very high at maximum aperture - but that's typical for ultra-wide lens. Lateral CAs are low. Ultra-wide lenses are never perfect regarding their bokeh, but it is better than most in its class here. The build quality of the Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 Z is top-notch, thanks to a dust-proof, all-metal construction with internal focusing. Viltrox was still able to keep the weight at manageable 550g. A dedicated aperture ring with a click-less mode option, custom buttons and dedicated AF/MF are also present. The lens even features an on-board LCD showing some of the relevant settings (although the distance indicator wasn't accurate). The STM AF is decently fast and noiseless. There's also no relevant focus breathing. At the time of this review, Nikon doesn't offer any comparable prime lens, so if you need something this wide and this fast, there's no way around the 16mm f/1.8 Z. However, even when ignoring the paper specs, it's simply a very good lens at a great price.

Review Criteria{"Build Quality":9.5,"Optical Quality":7.5,"Price / Performance":10}

Review Published2024-05-27T23:00:20+00:00

Optical Construction15 elements in 12 groups, incl. 4xED and 3 aspherical elements