Mr Abbott, you are definitely one of my favorite among many RUclips camera gears reviewers I have subscribed to. Your conviction, solid presentations and great evaluation points are just fantastic. Best wishes to you and your family, stay safe !!
Thanks for this - I am 99% sure that I'll go for this lens for landscapes/travel on my A7CII. I was toying with the 16-25 f2.8 but it's that much more expensive and that much bigger (I like to keep my setup small). If I did need to crop in from 20-25 then I believe the 33mp would only drop to around 26mp - still quite acceptable for my needs.
There's pros and cons each direction. I would probably go with this lens for the practicality. The Loxia is little better with color and contrast at small apertures.
Thank you for another thorough review! I do mostly travel and street photography and looking for lightweight prime. I am deciding between this lens and the Zeiss Batis 18mm which I saw on eBay for just $855 and rated LN- by KEH. Would you recommend this lens over the Zeiss Batis even if the Batis was available at the lower price point or would you still stick with the Sony?
Hey Dustin, again amazing review. The pulsing seems to be consistent with Sony lenses. When I shot Milky way timelapse with the Sony A7III and the 24 mm GM, I found it both times. I also shot timelapse with Sony A7RIII and 16-35 mm f/2.8 GM and I noticed pulsing again. Weird thing is, I kept the lenses on manual focus! I have no idea how this could be happening! I read similar comments on other sites.
I ordered one yesterday from Camera Canada together with a Sony A7R IV! I am so excited! Thank you so much for your great reviews! Wish you a Happy New Year!
Thanks for this, man. Have this lens coming on Thursday in time for new moon Milky Way shoot this Saturday. This video helped me decide between it and the Tamron 17-28. May group this with my Zeiss 55 and Tamron 70-180 and call it the travel trifecta!
Forget about the focus- I’m struggling between this and the Voightlander 21 1.4- long term of years of use I’m not sure about lens with motors and electronics, if anything would fail it would be electronically - vs mechanical
Dustin I just bought the Sony A7SIII , would you recommend this lens to use on my DJI gimbal for video? I m liking the small size of the lens and great reviews!!
Thanks again for your such a crisp review. May I suggest you an idea, as you have reviewed by now more than a few hundred lenses with thorough details, which 5 - 10 lenses would you like to suggest for each system for their perfection or pleasant rendering? This can be a real crux of your experience with lens reviews and may be helpful for a lot of your viewers! A video can be a good medium, if it suits you, please consider my kind request! Thanks again! Regards from Germany.
That pulsing problem is a serious hassle in low light taking photos of performers. Opening up seems to help but not cure it, afs helps too but again not totally gone. I have had it do it in good light even on my A7Riiii, seems to be better somewhat on the A1 but unfortunately I usually want it on my A7 series.
The 20mm is a very good lens, but a very different lens. Much, much larger and heavier, no front filter threads. I personally would prefer this one...for the way I use a 20mm lens.
Thank you, Dustin! I am a Canon guy and I don t have this option. I bought the Sigma 14-24 mm :) and I have the RF 15-35mm in my whishlist. I wish you all the best!
Thanks Dustin! The time and thought you put into your reviews is invaluable! Would you consider this an upgrade from the Zeiss Batis 18mm? Majority use cases are landscape and astrophotography.
Awesome review as usual! Quick question - what focal length and aperture did you shoot the outdoor talking portion of the video with? You (and the chair?) are so sharp, and yet still separated from the background
Great review as always. One thing I beg to differ is sigma 14-24 f2.8 is sharper than Sony 20 G at f1.8 even at f2.8 that Sigma lens is a monster optically, sets the benchmark not only as ultra wide zoom but also include all 14mm 16mm 18mm 20mm primes too @f2.8 Its only weak spot is 24mm but even then it still quite good @ 24mm F2.8 Please recheck your test images if they are shot on the same body with same parameters.
Hi Frank, I don't think that is actually true (re the Sigma) particularly in the center 2/3rds of the frame. I definitely found the Sony sharper in both test and real work images at comparative apertures. I looked over a few others reviewers, and if you look at their tests, the resolution of the prime is definitely higher. Compare their findings, for example. www.digitalcameraworld.com/reviews/sigma-14-24mm-f28-dg-dn-art-review#:~:text=Verdict,Panasonic%20mirrorless%20full%2Dframe%20cameras.
Another bang on review! This lens is truly good, not sure why it has just the G rather than the GM rating. I suspect the 24mm f1.4's learnings were passed onto this lens as well.
I think Sony put the GM logo on lens where they put special glass, treatment and equipment (like 11 aperture blades) to improve the bokeh. Other than that... it's hard to tell.
