The Most Versatile Wide Angle Focal Length | Sony 20mm f1.8

The ultimate wide angle focal length is a subjective topic, but if you're looking for a wide angle lens that offers you a diverse range of possibilities in terms of what you can shoot with it, then opting for a 20mm focal length could be perfect for you.
In this video I talk about why the Sony 20mm f1.8 is my favourite wide angle lens, but this video isn't lens specific, it's more focal length specific. I try to navigate the questions:
1) How wide is too wide?
2) What focal length should you choose?
0:00 - Intro & Aim of this Video
0:47 - My Journey with Wide Angle Photography So Far
1:49 - What led me to selecting a 20mm lens
2:05 - 20mm is Wide... But Not Too Wide!
2:54 - Are You a Fan of a More Natural Field of View?
4:02 - 20mm Offers a More Unique Perspective
5:55 - 20mm Provides a Fun Challenge!
7:28 - A Wide Angle Photography Tip!
9:48 - A 20mm lens is a Great Value Proposition!
11:11 - 20mm is Wide BUT Versatile!
11:44 - Optics & Image Quality
14:02 - Outro
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[@chrisharveyphotography]

Thanks for watching guys! All the photos in this video were shot at 20mm unless stated otherwise! 📸 Are you a fan of wide angle photography? What's your favourite focal length?

[@yartriesthis]

I just about that 20mm lens, Any suggestions for the next two hybrid lens to get?

[@zapadakofflv8560]

I have it and it's great. Sharp, fast, light...sometimes I also use it on apsc, where it is a nice 30mm

[@chrisharveyphotography]

That's awesome, really glad you're enjoying it! That tip of using it in apsc mode is so valuable and something I do as well - makes it even more versatile! 👌🏻📸 Thanks for watching and commenting buddy!

[@mikenoone1034]

I just got this lens and I’m pretty happy with it. Really just got it for the size to pair it with my ZV-E1. Granted I’m using it mostly for video, but it works just fine for photography too.

[@chrisharveyphotography]

Great choice, I use this for video a lot. It's especially great for talking head stuff on this channel. Glad you're enjoying it and thanks for watching Mike 🙏🏻📸

[@mrmarzo]

My primary lens is the Sony 20-70mm f4 attached to my Sony A7CR. Every weekend my hikes range from 10-15 miles average so being ultralight is very important to me. I start usually 15 minutes before sunrise and to compensate the morning low light and sundown I just purchased the 20mm f1.8. I'm going with 20mm focal length because I need to cover as much landscape as possible because if I go 28 or 35mm I'll definitely need more room at times. Now I will also have way more extra stops compared to the f4 and my 61megapixels gives me enough room to crop from the 20mm focal length if I need to. Once the sun is up, I'll stick with the 20-70mm but I think the 20mm f1.8 will be a great second lens specifically sunrise and dawn.

[@chrisharveyphotography]

This lens would suit your lifestyle and your current setup perfectly! This lens is really lightweight whilst still feeling solid and well built and the form factor when it's on the camera, especially with your A7C, would make such a compact setup! I have an APSC crop mode on a custom button on my A7iii so that when I'm just using this lens, if I want to crop in a bit I can and I find that makes this lens even more versatile as with the APSC crop you're entering more standard wide-angle prime territory closer to a 28mm. Might be worth setting up that custom button on your camera and seeing how that works for you

[@lukeforrest1878]

Nice review and great images. I do feel like the 20mm 1.8 is a bit of a luxury lens (for stills at least). If you're not often shooting astro or low light event photography, is the 1.8 really needed on an ultra wide? Camera ISO performance is excellent these days, most Sony cameras have IBIS and software is brilliant at removing noise. Not to mention you often need to stop down for DOF. For similar money you could get the Sony 20-70 F4 or if on a budget and/or want 2.8 the Tamron 20-40 f2.8 is a great option. Just my 2 cents.

[@chrisharveyphotography]

Thanks for watching Luke and glad you enjoyed the images! It certainly can be considered a luxury and I appreciate the point regarding the wide aperture. I think for me, I've just always loved the idea of shooting primes, the additional sharpness and the way they force you to consider composition and work a scene makes it a valuable lens for my own photography - I find zoom lenses make me lazy times. Those other lenses you mentioned would be fantastic alternatives and I'd encourage people to try them - I shoot tamron lenses and they're amazing.

