Sony E 11mm 1.8

If you believe the hype around the Sony E 11mm f/1.8 over on YouTube, it has to be the best lens ever since sliced bread. Well, YouTube videos tend to be a little -say- overenthusiastic at times. The Sony lens is undoubtedly very good, but there are reasons why Sony didn't classify this lens with a "G" in the name. In terms of sharpness, the E 11mm f/1.8 leaves little to be desired. It produces a very consistent performance from f/1.8 all the way up to f/8. The center quality is generally excellent, combined with a good to very good outer image field. You can't expect much more from a lens of this focal length class, but it's not standing out either except for its speed. The lens relies heavily on image auto-correction, especially to handle the massive native barrel distortions. These are tamed down nicely, but it is a lossy correction that also costs a bit of sharpness potential. The original vignetting is also heavy. Once again, auto-correction comes to the rescue, although some vignetting remains at large aperture settings. Flare is well controlled for such a lens. We haven't formally tested the bokeh but based on the sample images that we have taken, it is surprisingly smooth for an ultra-wide lens. It may not be a designated professional lens, but the mechanical quality is actually pretty solid despite the extremely low weight. Sony incorporated decent-quality plastics into the barrel based on a metal mount. Nothing wobbles, and the focus ring operates smoothly. Sealing against dust and moisture as well as an inner focusing system provides reasonable protection against the elements. The dual linear AF motor is fast and silent. If you are into vlogging, the lens is certainly capable of keeping you in focus while moving around. The minimal focus breathing is also a plus when it comes to videos. One of the most surprising aspects of the lens is certainly its price tag. At "just" $550/550EUR, it's nothing short of a bargain in this class. Third-party options aren't really any cheaper, and the Sony E 11mm f/1.8 is the obvious choice if you are in the market for an APS-C ultra-wide prime lens.

Highly Recommended – A superb ultra-wide and an ideal choice for stills and videographers alike.

The Sony E 11mm f1.8 is an exciting new addition to the company’s lineup of APSC lenses, delivering ultra-wide coverage with a bright aperture in a compact and light barrel at a reasonably affordable price. As a non-G lens, it may lack the ultimate bite of higher-end models, but still performs respectably for subjects near and far, with the added flexibility of very close focusing providing additional opportunities. It’s launched alongside a 15mm f1.4, a higher-end option for those who prefer a milder wide, and a 10-20 f4 Power Zoom, for those who’ll trade the faster aperture for the flexibility of a zoom. All three are compelling options with little competition, although none have optical stabilisation, so to iron out any wobbles, you will need a body with either IBIS or Active SteadyShot, or of course film with a gimbal. Ultimately I loved the drama of the 11mm f1.8 for both stills and video and can highly recommend it for the money, size and performance.