Is it normal that the lens inside moves if on turns it upside down ? I see the inside lens move quite I bit if look at it from behind . No other Sony lens has that . It moves if the lens is off the camera or on the camera if the camera is switched off . Does not happen if the camera is switched on Is that normal with this lens ?
I have my second copy of this little beauty, I was concerned a bit because of the wobble on the focus ring, my second copy has the same wobble... so I guess this is "standard" or "normal" for the 20 1.8 other than that mindblowing wobble it is a perfect little lens Did anybpdy else noticed the wobble ?
@@DustinAbbottTWI Not really, I was referring that the focus ring feels a bit like it is loose and has some play in it way more than my other lenses (GMs and Gs... which has actually non).
Hey Dustin! FYI... Just noticed the video seems to be out of sync with the sound in the beginning... just a hint, if you might wanna fix it... Besides that, thank you for your great reviews as always 😃👍
I am in crossroads. 20mm f/1.8 from Sony or 17-28mm f/2.8 from Tamron. From all reviews that I saw, it looks like Tamron has a sharpness problem, but still praised as a good lens. Not sure whether it is because reviewers are getting paid by Tamron or it is really that good.
I'm not sure where you get that the Tamron has a sharpness problem; it is a very sharp lens. I do think the 20mm F1.8 is sharper still, though. The Tamron is more versatile, but the Sony delivers the best optical performance.
This lens should've been stabilized, they could have expanded their market for vlogger who need a wide and stable lens. That extra feature was badly needed.
Thank you Dustin, your reviews are really good. But what lens did you use for the shot in the garden? My mind is always wandering from the content to the ugly background bokeh. Best regards, Helge P.S.: Your website is very slow.
The main downside - it's a 20mm prime :) Btw, the only way I use a 20mm lens is shooting at closest possible focus distance in order to get that weird shot, both very wide and with blurred background. I see this has 0.2 magnification, which is not bad. But the cheap, little Tamron has 0.5. I would gladly swap 1 stop of light, especially on such a wide lens, for close to macro capabilities. At a third of the price. P.S. The picture on 8:33 is gorgeous. I love it!
Excellent review as always! There is just one problem watching your channel. You are so knowledgeable about photography equipment in a global sense that when you are impressed by a lens it removes all doubts if it would be a good purchase. I can’t believe Sony has not sent you any new lenses or the A1. On second thought I don’t think my wallet could handle it. Thanks
I didn't forget it, actually, as it is referenced in my text review. It's a completely different kind of lens, however. Not designed for mirrorless (it's an adapted DSLR lens technically) and is much larger and heavier. It can't take standard filters. I don't see it as being a direct competitor for most people that will be considering this lens.
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Mr Abbott, you are definitely one of my favorite among many RUclips camera gears reviewers I have subscribed to. Your conviction, solid presentations and great evaluation points are just fantastic. Best wishes to you and your family, stay safe !!
Thank you for the kind feedback.
Thanks for this - I am 99% sure that I'll go for this lens for landscapes/travel on my A7CII.
I was toying with the 16-25 f2.8 but it's that much more expensive and that much bigger (I like to keep my setup small). If I did need to crop in from 20-25 then I believe the 33mp would only drop to around 26mp - still quite acceptable for my needs.
Thanks for the Video, Dustin. In comparison to the Loxia 21 (which is manual focus), which is better?
There's pros and cons each direction. I would probably go with this lens for the practicality. The Loxia is little better with color and contrast at small apertures.
Thank you for another thorough review! I do mostly travel and street photography and looking for lightweight prime. I am deciding between this lens and the Zeiss Batis 18mm which I saw on eBay for just $855 and rated LN- by KEH. Would you recommend this lens over the Zeiss Batis even if the Batis was available at the lower price point or would you still stick with the Sony?
I would choose the sony, personally.
@@DustinAbbottTWI Perfect! That's exactly what I did. Thank you, Dustin!
Thanks again, Dustin. You’re such a wonderful reference for examining all aspects of gear.
Glad it was helpful!
You always deliver videos with class and great information. Thanks Dustin for the great work.
I appreciate that!
Hey Dustin, again amazing review. The pulsing seems to be consistent with Sony lenses. When I shot Milky way timelapse with the Sony A7III and the 24 mm GM, I found it both times. I also shot timelapse with Sony A7RIII and 16-35 mm f/2.8 GM and I noticed pulsing again. Weird thing is, I kept the lenses on manual focus! I have no idea how this could be happening! I read similar comments on other sites.
That's really weird if you had the lens on MF.
I ordered one yesterday from Camera Canada together with a Sony A7R IV! I am so excited! Thank you so much for your great reviews! Wish you a Happy New Year!
Awesome! Camera Canada is great. I've been buying from them as well.
