Viltrox AF 24mm f/1.8

This Viltrox prime is a fixed 24mm wide-angle for Nikon Z full-frame cameras. It suits interiors, street scenes, architecture and landscapes, where you want broad framing at a normal working distance. The f/1.8 maximum aperture gathers light quickly, which keeps evening streets and night skies practical.

Viltrox released it in 2021 and production has since ended, making this an older, discontinued design.

The main trade-off is the fixed focal length. You frame by moving closer or further away rather than zooming. If your work shifts quickly between framings, a zoom may suit better. The lens also goes without stabilization and sealing, details covered below.

At 13.1 oz (370 g) the lens is light for a full-frame wide-angle, and it carries easily on long walks. The barrel measures 2.76 in (70 mm) across and 3.41 in (86.7 mm) long. A screw-in filter must match the 55mm thread at the front.

The 24mm focal length takes in a broad view from a normal standing distance. It serves rooms where you cannot step back further, tight streets and building exteriors. Near objects appear larger against distant ones, which gives such frames their sense of depth. Moving close keeps a foreground subject large while its surroundings stay in the picture.

The f/1.8 maximum aperture works well in dim light. In interiors and evening streets, it lets you keep shutter speeds short and ISO settings low. Depth of field at 24mm stays fairly deep even wide open, so the aperture mainly buys light rather than background blur. Nine aperture blades help keep the opening round when stopped down.

Close focusing reaches 1 ft (30 cm) from the subject. That is near enough to emphasize a foreground object, such as a window display or rock formation, while the wider scene stays behind it.

The specification score for optics is 85 out of 100.

There is no stabilization in this lens. Any correction therefore depends on the camera body. At 24mm, handheld shutter speeds can stay fairly short before camera shake shows, and f/1.8 helps keep them short in dim light. Bracing the camera on a wall or post also helps in dim interiors. Long night-sky exposures will still need a tripod.

The lens has no weather sealing, so keep it covered in rain, spray or blowing dust. It also lacks a fluorine coating, which leaves the front glass without the water- and oil-shedding convenience such coatings give. A simple cleaning cloth handles day-to-day care, and a cover or pouch adds protection in rough conditions.

Inside the barrel sit 11 elements in 9 groups, including two aspherical elements and three low-dispersion elements. Aspherical surfaces help correct distortion and spherical aberration. Distortion can make straight edges appear curved, which matters for building shots. Low-dispersion glass helps reduce chromatic aberration, which shows as colored fringes along high-contrast edges such as bright lights at night. Focusing moves internal groups rather than extending the barrel.