During the pandemic, I tested the first L-mount camera that really made me a convert: the Leica SL2s. And since then, I’ve switched my primary camera system to the L-mount — which was then supported by Leica, Panasonic, and Sigma. Viltrox joined recently, and today, they’re launching their first lens for the L-mount: the 16mm f1.8. What a lens to choose, considering that the camera system has nothing like it.
The Viltrox 16mm f1.8 for L mount is a variant of the lens they’ve got for both Nikon and Sony. While many camera companies will talk about things like how many lens elements it has, we’re not going to bother with that. Honestly, most of us wouldn’t know what all of those things do anyway. It has a 77mm filter thread, doesn’t weigh a lot, has a metal body, and a top LCD screen. It’s an excellent option for anyone who wants an affordable wide-angle lens.
The top LCD screen is a curious choice that several Viltrox lenses use. It tells you lots of information such as zone focusing distances and depth, autofocus distance, etc. I like it; but I’m curious to know how it will work over time.
Viltrox is also very forward thinking in that their lenses can be updated via firmware using their app and bluetooth or a USB cable built into the mount of the lens.
Yup, it’s also affordable. It costs only $580. If you’re a Nikon shooter, know that we even considered it to be one of the best Viltrox lenses for Nikon users.
To recap what we’ve said many times, this isn’t a cheap lens. It’s what the cost is: all the Japanese-made products are expensive instead.
Considering what Viltrox has done in the past with both the Nikon and Sony mounts, we can only assume that we’re going to be getting more lenses in the future. In fact, we can expect a Viltrox 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, 135mm, and other high end lenses. What I’m really curious about is if the 28mm f4.5 pancake lens will come. That’s truly one of my favorites for the camera system. And if it indeed comes, it will be one of the most perfect lenses for the Panasonic S9 due to how compact it is. Combine that with the Real Time LUT feature and you’ll have something that you’ll never want to stop shooting with.
I’ve reviewed this lens, and the lead photo is my own original photograph. While this lens isn’t said to be as weather sealed as many of their other lenses, it was still able to resist some insanely freezing temperatures. Here in NYC, the snow and the cold has been really brutal. But the lens and the Leica SL2s that I’ve used with it kept on shooting. I know lots of other cameras where they would’ve just failed on me. And durability like this needs to be praised because it means that the lens is bound to last you a whole lot longer over time. No need to toss it or sell it eventually because it’s far less likely to break!
With this new lens coming to L-mount, I think we can say with honesty that Sony’s dominance in the mirrorless world is really starting to get threatened. Lumix has been making some big strides recently, and if you’re not shooting L-mount, you’re really missing out.
Most importantly, this lens is far less likely to have any performance issues because the L-mount shares all autofocus and exposure data through the mount with no interferances.