Viltrox 16mm f1.8 Review (Landscape & Astro) | Paul Farace

Q: Is Viltrox 16mm f1.8 good for astrophotography?

Yes, it is one of the best budget ultra wide primes for astrophotography. The bright f/1.8 aperture lets in massive amounts of light. It features excellent coma control and superb sharpness across the frame, making stars look like sharp pinpricks rather than distorted streaks.

Q: Does Viltrox 16mm f1.8 work on Sony APS C cameras?

Yes, it works perfectly on Sony APS C E mount cameras (like the a6700 or FX30). Because of the 1.5x crop factor, the lens provides an equivalent focal length of 24mm, turning it into a versatile wide angle prime.

Paul Farace Photography
Jun 12
8 min read

Updated: Jun 21

Welcome to the Viltrox 16mm f1.8 Review! have been using the Viltrox 16mm for well over a year now. From landscapes and seascapes to Milky Way astrophotography shots, I have put it through the test. Is this ultra wide angle prime lens a hit or a miss?

You decide! Check out my real world Viltrox 16mm f1.8 lens images and review below!

Viltrox AF 16/1.8 FE lens box on a wooden surface outdoors, with rainbow bokeh background and product text visible. — The Viltrox 16mm f/1.8 lens for Sony E-mount and Nikon Z-mount..

Paul Farace is an award winning photographer based out of St. Augustine Florida and is sharing his experience with the Viltrox 16mm f1.8 lens on Sony Alpha after a year of hard use. Find out more at www.paulfaracephotography.com

Some links on this page are affiliate links and I may earn a small commission if you use any. An easy way to support me for free! Thank you!

Quick Verdict: A Budget Game Changer!

TLDR: The Viltrox 16mm f1.8 lens is fantastic optical image quality at a non native budget price. You get great edge to edge sharpness, excellent color and contrast and pro features like weather sealing, customizable buttons and an on lens LCD screen. An excellent choice for landscape photographers. Especially photographers who enjoy wide angle astrophotography and low light scenes.

The optical performance of this lens excels especially when you consider the price. You get pro level results and image quality at a non native price point. That is a big selling point for me.

Viltrox 16mm f1.8 Key Specs

Focal length: 16mm

Minimum aperture: f/1.8

Available mounts: Sony E mount and Nikon Z mount

Filter size: 77mm

Weather sealing: Yes

The ultra wide angle of view is great for general wide vistas landscapes and especially helpful when shooting coastal seascapes, which I shoot often, to capture the full scene and create depth with your foreground.

Golden sunrise over a rocky shoreline, with waves and tide pools under a cloudy and foggy orange sky shot with the Viltrox 16mm f1.8. — Foggy ocean sunrise shot on the Viltrox 16mm.

There is excellent sharpness across the whole frame too. From corner to corner it is very acceptable and if you stop down some it just gets better

Golden light on rippled shoreline rock as waves blur across the textured surface at sunset shot with the Viltrox 16mm f1.8.. — Long exposure of water and coquina rock textures shot on the Viltrox 16mm.

This is very helpful for wide angle astrophotography because you have enough room to stop down to get even better performance. Even just going to f2 helps and still leaves tons of room to gather light during longer exposures without a tracker.

Milky way photo shot with the Viltrox 16mm f1.8. — Viltrox 16mm f/1.8 astrophotography. A 20+ Image stack of the Milky Way in Florida.

Custom Buttons: Some pro features are included too. You get customizable buttons where you can for example set your perfect infinity focus point to a button.

Smart LCD Screen: The built in digital display allows you to check your exact focus distance at a glance, which is incredibly helpful when shooting quickly on the move.

Value: All of this for a price that is significantly less than G Master or Nikon S Line equivalents. An excellent price to performance ratio.

Beached sailboat at sunrise on a sandy shore, with tall masts silhouetted against a glowing cloudy sky and calm sea. shot with the Viltrox 16mm f1.8. — Abandoned sailboat shot on the Viltrox 16mm.

In the field

1. Landscapes and Vistas - Viltrox 16mm f1.8

The 16mm focal length captures expansive views without heavy barrel distortion. Colors are vibrant, and contrast remains high even when shooting in harsh midday sun.

Colorful pier building on stilts over a sandy beach at low tide, with blue sky, seagulls, and golden reflections on wet sand. Shot with the Viltrox 16mm f1.8. — The Daytona Pier in full sun. Shot on the Viltrox 16mm.

