Small, light and good!
Hands On: Sony 16mm f/1.8 G
At the same time as the new 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS telephoto zoom, Sony is also introducing a new ultra-wide-angle Lens with the new 16mm f/1.8 G, which now opens up even more creative possibilities. We were able to get our hands on the new fixed focal length in advance and test it briefly. In this blog post, we reveal what the new lens can do and, above all, for whom it might be worth a look.
Table of contents
Size, weight and operation
Let's start with what is certainly the most striking feature of the new 16mm f/1.8 G: as usual with the G series, at just 304g it is a real lightweight and with a length of just 7.5cm it is also really compact. This makes it a good "always with you" Lens, especially when you are out and about on your next city trip or when traveling.
In addition, the new 16mm f/1.8 G is equipped with everything you need for fast and precise operation: an iris lock switch is also on board, which you can use to prevent accidental switching between manual and automatic aperture control. With the click-declick switch, the aperture ring can also be operated continuously, which is extremely helpful, especially in the video sector.
Sony SEL 16mm f/1.8 G Sony FE-Mount
- Sony SEL 16mm f/1.8 G
- 16mm ultra wide-angle prime lens, full frame
- beautiful bokeh
- fast, precise autofocus for outstanding shots
- impressive close-ups
- ideal for both photographers and videographers
Image quality +amp; video
In general, the new 16mm f/1.8 G is extremely exciting, not least for use in the video sector. And not only because its small size and low weight make it extremely easy to balance on a gimbal. What will probably please videographers even more, however, is that Sony has now also given the new 16mm its own 67mm filter thread, which we missed a little with the 14mm f/1.8 GM.
Another improvement that plays a role in the video sector is focus breathing. Sony has once again been able to minimize this significantly with this lens, so that we were unable to observe this phenomenon in our short test. The image quality of the new 16mm f/1.8 G is also really impressive: The two Advanced Aspherical (AA) elements ensure good resolution right into the edges of the image even at f/1.8 and, in combination with the three ED glass elements, reduce sagittal reflections, which is particularly important for astro shots. The bokeh is also really nice and soft thanks to the 11 aperture blades.
What is also really impressive is the close focusing distance: at around 15 cm in autofocus and 13 cm in manual focus, this is really very good. And while we're on the subject of autofocus: The built-in XD linear motors ensure that the autofocus on this Lens is not only fast and reliable, but also really quiet. Manual focusing is also super intuitive and precise thanks to the Linear Response MF.
Conclusion:
Sony's new 16mm f/1.8 G is small, compact, light and good - and therefore a great choice for all those who still wanted a compact fixed focal length between the 14mm f/1.8 GM and the 20mm f/1.8 G. From astro to landscape, street to video, this lens is versatile - and at €999 RRP, it's even relatively fairly priced.
And even though the lens was developed for full-frame cameras, its enormous wide angle also makes it well suited for use on APS-C cameras, such as the FX30 or Sony Alpha 6700.
