Sony SEL20F28 E Mount - APS-C 20mm F2.8 Wide Angle Prime Lens, Black

Ok, lets get started by saying I already own the 35 mm 1.8, and 16-50mm PZ (kit lens), both Sony lenses. I've already done a seperate review for the 35mm 1.8. The 20mm seemed like a bargain for 180 quid, but was I right?The short answer is yes. It's a beautifully compact bit of kit, it has limited scope for shallow depth shots at a max. aperture of 2.8, but I think the compromise is worth it. I have my 35mm 1.8 which I adore, but the 20mm is so small it literally would be stupid to not take it with you everywhere you take your camera!I'm mainly a manual focus user, as I'm more into artistic photography than family snaps - with that said I've been to a party recently with this lens and I did use autofocus for that occasion, plus flash due to the indoor night-time environment, and I'm pleased to say it was generally very swift, only occasionally struggling when subjects were really close (0.5-1m). Build quality seems the same as the high quality 35mm lens, and looks really sleek and discreet on the camera. The lens hood is unusual but clever, as it adds less forward bulk, avoiding that 'I'M A PHOTOGRAPHER' look which you tend to get with regular 'petal' types. The manual focus ring is extremely narrow, which took some getting used to, but thankfully the grip is very effective so it's hard to slip enough that you can't correct yourself quickly. Manual focus is also a lot more sensitive than the 35mm counterpart by Sony, so again it takes some getting used to, but I think after a while it actually allows you to track targets coming toward/going away a little easier which can be very helpful. Pictures so far have been really hitting above what I was expecting for the money. Sharp at 2.8 and very sharp by 3.5, bokeh can be really good if you have decent distance in your isolation, and I think will be extremely useful focal length (equiv. full frame length = 30mm) for general use.I've made some outstanding choices with the 20mm and the 35mm, mostly from reading reviews here. They've been a real cut above the kits lens in terms of quality and practicality, and this one is a total steal at 180 quid. If you can afford it, and you're into street/architecture/travel/portraits etc, get both of these lenses and in my opinion you've got yourself a quality, versatile, compact little kit.

As other reviewers rightly say, the SEL20F28 is an excellent way to make your Sony E Mount camera/lens combination as small as possible, but for owners of a Sony A6500 there’s an equally compelling reason to buy this lens: it turns your camera into a superb 4K camcorder.How? Well, it’s all down to the way that the A6500’s powerful set of on-board features transform an already highly portable camera/lens combination into one that's ideal for situations where camcorders excel - i.e. point & shoot videos, in particular family videos, where ease of use, minimal set-up, and minimal manual intervention are critical.First off, the A6500’s clever "Clear Image Zoom" option turns the SEL20F28 into a 20-40mm (30-60mm in 35mm terms) zoom lens with no noticeable degradation in image quality – a limited range for photo work but an excellent one for general video work. Next, the A6500’s "on board" image stabilisation overcomes the SEL20F28's lack of built-in stabilisation to make it a shake free video lens. Then, the A6500’s focussing systems result in an impressive absence of “focus hunting” coupled with smooth & natural transitions when the focus point in a video shot changes – something that most dedicated camcorders achieve with ease but which most DSLR & mirrorless camera/lens combinations struggle with. And, finally, the imperceptible noise from the SEL20F28’s focus motor coupled with the total lack of noise of the A6500’s Clear Image Zoom system result in virtually silent video capture – again, something that's taken for granted with dedicated camcorders but which is a major problem with most DSLR & mirrorless camera/lens combinations where, if you try to use them like a camcorder, the persistent noises from the lens’ focus & zoom motors wreck the audio unless an external microphone is used.Add to this the A6500’s extensive range of customisable buttons that allow you to adjust its operating layout into one that's intuitive & quick for video shooting – most important of which is the ability to program its rear thumb dial as a rocker switch for smooth zoom control – and the end result is a camera/lens combination that genuinely emulates a dedicated 4K camcorder but which fits into a reasonably sized coat pocket.Brilliant… in fact so good that it really is a “must have” for any A6500 owner who wants to shoot video.

I have several Sony Lenses for my NEX7 and wanted this compact wide angle to complete my selection. However, previous reviews rave about the new boy to the Sony stable. The quality is no better or worse than my other lenses and will be useful for soft focus and depth to scenes sometimes missing in other lenses. Added to my lens bag.

Lovely little lens. So compact I carry it along with camera at all times rather than in separate accessories bag where my other lenses usually live. The lens hood is pretty novel and looks a bit strange at first but it's well thought out just as you'd expect form Sony. I'm no expert so can't give a detailed review of the optical performance but it seems to give good crisp images and a very welcome f2.8 which opens up a lot of creative possibilities. I'm very happy with this lens.

Very compact a good lens. Can put my cameras in my pocket when this lens fitted. A6000 A6400 witch is very handy at times images are clean for such a compacked lens field of view is good glad I bought it.......

An excellent entry level prime lens for the Sony A6000 range. As with all other Sony e-mount lenses, this is a quality built product that fits with ease. The prime lens is small enough to carry in your pocket as you'd expect with a pancake lens, and weighs approx 70g. The box contained lens and a slit hood.Used only in good light, the image quality is fantastic. Great introduction to prime lenses, and although a little more expensive than some other brands, doesn't cost the earth. After a week of outdoor landscapes I'm pleased with the results.Review from a novice photographer. Sample images attached, no filters or post editing applied.