Capturing spectacular landscape images gives another level of satisfaction. And we all know how effective wide-angle lenses are for capturing great landscape shots.
But often a confusion hits the mind –
20mm vs. 24mm, which one should be chosen?
Well, 20mm and 24mm have some significant differences. Keeping the price gap aside, they can be compared from various technical aspects as well. Viewing angle, bokeh separation, focusing, etc. differentiates both the lenses. Also, let’s not forget the low-light performance gap and fringing issues.
Understanding your concern regarding these two popular wide-angle lenses, we’re here to help you. We’ll do an apple to apple comparison of both lenses to make your choice easier.
So, it’s clear that a lot of interesting things are waiting for you to explore. Let’s get started to know more about them.
20mm vs 24mm: Quick Overview
It’s great to have a detailed comparison between two things. But a quick overview of what’s being catered makes the comparison more meaningful.
So, let’s make a quick comparison before moving on to the details.
| Comparison Factor | 20mm | 24mm |
| MFD | Near | Far |
| Field of View | More | Less |
| Low Light Capability | Slightly less | Comparatively better |
| Fringing | Invisible | Visible |
| Price | Shop Now! | Shop Now! |
Hope this quick look will help you to hover around the discussion better. However, before getting into the conversation let’s take a look at the graph below-
Things just got spiced up! Let’s just dance our way to the full exposure-
20mm vs 24mm: Detailed Discussion
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As you’ve gone through the quick comparison, now it’s time to describe those factors thoroughly. We’ve divided the whole 20mm vs. 24mm comparison into 5 segments. Let’s start exploring them one by one!
Segment 1 of 5: Minimum Focus Distance (MFD)
The 20mm lens has an MFD of 18cm whereas it is 24cm on the 24mm lens. However, the 24mm contains a better aperture (f/1.4) than the 20mm lens (f/1.8).
So, this means that the 20mm will help to get a closer look at the subject. Because it has got less MFD. But the 24mm will have a better bokeh effect due to the superior aperture.
Here you can see that for better bokeh separation, 24mm is the one to go. Or else, 20mm for a more detailed view on close subjects.
But 24mm wins in the 20mm vs 24mm wedding battle or 20mm vs 24mm portrait battle. And it’s obviously because of better bokeh effects and better aperture.
However, as 24mm is perfect for wedding shoots, getting a memory card with it would be a wise move. Because you might shoot mostly in burst mood. And that instantly eats up a huge space.
So, some of the of the memory cards with great capacity and speed are-
However, be extra careful while inserting the card otherwise it can get locked while you’re taking photos.
Winner: 24mm
Segment 2 of 5: Field of View
The 4mm difference between the lenses plays a big role here. Due to this difference, the field of view won’t be the same on both lenses.
The 20mm and 24mm both are wide-angle lenses. But if you keep them at the same place, the 20mm will capture a wider view.
Source:https://www.stores5s.tk/
So, if you compare 20mm vs 24mm for landscape, the 20mm will have an upper hand. Also, the wider capturing will help you in indoor situations if there’s less space.
However, the 24mm lens angle of view is comparatively less here.
Winner: 20mm
Segment 3 of 5: Low Light Capability
As known before, the 20mm wide lens has an aperture of f/1.8. On the other hand, the 24mm wide lens has an aperture of f/1.4. This aperture difference plays a big role in low-light scenarios.
A lower aperture means the lens can capture more light in the photo. When we compared noise and grain we noticed, a lower aperture can help to reduce both. Now the 24mm prime lens has the lower aperture in this case.
Also, you can get a polarizing filter with your 24mm to remove reflections and glare. Especially if you’re shooting in low light but with a brighter background.
Fret not! We already have explored plenty of filters to recommend you the most appropriate one. Let’s take a look at the list below-
- Tiffen 67CP 67mm Circular Polarizer– reasonable and great at low light
- Amazon Basics Circular Polarizer– best for outdoor photography
Now, if you see, in the battle of 20mm vs 24mm lens, 24mm will win in low light performance. The 20mm lens photos are still good, but they will slightly lag in low light.
Winner: 24mm
Segment 4 of 5: Fringing Issue
The 20mm and 24mm both are excellent in terms of sharpness and details. But the 24mm wide-angle lens has some fringing issues.
When tested, it’s seen that the 24mm has some reddish or greenish fringing issues. But the 20mm lens doesn’t suffer from this issue. On different apertures, this purple fringing issue is noticed.
So, here the 20mm is slightly advantageous although, in real life, this doesn’t bother much.
However if you want to fix the fringing issue in your 24mm lens, get a UV filter. Some of the recommendations you can definiertly rely on are-
| Tiffen 58UVP 58mm UV Protection Filter | Grab it Today! |
| Amazon Basics UV Protection | Grab it Today! |
But let me tell you, using this filter might not solve the fringing issue everytime.
Winner: 20mm
Segment 5 of 5: Astrophotography
20mm vs 24mm for astrophotography has some mixed aspects. Note that both are capable of great astrophotography.
However, a 20mm lens uses a wider field of view, so it can capture more area. On the other hand, 24mm lens astrophotography can capture more light due to lower aperture.
So, here the choice is up to you.
Winner: Tie
20mm vs 24mm – Which One to Go With?
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For a final verdict let’s chalk out what is a 20mm lens good for. Also, let’s not forget what is a 24mm lens good for.
Comparing the two, we see that some thin lines differentiate their purpose of use.
Now, if you’re someone who loves to capture more landscape views, 20mm is more suited for you. Although not as wide as 20mm, 24mm is still wider than 28mm.
On the contrary, portrait shots and low light shots are best captured in 24mm. Also, 24mm is the latest one, and holds some miscellaneous advantages.
However, 24mm costs a lot of money compared to 20mm. So, if you’re tight on budget, probably you should go for the 20mm one.
Thus, considering these factors, choose the best one for you.
FAQs
Is 24mm suited for street photography?
Yes, 24mm is suited for street photography. But depending on your preference, it can be too wide for you.
How Much does a 20mm lens cost?
A 20mm lens costs around $900. If you buy additional equipment with the lens, it can cost you more.
Which focal length is used the most?
50mm is the most used focal length. Hence, it’s more available and costs less. They contain faster apertures as well.
Conclusion
So, this was all about 20mm vs. 24mm lenses. We hope now you’ll have a better understanding while comparing the two.
If you’re someone new in photography, then 20mm will be a good option for you. However, if spending is not an issue, you can always go for 24mm.
Best wishes!