Viltrox AF 13mm F1.4 Review: A Fast, Cheap Ultra-Wide for APS-C
The Viltrox AF 13mm F1.4 STM was one of the lenses that changed how people saw Viltrox. It launched for Fujifilm X at the start of 2022, followed by Nikon Z and Sony E versions that summer, at about $430. For that money you get an f/1.4 ultra-wide autofocus prime for APS-C.
On a 1.5x crop body it frames like a 20mm lens on full frame. Combined with f/1.4, that makes it a lens for night skies, dim interiors and vlogging in low light, all things the slow kit zooms struggle with.
Ultra-wide primes come into their own under arches, in alleys and in rooms, where you need to show the space around you and the light is fading.
Photo: Pixel Effects
Dustin Abbott’s full review tests the Fujifilm X version.
Video review: Dustin Abbott
Design
The lens is bigger than you might expect: 420 grams and 90mm long in X mount, and about 455 grams in Z mount. The optical formula is 14 elements in 11 groups, with four ED and two aspherical elements. The aperture has nine rounded blades, and the filter thread is 67mm.
Close focus is 22cm, for 0.10x magnification. Focus is driven by an STM motor. There’s a clicked aperture ring with an A position but no de-click or lock, no AF/MF switch, and a metal hood. The barrel is metal too. Dustin Abbott and PetaPixel both describe it as not weather sealed, though Viltrox mentions some dust seals. A port for firmware updates is built in.
How it performs
Abbott, Digital Camera World and PetaPixel all found the center very sharp wide open. Distortion is very low for an ultra-wide, which helps for architecture and interiors. Autofocus is fast, quiet and smooth, and suits video. Abbott and Digital Camera World found coma and longitudinal color fringing well controlled, good news for astrophotography.
The corners are soft wide open and need f/2.8 to sharpen up. Abbott and PetaPixel found it prone to flare. Close-up ability is limited and bokeh is average. On a small body like the X-M5 or ZV-E10 II, it’s front-heavy.
Who should buy it
APS-C shooters on Fujifilm, Sony or Nikon who want a fast ultra-wide for astro, interiors and low-light vlogging without paying first-party prices. It suits the Fujifilm X-S20, Sony A6700 and Nikon Z50II.
On Sony, the Sony E 11mm F1.8 is wider, sealed and far smaller at about $110 more. The Samyang AF 12mm F2 is smaller and sealed too. On Fujifilm, the XF 14mm F2.8 R is the first-party alternative, and the Sigma 10-18mm F2.8 zoom gives you more flexibility at f/2.8. Viltrox’s own AF 27mm F1.2 Pro is a good standard partner.
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