Sony Looking for advice on wide angle lenses

[L0n3Gr3yW0lf]

Hello. I am looking for advice, experience with or just opinion, on wide angle lenses for Sony FE. Let me say the use cases first:

*I would like a wide angle for one handed selfies of me and my little dog on travel, I'm not sure which focal length would be better/easier for that as I haven't owned that many wide angles or for very long. I would like it to be light and compact for travel.

*I would like a lens wider then 28mm for indoor use to make pictures of my dog, especially when she sits with me (and I struggle to frame at arm's length at 28mm), and potentially to shoot tiny humans from their perspective. I would like it to be faster then f 2.8 for indoor/low-light and AF to be at least moderalty reliable (but not a priority at the moment).

*I would like to use a wider then 28mm for landscapes and in forests (my current Tamy goes only as wide as 28mm), the only requirement for this would be weather sealing, sharpness doesn't matter much because I will use f 5.6 to f 16 in this case most of the time.

I would like to consider Tamron 17-28mm f 2.8 Di III RXD if not for the first 2 cases, difficult to handle one handed and not sure f 2.8 would be enough indoors (I had to shoot ISO 25.600 at 28mm of my dog in the winter and it's not a setting I want to depend on often). Still I would like that lens at some point.
Next one I was thinking about is Sony FE 28mm f 2 as it's very cheap and compact but I'm not sure it's wide enough.
The Sony FE 24mm f 2.8 G is a lovely option but a high price for a f 2.8 prime despite the great build quality. Please don't mention the G Master option, over a grand for a prime lens makes my kidneys tremble on fear of being sold

The last ones that my mind falls towards are:
*Samyang AF 24mm f 1.8 FE, great price, good build quality, great optics
*Samyang AF 18mm f 2.8 FE, great price, decent build quality, decent optics
*Viltrox AF 24mm f 1.8 FE, I don't know all that much about the lens

The one lens I do struggle to consider is Zeiss Batis 25mm f 2, mostly because of the price, it's the only "almost native" first part Sony lens that first between the Sony FE 24mm f 1.4 G Master and Sony FE 28mm f 2.

PS. Of all the lenses I mentioned I will buy only 2nd hand to afford the prices so I would have to wait for stock if it's not available. And it's something I am looking towards the later end of the year. (Things are slowly improving for me to be able to do it)

 

[CatsAreGods]

I don't currently have a Sony but Viltrox lenses have quickly made a reputation for solid build and great optics. I got a 13mm f1/.4 for my Fujifilm (20mm FF equivalent) and it's awesome. Definitely check out reviews of that 24mm lens for your camera!

 

[John King]

Sorry, but I can't resist ...

Olympus E-M5 MkII plus f/1.8 8mm, FE.

Small and light kit for one handed use.
Can de-fish in camera (?) or in OWS for rectilinear perspective.
Large aperture.
16 mm 135 format 'equivalent'.
Very close MFD.
Easy one handed operation.

 

[mnhoj]

How about the Sony 20mm F1.8? I thought it was a very good performer when I had it.
A good bit wider than your 28-75 and F1.8. Also shares the same filter size. But, pricey.

 

[L0n3Gr3yW0lf]

How about the Sony 20mm F1.8? I thought it was a very good performer when I had it.
A good but wider than your 28-75 and F1.8. Also shares the same filter size. But, pricey.

I checked the used prices and it goes between 600 and 750 £. A bit on the higher side, I was hoping for something closer to 500 £ or less, but I will think about it.

 

[betamax]

I don’t think the Sammy 18mm is WR is it? But I too am thinking about it to pair with my Tamron 28-200mm as my FF kit As it’s small and very light (even for FF). My normal uwa is the Sigma 16-28 which is very sharp, but turns the opposite direction to my Tamron 28-200. I’m used to it now and the IQ out of it is such that it’s a keeper. I am considering the Sony 1.8 but I’m thinking 4mm makes a big difference at the wide end.

 

[L0n3Gr3yW0lf]

Sorry, but I can't resist ...

Olympus E-M5 MkII plus f/1.8 8mm, FE.

Small and light kit for one handed use.
Can de-fish in camera (?) or in OWS for rectilinear perspective.
Large aperture.
16 mm 135 format 'equivalent'.
Very close MFD.
Easy one handed operation.

