Bottom Line:
The Viltrox 13mm F1.4 is a budget ultrawide fast aperture lens for the Fujifilm X mount at a great price point. It has good silent autofocus and the build quality is great. It even includes a metal lens hood which is typical for Viltrox .
Unlike the other Viltrox lenses though, this one includes a clicked aperture ring which is good feedback and ensures you're less likely to change it accidently. I just wish they did this with the other lenses in the lineup.
At this point in time the Viltrox 13mm only has competition with the Samyang AF 12mm F2. They also make a well received manual version but in terms of autofocus and aperture, Viltrox has a unique offering. I also think it competes with Fuji's 16mm F1.4 also. Its not too far off and if you compose properly you can get similar results.
If you're okay with using slower lenses you have the Fuji 14mm F2.8. However, the autofocus will not be as good as it was produced during a different timeframe and is likely photography focused in nature. The Viltrox 13mm is a good video option for vlogging or content creation because of the STM autofocus which is quiet.
Overall, I think the Viltrox 13mm F1.4 is a winner and competes well with the other wide angle options for Fujifilm.
=Space event / Newark Small Business Week
Invest Newark partnered with =Space to present Newark Small Business Week with a series of event across two days. I was hired to document the event and I used the Fuji XT1 with the Viltrox 13mm F1.4 and the Fuji XH1 with the Viltrox 56mm F1.4.
You can read the article by Patch to learn more. Click Here
Here are some photos using the Viltrox 13mm F1.4.
All RAW files have been edited using Luminar 4 and exported to JPGs. I love the wide angle it provides. It's a 20mm equivalent on full frame.
Viltrox 13mm F1.4 in the field
I chose to use the 13mm over the Viltrox 23mm and it worked out well. The space was not as large as it seems from the photos and the extra wide angle allowed to show the perspective of the event.
The only thing to be mindful of is the corners. It really stretches out so when you're composing you need to be careful not to put critical subjects in the center, especially people. When using the 23mm that's less of a worry since you get less distortion.
For a small space I think the 13mm pairs well with the Viltrox 33mm so you have a sort of general use/portrait length to use as well.
What is =Space?
A premium sharespace created with multicultural business owners in mind, =SPACE equips founders with resources, programming and a powerful network.
Headquartered in the City of Newark, our sharespace provides resources for startups, coaching for tech companies and a wealth of intellectuals to collaborate and build with. The next wave in enterprises are being born within our walls. Become a part of the story.
Visit there website at equalspace.co
My name is Jason Logan. I'm a freelance photographer and content creator from Jersey City, NJ. I'm a Fujifilm camera user and have experience in events, weddings, portraits, and food photography, You can learn more about my work at www.jmtphotographymedia.com. You can reach out directly at jmtphotographymedia@gmail.com.
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