Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM lens

Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 G Master lens

Sony has an earlier professional FE 50mm F1.2 G Master and now it's time to replace the previous Zeiss version with the 50mm F1.4 G Master. It offers top-notch image quality but thanks to the faster aperture, it's smaller in size, weight and price .

This is very similar to the acclaimed 24mm and 35m F1.4 G master lenses, meaning it comes with an aperture ring that can be locked to be adjusted only from the camera. The size is very compatible with Sony bodies. There are now two programmable Function buttons.

• Two programmable Function buttons
• Lockable aperture control ring with or without clicks
• Handy size, weighs 516g
• Closest focusing distance 41cm (38cm with manual focus)
• 2pcs XD focus motors, fast focusing in photos and video
• 67mm filter thread

Which one to choose: Sony 50mm F1.4 GM vs. Sony F1.2 GM?

Sony now has two top-of-the-line modern 50mm lenses, choosing between them can be tricky because the lenses have so much in common but there are also some slight differences.

• The sharpness of the image is quite similar in the center at full aperture (i.e. good!)
• Corner sharpness slightly better with the F1.4 version
• If sharpness is most important, then F1.2 is optimal with a lower aperture.
• In video shooting, F1.4 has less Focus Breathing, but compensation in new bodies corrects this difference

If the differences seem small, that's exactly what it should be like with 50mm lenses, which actually provide the best quality, but both lenses have their place, F1.2 takes the features and image quality to the peak, but F1.4 is a very balanced package.

The lens's Nano AR Coating II seems particularly effective; there are no distracting reflections when shooting against backlight, meaning you can take advantage of the beautiful light of mornings and evenings and boldly shoot directly into the light.

The bokeh is soft as it should be, on both sides of the focus area. The lens has 11 rounded diaphragm blades, so the image remains beautiful even at smaller apertures. The Sony 50mm F1.4 is a completely new design, meaning it is not based on old lenses, and the optical structure is complex in modern style, 14 elements in 11 groups and includes 2 XA 1 ED and 1 aspherical.

The Sony FE 50mm F1.4 GM includes weather protection and a coating on the outer lens element that makes cleaning easier.

Specifications:

• Compatibility: Sony FE mount
• Focal length: 50mm
• Aperture: F1.4 (min. f/22)
• Closest focusing distance: 41cm (max. magnification 0.16x)
• Optical construction: 14 elements in 11 groups, 11 rounded diaphragm blades
• Filter thread: 67mm
• Size 80.6 x 96mm
• Weight: 516g

Sales package includes: Sony FE 50mm F1.4 GM lens, protective caps, lens hood