the review Sony 20 mm f/1.8 G by Thomas from CameraLabs:
The Sony FE 20mm f1.8 G is an ultra-wide prime lens designed for Alpha mirrorless cameras and corrected for full-frame sensors. It delivers an ultra wide field-of-view that captures comfortably more than a 24mm, making it ideal for expansive landscapes, tight interiors, wide astro photography, as well as vlogging or environmental portraiture. It has a decent feature set including a de-clickable aperture ring and multi-purpose focus hold button plus its optical performance even surpasses the very good Sony FE 24mm f1.4 GM. This deserves a Highly Recommended!
The strange thing is that although stopping down to f2.8 reduces vignetting considerably over f1.8 (as expected) stopping further down to f4.0 introduces an even heavier vignette than at f1.8. This also shows in JPGs straight out of camera.
Perhaps I missed it but any good data on performance for astro? Coma said to be good. Heavy vignette can be an issue, but doesn't look too bad from what I've seen. Hand focusing at infinity easy in the dark? GM 24 said to be a bit tricky at that in this review.
Michael Gordon wrote:
Perhaps I missed it but any good data on performance for astro? Coma said to be good. Heavy vignette can be an issue, but doesn't look too bad from what I've seen. Hand focusing at infinity easy in the dark? GM 24 said to be a bit tricky at that in this review.
Coma is not perfect but excellent overall. I found the G20 slightly harder to focus at infinite on stars than the GM 24 as the ring has less resistance, but I did not find either to be difficult on an a7s.
Man, to my eye the Loxia and Sigma are better than the 20 1.8 G; in terms of both sharpness stopped down and micro contrast. This is making me hit the pause button on getting the 20mm. Thoughts?
p.7 #11 · Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G Versus Other Lenses
TravelinBriNY wrote:
So if I understand these tests, the 20/1.8 surpasses the 24/1.4 GM, but in many ways loses out to the Sigma 14-24 at overlapping apertures?
Best,
Brian
Hi Brian,
Yes, at infinity distance, I found that the 20/1.8 G performs even better than the 24/1.4 as far as resolution/contrast. The Sigma zoom @20mm performs slightly better than the 20/1.8G and @24mm better than the 24/1.4 GM (posted samples at the Sigma thread). All the copies tested were well centered.
The differences are small though so in real world shooting, FOV or flexibility (in the case of the zoom) may be more relevant considerations.
p.7 #12 · Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G Versus Other Lenses
I may consider the Sony 20mm as a potential take-along for travel or light-carry outings, to have the option in place of (currently) the 12-24/4. This would give me a prime option that is a bit wider than a 24, but still a useful focal length for general shooting. I sometimes feel the 24 isn't quite wide enough.
So all the commentary is helpful.
An F4 version of a wide zoom that has the IQ of the Sigma 14-24 but is smaller & lighter would really get my motor running!
p.7 #13 · Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G Versus Other Lenses
Any thoughts on how the 20/1.8 G compares against the CV 21/1.4? Besides AF/MF preference, any reason to go CV? I am considering one of the two and I've always been impressed by the CV's 3d pop ...
p.7 #14 · Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G Versus Other Lenses
fplstudio wrote:
Any thoughts on how the 20/1.8 G compares against the CV 21/1.4? Besides AF/MF preference, any reason to go CV? I am considering one of the two and I've always been impressed by the CV's 3d pop ...
fplstudio wrote:
Any thoughts on how the 20/1.8 G compares against the CV 21/1.4? Besides AF/MF preference, any reason to go CV? I am considering one of the two and I've always been impressed by the CV's 3d pop ...
The truth is that both are outstanding lenses. At f/4 and smaller apertures, they capable of outstanding resolution across the image field. The Voigtlander lens is faster, noticeably heavier and I prefer its color palette and sunstar definition. The Sony is completely flat-field and has fast and accurate AF.
I did not compare them side by side but I believe the Sony has smoother rendering if both are set to f/1.8-2. Perhaps someone can post samples of that. At ~f/2.5, both lenses have great coma performance.
p.7 #15 · Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G Versus Other Lenses
fplstudio wrote:
Any thoughts on how the 20/1.8 G compares against the CV 21/1.4? Besides AF/MF preference, any reason to go CV? I am considering one of the two and I've always been impressed by the CV's 3d pop ...
