Tag: best sony lenses

The 10 Best Sony Wide Angle Lenses I’ve Ever Used 2024

Wide-angle lenses are essential for capturing expansive landscapes, cityscapes, and unique perspectives. Whether you’re into photography or videography, having the right wide-angle lens can elevate your shots to a whole new level. After years of testing various Sony lenses—native, third-party options like Tamron, Sigma, and Samyang—I’ve compiled this list of the best wide-angle lenses for Sony in 2024. Here’s a deep dive into their performance, value, and versatility.

1. Sony 24mm f/1.4 GM

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If you’re looking for the perfect combination of sharpness, low-light performance, and portability, the Sony 24mm f/1.4 GM is a no-brainer. This lens is a top-tier performer for astrophotography, weddings, landscapes, and more. The sharpness is unparalleled, and the bokeh is dreamy. Weighing just under a pound, it’s light and compact, making it perfect for long shoots. Though it’s pricey, the quality you get justifies every penny. It’s an absolute must-have if you’re serious about wide-angle photography.

Pros: Incredible sharpness, lightweight, excellent low-light performance

Cons: Moderately expensive

2. Sony 10-18mm f/4 OSS

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This hidden gem is often overlooked but deserves to be at the top of the list. Made for APS-C sensors, it works surprisingly well on full-frame Sony cameras. With optical image stabilization, it’s perfect for vloggers or anyone looking to capture ultra-wide shots without breaking the bank. At just around $300, it’s the best budget-friendly wide-angle lens out there.

Pros: Budget-friendly, versatile zoom range, stabilization

Cons: F/4 aperture can be limiting in extreme low light

3. Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 GM

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The Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 GM is a workhorse lens for professionals. While it’s on the pricier side, its fast aperture and incredible image quality make it worth it for those with deeper pockets. It’s fantastic for landscapes, architecture, and even portraits. However, its steep price point and the weight make it less ideal for those looking for a more affordable option.

Pros: Fantastic image quality, versatile focal range

Cons: Very Expensive

4. Sigma 20mm f/1.4 Art Lens

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The Sigma 20mm f/1.4 Art lens is known for its stunning image quality, particularly for astrophotography. The downside? It’s big and heavy. If you don’t mind the weight, this lens is an absolute beast for creating vivid, sharp, and well-defined images, especially in low light.

Pros: Exceptional image quality, great for astrophotography

Cons: Heavy, expensive

5. Sony 16-35mm f/4 Zeiss

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This is one of the most reliable wide-angle zooms out there. Lightweight, sharp, and with a great focal range, it’s a fantastic companion for hikers, travelers, or anyone who needs a dependable lens for different scenarios. It may not be as fast as the f/2.8 version, but it’s still plenty sharp.

Pros: Lightweight, reliable, sharp

Cons: F/4 aperture can be limiting in extreme low light

6. Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8

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If you’re on a budget but still want quality, the Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 is an excellent choice. It’s lightweight and performs well in various scenarios. While 17mm isn’t as wide as some other lenses on this list, it’s still perfect for landscape photography or vlogging.

Pros: Affordable, lightweight, great for vlogging

Cons: Not as wide as other lenses

7. Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 Auto Focus

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The Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 is an autofocus version of the Samyang 14mm, offering a more modern experience. It’s affordable, ultra-wide, and lightweight, making it ideal for real estate photography, landscapes, or astrophotography. However, the autofocus system is a bit loud, which can be annoying for video work.

Pros: Wide, affordable

Cons: Noisy autofocus

8. Sony 12-24mm f/4

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For those who need an ultra-wide lens for landscapes, the Sony 12-24mm f/4 is a fantastic choice. It’s sharp, reliable, and versatile. However, its high price tag can be a barrier for many, especially considering its f/4 aperture. If you can find it used, though, it’s a worthwhile addition to your kit.

Pros: Ultra-wide, sharp

Cons: Heavy, expensive

9. Samyang 14mm f/2.8 Manual Focus

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If you’re comfortable with manual focus and want a bargain, the Samyang 14mm f/2.8 is your best bet. It’s extremely affordable and delivers good image quality for the price. However, the manual focus can be a dealbreaker for many, especially when shooting fast-paced environments.

Pros: Very affordable

Cons: Manual focus can be limiting

10. Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 Art

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This is probably the heaviest lens on the list, and while the image quality is stellar, it’s just too bulky for most users. It’s also expensive, making it hard to recommend over lighter, more affordable options. For those reasons, it ranks last on our list.