2. Seascapes and Flare Control - Viltrox 16mm f1.8

Coastal shooting introduces challenging light and moisture. This lens features advanced multi coating that minimizes ghosting and flare when shooting directly into sunrises or sunsets. Also to not this lens does not produce an emphasized sunstar. Some people like that and others like being able to produce a good sunstar. I kind of miss it lol, but not a deal breaker by any means.

Blog post: Photographing Black Rock Beach with the Viltrox 16mm f1.8

Long exposure sunrise landscape photo shot with the Viltrox 16mm f1.8. — A sunrise seascape photo showing flare control. Shot on the Viltrox 16mm.

Blog Post: Watch me take the above and below photos with the Viltrox 16mm f1.8.

3. Low-Light and Night Skies - Viltrox 16mm f1.8

While it excels at daytime landscapes, the bright f/1.8 aperture also makes it a powerhouse for twilight, blue hour, and occasional starry night photos.

Pastel blue hour over rocky shoreline, with long-exposure waves and dramatic clouds creating a calm, dreamy seascape. Shot with the Viltrox 16mm f1.8. — Viltrox 16mm Low light blue hour image. In this image it was nearly dark out still.

The close focusing distance of the Viltrox 16mm f1.8 is a little over 10 inches, 10.6 to be exact. I like to use this to push in close to my foreground subject and emphasize the scene. This can create tremendous depth and interest in your images. That technique combined with extreme focus stacking can create some amazing scenes.

Check out my ebook: How to Extreme Focus Stack ($2.99 or free for kindle users)

Sunrise over a rocky shore as foamy waves crash and blur across the beach under a glowing orange sky. Shot with the Viltrox 16mm f1.8. — Using the close focusing ability of the Viltrox 16mm lens to capture emphasized rock & water cascades.

Build Quality & Weight - Viltrox 16mm f1.8

All-Metal Construction
The premium aluminum alloy barrel can handle the bumps and scrapes of outdoor exploration.

Weather Sealing
Dust and moisture resistance protect the lens during sudden mountain storms or sandy beach winds.

Get close and shoot without fear. The Viltrox 16mm is weather sealed and an all metal construction.
Lens Weight
For hiking and outdoor adventure photography, gear weight matters. Weighing in at 550 grams (1.2 lbs), it balances perfectly on modern mirrorless bodies without making your camera bag feel too heavy on long trails. While not an ultralight it offers a good balance of performance and weight. (For an ultralight ultra wide option you can check out the Viltrox 14mm F4 Air at only $199)

Hiker with backpack stands in a mossy forest beneath a banner reading HOW I SCOUT FIND EPIC LOCAL IMAGES — Click this image to watch the video! How I Scout! Find Epic Local Images!

Viltrox 16mm f1.8 Pros and Cons

Pros:

Great value

Excellent image quality

Excellent sharpness

Premium all metal build

Weather sealing

Accepts 77mm filters (flat front)

Great distortion control

Great coma control

Cons:

Single focal length, 16mm

Heavy vignetting when wide open

Slightly bulky for a single landscape lens

There really aren't a lot of bad things to say about this lens, the pros often well outweigh any cons.

Check out this Viltrox 16mm f1.8 Landscape Photography Gallery

Check out this lens on Amazon right here! Viltrox 16mm f1.8

Conclusion - Viltrox 16mm f1.8

After over 12 months of field testing in unpredictable outdoor conditions, the Viltrox 16mm f1.8 is a definitive hit. It is a reliable, sharp, and affordable tool for any landscape or travel photographer looking for a wider view on a full frame Sony or Nikon mirrorless. You get great edge to edge sharpness, excellent color and contrast and pro features like weather sealing, customizable buttons and an on lens LCD screen. An excellent choice for landscape photographers. Especially photographers who enjoy wide angle astrophotography and low light scenes.

Its great for the landscape photographer who wants excellent image quality and at a great price, but one that also would like to shoot some wide angle astrophotography and low light landscpaes. It's not for the photographer who wants to hike 30 miles to their location and doesnt need so much low light capability.

Read and watch more here: Florida Milky Way with the Viltrox 16mm f1.8 on Sony

Viltrox 16mm f1.8 FAQ

Is the Viltrox 16mm f1.8 good for astrophotography?

Yes, it is one of the best budget ultra-wide primes for astrophotography. The bright f/1.8 aperture lets in massive amounts of light. It features excellent coma control and superb sharpness across the frame, making stars look like sharp pinpricks rather than distorted streaks.

How is the corner sharpness on Viltrox 16mm f1.8 wide open?

Corner sharpness is remarkably high at f/1.8, especially for an ultra wide lens in this price range. While the center is razor sharp, the extreme edges show only minor softening. Stopping down slightly to f/2.2 or f/2.8 sharpens the corners to near perfection.

