Hands-On Review: Three New Sony APS-C Lenses with Jessica Hirsch (@CheatDayEats)

Whether I’m out in New York City visiting restaurants or at home creating content, I want a lens in my kit that provides versatility and convenience. Today, I am going to be testing out the three newest Sony APS-C lenses to see if they provide just what I need. I’m pleased to introduce the new Sony E 10-20mm f4 G Lens, 15mm 1.4 G Lens, and 11 mm 1.8 Lens.

As soon as I got my hands on these lenses, I could tell they are lightweight, yet still provide great build quality and durability. I quickly became even more excited and optimistic about using each of them.

You can also watch these lenses in action on AdoramaTV:

Please note that the Sony E 10-20mm f4 G Lens and 15mm 1.4 G Lens are not G-Master lenses. These are incorrectly stated in the video.

Sony 10-20mm f4 G Lens

This power zoom lens does provide just what I need as a compact and lightweight option. It, for sure, earns its title as the world’s smallest ultra-wide APS zoom. The power zoom is super smooth and you can control it via the lens, camera, Bluetooth remote, or smartphone app. This lens is perfect for capturing a wide table shot one moment, and then zooming in to focus on a single dish. It will be extra convenient during moments when I don’t have time to switch lenses — like melting ice cream or a steaming hot entree.

I also had some fun creating an eye-catching vertigo effect by zooming in and changing direction. This can make for some really unique and fun artistic styling. I was getting sharp images and videos at all the focal lengths this lens has to offer. The Sony 10-20mm f4 G Lens is great for anyone who wants a simplified workflow and the convenience of multiple focal lengths in one lens.

Sony 15 mm f1.4 G Lens

I was really impressed with this wide-angle prime lens. It’s so lightweight and sharp, and the 1.4 aperture creates beautiful bokeh. I was also blown away by the auto focus. I tried several times and many different apertures to stress-test it, but it never lost focus. This is important when filming in the kitchen and working with chefs because of the unpredictability of how things might move. Being able to rely on my lens to lock onto and keep focus is very critical.

I also like how the aperture ring has a de-click switch. This means you can choose if you want the rotation to be smooth or firm. I’m able to conveniently utilize it when capturing this beautiful candy with different depths of field. 

Check out Tips for Food Videography with Jessica Hirsch for more advice that will make your food content really pop!

Sony 11mm f1.8 Lens

Last but definitely not least, we have the Sony 11mm f1.8 Lens. I knew the perfect situation to test out this ultra-wide angle prime lens. If this was my typical setup, I would have to get up on a chair to capture both slices in one shot. But, because of the super wide field of view, I was able to get the lens close to the pizza.

As I moved the camera back and forth across the slice, the focus was spot-on and held the subject. It was a unique perspective in the video because I got so physically close, but still captured so much of the pizza. It felt like I was gliding right over.

The details of the cheeseburgers and fries are beautiful. The lens helped me with my visual storytelling — but the delicious pizza definitely helped too! I also love using this lens at home to get a panoramic-like shot from my living room, looking out to my favorite city in the world.

Final Thoughts

One thing I want to touch on briefly is the crop factor with APS-C lenses. There is a 1.5x crop applied compared to a full-frame environment. Therefore, your field of view for the 15mm is going to look very similar to a 24mm lens full-frame lens on a full-frame body. Similarly, your 11mm is going to be about a 17mm equivalent.

With that being said, I’m having a tough time deciding which of these two prime lenses I would choose. Both have amazing quality and compact size. If someone were to come up to me on the street and ask me, I would say go with whatever one you don’t already have in your kit. For most people, that would probably mean the Sony 11mm f1.8 Lens because it’s a bit more unique and rare of a focal length. If you don’t have any wide/ultra-wide lenses, I’d recommend the slightly more traditional Sony 15 mm f1.4 G Lens.

All three of these new APS-C lenses from Sony are stellar. I’m actually having a tough time trying to decide which ones to permanently add to my kit. I can safely say you will not be disappointed in the quality of your shots with any of these three lenses. It really comes down to your personal aspirations, style, and what you already have in your kit. Either way, it’s a great idea to add all of these lenses to your gear.

To learn more about what products I recommend, check out What’s In My Bag: Food Content Creator Jessica Hirsch.