Sony FE 20mm F1.8 G Full-Frame Large-Aperture Ultra-Wide Angle G Lens, Model: SEL20F18G

Let’s get this out of the way first; this lens may be a Sony G lens, but it’s a G Master lens for all intents and purposes. The build, features, linear XD AF and optical quality are basically the same as my 35mm GM. The one reason it’s likely sold as “just” a G is the 1.8 aperture (as opposed to 1.4). This lens on my Sony A1 is absolutely brilliant. I have the Sigma 20mm 1.4 Art, which is also an amazing lens, but it’s just way too big and heavy. The Sony 20mm 1.8 G is under half the weight of the Sigma, which is an easy trade for that 2/3-stop difference. In fact, after some tests I’ve discovered that the actual transmission difference is only about a half-stop between the two. Even though they’re both 20mm, the Sony G is noticeably wider than the Sigma. The Sony also exhibits a bit of focus breathing whereas the Sigma doesn’t. Both are super sharp lenses, but the Sony G is noticeably sharper when pixel peeping. The Sony also focuses quicker and more confidently, as well as having a much closer minimum focus distance. Often when using the Sigma with a flash to cover dancing at the end of a wedding reception, I would have to stop the lens down to around f/2.8 otherwise most shots would slightly miss focus. With the Sony G I can shoot wide open in this scenario and it almost always nails focus, tack-sharp. If you’re looking for a 20mm for Sony FE then this is the lens to get.

I was hesitant on the price of this lens. For much less I could get a slightly slower lens from other manufacturers but I chose to bite the bullet and go for the best quality. I am very happy with this decision. The fast lens f 1.8 lens is a great fit for me because I shoot so many pictures in the dark and low light environments. The picture quality is superb wide open and definitely sharp enough for the pictures that I take. FOCUSING: This new method of focus driving is far superior to anything else that I have tried. Nothing that I have beats it in speed, accuracy and volume. That's right, volume. This lens is nearly silent which is a huge plus for hybrid photo/video shooters. With that there are negatives: This lens is physically larger than my other wide angle lenses (28mm f 2.,8) but that is due to the amount of high quality fast glass in this lens. It is totally worth the weight to me, but if you are hiking around with it and don't need the maximum aperture of f 1.8 I'd go with a lightweight compact lens. I've had my concerns with the lens being damaged while it is powered off. You can feel the assemblies moving around under their own weight inside the lens. I am slightly worried about a large impact causing damage to the lens. I have not heard any other people reporting this as an issue, so I assume I am just worrying for no reason. Conclusion: I'd buy this lens again if I had to. This is by far my favorite wide angle lens that I have tried yet. I'd go for it over the 24mm GM if you're deciding between the two, the differences are almost meaningless when not compared back to back.

This is an amazing lens I bought it for landscape, star photography, and for use as a webcam as my camera crops when shooting video. There is very little to no distortion with this so you can snap away and the majority of photos will not need to be adjusted. Amazing prime lens, Sony really does make amazing glass. I've been out of the photo hobby for over 14 years. Previously I used Sony gear as well, wow they upped their game in a major way.

I struggled for several days trying to decide between the Sony 24mm f1.4 GM and the Sony 20mm f1.8. Sharpness is very important and size/weight is a major consideration. I kept reading reviews about how sharp the 20mm f1.8 is. I finally pulled the trigger on it and WOW...it exceeded my expectations!!! Great sharpness and clarity at f1.8, f2 and f4 (those are all I tested). On my 61 mp full frame sensor, I can easily crop to 24 or 28mm equivalent with excellent results. Very happy with my purchase!

If you're looking for a fast wide angle prime for Sony FE and are on a budget, look no more. I'm very happy with this lens. It's small and lightweight. It feels solidly built. Optics are as perfect as they can be in this year of 2020. Zero chromatic aberration on my a7iii using Capture One Pro 12. Shooting stars I can see a TINY bit of CA, but not enough to bother me one iota. Auto focus is fast and accurate, basically perfect for both still and video on my a7iii. Focus transitions are smooth and little focus breathing. I used to use, and still do somewhat, modified Nikkor primes on canon cameras and got used to having an aperture dial. It's really nice to have. I've accidentally bumped it from 1.8 to 2 or 2.5 in my lens pouch, and that's messed up a shot or two, but it's a quick fix if you're paying attention and you can always put it on A and control via camera. When it's on A it's locked in place and isn't going anywhere. For me I like it. The hype for this lens is real. Sony knocked it out of the park imo. I was looking to get a wide angle prime but didn't want to dish out the money for the 24 1.4 GM. I'm very pleased with my 20mm. 10/10 Thanks Sony.