p.7 #1 · Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
bjornthun wrote:
Good move from Sony, now they cover all focal lengths ftom 20mm to 135mm with a prime lens. Maybe there will be more tele photos, 200mm, 300mm, 500mm and then maybe 800mm and a 14mm wide angle?
Don't know if one needs AF at 14mm and not sure manual focus is Sony's forte. But give me a light 200 2.8 and 300 f4 with fabulous AF and I'm happy.
p.7 #2 · Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
Fred Miranda wrote:
Yes, three lenses per focal length is the limit. So you are still OK.
I hope that is a prime only rule and does not restrict getting a zoom that overlaps those same focal lengths?
With the 16-35/2.8 GM, Sigma 14-24/2.8 and others also in this range its really hard to avoid.
p.7 #4 · Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
gocolts wrote:
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.
That was my initial thought but now I like the idea providing it is as sharp as a 16-35GM of having kind of a smaller psuado zoom you might say on my a7rIV.
20mm 1.8 and 28mp & 30mm by pressing C2 for APS-C crop mode.
Might even use it on my a6500 with a flash for restaurant pics and such.
p.7 #7 · Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
The Batis 18/2 has been discounted significantly lately. Is there a case for preferring this new Sony 20/1.8 to it? I wouldn’t think that 2mm/.2 would make much difference.
p.7 #8 · Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
chez wrote:
Don't know if one needs AF at 14mm and not sure manual focus is Sony's forte. But give me a light 200 2.8 and 300 f4 with fabulous AF and I'm happy.
Yes AF is needed, AF 14/1.8 GM. Then 200/4 Macro, 300/2.8, 500/4, 800/5.6 all GM. Maybe Sony will throw in a 300/4 or 400/5.6 with the G label for good meassure.
p.7 #9 · Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
bjornthun wrote:
Yes AF is needed, AF 14/1.8 GM. Then 200/4 Macro, 300/2.8, 500/4, 800/5.6 all GM. Maybe Sony will throw in a 300/4 or 400/5.6 with the G label for good meassure.
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Fred Miranda wrote:
It does not seem like much but yes, at this focal length it makes a difference in blur, especially if the background is further way from your subject.
The Zeiss Batis 18mm f/2.8 is as the name says an f/2.8 lens.
The filter thread of the Batis 18/2.8 is 77mm compared to a more manageable 67mm for the Sony 20/1.8 G. Add to that an aperture ring and a linear focus feel with the new Sony lens. I’d take the Sony lens.
p.7 #10 · Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
bjornthun wrote:
Good move from Sony, now they cover all focal lengths ftom 20mm to 135mm with a prime lens. Maybe there will be more tele photos, 200mm, 300mm, 500mm and then maybe 800mm and a 14mm wide angle?
I wonder why Sony didn't go with a FE 18/1.8 G instead to complement their FE 24/1.4 GM with a longer gap.
Perhaps at 18mm, the lens could be designed even smaller...
As someone wrote, perhaps Sony is trying to match the competition for now but eventually we will probably get all the focal lengths covered to death..
The Zeiss Batis 18mm f/2.8 is as the name says an f/2.8 lens.
The filter thread of the Batis 18/2.8 is 77mm compared to a more manageable 67mm for the Sony 20/1.8 G. Add to that an aperture ring and a linear focus feel with the new Sony lens. I’d take the Sony lens.
p.7 #12 · Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
I currently own the Loxia 21 and Batis 18 and do find them enough different but I really own them because of the two different kits, one manual and small with other Loxias and a second with the Batis family where the spacing of the 18 to 25 and then 40 is great IMHO is great.
Also like that this is very similar to the 24 GM. I am a big fan of consistency in lens design and wish the 35/1.8 had taken this approach. Can I return that lens and get a 35 like this? So now the 20, 24, 85, and 135 (and the 100) have this look, feel and handling. What other prime will take this approach? A 15, 35/? or 50/? Or will they try to do a 40mm? I have really gotten very tied to that focal length as a great alternative to a 35 and 50/55.
p.7 #13 · Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
bjornthun wrote:
Yes AF is needed, AF 14/1.8 GM. Then 200/4 Macro, 300/2.8, 500/4, 800/5.6 all GM. Maybe Sony will throw in a 300/4 or 400/5.6 with the G label for good meassure.
