The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Samyang AF 18mm F2.8 FE and the Sony FE 20mm F1.8 G for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
Size and Weight Comparison
The size of a lens is a crucial factor to consider when comparing two lenses. Sony FE 20mm F1.8 G is the longer of the two lenses at 85mm. The Samyang AF 18mm F2.8 FE with a length of 61mm, is 24mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sony FE 20mm F1.8 G also has a larger diameter of 74mm compared to the Samyang AF 18mm F2.8 FE's 64mm diameter.
The weight of a lens is equally significant as its external dimensions, particularly if you intend to handhold your camera and lens combination for extended periods. Samyang AF 18mm F2.8 FE weighs 145g, which means it is 228g (61%) lighter than the Sony FE 20mm F1.8 G which has a weight of 373g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Wideangle Prime Lenses in Sony E Mount for size comparison purposes.
Ultra-Wideangle Lenses in Sony E Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Samyang AF 18mm F2.8 FE has a filter size of 58mm whereas the Sony FE 20mm F1.8 G has a 67mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 58mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Samyang AF 18mm F2.8 FE:
And these are the 67mm filters that we recommend for the Sony FE 20mm F1.8 G:
Lens Mounts
Both the Samyang AF 18mm F2.8 FE and the Sony FE 20mm F1.8 G has the same Sony E lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Sony E lenses are Sony A9 III, Sony A7C Mark II and Sony A7CR.
Focal Range
Samyang AF 18mm F2.8 FE is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 18mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
27mm.
On the other hand, the Sony FE 20mm F1.8 G is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 20mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 30mm.