Viltrox AF 13mm F/1.4: Sorry Fujifilm, You're Too Late!

The Viltrox AF 13mm F1.4 is a shining light perched next to a stellar lineup of Fujifilm prime lenses. If you are familiar with the Fujifilm X-Mount ecosystem, you will know the solid selection of primes lenses. However, Fujifilm has holes missing in the extreme ends of the focal range. The widest prime lens offered by Fujifilm is currently the XF14mmF2.8 R from 2013. I adore the 21mm equivalent field-of-view in 35mm, which works out to 14mm on the X Mount, but there haven't been many prospects coming from Fujifilm.

I was excited when Viltrox announced a 13mm autofocused wide-angle lens for the Fujifilm X-mount system! I believe (maybe more hope) that Fujifilm will release an ultra-wide prime lens between the 12 to 14mm range and a fast aperture of F1.4-F2. Personally, this is a focal range that Fujifilm should have already made. However, for now, we have to live with what we already have, Viltrox and Samyang (Rokinon) producing the fast aperture wide-angle primes for the Fujifilm X-Mount.

Viltrox AF 13mm F1.4 essential facts:

• 13mm (20mm equivalent in 35mm)
• F1.4 maximum and F16 minimum aperture
• 1/3 stops with A mode, clickable aperture ring
• ø74mm x 90mm dimensions
• Weight 420g (14.81oz)
• 67mm filter thread
• 14 elements in 11 groups, 4 ED glass, two aspherical lenses, two high refraction index lenses
• 9 blade diaphragm
• 0.22m Minimum focus distance (0.1x magnification)
• Auto Focus (Manual Focus Override)
• STM noiseless focus motor with the internal focus mechanism
• $469

Viltrox's Sharpest Lens to Date - Viltrox 13mm F1.4

Viltrox has previously made some beautiful lenses for the Fujifilm system, including the 23mm, 33mm, 56mm and 85mm lenses. Nevertheless, the new 13mm F1.4 is a unique lens. None of the third-party manufacturers currently producing lenses for the X-mount system has attempted this focal length with a fast F1/4 aperture. 

With all this in mind, Viltrox surprised me. I was expecting a soft lens, with heavy vignetting, especially wide open. Firstly, this lens is sharp, and this is the sharpest Viltrox lens I have used on the Fujifilm system, albeit mainly in the centre of the frame wide-open. Furthermore, as you stop down to the F2 to F2.8, you witness a considerable sharpness across the frame and at F4, all vignetting is gone, and sharpness dramatically increases.

Please note: Although the Viltrox lens communicates with the Fujifilm system, there is no in-camera correction. However, this Viltrox lens corrects well for a high performing lens.

Viltrox Solid Build Quality Continues

Viltrox has always impressed me with its supreme build quality for a budget third-party Fujifilm option. Assuming most Fujifilm faithful own the superior XF 10-24mm ultra-wide-angle lens, the size and weight are similar to that of the Viltrox lens. However, please note that the Viltrox 13mm does not support OIS and has no WR built into the lens. 

The' clickable' aperture ring is one aspect of this particular Viltrox lens that will make every Fujifilm user happy. Viltrox's previous lenses had the traditional aperture ring on the lens; unfortunately, it didn't have that clunky click we desired. (Thank you for listening to your customer base!)

The overall balance and ergonomics feel lovely on the front of my X-T4. This pair will make an ideal travel combo when the world finally opens up! As Fujifilm doesn't allow third-party manufacturers to 'plug and play' in the X-Mount bodies to update firmware, you will find a USB-C on the lens mount to enable future Viltrox 13mm lens updates. Furthermore, it's worth noting that EXIF data is recorded when shooting with the lens. Whatever the Fuji lens reads out, this will mirror, and yes, that does include manual focus override, face detection and AF range limiter. No need to worry Viltrox has us covered!

It feels as close as you could expect to shoot with a native X mount lens, which is immense praise!

Is The Viltrox 13mm F1.4 Lens for You?

It's clear that every photographer loves brand new lenses, but is who is this lens actually for? One rule I live by when looking at lenses is 'if you don't know if you want a lens or not, there is a good chance you probably don't need it.'

Wide-angle lenses take time to learn and understand how they work with your composition, subject, dead space, and overall basic understanding. If you are here looking for an ultra-wide-angle lens for landscape and travel photography, I can highly recommend the native XF10-24mm F4 R OIS WR instead. 

Firstly, if you are like me and have used wide-angle lenses for years, love landscape and night photography and know you want the 20mm equivalent fast aperture lens that will satisfy your needs, well listen up!

Secondly, I must start by saying this is Viltrox's most expensive lens for the X-mount to date, coming in at $469. Later I will explain why this doesn't bother me, especially if you use this lens for its purpose. 

This lens is 100% worth its value.

The Viltrox 13mm F1.4 is as complicated as a 9x9x9 square Rubix cube to solve with a 14/11 design, four ED glass elements, two aspherical, and two high refraction index lenses in the design. What that means in laypeople's terms is: This is an expensive and complicated lens to design! 

Finally, the evidence is clear about how unique this lens is. The first generation Fuji wide angle XF14mmF2.8 R is currently priced at $999, coming in at almost double the price. Therefore, if Fujifilm releases a competitor that's either an XF12mm AF F/2 or an XF13mm AF F1.4 lens, I assume it would be between the $1200-$1300 range.

Conclusion On The New Viltrox Lens

After extensively testing this lens, I conclude ultra-wide-angle lenses take a lot longer to sample than any other focal range on the market. Personally, this becomes more difficult as I have been waiting for a fast wide prime for years. I would love a fast prime (such as the Viltrox 13mm F1.4) to replace my XF 10-24mm in my travel bag. As a night photography lover, the XF 10-24mm at F/4 is extremely slow but has a versatile focal range.

Would I miss it? Well, I still don't know that hahaha.

What I do know is, if I owned the XF 14mm F2.8, I would sell that lens to invest in the Viltrox 13mm F1.4. It even makes me question the decision for Fujifilm to revamp the XF18mmF1.4 R LM WR before releasing an ultra-wide-angle lens with all the competition going around with Viltrox, Samyang, and now Sigma is joining the party...

The optimum range is between F/5.6-8; I was impressed with colour rendition throughout the ISO range and can happily say this is Viltrox's sharpest lens they've produced to date! However, like all the other Viltrox lenses, the micro-contrast was a little disappointing (this is an easy fix in post-production).

Overall, the price point of the Viltrox 13mm F1.4 makes this lens an ideal choice for the right photographer. Optically sharp, great focal range, maximum aperture, size, weight and affordable price.

For now, I'll keep testing this lens to see if it will replace my Fujifilm XF10-24mm in my kit bag as a sole wide-angle lens. 

Who knows, Fujifilm might wake up and make something in that time?

Bravo Viltrox!

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