Viltrox 13mm Fujifilm Review - Incredible!

[@pal2tech]

NOTE: I purposely did not test nor provide examples of Astrophotography with this lens. Reason: Astrophotography is not my strong point and I didn't want to make a final recommendation regarding lens optics for this. However, I'm sure you can find other 13mm info/reviews online from talented Fujifilm astrophotographers that can point you in the general direction if that is your area of expertise. If there are any astrophotographers using the Viltrox 13mm, feel free to comment here and I'll keep this pinned at the top of this video's comments. 👍

[@JT-rq7nt]

I was wondering about that. It's the main thing I use my 12mm Rokinon for. Thanks for the videos!

[@icogicog8287]

Futzing with it for astrophotography but NYC skies not particularly congenial. I think there is significant coma in the corners but I will need to futz more

[@gabeperez3854]

@@JT-rq7nt Matthew Storer Photography has a video out with the 13mm used for astro work. He also has a link to download his raw files, in which he has done an aperture test. I looked them over. There are some imperfect stars in the corners at f/1.4 - 2.0 I'd say comparable to the Samyang 12mm at 2.0 but at f/2.8 the viltrox stars are perfect across the frame. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oYawm5SChqasoNU

[@thatbrianguy1594]

13mm 1.4.... that's gonna suck up light like a black hole. I need to try one on an Astrophotox trip.

[@MrAlwaysOnTen]

curious what that smoke bomb was in the stock footage

[@nyulkasfulukoc]

I’ve had my Viltrox 13mm for a few weeks now and I absolutely love it. Image quality, build quality and focus are superb. I agree with every single word that Chris shares with us about this wonderful lens. Truly the best Viltrox lens ever made.

[@jazzampa]

Nice! Have you tried it out on videos?

[@aburge101]

Thanks

[@pal2tech]

Hi Andrew!! So sorry for the delay in seeing this! Thank you so much for supporting the channel!! I really appreciate it!! Cheers! 🙏 👍

[@Edisonwatts]

Chris!! This video was a great compliment to this spring-ish weather Friday up here in Canada. VERY satisfying to hear your opinions and see your testing of this amazing lens. I received mine this week and am very impressed/happy with it. I've put my rokinon 12mm F2.0 up for sale.. no need to have both! I have been using the viltrox 13mm for my work video calls all this week and have found that on the X-t4 if you "force" the 1.39x crop it ends up being around an 18mm perspective which is GREAT. Thank you very much for this, and all of the great videos you create for us fuji users!

[@pal2tech]

That’s so awesome!!!! Thank you so much!!!!! 👍

[@StuartShields]

Got my Viltrox on the weekend because of your recommendation - hasn’t disappointed yet.

[@bsbs3341]

That sponsor segment was amazing

[@danielschmaderer]

Just got this lens and it’s absolutely amazing. Only thing I wish it had was weather sealing. The lines on the sides of your shots are straight, which is a huge plus.

[@vishal_trivedi]

Love everything about this video impressive lens. 👌🏽 the Eufy ad. I know quite a few home owners looking for something like this. Thanks!

[@stevewhitehead7318]

I had this lens as well as the 33 and the 56. This one worked well, but suffered the same issue as the other Viltrox lens where sun plays havoc with the lenses. The imagine quality, given the right evironment and lighting is great, but try and use these lens in anything less than adequate they really struggle.

[@alexlindstrom9971]

What about low-light photography around sunset? Would it just be a nightmare?

[@stevewhitehead7318]

@@alexlindstrom9971 there no good in low light either.

[@VintageInsightPhotography]

So glad to finally see your review of this lens. It’s been a while since you first said it was in the works. Thanks for waiting until you received official notice from Viltrox to release this video. Your integrity is truly appreciated.

