The Sony Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* E 24mm f1.8 ZA is a high quality prime lens for Sony’s cropped-frame / APSC mirrorless cameras, including the NEX, A5000 and A6000 series. Announced in August 2011 alongside the E 55-210mm f4.5-6.6 OSS and E 50mm f1.8 OSS, it’s a high quality lens ideal for walk-around use.

Mounted on a cropped-frame body, the E 24mm f1.8 ZA delivers 36mm equivalent coverage, a mild wide-angle that’s perfect for general-purpose or street photography. The bright f1.8 focal ratio allows you to keep shooting in lower light without compromising ISO, while also allowing shallow depth-of-field effects.

The optical design is a collaboration between Sony and Carl Zeiss and features the latter’s T* coatings. It employs eight elements in seven groups, seven aperture blades and a minimum focusing distance of 16cm for a maximum magnification of 0.25x. The barrel measures 63x66mm, weighs 225g and has a 49mm filter thread. For my review-in-progress I shot a variety of images with the lens mounted on a number of Sony bodies, new and old.

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