Viltrox 13mm F1.4 Ultra-wide Angle Autofocus Lens, Compatible with Fuji X-mount Cameras X-A10 X-A3 X-A5 X-A7 X-S10 X-T20 X-T3 X-T4 X-T1 X-E2S X-Pro2 X-Pro3 X-E3 X-E4

Product Information

Thanks to Viltrox for sending me an evaluation copy of the 13mm F1.4. As always, this is a completely independent review. Viltrox AF13 Build and Handling While the fairly chunky 56mm f/1.4 weighs in at 260 grams, the 13mm ups that again to 420 grams. This, of course, is expected because of the wide field-of-view and larger (domed) front optic; the lens is 74x90mm as opposed to 65x72mm for the 56mm f/1.4. In short, this is a relatively big lens when put on a more modest camera — such as my X-E3 — so is perhaps better suited to the larger X-Series cameras. Of course there are, although perhaps unusually nothing that is directly comparable in terms of focal length and aperture. Fujifilm has a plethora of lenses, although the closest is the XF 14 mm f/2.8 R— along with 16mm and 18mm variants — while Sigma has also recently released its 16mm f/1.4 for X-mount. That places the Viltrox 13mm in a class of its own, and perhaps that was the intent. Should You Buy It? You can see the low levels of distortion in the lines of the room. This will be a nice lens for those that want to do real estate video or photos.

The XF 14mm f/2.8 R appears to be more rectilinear where lines on the building are not as tilted. Part of this could be from the fact that we are talking about a 13mm vs. 14mm lens. I was surprised to see a significant difference in the field of view from the two lenses.It’s not perfect, inevitably suffering from flare when stopped down and soft corners, particularly at wider apertures. Its sweet spot is around f/8.0 where you can expect to routinely capture quality images. However that f/1.4 maximum aperture will appeal to those in search of light — think to mosh pit or starry sky — while also offering bokeh potential at a wide angle.

The lens is constructed of 14 elements in 11 groups, which includes four ED and two aspheric elements and a multi-layer coated, waterproof, front optic. It has a nine-blade aperture, weighs 420 grams, and takes a larger 67mm filter. As it is a fly-by-wire design, it comes with a micro-USB port that allows firmware upgrades which Viltrox has be forthcoming with. Out of the box, there are front and rear lens caps, a cloth case, and a lens hood. So why would you want a 20 mm equivalent? Intriguingly it’s a focal length I have never shot with and don’t have in my camera bag. My “gotos” have always been 24, 35, 50, and 85 mm, with a 14 mm for those more esoterically wide shots that aren’t fisheye. It’s not that 20mm is necessarily uncommon, but it’s one that has never appealed to me as 24mm is short enough, at which point I move down to the 14mm. So has Viltrox made the right decision? That’s a personal choice and, for some, 20mm may well be perfect. Yes, it’s more distorted than 24mm but not disastrously so and could therefore be a good match for landscapes or interior architectural shots, alongside the inevitable vlogging allowing you to get really close to the action. Build Quality and Design There is no lens stabilization, which means you have to rely on your camera's own IBIS for handheld shots or filming. This is not a bad thing, however, as most cameras nowadays have IBIS. This also keeps the price of the lens down and competitive. Performance On the X-E3 the lens unsurprisingly feels a little front heavy, however not unduly so. It was still pleasant to use, but would be better balanced on a larger camera. VILTROX AF 13/1.4 XF is a super wide-angle large-aperture prime lens for Fujifilm X-mount camera models. It features an STM focusing motor, steppes aperture dialing, and anti-fouling coating, supporting eye/face detection autofocus. The compact and lightweight body makes it the best choice for Vlog creation. Your outstanding video shooting will contribute to the optimized video performance and insignificantly weak focus breathing!One final point — and it’s a small thing — there is a red circle to mark lens orientation for attaching to the camera body. This is white on earlier lenses, but strangely I find it much easier to locate! Image Quality and Performance I also found that the transitions from my face to my hand during my tests were smooth and confident, with focus immediately returning to my eyes when the obstruction was removed. Focus breathing is also minimal, making this a nice lens for video or vlogging (due to the excellent focal length for this task).

Yes. While I might have questioned the 20mm equivalent focal length at the beginning, it is quite clear that — while maybe not as popular as other focal lengths — there is a market. The lens adds a focal length option that isn’t available in Fujifilm’s first-party lineup and what Viltrox has made here works well, especially for the price.

Build Quality and Design

From the general photography point of view, I am really enjoying using this lens in different situations. I also enjoy the challenge of being fixed to one focal length when out shooting, as I feel it tightens your compositional skills somewhat. When I got the Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 I immediately wanted to compare the two. I did a couple of test scenes at f/2.8 and f/8 and in both scenarios, the XF 14mm f/2.8 R performed slightly better when it comes to the center and corner sharpness, as well as dealing with chromatic aberration.