[@pal2tech]

Thank you! 🙏

[@Sleepyboiwonder]

I rarely shoot in inclement weather but I’m super paranoid about the weather sealing. I’m going on a cruise in July and m I’m worried the moisture in the air or the light drizzles will sneak into my X-H2 body

[@johnsamuelmcelroy]

This lens looks perfect for my needs on my X-T5! Great video. I always enjoy your videos and appreciate the work you put into them. Your Channel is one of the best on KZbin! 🙂

[@bmeclipse]

I had you on my car’s audio system and when you started arc welding at the end, I thought my speakers were on fire. Phew. Great video! Thank you!

[@CorDa]

Just purchased.. hope it doesn't get stolen from my front porch! Was trying to decide between this and the 23mm f2. Love the weather sealing on the f2 for hiking/camping, but I have yet to see or read a bad review of the 13mm, and I'm super excited to do some wide/close photography, as well as landscape, architecture, and low light. Very versatile! I also already own 67mm filters and that was a big selling point too.

[@brentmiller3250]

I like the fact that there are sponsorship in your video -- it helps support the channel, and I get a chance to check out new products or services. Case-in-point, I've never heard of eufy Security, but after seeing the sponsored content, I'm going to check out an unboxing and review by some other KZbinr's. Thanks for the content!

[@pal2tech]

Hey Brent!! Thanks man, I really appreciate the support!! 🙏

[@dtyusufceylan]

AMAZİNG video. I’ve been waiting for such long time for this review and it worth it. Thanks 😊

[@hannovereye]

Thanks for the review! What’s your take on the video quality? I saw a few reviews and looks so wobly especially in the corners. Is it true?

[@nathanharris7]

wonderful review! i will be ordering one today!

[@ThorRavnsborg]

Thanks Chris. With your seal of approval I ordered one today!🙂

[@no1slisteninganyway]

Thanks. I'm glad you finally got to review this lens.

[@davebenson1504]

Love the Manitoba reference at 5:25 🙂 Thanks for the great review... Very helpful

[@willb.8375]

It’s never boring to watch your educational videos Chris.

[@FlorianCortese]

Great job, Chris. Well worth the wait. Glad Viltrox finally gave you the OK to review this lens. Note to self, don't mess with Chris' wife especially if she has a welding torch in her hand!! Have a get weekend!

[@pal2tech]

LOL, exactly. You too Florian, thank you!!!!! Cheers!!! 👍

[@edwardlascelle2870]

Thanks Chris . was waiting for this to seal the deal . Treated myself and ordered . Appreciate all your effort and great reviews

[@joseluisc8891]

thank you for this review, I am sold, that Viltrox should arrive home in a few days!

[@PabloSotoV]

93.7K subs! That checkmark is almost there, Chris, keep it on!

[@MrZinoTube]

And to SIGMA 16mm F1.4 ??

[@bobmccarroll7876]

Great review video...as always. Thank you for all of your honest reviews. While I don't know you personally, you evoke a trusting quality...and that's a rare thing. Keep the great work and thanks for your time in doing these videos.

[@pal2tech]

Thanks Bob!

[@Musicology76]

Hey Chris! And finally, the review is here 😊😎🙌 Great lens, I'll bought it! Thanks ❤️🙏

[@decfinnphotography2853]

Currently trying to decide between this and the sigma 16mm f1.4 for a similar price.

[@ryanhochstrasser824]

Same here. I'd love to see a comparison.

[@ffcimages]

Hello sir just wanna ask if this lens is advisable for wedding events thank you

[@matheussp13]

Great review as always, even the sponsored part was interesting. You really know how to do this. Seems like this is the best Wide Angle option for Fuji, I think I'm set with lenses for a few years, this 13mm, sigma 18-35 and viltrox 56 are all I would ever need.

[@JoaquimGonsalves]

That's a great kit!

[@jakobschneeberger3965]

Thanks for the - as always - convincing review. 👍👍👍 Kind regards from Bangkok 🇹🇭.

[@richardcarlson112]

Thanks so much for a great review! It looks so promising, but it also looks so HUGE.

[@summers9218]

85mm was so outstanding in color that when i shoot with sony i drooled in the lab while retouching sony's color casting hyper sharp photos. Fuji's color and 13mm will be something i would like use together to point upward while hunting the illusive milkyway.

