News Viltrox AF 16mm F1.8 Full-Frame Lens for Leica L-Mount

[Markuswelder]

Did you read my whole post - or even the part that you quoted?

Are you on drugs? How could I quote your post without reading it?

 

[GeorgeHudetz]

Are you on drugs? How could I quote your post without reading it?

No, but if I had some I’d surely send them your way...

 

[GeorgeHudetz]

When I saw this lens my first thought was astro-photography. I don't do a lot of this but when I do this lens looked attractive. But, like George, I noticed the coma comment and pretty much lost interest.

It will be interesting to see how bad the coma is. If most of it can be trimmed out via a light crop, it could still be a good, affordable astro lens, even if it ends up being 16.5 mm or whatnot effectively. Given the cost that would be acceptable to me, as long as it doesn’t need a deep crop.

 

[Jonathan-Mac]

I believe that there are such things as lens heaters for dedicated astrophotographers but I've never used such a thing myself as I rarely do it. I doubt that this failure to work below -10ºC is something unique to this model or brand.

 

[GeorgeHudetz]

I believe that there are such things as lens heaters for dedicated astrophotographers but I've never used such a thing myself as I rarely do it. I doubt that this failure to work below -10ºC is something unique to this model or brand.

Yes there are lens heaters. Those are typically used to prevent dew from accumulating on lenses that sit on a tripod for long periods of time while accumulating images at night. As for having to use one on your lens while you walk around during the (cold) day so the lens can make it past 20 minutes? OK, you can do that if you want. But sounds like a PITA to me, especially when none of my other lenses need that.

Is such a failure unique to Viltrox? Almost certainly not. But it’s definitely uncommon in my experience (as in: has never happened), and those with whom I do astrophotography, or Matti, who created the video and lives in a cold climate.

You can make rationalizations if you want, but my experience tells me that’s nonsense.

If this had happened to me I would absolutely send the lens back, or sell it on the used market. Somebody else with less demanding needs could buy it and never have a problem. Or maybe they use it for two years and then think “I know! I’m going to take this lens to Iceland to photograph the northern lights! Bucket list!” Then they get there and it just stops working after 20 minutes, while their friends with Sigma primes just keep clicking away. You going to rationalize that for them?

It’s perfectly reasonable to be skeptical about using this lens for it’s intended use, as per the marketing material of Viltrox. Again, it’s just one data point, so we don’t know if it’s one-off or a systemic problem. I hope it’s the former because I could see myself buying a lens or two from them, and, like you, I love to see them on L-mount. But for you to rationalize it as “not a big deal” for a company’s lenses to commonly fail at -15C rings very hollow to me.

 

[GeorgeHudetz]

One more note - if you look at the error message Matti got, it had to do with the lens not communicating with the body. Specifically, the camera thought that the lens wasn't attached properly. Makes me wonder if it's nothing more than a manufacturing tolerance on Viltrox's L-mount lens mount hardware, which of course is new for Viltrox. Metal contracts in the cold - perhaps they just need to adjust manufacturing specs a little. Or, again, this lens could have been an outlier. I’m sure they are looking into it.

 

[Vale46]

We will never know.
If the lens shuts down because the temperature gets to low, the body is not able any more to communicate with the lens. Thats what it displays on the screen.

Nevertheless today I placed my order. Who knows if I will ever be in such a cold places for photography purposes

 

[GeorgeHudetz]

We will never know.
If the lens shuts down because the temperature gets to low, the body is not able any more to communicate with the lens. Thats what it displays on the screen.

Nevertheless today I placed my order. Who knows if I will ever be in such a cold places for photography purposes

Good luck! I hope to read reports from others that their lenses are indeed reliable below -10C.

 

[Markuswelder]

We will never know.
If the lens shuts down because the temperature gets to low, the body is not able any more to communicate with the lens. Thats what it displays on the screen.

