The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Viltrox AF 16mm f1.8 L and the Venus 12mm f2.8 AF for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
Size and Weight Comparison
The size of a lens is a crucial factor to consider when comparing two lenses. Viltrox AF 16mm f1.8 L is the longer of the two lenses at 103mm. The Venus 12mm f2.8 AF with a length of 80mm, is 23mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Viltrox AF 16mm f1.8 L also has a larger diameter of 85mm compared to the Venus 12mm f2.8 AF's 77mm diameter.
The weight of a lens is equally significant as its external dimensions, particularly if you intend to handhold your camera and lens combination for extended periods. Venus 12mm f2.8 AF weighs 390g, 29% (160g) lighter than the Viltrox AF 16mm f1.8 L's weight of 550g.
Filter Threads
The Viltrox AF 16mm f1.8 L has a filter size of 77mm whereas the Venus 12mm f2.8 AF has a 72mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 77mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Viltrox AF 16mm f1.8 L:
And these are the 72mm filters that we recommend for the Venus 12mm f2.8 AF:
Lens Mounts
The Viltrox AF 16mm f1.8 L has the Leica L lens mount whereas the Venus 12mm f2.8 AF has the Nikon Z lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Nikon ZR, Nikon Z5 II and RED Komodo-X 6K Z for the Leica L Mount and Nikon ZR, Nikon Z5 II and RED Komodo-X 6K Z for the Nikon Z Mount.
Venus 12mm f2.8 AF is also available in Sony E mount.
Focal Range
Viltrox AF 16mm f1.8 L is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 16mm.
On the other hand, the Venus 12mm f2.8 AF is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 12mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 18mm.
