p.19 #1 · Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
nehemiahphoto wrote:
Some testing notes:
Shot on tripod, IBIS off, manual focus, 5 second delay, A7rII, RAW, same exposure, all lens' corrections turned off, no editing except balance of WB.
1) Infinte crops: Tamron @ 20 vs. G 20
Finding:
The G 20 is better at each comparable aperture across the entire frame. I like the G 20 1.8 to the Tamron's f8, all over the frame. This is impressive.
Finding:
GM 24 blows the others away wide open. At comparable apertures, I prefer the GM 24 > G 21 > G 20 > Tamron
3) Color and Fine Texture:
Contax G 21
Tamron @ 20
GM 24 @ 1.4
G20 @ 1.8
Finding:
The texture and color the GM 24 is easily differentiated from the G 20--look at the aliasing on the G20 and crispness. The closest to the GM 24 is the Contax G 21 with similar saturation and textural quality. Note the paper texture more on the Tamron and G 20 (sharp, no SA!)
4) Framing
G 20
Tamron 17-28 @ 20
Finding:
G 20 is wider, seems more like a 19mm. Any one else test this against a different zoom?...Show more →
Really interesting. Looks like if bokeh is a priority the 24GM is the easy pick. I expected that, of course, but didn’t expect such a big disparity.
Really appreciate all your tests here...very informative!
p.19 #2 · Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
I'm hearing the 20G is an 18mm labelled as a 20, can anyone who owns it and an 18mm confirm this?
I suppose it's difficult to confirm because all lenses are almost never exactly the focal length they are labelled as.
The discussion we were having is that with this 20 Sony may be trying to protect the Batis 18 by labelling it a 20.
A friend who just collected his 20 says he's selling his Batis 18 because 'there's no point now that the better 18 is here'.
I'd also love a comparison of the '20' and the 12-24 @20 to check field of view and resolution/contrast etc.
I shoot at 18mm a lot with the 12-24 and would love to know how much more performance I could collect from the new 20. The Batis wasn't worth owning (imo) if you had the 12-24 and uses it stopped down to 5.6-8.
p.19 #3 · Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
Bob_S wrote:
I'm hearing the 20G is an 18mm labelled as a 20, can anyone who owns it and an 18mm confirm this?
I suppose it's difficult to confirm because all lenses are almost never exactly the focal length they are labelled as.
The discussion we were having is that with this 20 Sony may be trying to protect the Batis 18 by labelling it a 20.
A friend who just collected his 20 says he's selling his Batis 18 because 'there's no point now that the better 18 is here'.
I'd also love a comparison of the '20' and the 12-24 @20 to check field of view and resolution/contrast etc.
I shoot at 18mm a lot with the 12-24 and would love to know how much more performance I could collect from the new 20. The Batis wasn't worth owning (imo) if you had the 12-24 and uses it stopped down to 5.6-8....Show more →
In my first impressions post, I said it feels wide for s 20. I compared it to the Tamron at 20mm and it’s wider. I thinks it’s an 18 or 19mm
p.19 #4 · Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
nehemiahphoto wrote:
Some testing notes:
Shot on tripod, IBIS off, manual focus, 5 second delay, A7rII, RAW, same exposure, all lens' corrections turned off, no editing except balance of WB.
1) Infinte crops: Tamron @ 20 vs. G 20
Finding:
The G 20 is better at each comparable aperture across the entire frame. I like the G 20 1.8 to the Tamron's f8, all over the frame. This is impressive.
Finding:
GM 24 blows the others away wide open. At comparable apertures, I prefer the GM 24 > G 21 > G 20 > Tamron
3) Color and Fine Texture:
Contax G 21
Tamron @ 20
GM 24 @ 1.4
G20 @ 1.8
Finding:
The texture and color the GM 24 is easily differentiated from the G 20--look at the aliasing on the G20 and crispness. The closest to the GM 24 is the Contax G 21 with similar saturation and textural quality. Note the paper texture more on the Tamron and G 20 (sharp, no SA!)