It's okayu, it is a lovely combo, I never shot with a fish-eye before so I'm not sure how to feel about it but it does sound interesting

I don’t think the Sammy 18mm is WR is it? But I too am thinking about it to pair with my Tamron 28-200mm as my FF kit As it’s small and very light (even for FF). My normal uwa is the Sigma 16-28 which is very sharp, but turns the opposite direction to my Tamron 28-200. I’m used to it now and the IQ out of it is such that it’s a keeper. I am considering the Sony 1.8 but I’m thinking 4mm makes a big difference at the wide end.

No, Sammy 18mm is not WR BUT they are working on a 20mm T 1.9 which has the same optics but adjusted to fit in a bigger housing and with the better build quality and WR. The expected price is about 500-600 £.
Sigma 16-28mm did look like an interesting option when it was launched but, like you, the opposite turning of the zoom ring feels off compared to (3) all of my Tamron lenses and is not something I would like, the size is basically the same as Tamy 17-28mm f 2.8

I would like the Tamy 28-200mm f 2.8-5.6 as my doggie walk/(lazy) street photography/ travel zoom lens but it's on the back burner for now because I have the f 2.8 zooms set (maybe next year).

 

[Brownie]

*I would like a lens wider then 28mm for indoor use to make pictures of my dog, especially when she sits with me (and I struggle to frame at arm's length at 28mm), and potentially to shoot tiny humans from their perspective. I would like it to be faster then f 2.8 for indoor/low-light and AF to be at least moderalty reliable (but not a priority at the moment).

I kind of homed in on this because it seems this is the most demanding of your requirements. You have three problems. Focus distance needs to be 2' or less, lens speed, and Field of View.

I find 2.8 is plenty fast enough to shoot indoors with a modern FF sensor. ISO 8000 on your camera is no trick at all. Your camera's second native ISO is 400, so you can gain two stops with zero noise addition over ISO 100 with no additional noise. For that matter, ISO 600 is about the same as ISO 200.

The FOV for a 28mm lens at 2' is about 2.5'. Seems like it'd be wide enough, but if you want wider you can get to 3' by going to 24mm. 17mm gets you up to 4.25', so a lot more room for movement and still get everyone in the frame.

Last is close focus. This shouldn't be a problem with a wide angle lens, but definitely check.

Not being a big prime guy, I recommend the Tamron 17-28. It's fast, tack sharp, small, light, affordable, gets wide without having to defish, and has a close focus distance of around 7-1/2".

For samples, this link takes you to a Flickr album from last year's Detroit Autorama, which was shot entirely with the 17-28, mostly at ISO 400.

Detroit Autorama 2022

Explore this photo album by Shotglass Photo on Flickr!

flic.kr

The only time I need a faster lens is when it's really dark and I MUST freeze action. Under normal lighting 2.8 is enough if you trust the camera's higher ISO settings. Here's an example of indoors (gymnasium lighting) at f/2.8 and ISO 8000. Different lens but same settings:

DSC08451 by telecast, on Flickr

 

[The Electric Squirrel]

I'll give my vote for the Tamron 17-28 f/2.8 also. At least give it a strong consideration, since you seem hesitant about the exact focal length you want. 17mm is very different from 28mm... It's also fast enough, has a functioning autofocus system and is relatively small and lightweight for what it is. Same applies to the Sigma 16-28 too, though.

The Sony FE 2/28 is a character lens. It's tiny, lightweight and much fun. Also it has nicer bokeh than a wideangle has right to have. But it is sharp in the middle and nowhere else wide open, has distortion and vignetting. It can also lose contrast badly in certain situations, like when focused close and working against a bright light. I do like it's rendering, though..:

By the way, for selfies try using a wireless remote to trigger. That way you can hold the camera from the lens. I find this easier especially with anything heavier than a bodycap attached to the body.

 

[rayvonn]

I'll give my vote for the Tamron 17-28 f/2.8 also. At least give it a strong consideration, since you seem hesitant about the exact focal length you want. 17mm is very different from 28mm... It's also fast enough, has a functioning autofocus system and is relatively small and lightweight for what it is. Same applies to the Sigma 16-28 too, though.

The Sony FE 2/28 is a character lens. It's tiny, lightweight and much fun. Also it has nicer bokeh than a wideangle has right to have. But it is sharp in the middle and nowhere else wide open, has distortion and vignetting. It can also lose contrast badly in certain situations, like when focused close and working against a bright light. I do like it's rendering, though..:

By the way, for selfies try using a wireless remote to trigger. That way you can hold the camera from the lens. I find this easier especially with anything heavier than a bodycap attached to the body.