[@MSladekPhoto]

Thanks for this review and for sharing your (almost) long-term thoughts on this lens. It sure looks like a winner, and I'm looking forward to the arrival of mine. Good luck catching the Jawa that stole your X-H2(s?) - now you'll have to request another one... Cheers!

[@glennmetcalf5261]

At least Chris has proof of the theft when he asks for a replacement.

[@danielwestover]

I appreciate the video and the image samples, but it seems like the Fuji 14mm would have been a better comparison for folks looking for an UWA lens. That's a more comparable focal length than the 16. I get that you are trying to compare fast lenses, but you also brought in the 10-24, which is obviously not fast at all.

[@Hugmir]

So, if you had to decide on a wide angle lens, and were torn between the 10-24mm and this one, I take it that you'd pick this one in a heartbeat? I think I might be fine without that slight zoom functionality, but I'm wondering about the difference between 10mm and 13mm and whether it really is meaningful...

[@giuseppe.g]

Congratulations for the review, one of the best fuji channel out there. Viltrox are doing an amazing job and this lens looks awesome, im looking for a wide lens for internal shoot and video and i cant chose between this lens and the sigma 16mm, what you racommande?

[@Haerleif]

no mention of distortion ? I'm choosing between this and the fuji 14mm and I read somewhere that the 14mm f2.8 is corrected well for distortion, I'm not sure if this is software or in the lens though? subnject for another video? if it's software (in camera) does fuji corrrect third party lenses?

[@traveller2810]

Thank you so much sir! Great review, as always. Watched with a huge joy and got very precious information!

[@pal2tech]

Thank you Ulugbek!! 🙏

[@johnheng3649]

@pal2tech. Will this Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 lens perform well with the old Fujifilm X-T1 camera?

[@robertcudlipp3426]

As usual, an informative review. Frequently, when listening to reviews of "fast lens", the reviewer states the lens needs to be stopped down to f4, 5.6, for best results. Cleary, the majority of purchases would be largely attracted to the because of the 1.4 aperture. If the lens does not really deliver at 1.4, does this not negate ,what for many, is its primary appeal?

[@Indydi]

The wide aperture is there if you need it, and you can fix any issues in post. Looks to be a great lens for a good price.

[@robertmarx7901]

Not really just like this lens doesn't perform at its best at F1.4, neither does a F4 lens at F4 for instance. Because this lens starts at a lower F-stop, it will still be sharper sooner along the range than a lens starting at a higher F-stop. It's still more than usable at F1.4 though

[@robertcudlipp3426]

@@robertmarx7901 Good to hear. However, I still maintain my point that if, for example, a purchaser outlays a significant amount of money for, say, a 85mm 1.2 lens, compared to a much less expensive 1.4 version, it would be extended frustrating if that lens had to be stopped down, at all, for the reasons under discussion. My useage (& budget) are not particularly relevant, however I am not able, and don't really need to purchase glass faster than 1.4.

[@andrewlcraft1]

Been waiting for this one! Thanks for confirming this will be my next lens purchase!

[@inakilauzirika5076]

Quick tip for everybody that has this precise lens and others from Viltrox. Do not try to mount a K&F UV filter together with the different lenses' hoods since they're not compatible in size being the Alu rim of the filter a bit bigger than the hood's inner diameter. Do yourself a favour and attach an Hoya Pro1 one. They seem to be done one for the other.

[@TheShadowtheCrow]

I have the 13mm, too. And I love it! Great performance for a low price!

[@jazzampa]

How's the video?

[@TheShadowtheCrow]

​@@jazzampa The video is great as usual!

[@gaarakabuto1]

Something none is mentioning about this lens is,what about the stepping motor when it comes to manual focus, does it have any lag while manual focusing or is it as smooth as it should?

[@chadbalonick1784]

I was just about to grab Fuji’s new 18 1.4 when this was released. I decided to go with the 33 1.4 and grab this new Viltrox. I’m so glad the 13mm is getting great reviews.