What are your thoughts on focus breathing for this lens? Did you have a chance to compare it to the sony 35mm f1.8 or sony gm 16-35mm f2.8? Thanks
Hi Camila, you can see that if you look at the definitive review and the focus pull section.
Thanks for this, man. Have this lens coming on Thursday in time for new moon Milky Way shoot this Saturday. This video helped me decide between it and the Tamron 17-28. May group this with my Zeiss 55 and Tamron 70-180 and call it the travel trifecta!
Enjoy!
Forget about the focus- I’m struggling between this and the Voightlander 21 1.4- long term of years of use I’m not sure about lens with motors and electronics, if anything would fail it would be electronically - vs mechanical
I think the likelihood of motor failure is very slim, but Voigtlander glass is great.
Dustin I just bought the Sony A7SIII , would you recommend this lens to use on my DJI gimbal for video? I m liking the small size of the lens and great reviews!!
That would be a great gimbal lens.
@@DustinAbbottTWI thank you I also have the Samyang 20 2.8 autofocus and Sony 55 1.8 would this lens be worth buying if u had those ?
Thanks again for your such a crisp review. May I suggest you an idea, as you have reviewed by now more than a few hundred lenses with thorough details, which 5 - 10 lenses would you like to suggest for each system for their perfection or pleasant rendering? This can be a real crux of your experience with lens reviews and may be helpful for a lot of your viewers! A video can be a good medium, if it suits you, please consider my kind request! Thanks again! Regards from Germany.
That's a solid suggestion, and one I'll give some thought.
Dustin Abbott Id be interested in this as well. Sort of a "my favorite lenses" list?
That pulsing problem is a serious hassle in low light taking photos of performers. Opening up seems to help but not cure it, afs helps too but again not totally gone. I have had it do it in good light even on my A7Riiii, seems to be better somewhat on the A1 but unfortunately I usually want it on my A7 series.
That's unfortunate
Great Review Dustin. Love that lens. Haven’t had time to create my own video, but one of these days ;-)
Cheers from LA and stay safe.
It's a sweet one.
Sir, I m confused between this lense 20mm 1.8g and tamron 17-28 2.8.....which one will be best for filmmaking?
That will completely depend on your priorities. Do you need the wider maximum aperture more...or the flexibility of the zoom range more?
Great lens and a great review! 👍🏻 Using my a7 RIV and a6600 with the 20/1.8 - it is a perfect combo.
Sweet.
What do you think about Sigma Art 20mm 1,4 if you compare with this Sony? Thank you
The 20mm is a very good lens, but a very different lens. Much, much larger and heavier, no front filter threads. I personally would prefer this one...for the way I use a 20mm lens.
Thank you, Dustin! I am a Canon guy and I don t have this option. I bought the Sigma 14-24 mm :) and I have the RF 15-35mm in my whishlist. I wish you all the best!
Thanks Dustin! The time and thought you put into your reviews is invaluable! Would you consider this an upgrade from the Zeiss Batis 18mm? Majority use cases are landscape and astrophotography.
I would, actually. It doesn't have the distortion issues the Batis has, and also gives you the faster maximum aperture.
@@DustinAbbottTWI Thanks for taking the time to reply.
Awesome review as usual! Quick question - what focal length and aperture did you shoot the outdoor talking portion of the video with? You (and the chair?) are so sharp, and yet still separated from the background
I used a Canon EOS R + Samyang RF 85mm F1.4 at F2
What's your opinion comparing this one with Zeiss Batis 18mm?
I like this one better, myself.
Excellent review Mr. Abbott. Lots of photographic examples. I respectfully nickname you, Dr. Abbott.
LOL - thank you!
Great review as always. One thing I beg to differ is sigma 14-24 f2.8 is sharper than Sony 20 G at f1.8 even at f2.8 that Sigma lens is a monster optically, sets the benchmark not only as ultra wide zoom but also include all 14mm 16mm 18mm 20mm primes too @f2.8 Its only weak spot is 24mm but even then it still quite good @ 24mm F2.8 Please recheck your test images if they are shot on the same body with same parameters.
Hi Frank, I don't think that is actually true (re the Sigma) particularly in the center 2/3rds of the frame. I definitely found the Sony sharper in both test and real work images at comparative apertures. I looked over a few others reviewers, and if you look at their tests, the resolution of the prime is definitely higher. Compare their findings, for example. www.digitalcameraworld.com/reviews/sigma-14-24mm-f28-dg-dn-art-review#:~:text=Verdict,Panasonic%20mirrorless%20full%2Dframe%20cameras.
@@DustinAbbottTWI Thanks answering this with cross reference. I need to do more homework on this topic.
Video starts at 1:30 ish
Another bang on review! This lens is truly good, not sure why it has just the G rather than the GM rating. I suspect the 24mm f1.4's learnings were passed onto this lens as well.
