I totally get the fear of third-party lenses - iirc I used to be the same way about sticking to native Sony glass for the reliability - but honestly the market has changed so much lately. If you look at the current landscape, brands like Sigma are basically matching Sony in build quality while staying under that 1000 dollar mark. I mean, sure, Sony has the best autofocus integration, but for landscapes you are often on a tripod anyway, right? Based on my research and what I have seen in recent comparisons, here are a few other directions you could go:

• Sigma 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary
• This one is a beast for the price and has an internal zoom which is great for keeping dust out during outdoor shoots.
• Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN Art
• You might have to find this used to hit your budget, but the glass quality is legendary, definitely a step above most entry-level zooms.
• Samyang AF 18mm f/2.8 FE
• If you want something tiny and super cheap, this is a fun alternative, though quality control can be a bit hit or miss ngl. It is a tough choice because the native Sony 20mm is amazing, but these third-party options give you a lot more focal range for the same money, you know?

I totally agree about being careful with the distortion stuff and edge sharpness!!! I am still pretty new to this but I really worry about buying a lens that might have issues or break easily if it is a third party brand. Tbh I feel much safer sticking to Sony lenses so you know they will actually work with your camera body without any weird glitches or mounting problems. I have been looking at these two because they seem really reliable for the price:

• Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G: This one is supposed to be super sharp and the build quality feels very solid. Since it is a prime lens maybe it has fewer moving parts to break over time? It fits the budget well tho.
• Sony FE 16-35mm f/4 ZA OSS: The Zeiss name makes me feel like it is built to last. It has built in stabilization too which is a huge safety net for me if I forget my tripod or have shaky hands. It might be an older design tho. Honestly I would be scared to try some of those manual lenses because I dont know if I could handle the settings without messing up the shot. Basically I just want something that is guaranteed to work right out of the box. Does the 20mm seem like a safe bet for a beginner???

Unfortunately, my experience with the Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 wasn't as good as expected for landscape sharpness, especially at the edges. Had issues with distortion too. Consider renting before buying, and seriously, get your sensor calibrated professionally afterward. Better safe than sorry with wide angles!

Before buying, be careful about distortion. Some wide angles exhibit significant barrel distortion that requires correction. I'd suggest researching Laowa lenses; they offer some zero-distortion options around that price.