Viltrox AF 23mm f/1.4

This Viltrox prime pairs a 23mm focal length with a bright f/1.4 aperture on APS-C cameras. It comes in Fujifilm X and Nikon Z versions, so pick the one made for your system. On that crop format, 23mm gives a moderately wide view suited to street scenes, travel and interiors.

The f/1.4 maximum aperture is the main draw for low-light work. The trade-off is a thin feature set: there is no image stabilization and no weather sealing.

Viltrox launched this lens in 2020 and it is no longer in production, so treat it as an older design.

The Fujifilm X version weighs 9.2 oz (260 g) and measures 2.56 in (65 mm) across and 2.83 in (72 mm) long. That keeps it compact for daily carry. Filters screw into a 52mm front thread, and that thread size is shared by both mount versions. Weight and size figures for the Nikon Z version are not available.

The fixed 23mm focal length takes in a scene with room around your subject. That makes it a natural choice for street photography, where you can raise the camera and catch the moment without stepping back.

It also suits travel work, small interiors and environmental portraits that keep a person within their setting. Groups of people around a table fit without pushing you back against a wall.

At f/1.4 the lens passes plenty of light, so handheld shooting stays practical indoors and on evening streets. The wide aperture also separates a subject from a busy background. Nine aperture blades keep the opening round as you stop down, which helps background highlights stay smooth. Depth of field is thin wide open, so focus placement matters up close.

Closest focus sits at 1 ft (30 cm). That is near enough to frame a market stall, a shop counter or a window display without crowding. As a prime, you frame with your feet rather than a zoom ring. Stopping down a little brings more of a scene into focus. This lens scores 86 for optics on our scale.

There is no image stabilization here, so neither mount version steadies the frame. The f/1.4 aperture gives you a head start in poor light, and a steady hold or a support covers the rest.

There is no weather sealing, so this stays a fair-weather lens for dry street days. The front glass does carry a fluorine coating, which helps oil and water bead off. Fingerprints wipe away easily after handling.

Both the Fujifilm X and Nikon Z versions share this feature set. This lens scores 19 for features on our scale.

The optical unit holds 11 elements in 10 groups, and two of those are low-dispersion elements. Low-dispersion glass helps reduce chromatic aberration, where colours focus differently and form fringes along high-contrast edges such as neon signs. Focusing is internal, so the barrel does not extend as it focuses. This lens scores 38 for construction on our scale.