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amazon Sony FE 20mm f1.8 G reviews
With exception of third-party manufacturers, the Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G is the widest full-frame E-mount prime lens ever. Accordingly, the lens accounts for more of the scene, having a field of view of 94 degrees – phone photographers would consider it something from between the wide and ultra-wide lenses from the Apple iPhone 11 – but it matches that angle with a large f-number for excellent low-light performance.
The name indicates focal length and aperture, yet Sony does number of interesting features – “advanced optical design” and “Dual XD Linear Motor” – that require translation.
But are those features worth nearly $900? Yes, and it is due to its outstanding sharpness and very low distortion. It remains something of a niche lens relatively speaking, but those features are more than just marketing hype.
Build & Specifications
The FE 20mm f/1.8 is part of Sony’s high end G range (though not the most expensive GM series), housed in lightweight, weather-resistant outer body, comfortable upon the A7R IV that did duty as my test camera for this review. It is fitted with two linear autofocus motors for high performance with contemporary Alpha-series bodies, while the presence of a geared aperture ring is meant to appeal to finicky photographers wanting to shoot with a serious motion camera.
This microphone feels tough and strong. While the outer case is not metallic, it helps substantially to keep overall weight within a comfy range of only 13 ounces. At 3.5 inches long, it won’t hog that much space in any camera bag, and it takes modestly-sized 67mm filter threads.
One would be oblivious of the optical design, which consists of an arrangement of 14 elements in 12 groups and boasts a 9-blade aperture, stopping down to f/22.
The aperture ring provides direct control of the f-stop without relying on the camera-based control dial. This takes familiarization, but the feel is intuitive for operating with two hands.
The aperture ring is not just ergonomic; when the click-deactivation switch is in play, adjustments to the aperture can occur silently and be made infinitely variable- crucial for video recording. However, for still stuff, I prefer clicks; it gives a tangible sense of how much you’ve moved it without having to actually look (I mean, it is displayed in the EVF, but clicking is just reassuring).
The lens incorporates focus lock, a switch for easy switching from AF to manual focus, an aperture ring with a click-deactivation option, and a standard focus ring situated at the front of the lens.
Autofocus
This is where the Dual XD Linear Motor system comes in, and it is specially engineered to deliver fast and quiet autofocus. My experience has certainly matched those claims. Autofocus is near-silent, yet not silent, and certainly not one that could distract the moment in certain environments, such as weddings.
The 20mm focuses at about 7 inches very close to the front of the lens. For its wide focal length, that is not very much for real macro capabilities, but I wouldn’t expect 0.2x magnification; for a wide-angle lens, this is close up and opens infinite opportunities for creativity for a range of subjects.
Image quality
Keep in mind: 20mm is one of those seldom-used focal lengths: 24mm is what most primes have to offer, wider angles, which usually covered differently, like offered by the zoom FE 16-35mm f/2.8 by Sony. This ideal focal length serves to get wide views as well as magnifying the distance and being bright with the zooms at f/1.8, it cannot compete.
Near the edges, typical wide-angle lens have barrel distortion, but less than expected from such lens.
Vignetting is also a common overall condition in wide-angle lens but particularly in large aperture case. The Sony 20mm suffers a small darkening in the corners due to these problems. A -+5 adjustment in Lightroom removed it entirely.
However, all along, the more stunning packages the resolution aspect is. Certainly, sharpness is very much excellent in the center even wide open, and that’s pretty helpful in showing what the 61-megapixel A7R IV is capable of. Stepping down one notch from the aperture does give a tiny increase, but when you want that shallow, dreamy depth of field, you don’t have to sacrifice sharpness to get it. Edges show only slight sharpness that can’t even be detected in real-world photographs.
This lens works largely in yearbook photography. Mostly, this photography genre requires a bright aperture and wide angle along with high sharpness. Stars exhibit themselves as clumps of light, not sagittal vertical comatose, even towards the frame edges. This combined with the renowned resolution of the A7R IV ensure that innumerable stars remain sharp.
Lights of small sizes will produce no ordinary flare, while light from larger sources-like sun or moon-will produce stars. It’s obvious then that the FE 20mm does not cause wide flare even in harsh conditions. Sometimes there will be stars along a rainbow streak or slight color change, but it doesn’t matter too much. Not a sign of chromatic aberration.
Normally wide angles are not associated with bokeh; however, in that case, the FE 20mm f/1.8 looks well here. Already by stopped down with a nine-blade aperture, soft and rounded bokeh shapes will develop even in the end processing.
For video, too, the lenses are produced more similarly, sharp details, well-controlled flares. Yet the impressive aspect is the click aperture; while I can hear my breathing, I don’t hear any mechanical noise during aperture adjustment in recording.
In a way, it manages to combine wide angle with fast aperture and high-end optics while fulfilling the label of a very high-end lens, the Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G. In sharpness, it is brilliant, while in aberrations, it may well be absent. All where a wide-angle lens struggles the most are present: if there is barrel distortion and vignetting at all, it is slight-in most pictures, ever hardly not noticeable.
Not a very budget-friendly piece at $898. However, extremely worth the price for those serious photographers who habitually pull out a wide angle. Ideal for astrophotography, imaging landscapes, or any other photograph demanding wider views.
where can you get a Sony FE 20mm f1.8 G online
Sony FE 20mm F1.8 G Full-Frame Large-Aperture Ultra-Wide Angle G Lens, Model: SEL20F18G: Buy it now
Sony FE 20mm F1.8 G Full Frame Ultra Wide Angle G Lens SEL20F18G Mirrorless E-Mount Cameras Bundle with Deco Gear Photography Backpack Case + Filter Kit + 64GB Card + Monopod + Accessories: Buy it now
Sony FE 20mm F1.8 G Full-Frame Large-Aperture Ultra-Wide Angle G Lens, Model: SEL20F18G (Renewed): Buy it now