Comparison

Viltrox 16 mm f/1.8 vs. Sony FE 14 mm f/1.8 GM: a wide-angle showdown

I compare the Viltrox 16 mm f/1.8 and the Sony FE 14 mm f/1.8 GM. Which one is the better pick for astrophotography and landscapes?

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16 mm or 14 mm?

The difference between the two lenses is first and foremost the angle of view. The Viltrox 16 mm offers a very wide field of view that covers most landscape needs. The Sony 14 mm f/1.8 GM goes one step further.

At such a wide focal length, two millimeters make for a noticeably wider field of view. You'll appreciate that in astrophotography – you get more sky in a single frame without having to stitch a panorama.

Optical quality

The Sony FE 14 mm f/1.8 GM is a top-notch lens. It's very sharp wide open and holds sharpness all the way to the edges of the frame.

The Viltrox 16 mm f/1.8 is surprisingly sharp for its price, but at f/1.8 it can soften at the edges. Stopping down to f/2.8 or f/4 improves things considerably. For astrophotography, the Sony is better thanks to its better control of optical aberrations such as chromatic aberration.

Autofocus

Both lenses have autofocus, but for astrophotography manual focus matters more. The Viltrox's autofocus is slower and noisier, so it isn't ideal for fast shooting. The Sony focuses quickly and quietly and is reliable even in low light.

When manually focusing on stars, the Sony has the upper hand thanks to its higher-quality focus ring.

Build quality

The Sony FE 14 mm f/1.8 GM is well built, sealed against dust and moisture, and remarkably compact and light for its aperture. For demanding conditions, the Sony is the better choice.

Astrophotography

For night-sky photography, the angle of view and optical quality are what count. The Sony 14 mm f/1.8 GM offers both, which makes it the ideal choice for the Milky Way.

The Viltrox 16 mm f/1.8 is also usable, but it has a narrower field of view and slightly weaker rendering wide open. If your budget is limited, the Viltrox is a great alternative.

Conclusion

The Sony FE 14 mm f/1.8 GM is a top-notch lens with excellent optics and a robust build – ideal for demanding astrophotographers. The Viltrox 16 mm f/1.8 is a great alternative for those looking for an affordable lens with good performance.