Sony FE 16mm F1.8 G review: a fast and light super wide-angle prime lens
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Sony FE 16mm F1.8 G: Two Minutes Review
Each lens comes with some kind of compromise, but SonyIt’s done well on the Fe 16mm f1.8 G., and yes, it lacks the versatility of wide-angle zoom Fe 16-35mm f2.8 gm II. But if you have super wide angle primes in the market with plenty of creativity, it is a real box attacker.
You have a 16mm focal length favored by architecture and landscape fans, as well as a fast f/1.8 aperture to satisfy night sky lovers. You have fast autofocus and a good set of manual controls. Then, you already have the size: Sony has cleverly packaged the Fe 16mm f1.8 g, making it an easy to travel lens. All of this is priced in firm brackets.
Sony may sell its 16mm primes in your traditional wide-angle users, but the list makes it a compelling claim for anyone keen on trying a wider horizon. Where is the capture?
In the secondary category, there are several labeled Fe 16mm f1.8 G. To achieve its low weight and matching price, Sony uses a considerable amount of plastic in the build. Although it is a water-resistant lens, it does not have a complete weather seal. But this is not the G main lens. Neither of these factors should be a deal-breaker for this money.
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Probably the barrel distortion. While Prime optics means that the Fe 16mm F1.8 g can be sharp in the center with the widest aperture, the details fall in the softness of the corners. This is because of how much correction is being made at the edge of the frame. Shooting with RAW, you need a lot of compensation to make you pay for clarity in stretched pixels.
While this reliance on lens corrections may be detrimental to purists, Sony is not alone in leaving software to address optical flaws. It’s not just an issue that affects Prime Glass. As we found in the comments Canon RF 15-35mm f2.8L is USM. Sony’s own Fe 16-35mm f2.8 gm II is also guilty of this.
In fact, if you are willing to enjoy some kind of corner softness, the Fe 16mm f1.8 g is an excellent ultra-wide-angle prime. Shooting at f/1.8 not only makes the most of the available light, but also allows you to use a defocused background as the subject is close to the lens.
Indeed, photographers and travel photographers may better serve you better with a 16-35mm zoom, even if that means accepting a slower maximum aperture. The Sony FE 16-35mm f2.8 gm II is versatile and can cover wide angles and tighter 35mm street shots with edge-to-edge details. But for those who want to get creative at 16mm, the Fe 16mm f1.8 g is not far away.
Sony Fe 16mm F1.8 G specification
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type: |
Ultra wide angle prime number |
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Mountain: |
Sony E-Mount |
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sensor: |
Complete |
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focal length: |
16mm |
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Maximum aperture: |
f/1.8 |
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Minimum focus: |
0.13m |
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Filter size: |
67mm |
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aspect: |
73.8 x 75mm |
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weight: |
304g |
Sony Fe 16mm F1.8 G: Design
- Compact and lightweight wide-angle prime
- Prevent dust and moisture
- Tactile focus and aperture control ring
It’s not a pancake, but Sony makes some really clever packaging to keep the Fe 16mm f1.8 g compact. By super angle standards, this is as small as the f/1.8 aperture. It weighs 10.7 oz/304g and measures just 73.8 x 75mm (or about 3 inches per shaft). This makes it more Sony FE 20mm F1.8g.
Its lean construction is achieved in part by using plastic in the building. The result is that the barrel is not particularly overflowing, but Sony is not doing cheap work either. The corners that were not felt were cut here: the body was not squeaking, the controls were tactile. While you don’t get the weather seal of the G-main series, the resistance to dust and moisture also adds a sense of robustness.
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Overall impression is one of the functions. This extends to the controls, most of which are thoughtfully placed within the bounds of the finger. It’s a relaxing shot that can feel your way with one hand. Some touches also help lift the user experience above basic primes: you have a switch with the option of clicking or smooth aperture ring rotation, for example, as well as a programmable feature button.
Some users may like the weight of the manual focus ring, but the resistance of the aperture ring feels good. Along with the focus mode and the switch of the iris lock, the Fe 16mm f1.8 g is a lovely lens. It’s with Sony A7C II Test convenient wide-angle shooting settings.