[@trezegol2007]

I own the 20mm f1.8 for a couple of years now, when I purchased it I was deciding and gathering info between this lens and the 24mm GM f1.4. Pricewise the GM lens didn't cost that much more because of a cashback deal, but I ended up buying the 20mm because in almost all categories it was holding up against the 24 GM and I was a bit more intrigued by the extra wide angle it would offer me. I love this lens for it built quality, the fast AF, and I love using it whether to shoot in cities surrounded by taller buildings (like NY), or to get those impressive wide shots inside churches and buildings. The distortion you get at the edges of your frame is an interesting topic. You need to learn how to work around or with it, for instance I like playing often with it for instance when shooting in crowded places I try to shoot my scene in front of me but at the same time I find a subject just walking left or right of the camera and try to frame it right inside the edge of it to have that distortion. In the end it's a matter of personal taste and preferences, which is the beauty of photography. ✌🙂

[@Budfrog23]

Thanks for this - this lens looks to be very versatile and produces great images. I bought the A7C II as a travel camera (mainly landscape/buildings/street) but with it's capability I think it will become more than that - at 33mp even if I cropped 25% from the images taken with this lens I'd still be left with very usable images. Users of the A7CR with it's 61mp will be able to crop away freely. Thanks again.

[@chrisharveyphotography]

Thanks for watching, i'm glad you found this one helpful! Great choice with the A7CII, really love the concept of the A7C cameras! That extra resolution paired with a lens like this would give you some good flexibility when cropping/framing! Not to mention it would be a super lightweight setup!

[@IanSandersonPhotography]

I've just picked up a 16-28 for use at music events. Tried it out with a few landscape shots over the weekend and it's a damn good angle to have in the bag. And a bit more budget friendly than the 14-24

[@chrisharveyphotography]

Nice! 16-28 is such a useable focal range! You’ll get a load of use out of it I’m sure! Great to hear you got to try it on some landscape subjects too! Wide angle photography with landscapes is a fun challenge! Thanks for watching 🙏🏻

[@jaredwatsonphoto]

What’s your thoughts on this lens with a crop sensor? I know with my a6400 it goes to 30mm. Would the Sony 15mm 1.4 G be better at 22.5mm for landscape?

[@Harvester88]

I have this lens and don’t use it near enough. Next time I go out I’m going to try and use it exclusively if I can help it. 😊

[@chrisharveyphotography]

Thanks for watching and commenting! It’s a fun exercise limiting yourself to this lens when out with the camera! Really forced creativity and I think it can lead to some really interesting photos with an interesting perspective! Enjoy the challenge! 👌🏻😃

[@GerritKnein]

Just bought this because of you 💌

[@chrisharveyphotography]

Ah awesome! Enjoy it man! It’s a great lens! 👌🏻

[@Walter_Kircher]

i love my compact Sony G 20... as it is the perfect companion for my GM II 24-70 & GM II 70-200 ... wider, often needed on city trips for architecture... also providing more than an f stop more light inside... in near future will ad one of the GM 50s... for some special pics... and finished...

[@halimrahman]

I have this lens and I had attached it to my camera from March until July. It works fantastic, especially when taking photos of my classroom. It gets both walls but with distortion of course. What is your opinion about using this lens for a half-body interview? Especially in terms of the facial natural look.

[@chrisharveyphotography]

So glad you’re enjoying the lens! I think this could work well but you would need to ensure the subject is fairly central in the frame, distortion mainly occurs at the edges 👍🏻

[@SpencersStuffTV]

The human eye sees at around 22mm.. so it makes sense with the point you make. I am wanting to get a 20mm as well. Just starting my journey 😁 this lens is full frame, correct?

[@chrisharveyphotography]

Thanks for watching! Yeah it feels very natural and not overly exaggerated! 👌🏻 yeah this is a full frame lens

[@kristofeight9668]

There is a new king in the town, Viltrox 16mm f1.8, and is definitely worth to look at, this sony 20mm is still very good but not enough wide for me, thanks for video

[@chrisharveyphotography]

Thanks for watching! I would love to try that lens - I bet it’s amazing for Astro! I think 16mm would be a fun focal length to try!

[@papaelf_]

Kris after a few days whats your thoughts on the viltrox? I am torn between it and the 20

[@kristofeight9668]

@papaelf_ hard to say, I think u will be happy no matter which you pick up, this sony 20mm is crazy sharp, but I preferred wider, if you don't have specific needs i would take 20mm, is lighter, and sony native

[@ly8370]

Too expensive and heavy for me. I opt for the low-budget Vitrox 20mm f2.8.

