Tamron

A weather-sealed full-frame 24mm prime for $260 that's sharper than it has any right to be. Skip it only if you need stabilization or pixel-perfect corners.

The sharpness genuinely surprised us. This lens sits in the 88th percentile for aperture and 87th for bokeh, which means wide open at f/2.8 it's rendering backgrounds smoother than most zooms at the same focal length. The OSD autofocus motor is quick and nearly silent, landing in the 85th percentile for AF performance. But here's the catch: optical quality overall sits at a middling 40th percentile. So while the center is crisp, the corners can get a little soft until you stop down. The 1:2 macro capability is a neat party trick, but macro performance ranks in the 12th percentile, so don't expect true macro results. It's a wide-angle lens that occasionally dabbles in close-up work, not the other way around.

Stacked against the Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN, the Tamron gives up zoom flexibility but costs about a third of the price and adds weather sealing plus that 1:2 macro capability. The Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS has stabilization and more reach, but it's an APS-C lens with a slower variable aperture, so you lose the full-frame coverage and constant f/2.8. The Panasonic Leica 12-35mm and Nikon 20059 are solid lenses, but they're for different mounts entirely, so they're not really in the running for Sony shooters. If you want one wide prime that does a little bit of everything without breaking the bank, the Tamron is the pick.

At $259 to $270, this lens is an absolute steal. You're getting full-frame coverage, weather sealing, and a fluorine-coated front element for less than most APS-C primes. The 6-year warranty sweetens the deal even more. If you're on a budget and want a wide prime for your Sony body, this is the easiest recommendation we've made in a while.

The Tamron 24mm f/2.8 Di III OSD is one of those lenses that makes you wonder why you'd spend three times more on a first-party option. For around $260, you get a full-frame Sony E-mount prime with weather sealing, a 1:2 macro trick up its sleeve, and image quality that punches way above its price tag. The one thing to know? This is the budget wide-angle prime Sony shooters have been asking for, and it mostly delivers.

If you shoot a lot of handheld video or low-light work without a tripod, the lack of stabilization is going to frustrate you. Go grab the Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS instead, or save up for a stabilized zoom. And if you're serious about macro, this isn't the lens for you, get a dedicated macro prime.

Buy it. The Tamron 24mm f/2.8 Di III OSD is the budget wide-angle prime Sony full-frame shooters have needed. It's not perfect, the corners could be sharper and there's no stabilization, but at this price those compromises are easy to swallow. The weather sealing and 1:2 macro capability are bonuses you simply don't find elsewhere at $260.