After relatively few leaks, Sony has now officially announced the new Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 G Master lens. It comes hot on the heels of Sigma’s recently announced 50mm f/1.4 DG DN Art series lens, but at significantly higher price. This cost over the Sigma might be a tough pill for some Sony shooters to swallow.
Sony’s new lens features an 11-blade aperture that opens up to a wide f/1.4 and stops down all the way to f/22. Two XD linear AF motors with internal focus ensure quick silent focusing. It has a dust and moisture-resistant construction, with Nano AR II and Fluorine coatings for maximum image clarity as well as to help raindrops fall off that front element.
The Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM lens sports a physical aperture ring, which can be declicked for video use. It features both focus hold buttons and an iris lock switch, preventing you from accidentally adjusting the aperture when you don’t mean to – also very handy for shooting video. The two XD Linear AF motors provide fast and silent autofocus while the internal focusing system ensures your lens always stays the same length for when you’re up close and personal to a subject.
The minimum focus distance isn’t super close, though. At 41cm, it means that you’re able to get fairly close to subjects, but not super close. The internal focusing system also means that the front of the lens won’t rotate as you adjust focus, allowing you to retain the orientation of polariser and VND filters as the focus distance changes. The lens is also supported by Sony’s recent Focus Breathing Correction feature found on newer Sony cameras.
| Focal length | 50mm |
| Max aperture | f/1.4 |
| Min aperture | f/22 |
| Lens mount | Sony E |
| Format | Full-frame |
| Angle of view | Unspecified |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 41cm |
| Optics | 14 elements in 11 groups |
| Aperture blades | 11, rounded |
| Focus type | Autofocus |
| Stabilisation | None |
| Filter size | 67mm (front) |
| Dimensions | 80.6 x 96mm |
| Weight | 516G |
| Launch Price | $1,299 |
The Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM is available to pre-order now for $1,299 and begins shipping around late April or early May.
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