The Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM and the Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA are two standard prime lenses for Sony E-mount mirrorless cameras with full-frame coverage. They offer a bright maximum aperture of f/1.4 that provides excellent low-light performance and bokeh quality.
In this comparison, we will look at the main features, and pros and cons of Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM vs Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA, based on various sources¹²³.
They also have a fast and quiet autofocus system that works well with Sony's eye AF and tracking modes. However, they have different optical designs, features and prices that may affect their performance and suitability for different needs and preferences.
The Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM is a newer lens that replaces the older Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA, which was made in collaboration with Zeiss.
Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM
Introduction
The Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM was announced in January 2023 as a standard prime lens for Sony E-mount cameras with full-frame or APS-C sensors. It is part of Sony's G Master series of lenses, which are designed to deliver high image quality and performance.
This lens has a mixture of sharpness, contrast, color and minimal aberrations across the frame. It also has a smooth and circular bokeh that enhances the subject isolation and background blur. It is a replacement for the older Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA lens, which was made in collaboration with Zeiss.
The Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA was announced in July 2016 as a standard prime lens for Sony E-mount cameras with full-frame or APS-C sensors. It is part of Sony's Zeiss series of lenses, which are designed to deliver high image quality and performance with Zeiss optical formulas. It has a clinical sharpness, bokeh capabilities and a solid build quality, but it is also large, heavy and expensive.
Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA
Features
| Feature | Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM | Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA |
| Mount | Sony E (FE) | Sony E (FE) |
| Full Frame | Yes | Yes |
| Autofocus | Yes | Yes |
| Image Stabilization | No | No |
| Lens Construction | 14 elements in 10 groups | 12 elements in 9 groups |
| Special Elements | Two XA (eXtreme Aspherical) elements, one ED (Extra-low Dispersion) element, one Super ED element, Nano AR II coating | One AA (Advanced Aspherical) element, one ED (Extra-low Dispersion) element, Zeiss T* coating |
| Angle of View | 47 degrees | 47 degrees |
| Diaphragm Blades | 11 | 11 |
| Minimum Aperture | f/16 | f/16 |
| Minimum Focusing Distance | 0.4m | 0.45m |
| Maximum Magnification Ratio | 0.17x | 0.15x |
| Filter Size | 72mm | 72mm |
| Dimensions | 83 x 108mm | 83 x 108mm |
| Weight | 778g | 780g |
| Weather Sealing | Yes | Yes |
| Lens Hood Included | Yes | Yes |
The Pros and Cons of Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM vs Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA
Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM
| Pros | Cons |
| Excellent image quality for a standard prime lens | Expensive |
| High sharpness, contrast, color and minimal aberrations across the frame | No optical image stabilization |
| Smooth and circular bokeh | Some vignetting on wider apertures |
| Bright maximum aperture | Limited macro capability |
| Fast and quiet autofocus system | |
| Weather-sealed construction | |
| Robust on-barrel controls | |
| Supports 30fps drive with select cameras |
Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA
| Pros | Cons |
| Excellent image quality for a standard prime lens | Expensive |
| High sharpness, contrast, color and minimal aberrations across the frame | No optical image stabilization |
| Smooth and circular bokeh | Some chromatic aberration on wider apertures |
| Bright maximum aperture | Limited macro capability |
| Fast and quiet autofocus system | Large and heavy |
| Weather-sealed construction | |
| Zeiss optical formula |
Conclusion
The Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM and the Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA are both superb standard prime lenses for Sony E-mount photographers who need a high-quality and versatile lens for various situations and subjects.
They both offer excellent image quality and performance, with high sharpness, contrast, color and minimal aberrations across the frame. They also have a smooth and circular bokeh that enhances the subject isolation and background blur.
Both lenses have a bright maximum aperture of f/1.4 that provides excellent low-light performance and bokeh quality. They also have a fast and quiet autofocus system that works well with Sony's eye AF and tracking modes.
However, they also have some differences that may make one more suitable than the other for different needs and preferences. The Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM is a newer lens that replaces the older Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA, which was made in collaboration with Zeiss.
The Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM has a slightly better image quality and performance than the Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA, especially in terms of aberrations and vignetting. It also has robust on-barrel controls, including an aperture ring, an AF/MF switch, an AF hold button and a focus mode switch. It also supports 30fps drive with select cameras, such as the Sony Alpha 1.
The Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA is an older lens that was made in collaboration with Zeiss. It has a similar image quality and performance to the Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM, but it has some chromatic aberration on wider apertures that may require some correction in post-processing.
It also lacks some of the on-barrel controls of the Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM, such as the aperture ring and the focus mode switch. It also does not support 30fps drive with select cameras, such as the Sony Alpha 1.
If you are looking for a standard prime lens that offers excellent image quality and performance, a bright maximum aperture, a fast and quiet autofocus system, and robust on-barrel controls, then the Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM may be the better choice for you.
But if you are looking for a standard prime lens that offers excellent image quality and performance, a bright maximum aperture, a fast and quiet autofocus system, and a Zeiss optical formula, then the Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA may be the better choice for you.
However, neither of these lenses can match the image quality or performance of wider aperture lenses such as the Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM or the Sigma 50mm f/1.2 DG DN Art, so you may want to consider other options if you are looking for the best possible results in terms of sharpness, contrast, distortion, aberration or bokeh.
Further Reading
(1) Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM review | Digital Camera World
(2) Sony FE 50mm F1.4 GM Review | PCMag
(3) Sony 50mm f/1.4 GM Review: Another Excellent Addition to E-Mount