Head-to-head · Best Wide-Angle Lenses for Sony E-Mount

Sigma 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN Contemporary vs Sony FE 20mm F1.8 G

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

Sony FE 20mm F1.8 G comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.6 vs 4.7). The gap is mostly about travel and walkabout photographers who want a versatile wide prime for landscape, environmental portraits, and night-sky use — read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #4 in Best Wide-Angle Lenses for Sony E-Mount

Sigma 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN Contemporary

4.6

$899

The Sigma 16-28mm is the value zoom with the same 16mm wide end as the Sony GM II. At 450g and $899 it competes directly with the Tamron 17-28mm — and the deciding factor is usually filter compatibility and the matter of an extra millimeter wide vs an extra few millimeters tele. Inner zoom design is a real advantage for gimbal users. Image quality is excellent throughout the range, sharper than expected at the corners.

Strengths

— 450g weight with inner zoom design — center of gravity stays constant for gimbal use
— 16mm wide end matches the Sony FE 16-35mm GM II
— Five FLD elements and four aspherical lens elements for sharpness

Watch-outs

— 16-28mm range is narrower than the Sony GM II's 16-35mm
— Shorter zoom range than the Tamron 17-28mm by 1mm at each end (effective)
— Sigma's Contemporary line is positioned below the Art line in build quality

$899 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Sony FE 20mm F1.8 G

Higher ratedRanked #5 in Best Wide-Angle Lenses for Sony E-Mount

Sony FE 20mm F1.8 G

4.7

$898

The 20mm f/1.8 G is the versatile wide prime. Bright enough for astro and low light, wide enough for landscapes and architecture, but tighter than the 14mm GM so it pulls double-duty for environmental portraits. 373g makes it the lightest wide lens in this lineup — easy to carry all day. For travel and walkabout shooters who want one wide prime that handles everything from indoor low-light to night sky to landscapes, this is the right pick.

Strengths

— Bright f/1.8 aperture at 20mm — versatile for astro, low-light landscape, and environmental portraits
— Lightweight 373g — easiest wide lens here to carry all day
— Dual XD Linear Motors deliver fast, silent autofocus

Watch-outs

— 20mm is wide but not ultra-wide — less dramatic than the Sony FE 14mm GM
— Prime lens — single focal length
— Not as bright as the Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM (same aperture, narrower angle)

$898 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

Sigma 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN Contemporary

Direct competitor to the Tamron 17-28mm at the same price. Wider on the short end (16mm vs 17mm), narrower on the long end (28mm). Inner zoom design is the differentiator vs the Tamron for video and gimbal work. Less expensive than the Sony FE 16-35mm GM II by ~$1,400.

Sony FE 20mm F1.8 G

Best all-purpose wide prime. Narrower angle than the Sony FE 14mm GM (20mm vs 14mm) but at less than half the price. Brighter aperture than the Sony FE 16-35mm GM II, Tamron 17-28mm, and Sigma 16-28mm (f/1.8 vs f/2.8). Lightest wide lens in this lineup at 373g.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Sigma 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN Contemporary	Sony FE 20mm F1.8 G
Max Aperture	f/2.8 constant	f/1.8
Weight	450g	373g
Zoom Design	Inner zoom (constant length)	—
Elements	5 FLD + 4 aspherical	—
Focal Length	16-28mm	20mm
Filter Size	72mm	67mm
Mount	Sony FE (full-frame)	Sony FE (full-frame)
AF Motor	Stepping motor	Dual XD Linear
Min Focus Distance	0.25 m	0.19m

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