What would you be using a 14mm where AF is required? If you focus at 8', the DOF at 1.8 goes from less than 5' right to almost 24'. I'd preset to focus and treat it like a p&s.
p.7 #14 · Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
chez wrote:
What would you be using a 14mm where AF is required? If you focus at 8', the DOF at 1.8 goes from less than 5' right to almost 24'. I'd preset to focus and treat it like a p&s.
Because DOF does not replace critical focus when shooting with a high megapixel sensor.
p.7 #15 · Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
Fred Miranda wrote:
Because DOF does not replace critical focus when shooting with a high megapixel sensor.
Maybe true for close focus, but for landscapes and most everything else I much prefer to set a focus point via manual focus ring with focus distance markings. Sony's electronic version is pretty useless.
p.7 #16 · Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
pdmphoto wrote:
Maybe true for close focus, but for landscapes and most everything else I much prefer to set a focus point via manual focus ring with focus distance markings
Still may need to focus stack with today's high MP sensors.
p.7 #18 · Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
The most appealing thing about this lens is the design language. That it matches the 24, the 85 and 135 is very appealing. The least appealing is the gapping. I’m not going to carry a 20 and a 24. And frankly neither are wide enough even if they have their applications.
The release of this lens begs questions like why isn’t Sony making prime lenses in the ultra wide range? Is Sony going to get consistent with its haptics and design? On the one hand Sony has released a lot of great glass. On the other I see a lot of holes still
and room for improvement:
15?
18?
28?
Fast 35 without horrendous copy variation
40?
Super fast 50
Fast 85 that has the contemporary focusing systems
200?
300?
500?
It would be nice to have a mature lens lineup. Sony’s smacks of middle age. Good thing there’s third parties.
swldstn wrote:
I currently own the Loxia 21 and Batis 18 and do find them enough different but I really own them because of the two different kits, one manual and small with other Loxias and a second with the Batis family where the spacing of the 18 to 25 and then 40 is great IMHO is great.
Also like that this is very similar to the 24 GM. I am a big fan of consistency in lens design and wish the 35/1.8 had taken this approach. Can I return that lens and get a 35 like this? So now the 20, 24, 85, and 135 (and the 100) have this look, feel and handling. What other prime will take this approach? A 15, 35/? or 50/? Or will they try to do a 40mm? I have really gotten very tied to that focal length as a great alternative to a 35 and 50/55....Show more →
p.7 #19 · Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
swldstn wrote:
I would love to see that comparison, owning the Loxia 21 and being a big fan. Interested in this lens as well though because its AF. Wonder how the Batis 18mm compares. The Art of Photography youtube channel has done some brief field curvature comparisons of this lens to the two the two Zeiss lenses.
Without even testing the lens, we can assume that:
1) At infinity distance, the FE 20/1.8 G's corners may be similar to the 24/1.4 GM's. (This is the best case scenario based on their MTF graphs). In other words, I don't think the 20/1.8 G will outperform the 24 GM at the corners.
2) From my own tests, the Loxia 21/2.8's overall performance is very similar to the Loxia 25/2.4 across the field. Similar center, mid and extreme corner resolution and contrast.
Based on the test linked above, it's likely that the Loxia will still outperform the Sony G at the extreme corners.
However, at center and mid-field, I would expect a very similar performance. Flare resistance, field curvature, color rendering and CA correction are still question marks.....Although it looks like the FE 20/1.8 is well corrected for CA based on one review I've read.
p.7 #20 · Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
Definitely looks nice, that's for sure. Not really on my wish list though, but I'm sure plenty will be happy with it if the early example images are any indication. Now if only they'd release my 28 1.4 GM lol
