Viltrox Air AF 9mm F2.8 E 9mm
7Artisans 18mm f/6.3 Mark II 18mm
What Buyers Say
Viltrox Air AF 9mm F2.8 E 9mm
This ultra-wide lens from Viltrox is a hit among APS-C shooters, praised for its sharpness, compact size, and affordability. Users find it ideal for real estate, landscapes, and street photography, with many noting it's a great value at around $200. Minor gripes include a tricky lens glare protector and a plasticky build, but overall sentiment is highly positive.
Pros
- Sharp corner to corner
- Compact and lightweight
- Affordable price
- Great for wide-angle shots
- Good autofocus
Cons
- Plasticky build quality
- Lens glare protector hard to screw
- No weather sealing
- Filter size differs from other lenses
7Artisans 18mm f/6.3 Mark II 18mm
This 7artisans 18mm f/6.3 lens is a tiny, all-metal pancake that delivers a filmic, character-rich look rather than clinical sharpness. Users love its compact size and hyperfocal ease for street photography, but note soft focus, strong vignetting, low contrast, and compatibility quirks with IBIS systems. A few report severe quality control issues making the lens unusable, while most see it as a fun, creative tool for the price.
Pros
- Extremely compact and lightweight
- Solid all-metal construction
- Filmic, character-rich image quality
- Hyperfocal ease for street photography
- Great value for the price
Cons
- Soft focus at all distances
- Strong vignetting
- Low contrast
- Compatibility issues with IBIS
- Severe quality control problems
Scores
Specifications
| Viltrox Air AF 9mm F2.8 E 9mm | 7Artisans 18mm f/6.3 Mark II 18mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | wide-angle | prime |
| Focal Length Min | 9 mm | 18 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 9 mm | 18 mm |
| Elements | 13 | 6 |
| Groups | 11 | 5 |
| Aspherical Elements | 2★ | — |
| ED Elements | 3★ | — |
| Coating | HD multilayer nano coating | — |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/16 | f/6.3 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 | f/6.3 |
| Constant | ✓ | ✓ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7★ | — |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Nikon Z |
| Format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.17 kg | 0.06 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 58 mm | — |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | STM★ | manual focus only |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✗ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 130 mm★ | 300 mm |
| Max Magnification | 1:6.66★ | — |
Pros & Cons
Viltrox Air AF 9mm F2.8 E 9mm
- Strong build (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong social proof (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Strong macro (89th percentile)89th %ile
- Strong optical (85th percentile)85th %ile
- Below average bokeh (31st percentile)
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
- Below average stabilization (34th percentile)
7Artisans 18mm f/6.3 Mark II 18mm
- Strong build (100th percentile)100th %ile
- Strong macro (69th percentile)
- Strong social proof (66th percentile)
- Below average optical (2nd percentile)2nd %ile
- Below average af (15th percentile)15th %ile
- Below average user sentiment (17th percentile)17th %ile
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
Pricing
7Artisans 18mm f/6.3 Mark II 18mm offers 2.2x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 79 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 6 of 21 specs.
