SAN DIEGO – February 25, 2020 – Adding to its extensive range of native mirrorless full-frame lenses, Sony Electronics today announced the launch of the new G Lens™ series FE 20mm F1.8 G (model name SEL20F18G), perfect for a variety of creative needs including portraits, astrophotography, landscape and street photography, as well as capturing impressive video. Ensuring exceptional G Lens resolution and bokeh, the FE 20mm F1.8 G is a compact, lightweight, ultra-wide prime lens – the widest full-frame prime lens in Sony’s E-mount lineup – giving users a new resource for stretching the boundaries of their artistic imaginations.
The impressive lens design features two advanced aspherical (AA) elements and three extra-low dispersion (ED) glass elements to suppress chromatic aberration and delivers high corner-to-corner image quality with minimal distortion, even at the maximum F1.8 aperture. It has excellent close-up performance, with a minimum focus distance of 7.5 inches (max. magnification: 0.2 times), and delivers beautifully de-focused backgrounds, or bokeh. For challenging subjects like night scenes or starry skies, the FE 20mm F1.8 G delivers crisp and clear images thanks to its advanced optical design that accurately reproduces point light sources with high contrast and minimum sagittal flare.
The compact design and versatility of the FE 20mm F1.8 G makes it the perfect all-inclusive lens for photographers and videographers. Weighing only 13.2 oz (373g), its small size and light weight make it truly mobile when used with compact E-mount bodies as part of a well-balanced system that is ideal for use on gimbals or accessory grips.
In addition, the use of two extreme dynamic (XD) Linear Motors delivers fast, precise and quiet autofocus for both stills and video shooting.
Designed to be dust and moisture resistant and having a fluorine front element coating, the FE 20mm F1.8 G is highly reliable and easy to operate. It also features a customizable focus-hold button and aperture ring with a click on/off switch and is compatible with a variety of 67mm filters for extra creative control.
"We’re driven by the needs of our customers and will continue developing the best tools to meet their creative ambitions," said Neal Manowitz, deputy president of Imaging Products and Solutions Americas, Sony Electronics. "Our 56th E-mount lens, the new FE 20mm F1.8 G, is fast, lightweight and extremely versatile, giving creators yet another compelling tool to help realize their vision."
Pricing and Availability
The FE 20mm F1.8 G will be available in March 2020 for a suggested retail price of $899.99 USD and $1,199.99 CAD.
p.1 #3 · Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
Looks good. I would have been interested about two weeks ago, but I picked up the Sigma 14-24/2.8, and it's exceptional to the corners too, so no need for me anymore. However, for Astro, if the coma is good, this will be awesome, and it's a great alternative to the Loxia as well, being quite light, very sharp and notably less expensive.
p.1 #6 · Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
I realize some will feel different, but for me it's too close to the 24 GM. I'd want a gap wider than that. If it was an 18 maybe, just don't think I have a current need.
p.1 #7 · Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
I haven't seen any reviewer-sourced astro shots yet, perhaps they didn't have very long to create their sample galleries. However, Sony has some official samples and one is a night sky shot at 1.8. They don't have a full-resolution version of it (although they do for other shots), but going into the Page Source info you can at least find a medium-resolution version:
Coma looks to be well-controlled, at least at this output size. Would like to see more samples before deciding. However, their close and medium distance shots look incredible at full resolution:
p.1 #8 · Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
Clearly they are simply plugging a hole in their lineup that folks are choosing 3rd party lenses for, like the Voigtlander 21 and Loxia 21.
Like others, I would have preferred 18mm since this is so close to the 24gm and 24-70/105 zooms.
realVivek wrote:
Made in Thailand. That should make it less expensive for the US buyers, unlike the FE 35/1.8.
Did you miss the $900 MSRP?
Like I've told lots of folks on here, if you're in the US and you want the 35/1.8, buying from Henry's in Canada is your best bet, you'll save a chunk.
p.1 #9 · Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
RoamingScott wrote:
Clearly they are simply plugging a hole in their lineup that folks are choosing 3rd party lenses for, like the Voigtlander 21 and Loxia 21.
Like others, I would have preferred 18mm since this is so close to the 24gm and 24-70/105 zooms.
Maybe they're reserving the 18mm focal length for a GM lens.
p.1 #11 · Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
It is a Sony G lens and not a Samyang. That is about the price they ask for, normally. You have green limbs, etc that will give much lower prices, depending on the availability .
RoamingScott wrote:
Did you miss the $900 MSRP?
Like I've told lots of folks on here, if you're in the US and you want the 35/1.8, buying from Henry's in Canada is your best bet, you'll save a chunk.
p.1 #13 · Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
The optical performance looks great from what I can see so far, but this price point is yet again too high. With the price closing in on 1k EUR I just don't see the attraction. I often consider adding a fast wide prime to my collection, but not like this.
p.1 #14 · Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
zz wrote:
The optical performance looks great from what I can see so far, but this price point is yet again too high. With the price closing in on 1k EUR I just don't see the attraction. I often consider adding a fast wide prime to my collection, but not like this.
Cheaper and better than the competition. Can't really fault them tbh
p.1 #18 · Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
In the videos they compare against the 24GM. Sharpness is similar to the 24GM in the central region and a tiny bit behind in the corners (but we don't know about field curvature so far).
Just sold my Loxia today and will have to decide between Tamron 17-28, Sigma 14-24 (likely not, don't want a big filter system) or the 16-35GM. This lens looks nice, too.
p.1 #19 · Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
Love my Nikon 20mm f/1.8G. This is an exceptional focal length and aperture for environmental portraits. It doesn't seem like it would be all that different than 24mm but it's a world of difference.
zz wrote: