The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sony FE 20mm F1.8 G and the Canon TS-E 17mm f4L 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. Canon TS-E 17mm f4L is the longer of the two lenses at 107mm. The Sony FE 20mm F1.8 G with a length of 85mm, is 22mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Canon TS-E 17mm f4L also has a larger diameter of 89mm compared to the Sony FE 20mm F1.8 G's 74mm 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. Sony FE 20mm F1.8 G weighs 373g, which means it is 447g (54%) lighter than the Canon TS-E 17mm f4L which has a weight of 820g.
Lens Mounts
The Sony FE 20mm F1.8 G has the Sony E lens mount whereas the Canon TS-E 17mm f4L has the Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Sony A9 III, Sony A7C Mark II and Sony A7CR for the Sony E Mount and Canon 1D X III, Canon 6D MII and Canon 5D MIV for the Canon EF Mount.
Focal Range
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.
On the other hand, the Canon TS-E 17mm f4L is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 17mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 27.2mm.