Nevertheless today I placed my order. Who knows if I will ever be in such a cold places for photography purposes

I've got half an eye on it myself. We'll see what happens when I send my Lumix 18 mm in for repair. The extra 2 mm would be nice, the extra weight not so much.
Cold weather, I imagine if one kept it in your camera bag and removed it when you want to actually take a shot, rather than wandering around with the camera swinging from your neck like a dumb tourist, it would possibly be okay.

 

[Jonathan-Mac]

Yes there are lens heaters. Those are typically used to prevent dew from accumulating on lenses that sit on a tripod for long periods of time while accumulating images at night. As for having to use one on your lens while you walk around during the (cold) day so the lens can make it past 20 minutes? OK, you can do that if you want. But sounds like a PITA to me, especially when none of my other lenses need that.

Is such a failure unique to Viltrox? Almost certainly not. But it’s definitely uncommon in my experience (as in: has never happened), and those with whom I do astrophotography, or Matti, who created the video and lives in a cold climate.

You can make rationalizations if you want, but my experience tells me that’s nonsense.

If this had happened to me I would absolutely send the lens back, or sell it on the used market. Somebody else with less demanding needs could buy it and never have a problem. Or maybe they use it for two years and then think “I know! I’m going to take this lens to Iceland to photograph the northern lights! Bucket list!” Then they get there and it just stops working after 20 minutes, while their friends with Sigma primes just keep clicking away. You going to rationalize that for them?

It’s perfectly reasonable to be skeptical about using this lens for it’s intended use, as per the marketing material of Viltrox. Again, it’s just one data point, so we don’t know if it’s one-off or a systemic problem. I hope it’s the former because I could see myself buying a lens or two from them, and, like you, I love to see them on L-mount. But for you to rationalize it as “not a big deal” for a company’s lenses to commonly fail at -15C rings very hollow to me.

I'm not rationalising anything, just stating that a limitation to a minimum temperature of -10ºC in consumer electronics is both very common and unlikely to affect 95% of users.

Obviously if you live in a cold climate or plan to travel to one for photography then it isn't the lens for you, just the same as a non weather-resistant lens is not for someone who lives somewhere very wet or plans to travel to one. This lens isn't for you, look for something else. That doesn't mean that it won't do just fine for others, not does it mean that a Lumix or Sigma lens that also states the same -10ºC limitation won't also fail in the same conditions.

 

[GeorgeHudetz]

I'm not rationalising anything, just stating that a limitation to a minimum temperature of -10ºC in consumer electronics is both very common and unlikely to affect 95% of users.

Personally, I’d be shocked if only 5% of the people who buy a large, heavy, fast ultra-wide prime for a FF camera ever attempt to use it in very cold conditions. I won’t be so bold as to offer a number, but it’s no accident that Viltrox’s marketing materials includes images from cold climates & astrophotography.

Obviously if you live in a cold climate or plan to travel to one for photography then it isn't the lens for you,

I don’t quite go that far, but if I were buying this lens today with the intent of using it in a cold climate, I’d suitably test it before the return period expired. It could be that some copies are fine. We only have one data point, and the value proposition of the 16/1.8 (or any of Viltrox’s lenses) is impossible to deny. It might be worth the risk to some. My main point is to be aware.

That doesn't mean that it won't do just fine for others,

Yes, which is what I have said in nearly every post I have made in this thread. Glad we are in agreement.

not does it mean that a Lumix or Sigma lens that also states the same -10ºC limitation won't also fail in the same conditions.

There’s always risk in any brand, as you well know. But, we can asses that risk by looking at past behavior. Which tells us (or at least me) that it’s uncommon for a lens such as we are discussing here to stop working at -15C. I’m talking about actual behavior here as opposed to a specification.

To me, the whole specification argument is bunk. It’s just a way for a company to set boundaries around warranty claims, which is fine. They need to do that, and the customer needs to be aware of it. Ultimately, I’m more interested in how the lens actually behaves in the field, and most manufactures seem to be able to make lenses that out-perform their spec, at least from a lower temperature standpoint.

So, buyer beware. That’s the point.