nehemiahphoto
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 Re: In-Stock: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens | |
I have my copy...some initial thoughts:
1) Central and mid sharpness seem great even wide open, at any distance. From my initial simple test, my my extreme corners are not crispy, even at f8 with a subject at 30+ feet though they are all even, so my copy is centered.
2) Not sure on colors, they look more like GM colors, not FE 28 colors, but I need better light to judge that. I feel like GM colors are a bit richer but we'll see.
3) It's a little but definitive amount smaller than the GM 24.
4) AF is super zippy, even on the now mediocre A7r2 AF. I am sure it would have been blistering on the 3rd gen. bodies I no longer own.
5) Feels wide for a 20...I am going to test it against my Tamron 17-28, see how wide it actually is.
6) The bokeh doesn't feel as smooth structurally, the lens is wider, little less CA, it's slightly slower, so not quite seeing marvelous transition and bokeh of the GM 24, though it seem very good overall and this makes sense. A bit more nervous with mid distance in the transition zone it seems, at least the background.
7) From my first little bit, the lens doesn't seem to have the softness but sharp feel and quite the color richness of the GM 24, but I'll wait to shoot more for my final verdict on that. The rendering seems nice, but a bit more clinical as their really no SA or CA to soften the sharpness.
8) The MFD is awesome, and performance is just terrific up close.
9) Very cloudy, but I am excited to test coma as reviews seem quite good.
10) Ergonomically, I disliked where Sony placed the clickless aperture button--I bumped it twice while handing the lens as it's right where I cradle the lens with my left index finger while shooting. Instead of 6-7 o'clock, I wish they would have put it at 9 or 10 where it's not easily switched, but that would have made it more visible. It's also very little resistance to flip on. They also did a funny thing where the 1.8 aperture marking is offcenter from the marking, meaning I thought a couple times I was at f2 or f2.2. A niggle, but I noticed. Overall, the build and quality feels lovely--exactly like my GM 24.
11) While the GM 24 and this do overlap a fair amount, I feel like the GM is a bit more of an environmental portrait/event/bokeh centric/better rending type lens. This 20 G feels a bit harsher, and 20 versus 24mm is really a big difference. The G20 feels smaller, and while I wouldn't own both, I do think they differentiate themselves.
12) Both longitudinal and lateral CA are super well corrected.
13) Did not correct flare or vignetting. Vignetting seems a bit higher than the GM 24 when uncorrected which makes sense.
14) I can instantly feel/hear the little movement of the lens when it's turned off, which made me double check to see if my camera was off. Feels like the lens if autofocusing with that movement.
I realize the GM 24 and G 20 aren't the same lens, but it's a natural comparison and reference point for some shooters, and I don't have a Loxia or CV 21 3.5/1.4, though this lenses simple doesn't have the micro contrast and bite of the modern CV's and especially the Loxia 21 I owned.
Overall, quite happy. I had it out for about 30 min, and light was quite crappy and gray, but I think Sony did a great job. So happy this lens doesn't feel like the FE 35/28 line.
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