Sony 20mm f/2.8 pancake announced

[pacco]

Sony announces the 18-200mm Powerzoom and 20mm f/2.8 or NEX!

Now that's a surprise! Seems like a useful focal length, although it competes against the Sigma 19mm (non-pancake) lens.

 

[jsrockit]

Wow, finally a cool lens for the NEX.

 

[pvdhaar]

Is this the "Snap (Pancake)" that's on the 2012-2013 roadmap?

I had somehow hoped it would have been more like the 15mm/f8 Oly body cap lens.. Something ultimately pocketable.

 

[gerikson]

Wow, this is an interesting lens!

 

[Lss]

If the performance is reasonably close to the Sigma 19/2.8 and the real European price close to what was announced (350 USD), I will probably pick one up.

 

[Matus]

It is good to hear that new lenses are coming for the NEX system, but 20mm is a bit odd focal length on APS-C in my opinion. But true is that NEX badly needs a few compact lenses.

 

[lam]

Figures when I abandon the NEX system for now they announce new lens that actually appeals to me.

 

[zuikologist]

Sony seem to be following Samsung's NX lineup somewhat:

16mm, 20mm, pancake zoom (20-50 for Samsung). A fast 30mm pancake and 60/2.8 macro and portrait lens would be great.

 

[kshapero]

It is odd but at 30mm FOV it does make a nice street shooter.

 

[zuikologist]

It is odd but at 30mm FOV it does make a nice street shooter.

The Samsung 30mm is a fantastic lens. Together with an NX100/200/1000 body it is very pocketable.

 

[bwcolor]

Other than being slightly larger, does the Sigma 19mm have issues which make the 20mm lens preferred? Of course, few have seen, or used the 20mm.

 

[pvdhaar]

Other than being slightly larger, does the Sigma 19mm have issues which make the 20mm lens preferred? Of course, few have seen, or used the 20mm.

Apparently not all lenses support phase detect AF. This even goes for Sony's own older E-mount lenses. Steve Huff found that even lenses as recent as the 35/1.8 and 10-18 didn't work in phase detect AF mode (http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2012/12/11/the-sony-nex-6-and-nex-5r-review-the-best-nex-cameras-yet/).

So, it's entirely possible (although I've no idea whether this is the case) that Sony's new 20mm works with phase detect AF while the Sigma 19mm doesn't. Unfortunately, there's very limited solid info available on which lenses support this feature..

 

[Lss]

Other than being slightly larger, does the Sigma 19mm have issues which make the 20mm lens preferred?

At least with the older NEX bodies, I don't think so. The size difference is the major benefit this lens brings.

 

[Paddy C]

It is odd but at 30mm FOV it does make a nice street shooter.

After initially dismissing the length, I've started to think the same thing.

 

[jsrockit]

The Samsung 30mm is a fantastic lens. Together with an NX100/200/1000 body it is very pocketable.

That lens is a 45mm equiv though. This is a 30mm equiv.