If you're impressed by the CV's 3d pop, then I would avoid the Sony 20 and just get the CV. I've been a huge fan of the Voigtlander / Zeiss pop, and was very impressed when the 24 GM was able to imitate the signature. When the Sony 20 started showing similarities to the GM 24, I was even more excited. However from all the sample pictures I have seen, I am not a fan of the colors of rendering of the Sony 20. To each their own.
p.7 #16 · Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G Versus Other Lenses
akashyap wrote:
If you're impressed by the CV's 3d pop, then I would avoid the Sony 20 and just get the CV. I've been a huge fan of the Voigtlander / Zeiss pop, and was very impressed when the 24 GM was able to imitate the signature. When the Sony 20 started showing similarities to the GM 24, I was even more excited. However from all the sample pictures I have seen, I am not a fan of the colors of rendering of the Sony 20. To each their own.
I would love to see this compared side by side. Many scenes positioning lighting at different angles: CV 21/1.4 vs FE 20/1.8 demonstrating the Voigtlander "3D" in comparison. If you have tested this or have a link to it, let me know.
I do prefer the Voigtlander color rendering as well.
p.7 #17 · Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G Versus Other Lenses
Fred Miranda wrote:
I would love to see this compared side by side. Many scenes positioning lighting at different angles: CV 21/1.4 vs FE 20/1.8 demonstrating the Voigtlander "3D" in comparison. If you have tested this or have a link to it, let me know.
I do prefer the Voigtlander color rendering as well.
3D pop is hard to describe, rather not try to get into it. I've not tested the Sony 20 myself, but I thought all the sample photos for the Sony 20 and ones posted by nehemiahphoto compared to my own Loxia 21, Voigtlander 40, and 24 GM images.were enough to convince me personally.
I think you're onto something about liking the color rendering better - the assumption is that post processing can make up the difference, and it probably gets you 90% of the way there, but I don't think the global feel is the same as colors directly out of those lenses. It's funny, I've very rarely adjusted the saturation or color of my preferred lenses, and I am very satisfied with the result. In fact, I had to turn DOWN the saturation on an image my Loxia 21 produced, and that was a first.
p.7 #18 · Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G Versus Other Lenses
I believe there was a thread some time ago just about lenses with this particular feature to create an impressive 3d pop and while most is definitely coming from external parameters such as light and composition I remember impressive examples from very fast lenses in the 20-30mm range, with the CV 21/1.4, Sigma 20/1.4 and GM24 on top.
Hence my curiosity whether the 20/1.8G can have a bit of that 3D magic when shooting objects or people.
No doubts color rendering plays a non-marginal part and love the CV colors having already the Voigtlanders E-mount 12/5.6, 21/3.5, 40/1.2, 65/2 Apo.
p.7 #19 · Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G Versus Other Lenses
My favorite 20/21 for look at least and I pretty much tested everything except the new Sony 20mm is the Voightlander 21mm 1.4. That lens has several looks depending on how you are using it. Ive been thinking a lot about my retirement kit is the CV 21 1.4 and the CV 50 apo and calling it a day. I opted for the Sigma 14-24 over the Sony 20mm and im still in debate over it. I love the 14-24 but im still a prime guy too and really the 24-70 makes more gig shooting sense. Than just backfill with a 20/21 and maybe even grab the CV 15mm again
Could be 24-70 for gig work with my 135
Manual kit 15,21,50 all CV. Love this idea but cant decide with this pandemic in place.
p.7 #20 · Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G Versus Other Lenses
Thanks Fred for your tests and forum. I appreciate everyone's posts.
I will be ordering a prime soon that will mostly be used for landscape astrophotography (and some daytime landscapes). I have somewhat decided to order the Sony 20/1.8 but I could use some help comparing it to the Voightlander 21/1.4, specifically in regard to the coma, astigmatism, etc, when wide open (or very close to it). Every time I read a review of the Voightlander, I seem to be swayed away from it because of the corner performance when wide open.
I would have liked to go with the 24GM but I feel like it won't be wide enough for my use. I'm not a huge fan of the filter setups for the Sigma 20mm. I want a lens that is below f2 wide open.
