Sony launches a cheaper luminous ungle than its G Master
With the richest optical park in the world of hybrids, Sony's work is not today to fill the gaps, but to perfect its offer. The update of the day concerns the ultra large angle, since the Japanese manufacturer today announces the FE 16 mm f/1.8 G. An optics which is placed between the very wide and very expensive fe 14 mm f/1.8 g Master and not wide enough fe 20 mm f/1.8 G.
The FE 16 mm f/1.8 g is a G optics, a name that Sony qualifies as premium series. Contrary to what one could imagine, it is not the high -end, which is called G Master (or GM), but rather a good mid -range.
According to Sony, the objective of this FE 16 mm f/1.8 g is to compensate for the limits of its two other fixed ultra-angle focal lengths. The brand's engineers aimed to produce an efficient optics that was cheaper and less heavy than the 14 mm G Master (including the construction of the front lens prohibits the use of filters), and wider and more efficient in video than the 20 mm.
In terms of optical construction, this 16 mm is designed around 15 lenses (including two asphans, three with low dispersion and one with very low dispersion) combined in 12 groups. The front lens is treated with fluorine to limit the adhesion of water to its surface in case of rain. And as it is now the custom for all G optics launched recently, the diaphragm is made up of 11 strips, which promises pretty background blues. And with a minimum focus at 15 cm in AF mode (13 cm in manual mode!), We can even make close -ups. On the AF side, we are not entitled to one, but at two linear engines (XD).
From an optical point of view, Sony promises an excellent image quality, in particular thanks to the optical correction profiles that Sony will apply during the production of JPEG, or in demotoring software as its own imaging Edge Desktop. Let's be clear: so as not to have to develop an expensive Optical Optical Formula G Master, Sony has worked a lot of software corrections. If this has become the norm for all modern optics, G optics are much more dependent than G Master. It will therefore be necessary to hope that software like those of Adobe or DXO quickly integrate the profiles into their software to take full advantage of the RAW files.
For creators and video
Sony has been producing the lightest and compact optics in industry for years. This FE 16 mm f/1.8 g is no exception to this trend, since the optics weighs only 304 g, against 460 g for the fe 14 mm f/1.8 g master.
If this weight gain is interesting for all photographers, there is no doubt that Sony also had, and above all, content creators in mind. In particular those who film themselves in vlog, a practice which can cause fatigue due to the handling of the couple/optical couple. The FE 16 mm f/1.8 g is therefore perfectly cut for light stabilizers.
For this video use, Sony has obviously treated its electronics. We therefore find the same controllers which allow to maintain the focus at 120 I/S in photo, and especially at 120p/240p in video. In addition, the optical formula limits the focus Breathing – the change of frame when you change the focus distance – and is compatible with the dynamic stabilization of Sony.
In terms of ergonomics, the optics have not only classic development and opening rings of the diaphragm, but also a diaphragm locking (Iris Lock), an activation/deactivation button opening, as well as an AF/MF button and another allowing the maintenance of the development (Focus Hold).
A little less angle, less bright, but also less heavy and more modern than its fe 14 mm, the FE 16 mm f/1.8 g is also distinguished by its price: it is 500 euros cheaper than its big brother G Master . The Sony FE 16 mm f/1.8 g will indeed be launched during the month of April at € 1,000. A substantial price, but much lower than that of G master's G optics.
