Just like the mobile phone industry, where new brands and manufacturers frequently emerge with bold innovations and/or competitive offerings, the photography market is no stranger to fresh faces aiming to make their mark. In this case, the latest entrant is SG-Image, also known by its Chinese name, 深光影像.
Intro
Although SG-Image is still a relatively new name in the photography world, the company is quickly positioning itself as a serious contender in the camera lens and imaging technology space. Impressively, they’ve already built a lineup of around 13 lenses — a well-rounded mix that includes both manual and autofocus options, models designed for full-frame and APS-C sensors, and even a selection of cinematic lenses. It’s a diverse and ambitious range for such a young brand.
Following the release of their 55mm f1.8, SG-Image has now introduced the 25mm f1.8, marking their second autofocus lens made available to the global market. Generously, the team at SG-Image, who have been nothing but kind and supportive, sent me a unit of the 25mm lens (which offers a 37.5mm equivalent field of view on full-frame) to test out.
Right: Fuji X-M5 . SG-Image 25mm f1.8 @ 25mm . f1.8 . 1/250″ . ISO 320 . Nostalgic Negative
Before diving into the details, I’d like to express my thanks to the good guys at SG-Image for sending the lens. I truly appreciate their support. However, as always, their gesture has no influence on my opinions; this review remains entirely independent and unbiased.
Design and Build Quality
The lens feels great in the hand, compact and lightweight at just 145 grams. Its metal construction gives it a solid, premium feel, which I definitely appreciate. In terms of size, it’s quite comparable to the Fujifilm XF27mm f2.8 (about 10mm taller), making it a nice fit for smaller camera bodies.
Right: Fuji X-T5 . SG-Image 25mm f1.8 @ 25mm . f1.8 . 1/80″ . ISO 400 . Nostalgic Negative
That said, there are a couple of trade-offs. Unlike the XF27mm, this lens doesn’t feature an aperture ring, something some users may miss. It also uses a larger 52mm filter thread, compared to the 39mm size on the XF27mm.
One more thing to note: although many online sources mention that the lens includes a hood, the unit I received did not come with one.
Image Quality
The image quality at wide open is decent enough for the price tag. That said, the sharpness at the center is above the passing mark, but you will notice some softness at the corners. Contrast is also on the softer side.
Right: Fuji X-T5 . SG-Image 25mm f1.8 @ 25mm . f1.8 . 1/250″ . ISO 320 . Nostalgic Negative
As for chromatic aberration and vignetting, both are present but manageable in real-world use. Stopping down to f/2 or f/2.8 noticeably improves overall image quality, tightening up sharpness and contrast.
Right: Fuji X-M5 . SG-Image 25mm f1.8 @ 25mm . f1.8 . 1/1400″ . ISO 320 . Nostalgic Negative
However, if you’re hoping for striking sunstar effects, this lens may fall short — it doesn’t particularly excel in that area.
Focusing
It is equipped with the standard Stepper Motor (STM), and I have no complaint with the focusing capability. It is fast, snappy, has no strong sign of focus pulling, and locks to the subject quite accurately.
Right: Fuji X-T5 . SG-Image 25mm f1.8 @ 25mm . f1.8 . 1/110″ . ISO 125 . Nostalgic Negative
If you are interested in doing manual focus, the focus ring is fine, not the best but not the worst either.
Minimum Focus Distance (MFD)
Considering its compact size and budget-friendly price, the 30cm minimum focusing distance (MFD) is fairly acceptable. However, in my tests, getting close to the subject at that distance introduced noticeable softness and a drop in contrast compared to other shots. Stopping down to around f2.8 helps recover sharpness and improves overall image quality in close-up situations.
Price Point
Priced at just 69 USD, this lens comes with a highly attractive price tag that’s easy on the wallet. In fact, it’s even more affordable than the already budget-friendly TTArtisan 23mm f1.8, which retails for around 127 USD.
Others
It comes with a USB-C port, but it is located externally and not hidden at the rear lens element like others do. It is protected with a rubber seal, and it is not easy for me to spot it for the first time.
There is no mention about weather protection so be sure to avoid doing something risky to the lens.
Right: Fuji X-T5 . SG-Image 25mm f1.8 @ 25mm . f1.8 . 1/80″ . ISO 2500 . Nostalgic Negative
Lastly, it comes with 4 colours; black, silver, red and orange. Although the colors only appears on the focus ring, at least it’s a good attempt.
Who is this for?
This lens is highly versatile, coming very close to the 23mm focal length that I personally favor. It works well across a range of genres, including street photography, landscapes, environmental portraits, and photojournalism.
If you’re after something wider than 27mm (equivalent to 40mm on full-frame) but still want a compact setup, this is a solid choice.
Given its price point, it’s an easy recommendation for beginner photographers, also suitable to gift to someone.
Conclusion
SG-Image surprised me on how cheap one autofocus lens can be. Although it is not a perfect lens by any means, the image quality is still decent for social media sharing.
While an attractive price tag gives healthy competition among the third-party manufacturers, I hope it will not compromise the overall user experience with the lens.
During my test, I was told there was a new firmware for the lens to update. While updating the lens is a breeze, navigating the website to download the firmware is a little confusing. And the website isn’t in English; it might be a problem for non-Chinese-speaking photographers to find it. I have included the link to the general firmware download page below, and scroll to the lens and download. The link might be working in the future. Also, please do your own due diligence to ensure everything is clean before downloading, etc.
SG-Image firmware download center
Thank you for reading.
Disclaimer:
1. All the shots taken here were taken by me.
2. Most shots are straight out of the camera, with some edited via In-Camera Raw Processing.
3. The opinions are based on my experience. If there is any mistake, please kindly message me, and I will gladly make the amendment.
4. I reserve ownership of these images. If you wish to use my images, please notify me.
If you like my works, please follow me on either one of the 2 Instagram accounts:
If you have a Facebook account, feel free to join Fujifanboys FB group.
If you like my content and you want to show some support and keep this blog alive, you can buy me a coffee here.
Alwin Kok 