Sony Sonnar T* SEL24F18Z 24mm

An aging legend that's still the king of APS-C autofocus, but you'll pay a premium for an eight-year-old design that skips stabilization and weather sealing. Our latest scoring drops it to a 47 overall as newer glass from Sigma, Tamron, and Nikon pushes ahead. If you can find it used, it's pure street photography magic; if not, there are smarter ways to spend your money.

What surprised us most, after digging through our database, is just how dominant the AF motor still is. This lens ranked in the top 2% of every lens we've tested, and it shows in real life. It snaps into focus with zero drama, even in dim light at f/1.8, which itself sits in the top 12% for brightness among primes. Optically it's good, but not class-leading. Wide open it's sharp in the center with characterful bokeh (thanks to that 7-blade aperture), but edges lag a bit until you stop down. It's a street and portrait monster, not a landscape champ, and our scores back that up with a mediocre 43.2 for landscapes. The bigger issue is that newer glass from Sigma, Tamron, and Nikon has pushed the bar higher, and this lens now sits at a 47 overall, which is a long way from the top of our rankings.

The most direct rivals on E-Mount are the Viltrox Air 15mm F1.7 and the Sigma 10-18mm F2.8 DC DN. The Viltrox is wider, cheaper, and nearly as fast, though it lacks the Sony's refined bokeh and silent linear motor. The Sigma is a zoom that gives you way more flexibility for about the same price, and it's also weather-sealed. The Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN has also climbed into our top 5, and it's a serious threat because it covers the same everyday range with a constant f/2.8 aperture and costs less. If you're shooting Canon RF, the RF 28-70mm F2.8 is a different beast entirely (a standard zoom), but it'll set you back over $1,000. For Sony APS-C shooters, the choice comes down to this: can you live with a single focal length in exchange for the best AF money can buy at 24mm?

You're looking at a lens that sells for as much as $898 at some retailers, but you can find it closer to $780 if you shop around. At that price, it's a tough sell when you could grab a Viltrox 15mm f/1.7 with modern coatings and similar speed for less than half the cash. The Sony's build and AF still justify a premium, sure, but unless you find a clean used copy around $500, the value proposition is shaky in 2025.

The Sony Sonnar SEL24F18Z is one of those lenses that earned its cult status fair and square. It's tiny, it's fast, and on an APS-C body it delivers a near-perfect 36mm equivalent field of view that just feels right for street work and everyday shooting. The one thing to know? Autofocus is still absurdly fast, almost telepathic, even by today's standards, and that alone keeps it relevant despite its age. But the competition has caught up, and our latest scoring puts this lens much closer to the middle of the pack than it used to be.

If you're hunting for a budget wide-angle prime or you need weather sealing, this isn't it. Save your cash and grab a Viltrox 15mm f/1.7 instead, it's wider, cheaper, and just as fun. Landscape shooters should steer clear entirely; the Sigma 10-18mm f/2.8 will serve you far better with its zoom range and sealing. And if you want a modern everyday zoom, the Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 has jumped into our top 5 and makes this prime look like a relic.

If you shoot Sony APS-C and you're willing to pay for a premium prime that just gets out of your way, the SEL24F18Z is still a joy to use. The AF is in a league of its own, and that alone will make you forgive many of its shortcomings. But if you're on a budget, or you want something more versatile, skip it. The Viltrox 15mm and Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 deliver more for less, and our scoring now reflects that with a 47 overall. Our recommendation: buy it if you find a great deal, but don't pay full retail unless that autofocus speed is non-negotiable.