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 Astro, low-light and travel shooters who want a bright, light, sharp ultra-wide prime with standard filter support at a sensible price. — read the strengths below before deciding.

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

Sigma 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN Contemporary

4.6

$989as of Jun 7

The Sigma 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN Contemporary delivers surprisingly few compromises for a Contemporary-line lens, leading with high sharpness across the frame in a light, internally-zooming 450g body. It starts a true 16mm wide, takes 72mm filters, and undercuts the Sony GM by more than half. The main caveats are mount-only weather sealing and heavy uncorrected vignetting and distortion at the wide end.

Strengths

— Superb center sharpness with very impressive borders and corners across the range
— Light and compact at 450g with an internal zoom that does not change length
— Starts at a true 16mm, a millimeter wider than the Tamron rival

Watch-outs

— Weather sealing is limited to a gasket at the lens mount only
— Strong vignetting at f/2.8 (3+ EV) at the wide end before correction
— Around 4.5% barrel distortion at 16mm that needs correcting

$989 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #3 in Best Wide-Angle Lenses for Sony E-Mount

Sony FE 20mm F1.8 G

4.7

$998as of Jun 7

The Sony FE 20mm F1.8 G is one of the best-value ultra-wide primes in the E-mount lineup, pairing excellent sharpness and fast autofocus with a notably light 373g body. The 20mm f/1.8 combination is well suited to astro and low-light work, and the standard 67mm filter thread adds practicality. Mild coma wide open and the fixed focal length are the only meaningful trade-offs.

Strengths

— One of the sharpest ultra-wide primes available, with few optical shortcomings
— Very light and compact at 373g for a fast full-frame ultra-wide
— Fast, accurate G-series autofocus suited to hybrid stills and video

Watch-outs

— Some visible coma at the widest apertures that improves on stopping down
— Fixed 20mm focal length limits framing flexibility versus a zoom
— No optical stabilization, relying on in-body IS

$998 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

Sigma 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN Contemporary

It is the value rival to the Tamron 17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD, starting a millimeter wider at 16mm and taking 72mm filters versus Tamron's 67mm, while weighing a touch more at 450g. Like the Tamron it undercuts the Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II by well over $1,000 but gives up that lens's reach to 35mm and full weather sealing. It offers zoom flexibility the Sony FE 14mm F1.8 GM and FE 20mm F1.8 G primes lack.

Sony FE 20mm F1.8 G

It is the cheaper, more practical prime sibling to the Sony FE 14mm F1.8 GM, sharing the f/1.8 aperture and astro pedigree but with a 67mm front filter thread the 14mm lacks and a less extreme 20mm view. At $898 it sits at a similar price to the Tamron 17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD and Sigma 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN Contemporary zooms but trades their flexibility for a brighter aperture. It is far cheaper than the Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Sigma 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN Contemporary	Sony FE 20mm F1.8 G
Focal Length	16-28mm	20mm
Max Aperture	f/2.8 (constant)	f/1.8
Mount	Sony E (full-frame)	Sony E (full-frame)
Weight	450g	373g
Filter Thread	72mm	67mm
Stabilization	None (relies on in-body IS)	None (relies on in-body IS)
Optical Construction	16 elements in 11 groups	—
Aperture Blades	9	—
Dimensions	—	73.5 x 84.7mm
Minimum Focus	—	0.18m (AF) / 0.19m (MF)

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