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Sony FE 16mm F1.8 G
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UNSCORED
Sony · 16 mm · f/1.8 · Sony E mount

Sony FE 16mm F1.8 G

From $898 — 1 offer
KEY FACTS
BrandSony
Announcement dateFeb 2025
Released2025
Production started2025
Production statusIn Production
What We Like
+Exceptional compactness at 304g with f/1.8 aperture - undercuts comparable lenses by substantial margin
+Sharp performance across frame including at f/1.8, with excellent corner sharpness by f/2.8
+Standard 67mm filter thread enables use of standard filters unlike bulbous ultra-wide designs
+Smooth, quiet autofocus with fast tracking via dual XD linear motors
+Comprehensive weather sealing with fluorine coating and multiple seal points throughout design
+Versatile aperture control with switchable click/silent operation for video
Worth Knowing
−High native barrel distortion (4.7%) in RAW images requires auto-correction, and vignetting control lacks manual adjustment unlike GM models
−Significant vignetting at f/1.8 (over 5 EV) limits astrophotography performance without signal boost
−Close-focus field curvature and distortion exaggeration make flat subjects unusable at minimum focus distance
−Corner-to-corner sharpness and bokeh are compromised compared to premium alternatives

General

Brand
Sony
Announcement date
ⓘ
Refers to the date the manufacturer publicly announced the upcoming release and general specs of this camera.
Feb 2025
Released
ⓘ
Refers to the year this camera was officially made available for sale.
2025
Production started
2025
Production status
ⓘ
Current status of lens manufacturing (e.g., in production, discontinued).
In Production
Read our notes on general
The Sony FE 16mm f/1.8 G could well be the most desirable ultra-wide prime lens, delivering sharpness at f/1.8 and quite impressively so at medium apertures with minimal chromatic aberration. A real differentiator is the size and weight of the Sony lens at merely 304g, undercutting comparable lenses by a substantial margin while maintaining build quality. The biggest weakness is vignetting, and auto-correction can't eliminate the issue in full, though the lens excels as a compact solution for landscape, architecture, and video applications where portability matters.

Optics

Minimum Aperture
f/22
Angle of View
107°
Lens Construction
15 elements in 12 groups
Aspherical Elements
2 AA (Advanced Aspherical)
ED Glass Elements
3 ED + 1 Super ED
Min focal length
16 mm
Max focal length
16 mm
Focal range
ⓘ
Shortest to longest focal length of the lens (zoom range start - end )
16 mm
Zoom lens
ⓘ
Zoom allows you to vary the focal length, change between long shots and close-ups
No
Max aperture wide
1.8
Max aperture zoom
1.8

Aperture

Blade Count
11 circular blades
Control
De-clickable aperture ring with 1/3 stop detents

Autofocus

Type
2 XD (Extreme Dynamic) Linear Motors
Performance
Fast and quiet

Close focus

Minimum Focus Distance AF
0.15m (0.5ft)
Minimum Focus Distance MF
0.13m (0.43ft)
Maximum Magnification AF
0.25x
Maximum Magnification MF
0.30x

Features

Image Stabilization
None (compatible with Sony IBIS)
Focus Control
AF/MF switch with programmable focus hold button
Focus Breathing
Controlled for smooth video
Accessories Included
Petal-shaped lens hood, front/rear caps, case
Weather sealing
ⓘ
Weather sealing capabilities will give you more confidence when shooting in unfavourable conditions.
Yes

Physical

Lens mount
ⓘ
The lens mount will tell you what type of lens range you can fit onto the camera body. Often the same camera company will have different lens ranges for different cameras.
Sony E
Lens weight
304 g
Lens diameter
ⓘ
Width of the lens at its widest point
73.8 mm
Lens length
ⓘ
How long the lens is from front to back.
75 mm
Front filter size
ⓘ
Diameter of attachable filters.
67 mm