The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sony FE 16mm F1.8 and the Tokina Firin 20mm F2 FE MF 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 16mm F1.8 is the longer of the two lenses at 75mm. The Tokina Firin 20mm F2 FE MF with a length of 69mm, is 6mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sony FE 16mm F1.8 also has a larger diameter of 74mm compared to the Tokina Firin 20mm F2 FE MF's 62mm 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 16mm F1.8 weighs 304g, which means it is 186g (37%) lighter than the Tokina Firin 20mm F2 FE MF which has a weight of 490g.
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 Sony FE 16mm F1.8 has a filter size of 67mm whereas the Tokina Firin 20mm F2 FE MF has a 62mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 67mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Sony FE 16mm F1.8:
And these are the 62mm filters that we recommend for the Tokina Firin 20mm F2 FE MF:
Lens Mounts
Both the Sony FE 16mm F1.8 and the Tokina Firin 20mm F2 FE MF has the same Sony E lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Sony E lenses are Sony FX5, Sony A7R VI and Sony A7 V.
Tokina Firin 20mm F2 FE MF is also available in Sony E mount.
Focal Range
Sony FE 16mm F1.8 is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 16mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
24mm.
On the other hand, the Tokina Firin 20mm F2 FE MF 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.