Pros: Excellent image quality

Cons: Heavy, expensive

Final Thoughts
Every photographer has different needs when it comes to wide-angle lenses, and while some prioritize sharpness and low-light performance, others may prioritize affordability and portability. The Sony 24mm f/1.4 GM stands out as the best all-around performer, while the Sony 10-18mm f/4 OSS offers unbeatable value for budget-conscious buyers. If you’re looking for specialized lenses, like for astrophotography, the Sigma 20mm f/1.4 Art is your go-to.

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The Secret Budget Ultra-Wide Angle Lens for Sony Full Frame in 2024

When it comes to shooting stunning ultra-wide photos and videos on a Sony full-frame camera, you might think that you need to spend thousands of dollars to get a high-quality lens. But in 2024, there’s a secret weapon that offers incredible performance without breaking the bank: the Sony 11-18mm F4 lens. If you’re looking for a lens that’s both affordable and powerful, this might just be the best-kept secret in the camera world.

Why It’s Special

Now, at first glance, this lens is the equivalent to a 15-27mm f4 on full frame since you have to multiple by the crop factor of 1.5x. It is a crop sensor lens after all. But, that’s where the secret lies. If you enable full frame mode for the lens in your Sony Alpha camera, it turns it into a super wide 10-18mm. With other crop sensor lenses there would be tons of vignetting, or black around the edges, but not with this lens for some reason. Call it a design flaw gone right, but this lens has incredible quality without vignetting from 11mm upward. Finding an equivalent full frame model could easily cost you thousands of dollars. But this lens is only $300 used. At 11mm-18mm, it’s insanely wide, making it perfect for vlogging, architecture photography, landscapes, and dynamic video shots. This lens creates that dramatic, expansive look that’s difficult to achieve with a standard lens or even a super wide 16-35mm f2.8 lens! Whether you’re capturing sprawling cityscapes or immersive travel vlogs, this super ultra-wide focal length makes your footage look epic.

Features That Stand Out

  • Optical Image Stabilization (OSS): One of the game-changing features of this lens is the Optical Image Stabilization. This is particularly crucial when you’re shooting handheld video or walking while vlogging. Your footage will be smoother, with minimal shaking, which is essential for keeping your content looking professional.
  • Ultra-Light and Portable: Another reason why people love this lens is that it’s incredibly light and small. Unlike some of the bulkier full-frame lenses, this one doesn’t weigh down your bag or your camera, making it perfect for on-the-go shooting. It’s easy to carry and doesn’t draw much attention, which is ideal for travel and street photography.
  • Affordable Price: Most ultra-wide full-frame lenses cost well over $2,000. For example, the 16-35mm F4 retails for more than $1,000, while the 12-24mm F4 can go up to $2,800. But this Sony 10-18mm F4 lens is only $300 used, which is an absolute steal when you consider the quality and versatility it offers. You’re getting similar ultra-wide coverage without having to drain your savings.
  • Versatility from 11-18mm: While 11mm gives you that stunning ultra-wide perspective, you can also zoom in to 18mm for more traditional shots. It’s great for creating variety in your compositions without needing to switch lenses constantly.

The Image Quality

Some people might hesitate because it’s an F4 lens, but trust me, the aperture is more than adequate for most scenarios. While it’s not a super-fast lens like an F2.8, it’s perfect for landscapes, outdoor shots, and vlogging, where you typically don’t need an ultra-shallow depth of field. On a full-frame camera, the F4 gives you solid performance even in lower light conditions.

Real-World Use

I’ve personally taken this lens around on multiple shoots, and I’m blown away by its performance. Walking around with it is a dream, especially because of how light and compact it is. The stabilization ensures my shots are smooth, and the wide-angle coverage captures scenes that look epic. Even my friend, Ralph, who initially sold his, said it was the one lens he regretted parting with, and he’s looking to buy it again!

Why It’s a Steal in 2024

One of the best parts about this lens is that it’s no longer being produced, and the prices on the used market are incredibly low—for now. At $300, it’s practically a gift, especially compared to the much more expensive alternatives. However, because they’re not making them anymore, the prices could go up, making this an even more valuable buy.

If you’re shooting on a Sony full-frame and want an ultra-wide lens without paying thousands of dollars, I highly recommend grabbing the Sony 10-18mm F4 lens while you can. Worst-case scenario, you don’t like it, and you can return it—but trust me, you won’t want to. This lens will unlock so much creative potential in your photography and videography.

Thanks for reading, and as always, have a great day and week! If you decide to pick up this lens, feel free to drop your thoughts in the comments below.

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