4) Framing
G 20
Tamron 17-28 @ 20
Finding:
G 20 is wider, seems more like a 19mm. Any one else test this against a different zoom?...Show more →
I find the bokeh comparison a bit misleading, as you are probably at the same distance but don't have the same magnification and different FOVs, affecting the bokeh greatly. I prefer trying to have the same magnification requiring to get closer with the 20G. The 24GM will still have the edge at f1.4, but at f1.8 both are close (I have both and tried that).
p.19 #5 · Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
Holger wrote:
I find the bokeh comparison a bit misleading, as you are probably at the same distance but don't have the same magnification and different FOVs, affecting the bokeh greatly. I prefer trying to have the same magnification requiring to get closer with the 20G. The 24GM will still have the edge at f1.4, but at f1.8 both are close (I have both and tried that).
I did leave the tripod set for my tests. Wasn’t intending to mislead. It’s not so close IMO even if you bump the GM closer. The GM has smoother transitions and more CA which helps.
Can I see your crops? Seems odd to cripple the GM 24 by stopping it down to 1.8. If you want to measure maximin Bokeh you shoot wide open it seems to me in real world shooting.
p.19 #6 · Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
nehemiahphoto wrote:
In my first impressions post, I said it feels wide for s 20. I compared it to the Tamron at 20mm and it’s wider. I thinks it’s an 18 or 19mm
Nice, thanks. I missed that.
A follow up question if you will, do you remember if the lens has distortion correction turned on or if the field of view was similar to 18 before the default correction?
Sony did this with the 28mm, it's a 28mm (roughly) after correction and a 24-26mm before (depending on the control lens).
If we can prove the lens is an 18mm, even before correction and it's (as I'm expecting it to be) significantly better than the 12-24 at f5.6-8 then I will purchase, depending on the amount of improvement and th price the lens settles down to.
p.19 #7 · Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
Bob_S wrote:
Nice, thanks. I missed that.
A follow up question if you will, do you remember if the lens has distortion correction turned on or if the field of view was similar to 18 before the default correction?
Sony did this with the 28mm, it's a 28mm (roughly) after correction and a 24-26mm before (depending on the control lens).
If we can prove the lens is an 18mm, even before correction and it's (as I'm expecting it to be) significantly better than the 12-24 at f5.6-8 then I will purchase, depending on the amount of improvement and th price the lens settles down to.
No worries. No correction was turned on in camera or in post, and I use LR.
p.19 #8 · Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
nehemiahphoto wrote:
No worries. No correction was turned on in camera or in post, and I use LR.
If you have the time could you shoot the lens with a quarter turn on the mount so the contacts don't line up and there are no corrections turned on by the camera, this should allow us to see true distortion and vignetting.
I realise I'm asking a bit much of you, but I think many people will find it interesting, if you have the time.
p.19 #9 · Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
nehemiahphoto wrote:
I did leave the tripod set for my tests. Wasn’t intending to mislead. It’s not so close IMO even if you bump the GM closer. The GM has smoother transitions and more CA which helps.
Can I see your crops? Seems odd to cripple the GM 24 by stopping it down to 1.8. If you want to measure maximin Bokeh you shoot wide open it seems to me in real world shooting.
I didn't intend to be rude, I just wanted to express my opinion, I hope it didn't sound otherwise.
Of course you will have an advantage with f1.4 vs. 1.8 together with the longer FL. That is natural.
I usually try to equalise parameters as much as possible, so I prefer comparing equal magnification (just consider the case of comparing (extreme example) a 200mm FL to a 20mm FL for the same distance), equal f stop etc.
However, if that is how you want the comparison, it is fine to do so. I would do it differently ;-).
p.19 #10 · Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
Bob_S wrote:
Nice, thanks. I missed that.
A follow up question if you will, do you remember if the lens has distortion correction turned on or if the field of view was similar to 18 before the default correction?
Sony did this with the 28mm, it's a 28mm (roughly) after correction and a 24-26mm before (depending on the control lens).
If we can prove the lens is an 18mm, even before correction and it's (as I'm expecting it to be) significantly better than the 12-24 at f5.6-8 then I will purchase, depending on the amount of improvement and th price the lens settles down to.
Oh yes, I have the FE 28. The degree of distortion when left uncorrected is massive. They also say the RX1 is a 35mm
p.19 #11 · Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
Holger wrote:
I didn't intend to be rude, I just wanted to express my opinion, I hope it didn't sound otherwise.
Of course you will have an advantage with f1.4 vs. 1.8 together with the longer FL. That is natural.
