Viltrox 13mm f1.4 Review - A Street Photographer's Perspective

[@edc5338]

I think the "C" means APS-C?

[@KashyewOffTheClock]

As a Sony user, I have found that “C” branded lenses mean “contemporary,” which, by extension, means it is intended for the APS-C sensor. I assume it would be the same for Fuji 🤷

[@CWReace]

I got this lens a little while ago, but life being what it is, haven't used it much yet. What I like to do with it the most so far is getting close to objects (not people), giving you a close-up on that object but with a wide (bokeh-ish) background that helps put it in context.

[@JayRegular]

I think that is the selling point for this lens: close minimum focus distance + fast aperture makes for a very unique and intimate look

[@richardcarlson112]

Thanks. I like your colour grading in some of the more shaded areas you were shooting. I use Fujifilm but previously had a zeiss 21mm for my Nikon. That was one of my favourite focal lengths so the 13 will be similar on APS-C. I found that I needed to incorporate foreground interest along with the subject. That might be a boardwalk with lines and texture, rocks, etc. A sidewalk for foreground would rarely work. Using a lower down point of view also helps sometimes when you have no interesting foreground. Then that focal length works really well. The more you use the lens, the more intuitive it becomes so you get many great keepers. 16:9 format also helps often. My earlier photos with the 21 had that vacant look you were describing, but that changes soon enough.

[@LucyS565]

You have a great photographer's eye Jay! The Fuji 16mm F1.4 R is a great lens! I think I would have a lot of fun with this Viltrox 13mm f1.4. Thanks for the review Jay!

[@JayRegular]

Thanks Lucy, it has been a while since I used such a wide focal length! I forgot just how close I needed to be to make subject matter fill the frame!

[@TheBigNegative-PhotoChannel]

Really love the dark mood of the Intro. 😯 Looks like a really nice lens. I appreciate that Viltrox brings all these cool lenses to the Fuji-X mount. The street shots at the end are pretty unique. Nice!

[@JayRegular]

I'm still taking baby steps to making better broll... I need another few years haha. Here's hoping they release a fixed fast aperture standard zoom lens to compete with the likes of fuji's 16-55 f2.8 and tamrons 17-70 f2.8 if it comes in at sub 1000AUD it would be THE lens for video

[@kstrohmeier]

Thanks Jay. Great review and perspective regarding the possible use cases for a 13mm wide angle lens. For me this is lens I wish I could borrow from a friend because I don't think I would use it often.

[@JayRegular]

I really see this as more for people looking to take photos in ight interiors or very dramatic architecture shots. This lens would also work quite well for vlogging I would assume.

[@stopdrpnro]

What chest strap/mount were you using??

[@JayRegular]

just your everyday go pro chest strap

[@skills_hd]

CAN I GET A LINK FOR A ND FILTER FOR THIS

[@josephchristoffel]

what camera and lend did you use for the POV?

[@sundarAKintelart]

Very nice assessment.

[@rutlegs]

Excellent content! I just found your channel and am enjoying it very much.

[@mickdean2256]

Enjoyed watching your review as I've recently been to Sydney though incredibly I left my 13mm at home in the UK and kinda wish I'd taken it now. You stayed pretty much around Wynyard, Barangaroo and Darling Harbour and I would have liked to see what results you'd get in some of the busier areas like George Street but that's just me 🙂 Perhaps on my next trip there. Great lens but as you say, for street 23 to 33 is better perhaps but surely this lens could produce some really interesting results around the tall buildings in the CBD - as I say, next time I'll give it a go. Thanks, great review nontheless!

[@JayRegular]

Thanks! Yes I didn't really capture much architecture as I thought that would've been too obvious of a style to go for with an ultra wide lens. But it definitely can make tall buildings look pretty imposing

[@atom7nine]

Jay, you're absolutely fabulous 🤩

[@akilamperouge960]

What is ur camera btw used for this lens?

[@JayRegular]

Fujifilm x-s10

[@akilamperouge960]

@@JayRegular okay thank you!

[@errole]

Is it weather sealed?

[@JayRegular]

It's not weather sealed

[@hridaimanav3620]

Viltrox 13mm f1.4 vs Sony 11mm f1.8…Which one better option for Real Estate Video shoots in low light Tight Spaces Indoors?

[@JayRegular]

Depends on what you value more, screen real estate or low light performance. 11mm sounds like it could introduce a lot of distortion in the edges so I would take that into consideration too

[@nevvanclarke9225]

One tip for wide angle lenses as I’m a landscape photographer is shoot landscapes in portrait mode the extra which gives you a really cool look. And I know that’s become popular because of Instagram and other platforms where they scroll down in portrait mode but if I’ve got a really wide lens I’m intending to shoot a lot of portrait mode shots for landscapes if you look at a lot of wide shots there’s a lot of wasted space on the edges which is really not that interesting so one tip is to shoot a lot of portrait mode with your wide angle lens which will give you a really cool long image

[@ducinguyen5510]

what do you mean with ''portrait mode'' ? In terms of camera settings or what exactly do you mean?

[@nevvanclarke9225]

@@ducinguyen5510 upright ..turn camera upright

[@MrDCB1234]

Fuji also has a 14mm f2.8.

