Recommended by Astrophotographers and Landscape Photographers 

What makes the Viltrox AF 16mm F1.8 FE/Z Stand Out?

Written in Mar 5th, 2025 - Viltrox Team

In landscape and astrophotography, where the interplay of light and shadow is paramount, lens performance and operational efficiency directly impact creative freedom and image quality. The Viltrox AF 16mm F1.8 FE/Z redefines the possibilities of ultra-wide-angle lenses, combining exceptional optical performance with an innovative design. From aurora-lit icy plains to deserts beneath the Milky Way, its five core advantages provide photographers with unprecedented creative control:

1. Revolutionary Control Experience in Every Shot

1.1  Efficient Fn2 Preset A/B Focus Switching Button

@唐柏鸿
  •  Astrophotography: After achieving precise focus for the first shot, save it as point A/B to eliminate the need for repeated adjustments to star focus in subsequent shots. This significantly improves efficiency for Milky Way panoramas and time-lapse photography. Field tests by astrophotographers show that using the Fn2 preset A/B focus switch function can save 1-2 minutes of manual calibration time per shot. 

@周游

@周游
  • Landscape Focus Stacking: Preset infinity focus (Point A) and foreground focus (Point B) to seamlessly switch between them with a single press, ensuring complete focus coverage. This prevents errors from manually rotating the focus ring and misalignment of the camera position. By reducing multiple focus adjustments, the efficiency of focus stacking in landscape photography improves by approximately 50%. 

@叁不五时

@叁不五时
  • Cinematic Video Creation: Preset focus points for subject positioning and scenery shots to achieve smooth, cinematic focus transitions, effectively minimizing manual focus tracking errors. 

1.2  Fn1 Custom Button 
Creative freedom at the touch of a button. 

@周志琪

Supports mapping of key functions such as focus peaking and exposure preview. For astrophotography or landscape shooting, we recommend the following settings: 

  • Bright Screen Display: Maximizes screen brightness in low-light conditions for easier composition checking when capturing the night sky. 
  • Short Press to Activate Level Gauge: Ensures precise alignment of multiple shots when stitching. 
  • Short Press to Magnify Focus: Magnifies the display when manual focusing for more precise adjustments. 

@Eric Deseyve

@alexpantela

1.3  Lens LCD Screen
Real-time key info for better control of details. 
  • Check the depth of field, object distance, aperture, AF/MF status, and Fn2 A/B positions in real time. 
  • In low-light astrophotography conditions, you can choose to turn off the lens screen to reduce light interference, ensuring clean long-exposure shots. 
  • The lens screen can be customized via the Viltrox Lens APP, allowing settings such as startup animation, auto on/off, and parameter display.

2. F1.8 Large Aperture, Master the Starry Night

@流浪星球的阿豪

@影叶的光色世界
  • Superior Low-Light Performance: The F1.8 aperture and 16mm wide-angle field of view allow you to capture details of celestial bodies like the Milky Way and aurora in extremely low light, without the noise associated with high ISO settings.

@流浪星球的阿豪
  • Beautiful Bokeh and Starburst Effects: The large aperture creates a shallow depth of field for smooth bokeh, while the 9-blade aperture structure produces sharp, 18-point starbursts.

3. Edge-to-Edge Ultra-High Resolution
  • Ultra-Low Distortion and Flare Control: With 3 aspherical elements and 4 low-dispersion elements, this lens reduces common distortion in wide-angle shots, ensuring accurate geometry in architecture, mountains, and other line-intensive subjects. It also minimizes ghosting and flare, resulting in purer nightscapes and starry skies.
  • Minimal Breathing Effect: The lens exhibits almost no perceptible change in perspective during focus transitions, outperforming other ultra-wide lenses of the same specification.
  • Edge Star Point Control: Even at 80% of the image’s edge, star points retain a perfect circular shape, reducing coma and meeting professional standards for astronomical photography.

@摄影师请叫我小超人

@Tim Benz
  • Close Focusing to 0.27m: Capture intricate details like rock textures and ice crystals up close, creating a surreal sense of depth in your shots.
  • Exceptional Performance Across All Camera Systems: No need for body distortion correction, maintaining edge-to-edge sharpness and zero distortion performance on any camera system.

@摄影师请叫我小超人

4. Fast and Accurate Autofocus

@摄影师请叫我小超人
  • STM Stepper Motor Focusing System: Experience silent and precise continuous autofocus, working in harmony with in-body image stabilization for sharp, clear images even when shooting handheld.

5. All-Weather Durability and Portable Design

@追光的猫

@foto_marek
  • Weighing approximately 500g, the all-metal body reduces fatigue on long journeys, making it perfect for mobile shooting with stabilizers or drones.
  • The non-bulbous design minimizes the risk of damage and is compatible with 77mm ND, CPL, and other front filters.
  • Built to withstand temperatures from -10°C to 40°C, with dustproof and weather-resistant construction that ensures stable operation in extreme conditions like glaciers and deserts.
Title

Viltrox AF 16mm F1.8 FE/Z redefining the creative potential of wide-angle lenses.

The Fn2 button for dual focus presets and other features are specifically designed for astrophotography and landscape creation. 

Available in Sony E-mount and Nikon Z-mount, compatible with major full-frame camera systems. Official price: $580. For astrophotographers, landscape creators, and film teams who seek a balance between efficiency and image quality, this is the ultimate tool for mastering natural light and shadow. 

Click to learn more about AF 16mm F1.8 FE

Click to learn more about AF 16mm F1.8 Z

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