This week Sony has added to its extensive range of native mirrorless full-frame lenses with the launch of the new FE 20mm F1.8 G Lens Series (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.
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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 just 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.”
Technical Specifications & Key Features of the Sony 20mm f/1.8 G
- Focal Length 20mm
- Maximum Aperture f/1.8
- Minimum Aperture f/22
- Lens Mount Sony E
- Format Compatibility Full-Frame
- Angle of View 94°
- Minimum Focus Distance 7.09″ / 18 cm
- Maximum Magnification 0.2x
- Optical Design 14 Elements in 12 Groups
- Diaphragm Blades 9, Rounded
- Focus Type Autofocus
- Image Stabilization No
- Filter Size 67 mm (Front)
- Dimensions (ø x L) 2.89 x 3.33″ / 73.5 x 84.7 mm
- Weight 13.16 oz / 373 g
Check Pricing and Availability of the Sony FE 20mm F/1.8 G
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.
Exclusive stories and exciting new content shot with the new lens and Sony’s other imaging products can be found at alphauniverse.com, a site created to educate and inspire all fans and customers of Sony’s α – Alpha brand. New content will also be posted directly at the Sony Photo Gallery and the Sony Camera Channel on YouTube.
For detailed product information, please visit:
(US) – FE 20mm F1.8 G
(Canada) – FE 20mm F1.8 G
The timing of this lens couldn’t be more interesting given the earlier announced Tamron 20mm for FE mount has also just hit the shelves. We’re already planning on reviewing the Tamron 20mm so i’m excited to get the Sony model in at the same time to do some side by side comparisons. What do you think about this lens and it’s price point? Are you excited to test it out? Do you want to see us test anything specific with them? Let us know in the comments below.