[@kwangc6720]

Actually based on your example, I cannot tell much difference in the image quality between the Viltrox 13mm and Fujifilm's 10-24mm at 13mm. Their sharpness is similar but the Viltrox has slightly better contrast. Fast wide angle lenses make sense for astrophotography. But how is it useful for taking landscape pictures with foreground and background details? If you are in a low light situation, I suppose you'd still want to use a relatively small aperture such as f/3.5-f/5.6 and bump up the ISO to get more things in focus. So is the Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 only useful for astrophotography and cases where you wish to capture people and close-up subjects? I see limited usage in landscapes. A wide-angle zoom could suffice. Please discuss further! Thanks.

[@stevengower7396]

I like this lens but don't love it. I thought I might use it instead of the 10-24 for landscape but the flare is a problem for me. I often shoot in bright sun and find this a problem for the Viltrox. If I reduce exposure to keep the highs in line, I end up with too dark of shadows. Maybe I'll see if a polarizer can help that out. I also feel that the color rendering is not as nice as a native Fuji lens, cooler and a little clinical. Low light performance and detail are great. But I'm not sure I will use it much since I rarely need low light performance for landscape work. As a walk around lens, it seems less versatile that the XF18f1.4 or the Xf16-80.

[@rpmusick]

if you don't need the low light performance get an xf 14mm 2.8

[@Takahshithestronf]

New Fuji user here! Looking to get into traveling with a new XT4 and would LOVE your recommendation for a great travel lens/lenses that will do video, landscape/street photography, and portraits well! Which lens/2 lenses would fill these needs well? Open to Fuji and third party suggestions!

[@josefigueroa8066]

Hi Chris great video as always! Do you think this lens can be good for portraits? thanks for all your help in this new fuji world for me.

[@AlpsLifee]

FYI video AF is greatly affected by your f-stop, you had the f-stop at F8, you want to be wider open for better results, f2.8-4 will give you much better results

[@Bermudaoficial]

Will this work on the xh2s?

[@TrailorSailYT]

Ooo… I like the new notes that come up with the comments! That’s cool (seeing it for the first time on the iOS app)! Also, I am so glad this review is finally out!!! I have high anticipation with this lens, and I am so glad that was justified after watching this! Thanks!!!

[@wallymoraes871]

Thanks my friend! You`re the best! Regards from Brazil

[@CWReace]

Just got mine yesterday. Hope to get out with it after work today to see what I think.

[@jazzampa]

Let me know how it does with videos

[@JoaquimGonsalves]

This quite well might be the best a lens manufacturer has done to get out lens reviews. Let the content creators use it for a few months versus a few weeks and then you'll get an even clearer opinion versus new product bias. Certainly your channel strives to be honest always but I feel there's no substitute to passage of time and no substitute for someone like you who actually waited out of pure integrity. Thank you!

[@DamianBrown]

I didn't receive an NDA, date or anything when I did it.

[@riccardobaroni8848]

Thanks Chris! Great review 👏🏻

[@careyfurman3763]

So would you choose viltrox over Samyang for Astro photography.

[@careyfurman3763]

Hello

[@cdreyes81]

Definitely my next lens purchase. I've been using the rokinon f2 manual.

[@randyk1919]

I LOVE shooting wide angle, and the idea of a fast prime was too much to resist, so took a gamble and ordered one from the factory a few days ago. From your review I'm happy and relieved to hear my instincts appear to be correct! Thank you for the excellent review -- I can't wait to start shooting with this lens.

[@davidadams007]

Thanks for the great review Chris, no surprise there as you have a consistent quality and expertise that keeps me subscribed. I have the XH1 and was glad to see the XH2 package labelling, not sure I need to upgrade but I am looking forward to your take on the new one. Question for you, I am just starting to work with Fujifilm's Webcam integration. I am using the Fuji 23mm f1.4 lens. It seems to do OK but is not wide enough and seemed to refocus a lot. (could be my settings) Would you suggest this Viltrox 13mm as a Webcam?

