The newly announced Sony 16mm f/1.8 G delivers high-resolution image quality, smooth bokeh, precise autofocus and a bright F1.8 aperture, making it ideal in a variety of photo and video scenarios including landscapes, astrophotography and more. Alpha Collective members Nate Luebbe and Autumn Schrock took the new 16mm f/1.8 G up in the Lofoten Islands of northern Norway, where they were fortunate enough to photograph everything from sunrise and sunset landscapes to the dazzling aurora borealis. See their images below and read what they have to say about the performance of the new lens. Learn more about the Sony 16mm f/1.8 G HERE.
“The Perfect Focal Length For Landscape Photography”
The 16mm focal length allows for photographers like Luebbe and Schrock to capture wide vistas that truly show the magnitude of a scene. “For me this is the perfect focal length for landscape photography,” Luebbe says. “The 16-35mm f/2.8 GM is one of my all-time most used lenses, specifically for the wide end. The sunset from the image below I was able to capture with the new lens was pretty magnificent.”
Schrock also likes the 16mm focal length for landscapes when she needs something in between her 14mm and 20mm. “I absolutely love the Sony 14mm f/1.8 G Master lens for astrophotography, but sometimes I find it’s almost too wide for certain landscapes, whereas the Sony 20mm f/1.8 G lens is sometimes not wide enough. This 16mm focal length is a great middle ground!”
Astrophotography: Favorite Focal Length, Favorite Aperture
For astrophotography, Luebbe says he always wants the widest possible aperture. “I love using my 16-35mm f/2.8 GM during the day, but at night I need more light so I find myself reaching for either the 14mm f/1.8 GM or the 20mm f/1.8 G. So now having my favorite focal length, 16mm, in my favorite aperture, f/1.8, is literally the lens I've been dreaming of for years."
He continues, “We had an incredible display of northern lights on the beach where I proposed to my fiance (who happens to be Schrock), almost exactly one year after the proposal and I got several still images I love as well as a timelapse that instantly went into my portfolio.”
Schrock also says the fast f/1.8 aperture is a must for her photography. “I shot the aurora borealis with this lens, and it performed beautifully. I also shot some landscapes during the day, but to me, this lens really shines at night.”
Compact & Sharp Corner-To-Corner
If you’re familiar with the duo’s work, they’re often traveling to remote places in order to capture such beautiful scenes that many other humans never encounter. For this purpose, something light and compact is a necessity. “I'm obsessed with the size of the 16mm f/1.8 G,” Luebbe says. “I carry a lot of gear way too far, so the compact design of this lens is incredible for me. It's incredible. Amazingly sharp from corner to corner, really surprising lack of vignette even while wide open, and somehow seems to defy the laws of physics with how small it is.”
Schrock adds, “I love this lens. I cannot believe how lightweight and compact it is. I was expecting it to be in-between the size of the Sony 14mm f/1.8 G Master lens and the 20mm f/1.8 G lens, but it’s even smaller than the 20mm! It’s incredibly sharp, and at such an affordable price, this lens is a steal. Absolutely the 16mm f/1.8 G lens has a place in my kit. I cannot wait to get mine!”
Watch Nate Luebbe's complete review of the Sony 16mm f/1.8 G:
Learn more about the Sony 16mm f/1.8 G here.