Sounds like enormous fun that 28mm.

 

[John King]

Sounds like enormous fun that 28mm.

My WA lens for over 30 years was my Olympus f/3.5 28 mm, on my OM1 body. Other primes were f/1.4 50 (radioactive version, actually lanthanum doped) and f/4 200.

Filled in the gaps with the f/3.5 35-70 close focus, 75-150 and Tamron 70-150 macro.

A good kit, and served me well.

 

[The Electric Squirrel]

Sounds like enormous fun that 28mm.

Well, I've been quite happy with it, but I recognize it isn't a universally loved lens. For me, the biggest downsides are the occasional lack of contrast and a slightly dinky build quality. It isn't badly screwed together, better than the tiny-series Samyangs, but after handling a bunch of Sigma i-series lenses or the Sonnar 55/1.8 it does feel somewhat lower grade. Aperture ring would be nice, at least. It is cheap, though, for what it is. Handles nicely on an a7C, too.

Now, if Sigma made an i-series 28mm f/2 I'd be soooo happy. That 17mm f/4 looks compelling, but it doesn't address what @L0n3Gr3yW0lf is after here.

 

[ahaslett]

Sorry, but I can't resist ...

Olympus E-M5 MkII plus f/1.8 8mm, FE.

Small and light kit for one handed use.
Can de-fish in camera (?) or in OWS for rectilinear perspective.
Large aperture.
16 mm 135 format 'equivalent'.
Very close MFD.
Easy one handed operation.

That lens is pricey even used, but fun.

How about a used Panasonic G100 and 9/1.7. They were made for each other as a vlogging kit.

I know it’s only f2.8 but a used Tamron 20mm would be a budget option with good IQ at close distances.

The 17-28/2.8 is more flexible.

Andrew

 

[AlwaysOnAuto]

The FE2/28 was the first native lens I purchased new when I got a FF Sony. I consider it one of my sharpest lenses and it's nice to use because it's not heavy.
The 24mm is fun to use since it has the aperture ring and can be switched from auto focus to manual with the flick of a switch. It's nice to have options.

 

[mnhoj]

There's the 20mm 2.8 Tamron. It's big to accommodate Tamron's 67mm filter ethos but it's lightweight, affordable and sharp. I quite liked it when I owned it.

I checked the used prices and it goes between 600 and 750 £. A bit on the higher side, I was hoping for something closer to 500 £ or less, but I will think about it.

Edit: As Andrew mentioned above. @ahaslett

 

[L0n3Gr3yW0lf]

Slight update. I have a holiday trip back to my home town in Romania in about 6 months. And I am still looking for a wider angle option but I was given an idea and I hope you guys and girls will hear me out and drop your cent or two on it:

*Trade-in my Tamy 28-75mm f 2.8 Di III VXD G2 for a Tamy 20-40mm f 2.8 Di III VXD (with a 250 £ extra difference from me).

The reason is it would be a killer combo for travel with the Tamy 20-40mm f 2.8 and Tamy 70-180mm f 2.8 or Sony FE 85mm f 1.8. The Tamy 20-40mm f 2.8 is light and smaller than the Tamy 28-75mm f 2.8 G2, still has the 67mm filter thread, and has the closeup capabilities (not as good magnification). It has nearly identical size and weight to the Sony FE 85mm f 1.8 (6 grams lighter, 5 mm taller and 5 mm wider), I think I could fit both with my Sony a7 Mark IV in my smallest camera bag, the Crumpler Jimmy Bo 200. The other consideration is that I can't afford to buy Tamy 17-28mm f 2.8 lens or any other that's more expensive than 250 £.

The use will be 20mm for indoor, close-up portraits of my nieces, selfies with my dog and family and friends, astrophotography and typical wide-angle landscape vistas. At 40mm will be half-body portraits, street photography and general close-ups. The only things I would miss from the Tamy 28-75mm f 2.8 G2 are the very strong macro capabilities and the 75mm end (with zooms I seem to be splitting between wide, middle and tele ends).

So my travel set-up would be either:
*Tamy 28-75mm f 2.8 G2 + Tamy 70-180mm f 2.8 zooms with Samyang AF 18mm f 2.8 + Sony FE 85mm f 1.8 primes.
or
*Tamy 20-40mm f 2.8 + Tamy 70-180mm f 2.8 zooms with Sony FE 85mm f 1.8 prime.