[@tomdart34]

hello I would like to know between the viltrox 13mm and fuji 14mm f2.8 which is better because I hesitate a lot of time. thank you 🙏🏼

[@martinphilipps8678]

Thank you for the great review. Just a question: i made the switch to Capture One mainly because of your tutorials. Now in all your videos i see that you still use Lightroom. also for all new photos... may i ask why?

[@pal2tech]

Easiest to manipulate for capturing demo footage. I can zoom in more and pan around easier. C1 is better overall, but LR is better if you are demonstrating stills for screen capture for KZbin videos and sections of the photos.

[@EuEu-ue4ph]

First of all, thank you for taking your time to review this lens for all of us. I was leaning toward it for two reasons: price and all the reviews saying wonders about this lens. I can't understand why no one talks about the distracting blue dot(s) from light flare(???) that appears in almost all reviews (in this one from 9:50 to 9:55), and I can't believe no one has seen it. Isn't this a "flaw"?! Though in comparison to other quality glass it's very cheap, it's still lots of money, at least to me, and I'm having a hard time justifying the investment and having to spend time thinking my shots to avoid this (I shoot mainly video) or learn to live with a blue dot(s) that looks like a dead pixel(s). I trully don't know what to do... Am I being too picky?

[@DieterVanHolder]

I have been waiting for this lens to drop for ages! I'm really happy with my other Viltrox products and have been lacking a wide angle since my 16 f1.4 got stolen.

[@ShayFarrelly]

Great review, and many thanks. Just wondering how you think this will perform with the new sensors in XH2 and XT5 and will it make the best of the new larger sensor and resolve fully? Something new to consider when looking at lenses?

[@luxdalet]

Awesome review. Really surprised by this lens. Also, got interested in the doorbell security camera. Not having to depend on cloud functionality is a huge plus for me.

[@PeterDeLucia]

Finally! Thank you for your review!

[@WVMUSIC_NL]

So I recently bought this lens and used it quite a lot but there is one thing I cannot seem to find; is the aperture electronically connected? I mean I can turn the aperturering but when I want to control the aperture on my camerabody nothing happens. Only when I turn the aperturering on the lens, then I can see the aperture changing on my screen

[@samson40a]

You may have to put the lens aperture ring on A if there is a setting

[@WVMUSIC_NL]

@@samson40a yea i already found out;) Setting the aperture to A on the lens it is electronically connected:)

[@dipo2000]

I'm so afraid that 13mm is too much wide for my purpose. I'm used to shooting with the classic 28mm FF eq. that's why I'm tempted to buy the 18mm f2. Great the Fujifilm x-h2 package!

[@litehour]

you can always zoom in a bit

[@OttosTheName]

It's quite a bit from 13 to 18. You're losing a lot of resolution that way. If you really want 18mm end result I don't think I would go wider than 16mm. The new (to Fuji) Sigma could be a good contender. Personally I am also considering the 18mm f2, I just find it hard to justify the price especially since it's not really any better than the 18-55 from what I've seen and read.

[@gohbyname]

Thanks Chris. So helpful. It's still not available in the UK. I am eagerly waiting!

[@burkaysahin6127]

i have a 16 1.4 fuji lens viltrox do you think I should buy

[@xxsantyxx]

Just ordered mine! I'm excited to get it!

[@davefk]

What is it like in the corners when using the lens for video? Do the corners look like they have a life of thier own?

[@BenjaminKanarek]

I agree...Got mine a few weeks ago!

[@TheSshadow7]

Great review, Chris. Long time coming and it was worth it. I already have the Fuji 16mm. Now, I gotta justify getting this lens. Lol

[@pascalvergnaud2314]

Thank you for this video Chris, I received my 13mm last week and I'm very happy with it for the same reasons you give in this review. Unlike the Viltrox 56mm which disappointed me a lot, this 13mm is really good.

[@Sonnyboy346]

Why did the 56mm disappoint you. I was thinking of getting it for portraits.

[@paololarocca7684]

thaanks for the review, watching other reviews I was expenting something even better, but it's certainly an interesting option......

