
The lens expands the L‑mount lineup with a competitively priced, high‑spec option, encouraging broader adoption of Leica‑compatible cameras among professionals and enthusiasts.
The L‑mount alliance, originally formed by Leica, Panasonic and Sigma, has attracted a growing number of third‑party manufacturers seeking to tap its full‑frame market. Viltrox, which joined the partnership last year, finally materialized its commitment by unveiling the AF 16mm f/1.8 FE lens, the brand’s first native L‑mount offering. By entering a segment dominated by Leica’s premium glass and Sigma’s Art series, Viltrox signals a shift toward more affordable, high‑performance options for photographers who demand the mount’s compact‑system benefits without the Leica price tag.
The new 16mm lens combines an ultra‑wide field of view with a bright f/1.8 maximum aperture, making it suitable for landscape, architecture, astrophotography and video work that requires a shallow depth of field against expansive backgrounds. Its fast STM autofocus motor delivers silent, stepless focusing, while the silent aperture ring and HD Nano multilayer coating help preserve image contrast. Constructed from an all‑metal, weather‑sealed body, the lens adds a customizable LCD panel, Fn1/Fn2 buttons, and a USB‑C port for firmware upgrades, aligning with professional workflow expectations.
Pricing details have not been disclosed, but Viltrox positions the lens as a cost‑effective alternative to Leica’s native 16mm options, potentially expanding the L‑mount user base. The inclusion of 77 mm filter threads and robust build quality makes it attractive to both still‑shooters and hybrid creators. As more third‑party lenses populate the L‑mount ecosystem, competition should drive innovation and lower entry barriers, encouraging adoption of Leica‑compatible cameras across independent and commercial productions.

While Viltrox officially joined the L-mount alliance last year, you could say the alliance wasn’t fully joined until the company released its first actual lens for L-mount camera systems. Well, that’s happened now as Viltrox has revealed its new AF 16mm f/1.8 full-frame lens for Leica L-Mount cameras.
This new 16mm lens is set to be an AF lens with ultra-wide, full-frame capabilities, which aims to find a spot in the market in Viltrox’s usual spot by affording a mix of performance and affordability. Let’s check it out.
As an ultrawide-angle-of-view lens for L-mount full-frame camera systems, the Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 FE Lens aims to be a nice option for all types of photographers, videographers, and other hybrid creators.
For photography specifically, it should do well when shooting landscape and architecture photography, astrophotography, and it should work well for video projects that require close-up capabilities with expansive backgrounds.
The lens should be quite robust but still lightweight and easy to grab for all types of shoots, thanks to its large aperture and high resolution.
Overall, this new lens from Viltrox does represent an interesting first for the company that many have been waiting to see—especially those with Leica L-mount camera systems.
The lens will include some nice additional features like an Fn1 and Fn2 custom buttons, a sophisticated LCD screen to display shooting info, and compatibility with 77mm filters.
Here are the full specs and purchase options.
Full-Frame | f/1.8 to f/22
Ultrawide Angle of View
Fast STM Autofocus Motor
Silent Stepless Aperture Ring
HD Nano Multilayer Coating
Easy-to-Read LCD Screen
USB-C Interface for Firmware Upgrades
All-Metal Body, Weather-Resistant Design

Featuring an ultrawide angle of view for L-mount full-frame cameras, the Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 FE Lens is an ideal choice for a wide variety of photographic pursuits, including landscape and architecture photography, astrophotography, and creative videography requiring close-up capabilities with expansive backgrounds.
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