 

[Brownie]

Since you already have the 28-75, wouldn’t buying the 17-28 be a better choice? It’s a stellar lens, just leave the primes at home.

 

[L0n3Gr3yW0lf]

Since you already have the 28-75, wouldn’t buying the 17-28 be a better choice? It’s a stellar lens, just leave the primes at home.

The reason I can't afford to buy the 17-28mm, beyond the cost, is that most of the money I am saving is for travelling, living costs, and fixing some of my teeth (at a significantly less cost compared to the UK). The used copy goes from 540 £ (CEX) to 620 £ (MPB), that's half of the budget I am hoping to save up by October.

 

[Brownie]

I see. I would be more tempted to keep the 28-75 and live with the narrower FOV. It’s a fantastic lens and I think you’d end up missing it in the long run.

How much is the difference in trade between your lens and the 20-40? Would a good used manual focus prime, or something like a cheap AF do the job and cost about the same? I just picked up a Samyang 24/1.8 and am very happy with the IQ.

Am I reading correctly that you already have the Samyang 18? If so, wouldn’t that fill the bill?

 

[L0n3Gr3yW0lf]

I see. I would be more tempted to keep the 28-75 and live with the narrower FOV. It’s a fantastic lens and I think you’d end up missing it in the long run.

How much is the difference in trade between your lens and the 20-40? Would a good used manual focus prime, or something like a cheap AF do the job and cost about the same? I just picked up a Samyang 24/1.8 and am very happy with the IQ.

Am I reading correctly that you already have the Samyang 18? If so, wouldn’t that fill the bill?

I don't have the Samyang AF 18mm f 2.8 or anything wider than my Tamy 28-75mm. If I trade in the Tamy 28-75mm G2 I would get about 500 £ for it and the difference for a used Tamy 20-40mm is 250 £ (on MPB). I'm not sure I would be able to keep up with my 2-year-old niece or the impatient 11-year-old with a manual-focus lens, else I would have considered an M42 or Pentax K or Olympus OM vintage lens.

The current 2nd hand options (that are in stock) for wider than 28mm lenses are:

*Samyang AF 24mm f 2.8: 164 £ (MPB)
*Samyang AF 18mm f 2.8: 214 £ (MPB) / 220 £ (CEX)
*Tamron 20mm f 2.8 Di III OSD M 1:2: 249 £ (MPB) / 250 £ (CEX)
*Zeiss Batis 25mm f 2: 299 £ (MPB) / 450 £ (CEX)
*Sigma 24mm f 3.5 DG DN Contemporary: 359 £ (MPB)
*Sigma 24mm f 2 DG DN Contemporary: 380 £ (CEX)
*Samyang AF 14mm f 2.8: 399 £ (MPB)
*Samyang AF 24mm f 1.8: 410 £ (MPB)
*Sony E 10-18mm f 4 OSS: 454 £ (MPB) / 350 £ (CEX) (Usable between 12-16mm on FF)
*Sony FE 24mm f 2.8 G: 494 £ (MPB)
*Sigma 24mm f 1.4 DG HSM Art: 510 £ (MPB)
*Zeiss Batis 18mm f 2.8: 534 £ (MPB)
Sony FE 16-35mm f 4 ZA OSS Vario-Tessar T: 539 £ (MPB) / 590 £ (CEX)
*Sigma 28mm f 1.4 DG HSM Art: 554 £ (MPB)
*Tamron 17-28mm f 2.8 Di III RXD: 619 £ (MPB)
*Sigma 24mm f 1.4 DG DN Art: 699 £ (MPB)
*Sony FE 20mm f 1.8 G: 709 £ (MPB)
*Sigma 16-28mm f 2.8 DG DN Contemporary: 754 £ (MPB)
*Tamron 20-40mm f 2.8 Di III VXD: 779 £ (MPB)

(I went from the cheapest in-stock lens to the Tamy 20-40mm in order of cost, I am not interested in all of these lenses, just checking the price and stock).
As much as I would love and prefer the Tamron 20mm f 2.8 I think Samyang 18mm f 2.8 would be better because of less distortion and the fact that Tamy 28-75mm f 2.8 G2 at 28mm has better sharpness, better distortion, 90% as good magnification for macro.

I am tempted to leave the Sony FE 85mm f 1.8 at home and just go with the 2 zooms ... but then again the temptation of portrait quality of the prime is so irresistible. (I think it's easier to live with zooms only, primes just makes me question what if )