The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sony FE 35mm 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. Tokina Firin 20mm F2 FE MF is the longer of the two lenses at 82mm. The Sony FE 35mm F1.8 with a length of 73mm, is 9mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Tokina Firin 20mm F2 FE MF also has a larger diameter of 69mm compared to the Sony FE 35mm F1.8's 66mm 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 35mm F1.8 weighs 280g, which means it is 210g (42%) lighter than the Tokina Firin 20mm F2 FE MF which has a weight of 490g.
Filter Threads
The Sony FE 35mm F1.8 has a filter size of 55mm 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 55mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Sony FE 35mm 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 35mm 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 A9 III, Sony A7C Mark II and Sony A7CR.
Tokina Firin 20mm F2 FE MF is also available in Sony E mount.
Focal Range
Sony FE 35mm F1.8 is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 35mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
52.5mm.
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.