Sony FE 20mm F1.8 G – Sony E

OVERVIEW
Sony SEL20F18G (SEL-20F18G) FE 20mm F1.8 G Full Frame E-Mount Lens (SEL20F18G.SYX) is a high-quality photo lens designed for both photography and video. It features superb AF speed, precision, and tracking thanks to its two XD (eXtreme Dynamic) Linear Motors. These motors easily keep up with Sony’s high-speed camera bodies, making full use of their AF capabilities for responsive, silent, and low-vibration autofocus.

This lens is also equipped with a dust and moisture resistant design, making it reliable for outdoor use in challenging conditions. Its Nano AR Coating ensures crisp contrast without interfering with light transmission, reducing reflections that can cause glare.

Compact and lightweight, the Sony SEL20F18G is a versatile lens that offers ultra-wide 20mm perspectives and impressive corner-to-corner resolution from its maximum F1.8 aperture. This is made possible by its advanced optical design, which includes two AA (advanced aspherical) elements. Despite its powerful performance, the lens weighs just 373 grams (13.2 oz.), making it easy to handle and ideal for use on gimbals or accessory grips.

The FE 20mm F1.8 G also boasts smooth and natural-looking bokeh, thanks to its precise control of spherical aberration and 9-blade circular aperture. This lens is designed to accurately reproduce point light sources without colour smearing, thanks to its two AA elements and three ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements.

The XD Linear Motors of the Sony SEL20F18G maximise its AF speed, precision, and tracking, making it perfect for capturing fast-moving subjects. It also offers excellent close-up performance, with a minimum focusing distance of just 0.19 meter (0.63 ft) in AF mode and 0.18 meter (0.59 ft) in manual focus mode. This makes it a great choice for selfies and other subjects, especially when mounted on a gimbal or grip.

Designed for smooth operation and high reliability, the Sony SEL20F18G features a focus hold button, focus mode switch, and aperture ring for easy control. Users can also assign alternative functions to the focus hold button via camera body menu settings. The lens is also equipped with a fluorine coating on its front element to repel water and grime, and its dust and moisture resistant design makes it suitable for outdoor use in tough conditions.

In conclusion, the Sony SEL20F18G (SEL-20F18G) FE 20mm F1.8 G Full Frame E-Mount Lens (SEL20F18G.SYX) is a top-of-the-line photo lens that offers superb performance, versatility, and reliability. Its impeccable design strikes the perfect balance between high resolution and beautiful background bokeh, making it an essential tool for any photographer or videographer.

SUMMARY
Focal Length: 20mm
Max Aperture: f/1.8
Lens Format: Full Frame
Lens Type: Wide
Lens Mount: Sony E
Type:
Photo
Video
Weight: 0-2kg
INCLUDED IN BOX
1x Sony FE 20mm F1.8 G Full Frame E-Mount Lens
1x Hood (model): ALC-SH162
1x Lens front cap: ALC-F67S
1x Lens rear cap: ALC-R1EM
1x Soft case

About The Sony FE 20mm F1.8 G – Sony E
***Awarded a 5* Gold Amateur Photographer Award***

A compact high-resolution 20mm F1.8 prime

Sony’s latest optical technology achieves impressive corner-to-corner resolution from maximum F1.8 aperture in a large-aperture wide-angle prime lens. It is also remarkably compact, and matched with an E-mount body makes up a versatile, mobile system with outstanding AF performance, control, and reliability for a wide variety of shooting needs.

Ultra-wide 20mm perspectives, superb resolution from F1.8

Two AA (advanced aspherical) elements in an innovative optical design minimise aberration for outstanding corner-to-corner resolution right from the lens’s widest F1.8 aperture.

Compact and lightweight for enhanced mobility and handling

An advanced optical design that includes two AA elements is supported by a refined mechanical system in a G Lens that weighs just 373 grams (13.2 oz.). Small size and light weight enhance mobility when used with compact E-mount bodies, and make up a well-balanced system that is ideal for use on gimbals or accessory grips. The FE 20mm F1.8 G is a versatile lens for a wide variety of still and movie shooting situations.

Smooth, natural-looking bokeh

In addition to precise control of spherical aberration that has a significant influence on bokeh quality, the FE 20mm F1.8 G has a 9-blade circular aperture that contributes to smooth, creamy bokeh and natural-looking highlights that are hallmarks of the G Lens series.

Realistically rendered point sources

Two AA (advanced aspherical) elements and three ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements are employed to minimise sagittal flare so that point light sources are reproduced accurately, without colour smearing.