Sony FE 16mm F1.8 g: Performance
- Fixed ultra-wide 16mm focal length
- Fast f/1.8 maximum aperture
- Quick autofocus with two linear motors
With the Fe 16mm f1.8 g frame, you will immediately see the width of the 16mm focal length. Whether you are shooting buildings, interiors, or landscapes, this is a shot designed to give you a dramatic view. And, thanks to its maximum aperture width, you can shoot these views in a variety of situations.
At f/1.8, this is very fast glass. Whether it’s the night street scene or the starry sky, it’s enough to capture the sharp results of low lighting. Sony believes that the Fe 16mm F1.8 g is a good choice for astrophotography. The 16mm lightweight collection capability certainly means you can make the most of any lumen available.
The wide aperture also means you can play with a very shallow depth of field. The most effective when shooting close-ups: With the right composition, you can oppose the near-close focus against the striking scattered background. This impression is enhanced by the fact that the wider field of view contains more background than standard macro lenses.
Bokeh can be smoother and we do encounter some wrong colors against a blurred background. Likewise, its close-range capability provides additional strings for Sony’s ultra-wide-angle prime bow. It’s not a macro lens, but the minimum focus distance is only 15 million, and the Fe 16mm f1.8 g can get you very close.
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In all conditions, the autofocus system helps quickly. Driven by a bilinear motor, centralized response is almost instant. This is like shooting large themes in spacious sunlight, at close proximity. The lens paired with the Sony A7C II, showing a complimentary hit rate, and there is no reason to doubt it will find its target.
All of this translates into videos as well. It’s easy to see why Sony touts the Fe 16mm f1.8 g as a lens with video potential. Its ultra-wide focal length and critical capabilities are perfect for self-portrait photography, allowing users to record themselves comfortably armlength. The proportion of the lens itself also makes it with the video recording camera (e.g. Sony ZV-E1.
Focus breathing is kept at a minimum: shift the focus during recording and the field of view remains consistent for most eyes. If you have a compatible Sony body, you can use the breath compensation feature to eliminate it completely with a slight crop. Shoot the video at a 16:9 ratio and also use deformation correction to figure out any softness in the corners (see below).
Sony FE 16mm F1.8 g: Sample Image
The images taken with the Sony Fe 16mm F1.8 G are extensive and excellent. Like most Prime lenses, there is an optimal position in the aperture range that makes your edge-to-edge sharp without the need for a small interlude. This is exactly what you found in f/4.
This story is open in f/1.8, a little different. There are some smaller vignetting in the original still map that can be resolved in the post office or greatly reduced by stopping f/2.8. Unless you want the effect to complement the wide-angle look, bringing the eyes to the center of the frame.
Barrel distortion is more of a problem. This is not surprising for such a wide angle prime, but the result is that details are removed and the correction stretches the pixels in the corner. Whether it is applying it to JPEG still images or in editing of RAW files, the result is the same: the softness of the distance of the frame.
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What is the loss of this problem, which usually comes down to composition. Naturally, when dispersing the area, the results of distortion correction are less obvious. Anyway, you can still get excellent center clarity at f/1.8 and the resolution of the entire frame remains nice until f/11. Apart from that, you will find that the clarity will drop significantly, especially when you are close to f/22.
In stills captured in the sun, Fe 16mm f1.8 g has a strong ability to deal with backlights. The widest aperture may have some flushing, but the contrast remains at f/4. The lens also remains tightly controlled and has a soft but attractive sunbathing in narrow holes.
Should you buy Sony Fe 16mm F1.8 g?
If…buy it
if…
How do I test Sony Fe 16mm F1.8 g
- A comprehensive test lasted for a week
- Body pairing with Sony A7C II
- Used under various conditions
Sony can only lend me 16mm f1.8 g in 7 days, during which time I shot it extensively. Thankfully, the weather was great during the time I spent so I was able to fully evaluate how it handles different lighting conditions, from bright backlights to dim evening scenes.
Traditionally, 16mm is considered to be the shot of landscape and architecture, and I did both. However, since Sony’s ultra-wide primes also have the potential to scatter the fast maximum aperture, I also made sure to shoot at close range with a range of subjects.
I use the lens and Sony A7C II Body. With a lot of shots over the course of a week, I was able to get a good idea of ​​the build quality and usability of the lens, especially the focus and the feel of the aperture ring.
- First reviewed March 2025