I agree. The line between G and GM is sometimes hard to follow.
I think Sony put the GM logo on lens where they put special glass, treatment and equipment (like 11 aperture blades) to improve the bokeh. Other than that... it's hard to tell.
Is it normal that the lens inside moves if on turns it upside down ? I see the inside lens move quite I bit if look at it from behind . No other Sony lens has that . It moves if the lens is off the camera or on the camera if the camera is switched off . Does not happen if the camera is switched on Is that normal with this lens ?
Some lenses have floating elements that enable better close focus and will move when not engaged.
@@DustinAbbottTWI Thank you
I have my second copy of this little beauty, I was concerned a bit because of the wobble on the focus ring, my second copy has the same wobble... so I guess this is "standard" or "normal" for the 20 1.8 other than that mindblowing wobble it is a perfect little lens Did anybpdy else noticed the wobble ?
You may be referring to some floating elements which enable better close up performance. If so, that's normal.
@@DustinAbbottTWI Not really, I was referring that the focus ring feels a bit like it is loose and has some play in it way more than my other lenses (GMs and Gs... which has actually non).
I didn't notice that in my review copy.
Hey Dustin! FYI... Just noticed the video seems to be out of sync with the sound in the beginning... just a hint, if you might wanna fix it... Besides that, thank you for your great reviews as always 😃👍
hi there - I just went and checked the original file, and the sync is fine. It must have been a playback issue for you.
How does it compare to the 24GM?
I think it compares quite favorable. Sharpness is just as high, but the GM has slightly nicer bokeh.
I am in crossroads. 20mm f/1.8 from Sony or 17-28mm f/2.8 from Tamron. From all reviews that I saw, it looks like Tamron has a sharpness problem, but still praised as a good lens. Not sure whether it is because reviewers are getting paid by Tamron or it is really that good.
I'm not sure where you get that the Tamron has a sharpness problem; it is a very sharp lens. I do think the 20mm F1.8 is sharper still, though. The Tamron is more versatile, but the Sony delivers the best optical performance.
Again a great review, thanks!
Glad you liked it!
This lens should've been stabilized, they could have expanded their market for vlogger who need a wide and stable lens. That extra feature was badly needed.
I'm skeptical that OS on a lens like this would be much better than the in body stabilization.
You’re spot on Dany
Thank you Dustin, your reviews are really good. But what lens did you use for the shot in the garden? My mind is always wandering from the content to the ugly background bokeh. Best regards, Helge P.S.: Your website is very slow.
Funny, I think the bokeh looks great. Subjective. The video was recorded on a Canon EOS R and a Samyang RF 85mm F1.4.
@@DustinAbbottTWI Interesting. Thanks a lot for answering.
this is my favorite lens thanks
Don't blame you; it's excellent.
sony is always the best😍 big fan of sony here
I don't know about always, but this is certainly a very good lens.
Bought a burnt Ti Ridge wallet. And - I bought the lens for night urban shooting. "Happy Dance"
You're just hitting all the hit points!
The main downside - it's a 20mm prime :) Btw, the only way I use a 20mm lens is shooting at closest possible focus distance in order to get that weird shot, both very wide and with blurred background. I see this has 0.2 magnification, which is not bad. But the cheap, little Tamron has 0.5. I would gladly swap 1 stop of light, especially on such a wide lens, for close to macro capabilities. At a third of the price. P.S. The picture on 8:33 is gorgeous. I love it!
Everyone uses lenses in different ways. Sound like the Tamron is the better fit for how you want to use the focal length.
Excellent review as always! There is just one problem watching your channel. You are so knowledgeable about photography equipment in a global sense that when you are impressed by a lens it removes all doubts if it would be a good purchase. I can’t believe Sony has not sent you any new lenses or the A1. On second thought I don’t think my wallet could handle it. Thanks
They did help me get a good price on the A1, which I've purchase and will be releasing coverage of it next week.
Whatever lens you are filming on has terrible looking bokeh at 2:37
Wow - I completely disagree. I think it looks great. BTW, that information is always at the end of my videos.
Added a little bit of weight ei!
Me or the lens? If me, then no. My weight stays pretty constant. I've been within a 10 pound range most of my adult life.
You forgot the Sigma 20mm F1.4 ART
I didn't forget it, actually, as it is referenced in my text review. It's a completely different kind of lens, however. Not designed for mirrorless (it's an adapted DSLR lens technically) and is much larger and heavier. It can't take standard filters. I don't see it as being a direct competitor for most people that will be considering this lens.
I want it!
I don't need it! Oh My GAS...
LOL - the story of most of our lives!
Great review, as always. Thank you!
My pleasure!