[@namesurname5256]

Finally Viltrox 13mm review by Pal2tech

[@frankartale1026]

And... the wife welds ! I love it. Great review

[@leolioh]

Should I use viltrox 13f1.4 for video recording? Hope to see your reply (I use Fujifilm X-T3)

[@FitnessFollowing]

can i use canon m50 mark 2with adapter

[@Z020852]

The neat part about his lens is you get f1.4 for low light situations where you can't use a tripod, something that you'll always run into in architecture photography, ie interiors. Corners might look soft when you're looking at it taking a photo of a chart, and would normally be worse in real life where whatever is in the corners won't be on the same point plane as the focal point, but 1. Based on what I've seen so far the corners seem to still be rather usable, more so compared to dealing with motion blur or even having to compensate too much in post. 2. If the corners are usable for interior architecture (or landscapes, like in a cave, although that has as much in common with architecture as it does landscapes), then landscapes including wide angle astrophotography should be fine. In short, I never thought I'd even consider getting anything over my Samyang 12/2 - not even the 8-16/2.8, given the 8 isn't always compensated for by the 2.8 when it comes to avoiding star streaks and won't necessarily help indoors either - but I can give up 1mm on the wide end for a 1.4 aperture. Even if that also means having to focus with or through a motor.

[@carjac820]

Fuji ecosystem is pretty much great now. Because of the Sigma trinity I got myself 3 lenses instead of one fujinon lens as my starter kit and this Viltrox 13mm and their 85mm will be my next lens.

[@agairola76]

How would you compare this with the Samyang 12mm f2 AF lens

[@ryanhochstrasser824]

What would you recommend between this Vitrox 13 mm f/1.4 and the new Sigma 16 mm f/1.4 for Fuji X-mount. The prices are similar.

[@IsaacFromHK]

do you notice any wobbly jelly effect on the Xt4 IBIS on such wide angle lens?

[@wilsonpalmpre]

Although I already owned the Fujinon 14mm f/2.8, I think the Vitrox 13mm f/1.4 is quite tempting to me. Would really love to compare the 2 lenses

[@nointernetdinosoursgame2351]

I've got the 14mm ATM but curious how they compare

[@readrepairs]

... probably reflected in some other comments and apologies if it already exists but a round-up of the wide lenses in one place would be great.

[@primal_aperture_photo]

I've been looking at wide angles since I bought my camera, I'm glad I waited! I think I just found my lens! Thanks for a great review! :)

[@ReadWriteRoam]

Just a heads up that I have the Eufy door cam, but not the one with lower camera… that said, I really like it. 👍

[@andrewklafter5983]

Have you tried this lens out yet on your newest Fujiflim cameras with the 40.2MP XTrans5 sensor? Some of the really solid Fuji lenses are soft on the new sensor, but I haven't seen anyone give a list of approved 3rd party lenses yet the way Fuji has done for their Fujinon lenses.

[@Bob71650]

What's with Centimeters? How about inches, since we are in the USA.

[@bensstudios288]

pal2tech,u are doing soo well,will love a comparing between the sigma 16mm f1.4 vs the viltrox 13mm f1.4 sharpness and color fringing......thank u

[@Sonnyboy346]

Thanks for the great review of this lens. I think it will be good for real estate. Also, may I ask which lens is better for portraits, the 56 or the 85? Mainly family, friends, pets. I do like good bokeh. Thanks for you the great vids.

[@thomashi239]

For friends and family I would choose the 56mm. You will need a lot more space to the framing you want.

[@stoneblue1795]

The video doorbell seems amazing. Maybe more so than this Viltrox lens.

[@andywhiteside16]

Brilliant review well worth the wait

[@whatthenihon]

Awesome video...I've never done astro but I wonder if this would be a good option to dip a toe into that water...and something good for indoor shots while traveling. Also ... awesome add...looking forward to the review on the x-H2. Also...probably going to buy that doorbell. Been wanting one and idea of remote storage and service fees turned me off.

[@wolfpack9iloilo]

I have ordered this one last week and can't wait to have it. I have the 18mm f1.4 but when it comes to architecture stuff, I need a wider one and I believe this is the answer. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.