Sony E 24mm F1 8 ZA Carl ZEISS Sonnar T Review | 54 Data compared

The Sony E 24mm f/1.8 Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* ZA is a premium wide-angle prime lens for E-mount APS-C cameras that delivers exceptional optical performance. Its primary strengths include excellent sharpness even at f/1.8, quick and near-silent autofocus, and better-than-expected macro capabilities with a 6-inch minimum focusing distance. The build quality is notably sturdy with a professional matte black finish, yet it remains relatively lightweight at 8oz, making it a well-balanced companion for compact mirrorless bodies. Despite its high performance, the lens has a few specific drawbacks, most notably its high retail price of approximately $1,000. While corner shading is well-managed, the lens does exhibit light chromatic aberration in high-contrast areas and a prominent -0.5% pincushion distortion, which is unusual for a wide-angle lens. Additionally, the "fly-by-wire" focus ring design means there are no physical hard stops at infinity or close-focus, and the lens lacks external features like a distance scale or depth-of-field index. If you'd like to learn more, I can: Compare it to modern alternatives like the Sony 24mm f/2.8 G. Explain how it performs on newer high-resolution...

The Sony Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* E 24mm f/1.8 ZA is a high-quality walk-around prime lens engineered specifically for Sony's cropped-frame (APS-C) mirrorless cameras, including older NEX models and the A5000 and A6000 series. Developed through a collaboration between Sony and Carl Zeiss, it incorporates premium T* optical coatings across its eight-element design. The lens provides a highly versatile 36mm equivalent focal length on cropped bodies, making it a mild wide-angle choice well-suited for everyday street and general-purpose photography. Architecturally, it remains remarkably portable, featuring a compact 63x66mm barrel that weighs just 225g and utilizes a standard 49mm filter thread. In terms of performance, the main benefits of the lens include its bright f/1.8 maximum aperture and a close minimum focusing distance of 16cm, which delivers a strong 0.25x maximum magnification. This fast focal ratio allows photographers to shoot comfortably in low-light environments without forcing high ISO settings, while also creating appealing shallow depth-of-field separation. On the negative side, the lens shows optical weaknesses at its widest apertures, where image quality can become slightly soft in the extreme corners. Despite...

The Carl Zeiss 24mm f/1.8 Sonnar E ZA T* lens is a top-tier prime for Sony APS-C, offering exceptional image sharpness, particularly in the center when stopped down. It is praised for its high-end build quality, lightweight balance, and quick, precise autofocus, making it ideal for both stills and video. However, the lens exhibits relatively high chromatic aberration toward the frame edges and carries a steep, premium price tag of approximately £760. Despite the lack of Optical SteadyShot and the high cost, the lens is considered justified by its overall performance.

According to Ken Rockwell, the Sony Zeiss Sonnar T* E 24mm f/1.8 ZA is an elite-performing, all-metal APS-C lens offering extreme sharpness at f/1.8, ultra-smooth bokeh, and fast autofocus, providing a 39mm equivalent focal length. Key pros include its close 1-foot focusing distance and high-grade construction. Conversely, the lens has a high retail price, uses a focus-by-wire system, and displays, as noted on KenRockwell.com, minor to moderate pincushion distortion that usually requires in-camera correction. Despite these factors, it is considered a premier choice for Sony's APS-C NEX system.

The Sony Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* E 24mm F1.8 ZA is an Editors' Choice-winning, 36mm equivalent wide-angle prime for Sony APS-C cameras, praised for outstanding, sharp performance even at f/1.8. The lens offers excellent close-focus capabilities and minimal distortion, making it a versatile choice for photographers. However, the lens lacks optical image stabilization (OSS) and weather sealing, limiting its performance in harsh environments or low-light, handheld shooting. The $1,100 price tag is high, and notable edge dimming (vignetting) occurs at wider apertures.

The OpticalLimits review of the Zeiss Sonnar T* 24mm f/1.8 ZA (SEL24F18Z) highlights it as an exceptionally sharp, premium-built prime lens for Sony APS-C cameras, boasting fast autofocus and a 16cm minimum focus distance. It provides excellent center sharpness even at f/1.8, peaking at f/4, while offering a compact and lightweight, all-metal construction. However, the lens suffers from severe,, vignetting (approx. 2.1 EV) at f/1.8 requiring heavy correction, along with visible chromatic aberrations and mild distortion. Further, the review notes a lack of weather sealing, high sample variation regarding centering quality, and significant corner performance penalties when correcting for distortion.

The Carl Zeiss Sonnar E 1.8/24 ZA T* (Sony SEL24F18Z) is a premium, compact APS-C lens for Sony E-mount, featuring a versatile 36mm-equivalent focal length that excels in sharpness, particularly in the center at wide apertures. It is highly regarded for its lightweight build, fast autofocus, and excellent contrast rendering. Despite the performance, the review highlights drawbacks including a high price point, significant vignetting at f/1.8, and a lack of optical image stabilization (OSS). Additionally, it lacks weather sealing and displays moderate bokeh, with some variability in corner performance noted.