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Sony

FE 20mm F1.8 G

Sony E Mount

FE 20mm F1.8 G — 20mm f/1.8 for Sony E, a popular choice in the sony lineup.

$899

Launch price

Released Feb 2020

vs

Tamron

70-180mm F2.8 Di III VXD

Sony E Mount

70-180mm F2.8 Di III VXD — 70–180mm f/2.8 for Sony E, a popular choice in the tamron lineup.

$1,199

Launch price

Released May 2020

70-180mm F2.8 Di III VXD is 3 months newer.

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Wins

5categories

FE 20mm F1.8 G

LandscapeSports & Action

Wins

2categories

70-180mm F2.8 Di III VXD

PortraitSports & Action

1 categories tied

TL;DR — Key differences

FE 20mm F1.8 G wins 4 categories·70-180mm F2.8 Di III VXD wins 1 categories
  • AFE 20mm F1.8 G has lower Weight (373 g vs 815 g)
  • B70-180mm F2.8 Di III VXD has higher Max magnification (0.25 × vs 0.15 ×)
  • AFE 20mm F1.8 G has lower Length (102 mm vs 164 mm)
  • AFE 20mm F1.8 G has lower Max aperture (Wide) (f/1.8 vs f/2.8)
  • AFE 20mm F1.8 G has lower Max aperture (Tele) (f/1.8 vs f/2.8)

Key specs at a glance

FE 20mm F1.8 G70-180mm F2.8 Di III VXD
Focal Length20 mm70-180 mm
Max Aperturef/1.8f/2.8
MountSony ESony E
CoverageFull FrameFull Frame
StabilizationNoNo
Weight373 g815 g
Min Focus30 cm38 cm
Filter Size82 mm77 mm

Use-case scoring

Which one for what?

Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class

Use caseFE 20mm F1.8 G70-180mm F2.8 Di III VXD
Portrait
6.0Good
7.5Good
Sports & Action
6.5Good
6.5Good
Video & Hybrid
3.5Limited
5.0Fair
Landscape
7.0Good
3.0Limited
Travel
5.0Fair
2.0Limited
Wildlife
3.0Limited
3.0Limited
Macro & Close-up
1.5Limited
2.0Limited

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose the FE 20mm F1.8 G

  • Weight

    373 g vs 815 g — lower is better

  • Length

    102 mm vs 164 mm — lower is better

  • Max aperture (Wide)

    f/1.8 vs f/2.8 — lower is better

  • Max aperture (Tele)

    f/1.8 vs f/2.8 — lower is better

  • Min focus distance

    30 cm vs 38 cm — lower is better

Reasons to choose the 70-180mm F2.8 Di III VXD

  • Control ring

    Only 70-180mm F2.8 Di III VXD supports it

  • Max magnification

    0.25 × vs 0.15 × — higher is better

  • Diameter

    81 mm vs 86 mm — lower is better

Shared specifications

Internal focus

Both support internal focus

Weather sealing

Both support weather sealing

Pros & cons at a glance

Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.

FE 20mm F1.8 G

Pros

  • Prime design typically delivers strong sharpness and lighter weight
  • Weather-sealed construction for outdoor shooting
  • Lightweight design easy to carry all day

Cons

  • Third-party or older alternatives may offer better value

70-180mm F2.8 Di III VXD

Pros

  • Versatile zoom range covers multiple focal lengths in one lens
  • Weather-sealed construction for outdoor shooting
  • Native Sony E mount compatibility

Cons

  • No optical stabilization — relies on body IBIS
  • Third-party or older alternatives may offer better value

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the FE 20mm F1.8 G and 70-180mm F2.8 Di III VXD at major authorized retailers.

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Full specifications

= category winner

FE 20mm F1.8 G
70-180mm F2.8 Di III VXD
Focal length (Min)
20 mm
70 mm
Focal length (Max)
20 mm
180 mm
Max aperture (Wide)
f/1.8+1.3 stops wider
f/2.8
Max aperture (Tele)
f/1.8+1.3 stops wider
f/2.8
Elements
10
23
Groups
8
17
Special elements
Aspherical
Aspherical
FE 20mm F1.8 G
70-180mm F2.8 Di III VXD
Min focus distance
30 cm−8 cm less
38 cm
Max magnification
0.15 ×
0.25 ×+67%
Autofocus motor
Linear / Stepping Motor
Linear / Stepping Motor
Internal focus
Yes
Yes
FE 20mm F1.8 G
70-180mm F2.8 Di III VXD
Optical stabilization
No
No
OIS effectiveness
0 stops
0 stops
FE 20mm F1.8 G
70-180mm F2.8 Di III VXD
Weight
373 g−442 g less
815 g
Length
102 mm−62 mm less
164 mm
Diameter
86 mm
81 mm−5 mm less
Filter thread size
82 mm
77 mm
Weather sealing
Yes
Yes
Diaphragm blades
11
9
FE 20mm F1.8 G
70-180mm F2.8 Di III VXD
Lens mount
Sony E
Sony E
Format coverage
Full Frame
Full Frame

Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.