[@jjchockey]

not bright enough

[@Hero_my_Hiro]

You definitely got into your groove towards the end. Great shots!! That Suntory Boss jacket tho!!!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@JayRegular]

Thanks Hiro! And so happy you noticed the jacket! I love it so much 😊

[@iamrichlol]

Where can I get one of those Jackets!?

[@JayRegular]

Gotta do your research 😊

[@iamrichlol]

@@JayRegular i tried lol couldn't find any

[@jiucheng3080]

Nice review Jay! Hope more third-part AF lens comes out in the future! Very worth price like 7artisans, ttartisans please make more good lens

[@randomname931]

this is the emptiest city I've ever seen, yet it looks so nice. where is this? sydney?

[@JayRegular]

Indeed it is, it's empty because it is very early in the morning on a weekend 😆

[@akshanshkumar]

please compare it with XF 14mm 2.8 and samyang 12 f2

[@JayRegular]

I don't have the 14mm 2.8, and the samyang 12f2 is a manual focus lens so it isn't really a fair comparison

[@rossandhisjpegs]

Love this! THANKS

[@ducinguyen5510]

nice video mate! Were all pictures in this video out of camera jpeg´s in provia without any adjustments?

[@JayRegular]

Yes correct

[@ChiNguyen-hk5kp]

Beautiful city, modern and clean...

[@nikoguy]

That was helpful, thanks

[@guillaumesandmayer7053]

Hmm, decisions, decisions Jay, well since selling my 16mm f1.4, I have been missing a wide angled alternative in my bag, thing is though do I give this a go or do I seek out a 2nd hand unloved Zeiss Touit 12mm, further still, do I wait and go full all out wide assault with the pending Fujifilm 8mm? The last one might end up only being a nature or cityscape lens as it is pretty extremo' wide. Last comment and more or less a repeated observation online - quality control - a few comments about loose lens hoods, aperture rings and even the odd dead motor, might be nothing in it to be concerned about but the Zeiss doesn't seem to cop much flak on that front. Cheers!

[@JayRegular]

I've never had any experience using the Zeiss 12mm but I do have a samyang 12mm and the viltrox is superior, the F1.4 aperture and close focusing distance can create some pretty unique looks. I usually don't use such a wide angled lens, and only pick it up a handful of times for very specific use cases, so having an affordable lens keeps my bank account healthy 😂 if you use the wide a lot then maybe reliability plays more of a factor into the decision making

[@guillaumesandmayer7053]

@@JayRegular I think as a final personal consideration, like you, I focus on the actual image making process rather than nerding out hardcore on different lens groups and technical lens specs but...does the Viltrox offer sunburst light star effects when shooting into artificial street lighting or even natural light at f8 and beyond? It is very much a Chinese third party trick, and I must say I'm a fan of this effect. Laowa is renowned for this big time. As for the Zeiss, dialing up saturation and shadows on your Fuljifilm simulation, the lens seems to produce incredible colour and mono chrome shots. Heck if Santa has a bag of coins for me this Xmas, I'll have both 8-)

[@JayRegular]

@@guillaumesandmayer7053 I've never really shot with it too much at higher f values, so not sure about the sunstars, but at f1.4 there is some obvious vignetting on the edges, which can easily be corrected in image editing software

[@snowhite1qazse4]

Are you on manual focus mode when took the shot close to people?

[@JayRegular]

No, everything was shot in auto. either my camera didn't catch focus, or my shutter speed wasn't fast enough... or both! xD

[@djnoche]

@@JayRegular Everything was shot in full auto? Or were you using Aperture Priority w/ auto ISO and adjusting exposure as you go?

[@rainerbuesching1]

thanks for the good review - I had the samyang 12mm but the overall sharpness was not exciting.

[@JayRegular]

I still have the samyang 12mm and I agree, it is showing its age and now more third party lenses are making more comptetitive AF lenses for fuji

[@richardcarlson112]

@@JayRegular And the samyang seems to be low contrast so you have to work your image a bit on post.

[@smalljohansson]

I remember the old skateboard films, and the this lens reminds me of the fish eye lenses. It would be cool if you tested it for action photographery :)

[@JayRegular]

It's literally on the cusp of being made for action, though I would still like a 15mm FF equiv for those kind of action shots, makes it super dramatic

[@samwise6644]

The C stands for Buttery Smooth!

[@checkmybadself]

Man that is a wide lens. I can deal with 28/35 equiv but nothing wider. Also it looked really quiet when you were out shooting - is that normal?

[@JayRegular]

It's usually normal to be quiet at around 8am in the morning, I generally don't like to film when there are a lot of people around making noises

[@laiminhthong8621]

Can I used Viltrox 13 1.4 for shooting portrait and environment?

[@JayRegular]

You can but I wouldn't say this focal length is the most suitable

[@laiminhthong8621]

@@JayRegular Thanks

[@laiminhthong8621]

@@JayRegular What is the focal length most suitable for environment portrait?

[@Termidryna]

Thanks 🙏

[@alanma3864]

Nice job jay! Those viltrox lenses are great. I have the 56mm and it’s really good for the price. Just don’t take it into the house of Fuji……😱😱😱

[@JayRegular]

.... and I'll do just that xD

[@currentlykabir]

C stands for Cool. 😎

[@JayRegular]

Confirmed.

[@rolandm8018]

The C stands for “CHEAP”