XD Linear Motors maximise AF speed, precision, and tracking

Two XD (eXtreme Dynamic) Linear Motors easily keep up with the high-speed capabilities of today’s most advanced camera bodies, taking advantage of their full autofocus speed, precision, and tracking potential to capture the most dynamic subjects. New control algorithms make it possible to drive the lens’s large focus group smoothly and without delays for responsive, silent, low-vibration autofocus.

Excellent close-up performance, even for selfies

In addition to the fact that 20mm is a great focal length for selfies, this lens has a minimum focusing distance of just 0.19 meter (0.63 ft) when used in AF mode, and an even closer 0.18 meter (0.59 ft) minimum focusing distance when focused manually. It is an excellent choice for gimbal/grip mounting, whether shooting selfies or other subjects.

Smooth operation and high reliability in a compact lens

A focus hold button, focus mode switch, aperture ring, and other controls are designed and positioned for easy operation and a smooth workflow. Alternative functions that support the user’s individual shooting needs can be assigned to the focus hold button via camera body menu settings. The front lens element is fluorine coated to repel water and grime, and the lens is dust and moisture resistant design provides the reliability needed for outdoor use in challenging conditions.

Lens Configuration

Impeccable Sony G Lens design emphasises a graceful balance between high resolution and gorgeous background bokeh that can enhance the artist’s vision.

Mount Sony E-mount
Format 35mm full frame
Focal-Length (mm) 20
35mm Equivalent Focal-Length (APS-C) 30
Lens Groups / Elements 12-14
Angle of View (35mm) 94
Angle of View (APS-C) 701
Maximum Aperture (F) 1.8
Minimum Aperture (F) 22
Aperture Blades 9
Circular Aperture Yes
Minimum Focus Distance 0.19 m (AF), 0.18 m (MF) (0.63 ft (AF), 0.59 ft (MF))
Maximum Magnification Ratio (X) 0.20 (AF), 0.22 (MF)
Filter Diameter (mm) 67
Image Stabilisation (Steadyshot) – (body-integrated)
Teleconverter Compatibility (X1.4) –
Teleconverter Compatibility (X2.0) –
Hood Type Petal shape, bayonet type
Dimensions (W X H X D) 73.5×84.7 mm (3 × 3 3/8 in.)
Weight 373 g (13.2 oz.)
Superb AF speed, precision, and tracking

Two XD (eXtreme Dynamic) Linear Motors easily keep up with Sony’s high-speed camera bodies, taking full advantage of their AF speed, precision, and tracking potential. New control algorithms make it possible to drive the lens’s large focus group smoothly and without delays for responsive, silent, low-vibration autofocus.

Dust and moisture resistant

A dust and moisture resistant design provides the reliability needed for outdoor use in challenging conditions.

Nano AR Coating for crisp contrast

Sony’s original Nano AR Coating creates a precise, regular nanostructure on lens surfaces that does not interfere with light transmission while suppressing reflections that can cause flare and ghosting. Internal reflections are reduced to an absolute minimum, achieving outstanding clarity and contrast. (1. Nano AR Coating / 2. Glass / 3. Transmitted light)

Fluorine front element coating

The front lens element features a fluorine coating that repels water, oil, and other contaminants, while making it easier to wipe off any contaminants or fingerprints that do become attached to the lens surface.

Natural, linear manual focus response

Linear Response MF ensures that the focus ring responds directly and linearly to subtle control when focusing manually. Focus ring rotation translates directly to a corresponding change in focus, so control feels immediate and precise.

Customisable focus hold button

A conveniently placed focus hold button not only offers easy focus hold control, but can be assigned to a variety of other functions from a menu accessed via the camera body.

Switchable aperture ring click stops

In addition to providing the fast response required for professional application, the aperture ring includes a switch that turns its click stops on or off: ON for tactile feedback when shooting stills, or OFF for seamless, silent control when shooting movies.

Easy manual/auto focus switching

A focus mode switch that allows instant switching between auto and manual focus modes can be a great advantage when shooting subjects or situations that require fine manual focus adjustment.

30mm equivalent on APS-C bodies

This lens also balances well on smaller APS-C format bodies, providing a very useful wide-angle focal length of 30mm (full-frame format equivalent). 30mm is great for taking snapshots around town, shooting the scenery while hiking or mountain climbing, and much more. The SEL20F18G is highly recommended for APS-C as well as full-frame users.

Accepts a variety of filters

Unlike many other ultra-wide-angle lenses, the lens accepts circular polarizing filters for landscapes, ND filters for movies, and other filter types so the user has full creative control.