Sony 24mm f/1.4 vs 20mm f/1.8 - ULTIMATE Lens Showdown! Astro, Landscape, Macro, and More!

The most requested lens comparison I've ever had! The Sony 24mm f/1.4 GM vs the Sony 20mm f/1.8 G - Astrophotography, Macro, Landscapes and Sun Flares: these two lenses are world class in every department, but which one truly comes out on top?! Let me know your thoughts below!

Get them HERE:

Social Media INTHEWILD -

All the junk in my trunk:

Cameras -

Lenses -

Tripod -

Slider -

Memory Card -

If you love what you see, please help me continue my journey by using our no-cost-to-you affiliate links to B&H and Amazon.

[Nateinthewild]

what do you think? Do we have a clear winner?

[seattlegrrlie]

I picked the 20mm because that extra wideness gives the look I'm going for. I love it. Colors are gorgeous, ultra sharp, that apature ring on the lens is genius for landscapes. I like the lens flare it gives, just enough to be artistic but not so much to be distracting. Worth every penny

[justinanderson]

Nateinthevan!
I owned the 24gm and sold it once I received my 20mm. The 24 was great, but I always found myself wishing it was a bit wider, for landscapes, architecture, and astro shots. Absolutely no regrets on selling the 24.. I love the 20.

[muratkunizhev]

I’m the owner of 24mm f/1.4GM with Sony A7RIV and concretely this focal length i prefer more then others. Your comparison was great 👍🏻 thank you!😇

[timelapsebylkunl]

I sold my 24 GM for 20 G. because i prefer wider field of view for astro but i wish they just release 20/1.4 GM insted of 20/1.8G. Thank for a great comparison.

[sasca]

It's fascinating what difference 4mm can make. For example...

At 6:39, the foreground seems so insignificant next to the vastness of space, with the monolith peering out into the vast reaches of the galaxy. When I saw it, my thought was "space is so immensely vast and we're so tiny, yet some way, some HOW, we've been blessed to have a place in the grandeur of it all." In essence, it's an introspective composition that evokes emotions of humility, curiosity, and cohesion with nature.

At 8:55, the foreground takes far more prominent role in the frame, and the monolith seems to be taking equal importance, if not _greater_ importance, to the galactic core itself. When I saw it, my thought was "we're just bacteria on a speck of dust right now, but if we can just navigate the perils of existence just a _little_ while longer, soon all that lies before us will be ours for the taking." It's a more defiant composition that evokes emotions of pride, hope, and our ambition to be the singular master of our own destiny.

Most importantly, though, it just reminded me that lenses are just _tools_ to create art with. Neither one of these shots is better than the other, it just depends on what you're trying to create! They both seem to do a very fine job indeed!

[emanuelebalboni]

Great comparison! Only, I'd like to point out that what you called "chromatic aberration" at 9:31 is actually the Hydrogen emission of the Laguna Nebula (M 8).

[navyjoe]

Thank you for this video. I have been researching both of these lenses for about a week now and you are the first person to clearly state which lens is better for me and my style of photography.

[justinmoonboards]

Nice review. Just wanted to say that the chromatic aberration you point out at 9:30 is not actually chromatic aberration at all, but purple nebulosity in the milky way.

[cameraprepper]

I do a lot of Landscape Photography, my most used Lens for Landscape are Sony 24mm 1.4 GM, I have a 20mm Lens, but I only use it 2 to 5 days in a year and only for maybe 5 to 10 images (in a year !), so to me the 24mm are the most useful wide angle Lens for Landscape (42 years of experience !).

[MatthewSaville]

Thanks for zooming in all around the image of that 20mm Milky Way shot, it looks like the plane of focus is very flat at infinity! I had a tough time getting a perfectly flat field on the 24mm, especially when focusing for the corners to have minimal color fringing, and trying to balance it with center sharpness.
Very glad to have this new option, that's for sure!

[RichandKirsten]

We just bought the 20mm f1.8 primarily for vlogging, although covid shipping means it’s been in transit for a few weeks... it’s killing us!!!

[Mr.Stickyrice]

THANK YOU !!! I have been waiting for that comparison

[chryseass.]

Good assessment! I own the 24GM and love it ( use case is exactly what you mentioned) For wider angle I have the Tamron 17-28 f2.8 so I have a hard time justifying adding the Sony 20mm to my kit at the moment!

[VeeTravels]

I love how well you can confidently speak to the camera.

[garrettchace]

Am I the only one who actually LOVES the vignettes so much more than the corrected?? It gives them more of that vintage film look which is so much more interesting to me

[SEAKPhotog]

Great comparison. Thanks! I own the 24/1.4 and just bought the 14/1.8. I love the 24. I shoot mostly panoramic auroras with it. It does suffer a bit from CA. Mine doesn't look quite as bad for comma and batwings tho. All-in-all I love the speed of the thing, which is necessary for panos. I prefer the 20mm focal length tho so I'm considering selling my Batis 18/2.8 and picking up the 20 Sony. Looks like a very worthwhile lens. As for the 14, lots of batwing distortion wide open, ugh, I'll likely have to crop out the corners if I keep it. Terrific lens otherwise and even works OK for IR photography at f/5.6 or wider (just a tiny bit of an easily dealt with hotspot at that aperture).

[michaelarneson]

thanks for this Nate, I have and love the 20 mm. I bought it after seeing the photos Autumn took in Norway. Im really looking forward to taking it out astro shooting.

[Thealexyates]

👌👌 nice comparison bro! Think I’m leaning towards the 20mm personally, but you do bring up good points about the versatility aspect of the 24mm.

[benjaminhunt]

Really loving this channel and can't wait to see how big it gets. I've been deciding on a wide angle for what feels like forever and there are just so many good choices. I was between the 24GM and the Tamron 17-28 for so long, but with the release of the 20G, I'm leaning more toward one of the native Sony. I have the Sigma 50 Art and 105 Art, so I think I have portraiture pretty much covered, but I feel this video only makes things more difficult! Thanks for the head to head comparison, I've been looking for this exact thing.