I usually try to equalise parameters as much as possible, so I prefer comparing equal magnification (just consider the case of comparing (extreme example) a 200mm FL to a 20mm FL for the same distance), equal f stop etc.
However, if that is how you want the comparison, it is fine to do so. I would do it differently ;-).
You are good Holgar! No offense taken. I can try it your way. Just ensure the framing of the photos is the same, and move the camera to ensure this?
Also, I ask if you have crops so I don’t have to do it
p.19 #14 · Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
Looks like the conclusions vs GM24 will be something like:
- GM24 is sharper wide open. G20 is sharper at 4/5.6/8 (as shown by Sony MTFs)
- G20 controls CA better wide open
- GM24 bokeh is superior, even at MFD
- GM24 almost deliver batwing-free stars
- GM24 controls flare better
G20 seems to be better at general landscape (wider FOV, sharper at 4/5.6/8, but watch for flare). GM24 is still the king for environmental portrait. I lean towards GM24 for astrophotography, unless wider FOV is needed. Correcting LaCA is easier than batwing stars.
p.19 #15 · Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
Not happy with the distortion of that 2nd shot of the book case. Can someone please test for this . I can tell ya right now the Sigma 14-24 does not distort this bad at 20mm. Like to see that test.
p.19 #16 · Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
ottertack wrote:
Looks like the conclusions vs GM24 will be something like:
- GM24 is sharper wide open. G20 is sharper at 4/5.6/8 (as shown by Sony MTFs)
- G20 controls CA better wide open
- GM24 bokeh is superior, even at MFD
- GM24 almost deliver batwing-free stars
- GM24 controls flare better
G20 seems to be better at general landscape (wider FOV, sharper at 4/5.6/8, but watch for flare). GM24 is still the king for environmental portrait. I lean towards GM24 for astrophotography, unless wider FOV is needed. Correcting LaCA is easier than batwing stars.
G20 and GM24 seems similar yet different!
I think that’s generally my impression, except with the minimal CA, both lateral and axial and not just wide open, the 20 files feel crisper even if the lens isn’t resolving more than the GM 24. It has bite.
My guess is the flare performance is closer than you’d think, but I didn’t test that properly. Neither is Zeiss/CV level. And the GM is the better people lens for sure. The bat wings on the G20 are so slight even on 42MP I honestly would go on FL/stitching rather than sheer coma performance.
I wish the GM has the blistering AF of the G20–it would have made more sense given the intended usage.
p.19 #17 · Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
nehemiahphoto wrote:
@FredMiranda@ — will you be reviewing this lens? I’d like to know some other optical aspects but don’t really feel like doing more testing
Received a bad copy (likely element tilt) and requested a replacement. I prefer not posting samples and wait for an optimal copy to compare with my other lenses.
p.19 #18 · Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
nehemiahphoto wrote:
You are good Holgar! No offense taken. I can try it your way. Just ensure the framing of the photos is the same, and move the camera to ensure this?
Also, I ask if you have crops so I don’t have to do it
I have done a comparison, but not rigorously. My first impulse when getting the lens on Saturday was to check for centering
etc. I did some controlled tests indoors and outdoors and the lens seems fine.
When I have more time this week-end, I will repeat some tests. However, our A7riii will be replaced with the A7riv next week, so I would need to redo e.th. again.
p.19 #20 · Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
nehemiahphoto wrote:
I think that’s generally my impression, except with the minimal CA, both lateral and axial and not just wide open, the 20 files feel crisper even if the lens isn’t resolving more than the GM 24. It has bite.
My guess is the flare performance is closer than you’d think, but I didn’t test that properly. Neither is Zeiss/CV level. And the GM is the better people lens for sure. The bat wings on the G20 are so slight even on 42MP I honestly would go on FL/stitching rather than sheer coma performance.
I wish the GM has the blistering AF of the G20–it would have made more sense given the intended usage. ...Show more →
"The bite", is it because of lack of CA or SA? It can be a tradeoff between sharpness vs bokeh smoothness.
Both lenses are great for astro. It depends on the intended use. For printing large or >100% viewing, batwing matters. Stitching is definitely a possibility, but a headache because of star trails (and accuracy of stars).
Do you feel the G20 AF is faster than GM24 (regardless of the motors)? And have you decided GM24's fate?