Does the Viltrox 16mm f1.8 have bad coma flare?

No, its coma correction is outstanding. Point light sources and stars near the edges of the frame exhibit almost no winging or elongation. Its performance closely matches premium lenses that cost twice as much.

How do you fix Viltrox 16mm f1.8 vignetting?

The lens has heavy corner shading (around 3 stops) when shot wide open at f/1.8. This is easily fixed by enabling the built in lens profile correction in Lightroom, Adobe Camera Raw, or Capture One, which flattens the exposure across the frame automatically.

Best settings for Milky Way with the Viltrox 16mm f1.8?

I like to shoot wide open or f2, and expose for no more than 13-15 seconds to avoid star trails. I shoot Sony which has an ISO invariant sensor and I boost my ISO in post. Otherwise try ISO 1600 and take a test shot!

Compatibility & Mounts

Does Viltrox 16mm f1.8 work on Sony APS-C cameras?

Yes, it works perfectly on Sony APS-C E mount cameras (like the a6700 or FX30). Because of the 1.5x crop factor, the lens provides an equivalent focal length of 24mm, turning it into a versatile wide angle prime.

Is Viltrox 16mm f1.8 available for Nikon Z mount?

Yes, Viltrox offers this lens in native Nikon Z mount. It supports full electronic communication, autofocus, and features the exact same LCD screen and build quality as the Sony version.

Can you use Viltrox 16mm f1.8 on full frame?

Yes, this lens is designed specifically for full frame sensors. It utilizes the full surface area of the sensor to give you a true, ultra wide 16mm field of view without any automatic cropping.

Video & Autofocus

Is Viltrox 16mm f1.8 good for vlogging?

It is an exceptional vlogging lens, especially for hand held setups or gimbal use. The 16mm focal length is wide enough to capture your face and plenty of your background without distorting your features, and the fast f/1.8 aperture creates beautiful background separation.

How fast is the autofocus on Viltrox 16mm f1.8?

Autofocus is fast, silent, and accurate. It uses a quiet STM stepping motor that fully supports advanced camera tracking features like Real time Eye AF, animal eye tracking, and continuous video autofocus.

Does the Viltrox 16mm f1.8 have focus breathing?

Focus breathing is exceptionally well controlled. When pulling focus from close up subjects to the background, there is almost no visible change in the focal length, which is a massive benefit for videographers and filmmakers.

Physical Features & Filters

What is the filter size for Viltrox 16mm f1.8?

The lens features a standard 77mm front filter thread. Unlike many ultra wide lenses with bulbous front elements, you can easily screw on standard ND filters, polarizers, or light pollution filters without needing a bulky custom filter holder.

Is the Viltrox 16mm f1.8 weather sealed?

Yes, it features dust and moisture resistant construction. It includes a rubber gasket around the lens mount and internal seals throughout the barrel, allowing you to confidently shoot outdoors in dusty environments or light mist.

What does the LCD screen on the Viltrox 16mm do?

The built in digital LCD screen displays real time shooting information. It shows your current focus distance, an interactive depth of field scale, and your selected aperture setting, which is incredibly useful for manual focusing in the dark.

Comparison & Value

Viltrox 16mm f1.8 vs Sony 14mm f1.8 GM: which is better?

The Sony 14mm GM is wider, slightly sharper in the extreme corners, and lighter. However, the Viltrox 16mm f/1.8 offers roughly 90% of the Sony performance, features a useful built in LCD screen, accepts much cheaper standard 77mm screw on filters, and costs less than half the price.

Is Viltrox 16mm f1.8 worth it for the price?

Yes, it is widely considered one of the best value for money lenses on the market. It delivers professional grade optical sharpness, premium weather sealed construction, and unique features like an LCD screen at a mid range price point.

Want to step up your landscape photography game? Check this out!

100 Landscape Photography Tips

Man in sunglasses holds a camera beside bold black text reading 100 PHOTO TIPS on a bright yellow background.

Undecided on a wide angle? Check out this video!

Don't Break The Bank! Wide Angle Landscape Photography Lenses

Man in sunglasses holds a camera with a smoking lens and gives a thumbs-up over bold WIDE text on a yellow background.

Check out my series

This Is Florida! Exploring A1A in search of the most epic photography spots

Florida Landscape Photography VLOG. Check out my THIS IS FLORIDA! series on YouTube where I am exploring the full length of Florida's A1A in search of the best landscape photography spots. This Is Florida! Watch The Series Here!