Sony FE SEL16F18G 16mm
Combining an ultrawide 16mm perspective with a bright f/1.8 aperture and a compact 304g body, this lens stands out for its fast, precise dual XD linear motors and support for 120 fps AF. Its non-protruding front element accepts standard 67mm screw-in filters and the dust/moisture-resistant build adds real-world durability for outdoor shoots. This is best for vloggers and landscape photographers who need a lightweight, fast-focusing ultrawide prime with strong close-up capability.
Snapshot
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Strong af (98th percentile) 98th
- Strong bokeh (96th percentile) 96th
- Strong aperture (93rd percentile) 93rd
- Strong optical (90th percentile) 90th
Cons
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
What owners think
How owner sentiment changed over time
ExclusiveBased on when customers actually wrote their reviews - so you can see whether early praise held up.
Based on 18 dated customer reviews, grouped by calendar quarter. Period analysis is in English.
The proof
Performance
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | Prime |
| Focal Length Min | 16 |
| Focal Length Max | 16 |
| Elements | 15 |
| Groups | 12 |
| Aspherical Elements | 2 |
| ED Elements | 4 |
| Coating | fluorine coating |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | f/1.8 |
| Min Aperture | f/1.8 |
| Constant | Yes |
| Diaphragm Blades | 11 |
Build
| Mount | Sony E |
| Format | full-frame |
| Weather Sealed | Yes |
| Weight | 0.3 kg / 0.7 lbs |
| Filter Thread | 67 |
AF & Stabilization
| AF Type | XD linear motors |
| Stabilization | No |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 150 |
| Max Magnification | 0.25x |
vs Competition
| Spec | Sony FE SEL16F18G 16mm | Sigma Contemporary 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS | Tamron Di III 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD | Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM | Panasonic LUMIX S S-R28200 | Nikon NIKKOR AF-S DX NIKKOR 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 16mm | 16-300mm | 18-300mm | 28-70mm | 28-200mm | 16-85mm |
| Max Aperture | f/1.8 | f/3.5 | f/3.5 | f/2.8 | f/4 | f/3.5 |
| Mount | Sony E | Sony E | Fujifilm X | Canon RF | L-Mount | Nikon F |
| Stabilization | false | true | true | true | true | true |
| Weather Sealed | true | true | false | true | true | false |
| Weight (g) | 304 | 615 | 92 | 495 | 413 | 59 |
| AF Type | XD linear motors | HLA | VXD linear motor | STM | Autofocus | AF-S |
| Lens Type | prime | zoom | zoom | zoom | macro | zoom |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | AF | Bokeh | Build | Macro | Optical | Aperture | Versatility | Social Proof | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony FE SEL16F18G 16mm | 98.1 | 95.9 | 82.4 | 46.9 | 89.9 | 93 | 34 | 55.3 | 35.6 |
| Sigma Contemporary 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS Compare | 54.7 | 84.3 | 57.9 | 86.5 | 98.8 | 77 | 99.6 | 83 | 99.1 |
| Tamron Di III 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD Compare | 98.1 | 75 | 96.3 | 88.4 | 73.5 | 77 | 99.2 | 83 | 80.5 |
| Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM Compare | 85.5 | 86.2 | 67.2 | 77.4 | 84.4 | 83.8 | 77.4 | 88 | 98.2 |
| Panasonic LUMIX S S-R28200 Compare | 54.7 | 77.9 | 73.9 | 89.5 | 90.9 | 71.5 | 95.7 | 75.3 | 99.4 |
| Nikon NIKKOR AF-S DX NIKKOR 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR Compare | 54.7 | 75 | 98.4 | 59.8 | 64.1 | 77 | 94.3 | 88 | 92.2 |
Usage Scores
A full written review is coming soon. The specs, scores, prices and charts above are always up to date.
