Viltrox AF 16mm f1.8 for Sony Full-Frame E-Mount Cameras Released

Lens News

by Jürgen MoorsJune 3^rd, 2023

Viltrox released a new ultra-wide-angle full-frame lens for Sony E-Mount cameras. The Viltrox AF 16mm comes with a fast aperture of f1.8 and a step-less aperture ring. The lens has a Nano multi-layer coating, a water-resistant all-metal body design, and an LCD screen built right into the lens body. You can pre-order the lens for an affordable price of $549. So, let’s find out what the new Viltrox wide-angle lens can do for you.

Chinese manufacturer Viltrox released quite a few interesting lenses over the last year, and if you are not familiar with them, please check out the Viltrox 13mm F/1.4 AF for FUJIFILM X-Mount cameras, or you can watch a review and a mini-documentary filmed with the Viltrox EPIC anamorphic lenses.

Viltrox AF 16mm f1.8

Shooting with ultra-wide-angle lenses is always exciting, especially when you want to capture wide-open landscapes, dramatic city shots, or narrow interior locations. This lens is full-frame for Sony E-Mount cameras like the Sony a7 IV, weighs only 550g/19,4oz, and you can use it with 77mm screw-on filters. Just in case you need it, the lens has a water-resistant all-metal body design and should survive even rough shooting conditions.

The complex optical construction of the new Viltrox lens consists of 15 elements in 12 groups, with 4 ED lenses and 3 aspheric lenses. Viltrox claims that the high-definition nano-multilayer coating and the 4 ED lenses are controlling dispersion, ghosting, and glare. However, this has to be tested in a lab and in real-world shooting action.

Autofocus and aperture ring

The lens comes with a quiet STM stepping motor for autofocus and you can switch between autofocus and manual focus mode. The aperture ring also has a switch and can be used either in a clickless mode for shooting video or in a click mode for shooting photos. The fast f1.8 aperture will create an extremely shallow depth of field and you should get a nice bokeh.

Built-in screen

The lens features a built-in LCD screen that is integrated into the lens body for displaying shooting parameters. The screen provides additional information about the focus distance, aperture, custom buttons, and so on. That is quite a nice feature and could come in handy in certain shooting conditions.

Viltrox AF 16mm f1.8 – key features

• Full-Frame
• Ultra-Wide Angle of View with 105.6°angle of view
• STM Autofocus Motor
• Stepless Aperture Ring f/1.8 to f/22
• HD Nano Multi-Layer Coating
• Built-In LCD Screen
• USB-C Interface for Firmware Upgrades
• All-Metal Body
• Weather-Resistant Design
• 77mm Screw-On Filters
• Weight 550g/19,4oz

Price and availability

The Viltrox AF 16mm f1.8 can be pre-ordered for $549. For further information, visit the Viltrox website here.

What do you think about the new ultra-wide-angle lens? Would you be interested in using it with your Sony camera? Please leave us your thoughts in the comment section below.