Sony E 10-20mm f/4 G PZ APS-C

The Sony 10-20mm f/4 PZ G is the ultra-wide your APS-C Sony has been begging for. Tiny, sharp, and video-ready, just don't expect miracles in the dark.

The autofocus is the real story here. Dual linear motors put this lens in the 98th percentile for AF speed, and it shows. Focus snaps into place instantly and silently, which matters more than you'd think for video work. Optically, it's strong but not flawless. Sharpness is excellent edge-to-edge, especially stopped down a bit, but the f/4 max aperture means you're fighting for light indoors. The lack of stabilization is the elephant in the room. If your body has IBIS, you're fine. If not, handheld video gets shaky fast.

The Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN is the obvious alternative. It's faster, cheaper, and more versatile for general shooting, but you lose the ultra-wide 10mm end and the power zoom. The Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 is a low-light monster if you need speed over range, but it's a prime and noticeably heavier. For video shooters on Sony APS-C bodies, the Sony's power zoom and silent AF make it the clear pick. For stills shooters who want one do-it-all lens, the Sigma makes more sense.

Pricing is all over the place right now. US listings range from $805 to $980, and the best deal we're seeing is at the lower end of that spread. Canadian buyers face an even wider gap, from CAD 848 to CAD 1,160, so shop around before you commit. At the low end, this lens is a steal for what it delivers. At the high end, you're paying a premium for the power zoom and G badge. Buy it at the cheaper price and feel smug about it.

Sony's E PZ 10-20mm f/4 G is the lens that makes you actually want to leave the house with your APS-C camera. At 178 grams, it's stupid light, and the 15-30mm full-frame equivalent range covers everything from cramped interiors to sweeping vistas. The headline feature is the power zoom, which is smooth enough for video but responsive enough that stills shooters won't hate it. This is the ultra-wide you buy when you're tired of leaving the big glass at home.

If you need a fast lens for low light or shallow depth of field, this isn't it. The f/4 aperture and missing stabilization make it a poor choice for indoor event work or handheld video on non-IBIS bodies. Go grab the Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 instead, or the Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 if you want a dedicated low-light wide prime.

This is the best ultra-wide zoom for Sony APS-C, full stop. The combination of size, sharpness, and video-friendly features is unmatched at this price. The f/4 aperture and missing stabilization are real compromises, but they're the price you pay for a lens this small. If you shoot travel, landscape, or vlog content on a Sony a6000-series body, just buy it. You'll use it more than you expect.