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Sirui Sniper 16mm f/1.2
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UNSCORED
Sirui · 16 mm · f/1.2 · Sony E, Fujifilm X, Nikon Z mount · APS-C

Sirui Sniper 16mm f/1.2

From $319 — 1 offer
KEY FACTS
BrandSirui
Announcement dateJun 2024
Released2024
Production started2024
Production statusIn Production
What We Like
+Exceptional f/1.2 aperture for ultra-fast wide-angle work with shallow depth of field and bokeh
+Excellent optical performance with minimal distortion and flare, especially at center of frame
+Lightweight at under 400g with premium carbon fiber/aluminum construction
+Budget-friendly compared to competing f/1.2 lenses from major manufacturers
+Minimal focus breathing ideal for video production
+STM autofocus with Eye AF support for efficient subject tracking
Worth Knowing
−Inconsistent autofocus performance with focus hunting and pulsing issues, particularly on Fuji cameras
−Slower autofocus speed than premium competitors like Sony 15mm f/1.4
−No weather sealing or internal seals
−Edge sharpness softens at wider apertures, particularly toward frame corners
−Some flaring with bright light sources, though reviewers note this can have retro appeal

General

Brand
Sirui
Announcement date
ⓘ
Refers to the date the manufacturer publicly announced the upcoming release and general specs of this camera.
Jun 2024
Released
ⓘ
Refers to the year this camera was officially made available for sale.
2024
Production started
2024
Production status
ⓘ
Current status of lens manufacturing (e.g., in production, discontinued).
In Production
Read our notes on general
The Sirui Sniper 16mm f/1.2 is an ultrafast wide-angle prime for APS-C mirrorless cameras delivering eye-tracking autofocus and 24mm full-frame equivalence. Its optical design incorporates two aspherical, two HR, and three ED glass elements for minimized flare and ghosting, with an STM motor that minimizes focus breathing for video applications. The lens is capable of capturing exceptionally high-quality images with excellent centre sharpness and minimal distortion, though it suffers from inconsistent autofocus performance that struggles to pull focus smoothly with faster-moving objects.

Optics

Lens Elements
12 elements in 11 groups
Special Elements
2 aspherical, 2 HR, 3 ED glass
Full Frame Equivalent
24mm (on APS-C)
Min focal length
16 mm
Max focal length
16 mm
Focal range
ⓘ
Shortest to longest focal length of the lens (zoom range start - end )
16 mm
Zoom lens
ⓘ
Zoom allows you to vary the focal length, change between long shots and close-ups
No
Max aperture wide
1.2
Max aperture zoom
1.2
Blades
ⓘ
Number of diaphragm blades in aperture
13020
Autofocus mode
Yes
Closest focusing distance
ⓘ
Minimum distance for a subject to be in focus.
30 cm01500

Autofocus

Motor Type
STM (stepping motor)
Focus Breathing
Minimal
Features
Eye AF, object tracking

Build

Construction
Carbon fiber or aluminum body (varies by mount)

Focus

Maximum Magnification
Sub-0.10x

Sensor coverage

Coverage
Not recommended for full-frame sensors

Accessories

Included
Petal-shaped lens hood (16mm), USB-C port for firmware updates

Physical

Lens mount
ⓘ
The lens mount will tell you what type of lens range you can fit onto the camera body. Often the same camera company will have different lens ranges for different cameras.
Sony E, Fujifilm X, Nikon Z
Lens weight
403 g
Lens length
ⓘ
How long the lens is from front to back.
94 mm
Lens diameter
ⓘ
Width of the lens at its widest point
70 mm
Maximum format
ⓘ
Largest sensor size compatible with the lens.
APS-C

Features

Weather sealing
ⓘ
Weather sealing capabilities will give you more confidence when shooting in unfavourable conditions.
No