[@chrisharveyphotography]

That's totally valid, it's certainly not the most affordable lens - I managed to get a good deal on it. I think it's more about the focal length than the specific lens, I think 20mm is such a unique perspective and FOV and I think the shooting a prime lenses can really help us develop our skills as photographers - zoom lenses have a tendency to make me lazy sometimes

[@cdavey7654]

Great video, though you didn’t mention how it’s really good for astrophotography as well.. (unless I just missed that). The Sony 20mm 1.8 was one of the first lenses I got after getting my Sony camera. It’s a great lens, though now I use my Tamron 20-40 for/2.8 more often, which is actually I think a little bit lighter than the Sony 20mm. I’ll probably keep my 20 prime for astro but I really like the flexibility of the 20-40, I use 35/40 a lot. Also, I agree on not being much of a fan of wider than 19/20mm, about the only time I’d use a 14, or 16 would be for astro probably (unless one really needs it for smaller rooms shooting interiors etc.., I’m not much of a fan of wider than 20mm for most shots. If I want/need wider than that when I’m out hiking, I can shoot a pano. 🙂

[@chrisharveyphotography]

Thanks for the kind words and for watching the video mate, much appreciated! 🙏🏻 you’re absolutely right, it’s perfect for Astrophotography, not something I’ve done much of but I’m hoping to do some more this summer 👌🏻. It’s definitely a heavy lens for its size, I can see why you’re favouring the Tamron for its weight and versatility! Probably much better for casual shooting! I enjoy the challenge of primes with their fixed focal length, slightly more finessing required when it comes to composing shots which is satisfying at times! But you make a great point about pano’s and being able to stitch images together to create a wider field of view! 👌🏻 an excellent idea!

[@cdavey7654]

@@chrisharveyphotography I agree that primes can be fun to use at times, a different experience for sure. I also shoot 35mm film and my most used lenses on those cameras are usually 35mm or 40mm primes. 🤓📷

[@papaelf_]

whats your opinion on this lens vs the viltrox 16mm 1.8? Phenomenal video, You deserve a bigger audience

[@chrisharveyphotography]

Thanks so much for watching and for the kind words! I’ve not tried the viltrox but I think 16mm is a good focal length. You may just find it’s a bit more of a ‘specific’ lens for certain scenes as opposed to something more versatile like 20mm. The important thing to keep in mind though is that it all comes down to personal preference. If you like the field of view then that’s all that matters 👌🏻

[@lusty444]

Can I use this Sony lens with an ax6000 which I’d crop sensored?

[@chrisharveyphotography]

Thanks for watching and for leaving a comment! I'm not 100% sure, you may experience some vignetting due to the smaller sensor but it's worth checking with Sony to be sure, Sorry I can't be more helpful!

[@ScoobieDee]

Thanks for the vid

[@chrisharveyphotography]

No problem! Thanks for watching, I hope you found it helpful!

[@jamesmlodynia8757]

How wide is to wide is like how long is to long, well the 20mm is a good wide lens and I have a bunch of different cameras from Panasonic, Olympus Pentax, Fujifilm and Nikon I have used many of the wide angle zoom lenses so because I photograph so many different subjects I have used focal lengths from 15mm to 600mm, as I feel that cameras and lens are tool's that are used to create a photograph. Some people say use a prime and make a pano, that works but their are situations where it is not a practical option. You spoke of distortion in portrait shootingl, part of being a good photographer is using the proper lens for the subject that you are photographing. Overall a good video.

[@Narsuitus]

For me, the 21mm is irreplaceable in the following 3-lens combo for my Leica M6 and M10: 21mm f/1.4 35mm f/1.4 90mm f/2

[@AR-vf7vg]

Dear beginner, know, that for long therm professionals, everything anybody praises about any specific focal length will be totally predictable (with no surprises). Samr as if somebody just discovered pears or bananas, you(!) will know what he will exaggerate about his proud new knowing about that fuit - that you know since a long time, among others. You could do a "my favorite fruit" influencer speach about any fruit, especially if you talk to ...eskimos - and look like having so much generous advise to give.

[@mg-pictures]

20mm is not versatile it's just wide, 35mm is more like versatile lens imo

[@chrisharveyphotography]

Yes, 35mm is more versatile but it's not what i'd class as 'wide angle'. This video was mainly focussing on a versatile 'wide angle' lens.