The Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM is a standard prime lens for Sony E-mount mirrorless 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. It has a bright maximum aperture of f/1.4 that provides excellent low-light performance and bokeh quality.
It also has a fast and quiet autofocus system that works well with Sony's eye AF and tracking modes. It was announced in January 2023 as a replacement for the older Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA lens, which was made in collaboration with Zeiss.
In this review, we will look at the main features, pros and cons of this lens, based on various sources¹²³.
Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM Features
| Features | Value |
| Mount | Sony E (FE) |
| Full Frame | Yes |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Image Stabilization | No |
| Lens Construction | 14 elements in 10 groups |
| Special Elements | Two XA (eXtreme Aspherical) elements, one ED (Extra-low Dispersion) element, one Super ED element, Nano AR II coating |
| Angle of View | 47 degrees |
| Diaphragm Blades | 11 |
| Minimum Aperture | f/16 |
| Minimum Focusing Distance | 0.4m |
| Maximum Magnification Ratio | 0.17x |
| Filter Size | 72mm |
| Dimensions | 83 x 108mm |
| Weight | 778g |
| Weather Sealing | Yes |
| Lens Hood Included | Yes |
Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM Pros and Cons
Pros
- Excellent image quality for a standard prime lens
- High sharpness, contrast, color and minimal aberrations
- Smooth and circular bokeh
- Bright maximum aperture
- Fast and quiet autofocus system
- Weather-sealed construction
- Robust on-barrel controls
- Supports 30fps drive with select cameras
Cons
- Expensive
- No optical image stabilization
- Some vignetting on wider apertures
- Limited macro capability
Conclusion
The Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM is a superb standard prime lens for Sony E-mount photographers who need a high-quality and versatile lens for various situations and subjects. It offers excellent image quality and performance, with high 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 has a bright maximum aperture of f/1.4 that provides excellent low-light performance and bokeh quality. It also has a fast and quiet autofocus system that works well with Sony's eye AF and tracking modes.
The Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM is also well-built and weather-sealed, making it durable and reliable for outdoor use. It 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.
However, the Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM is not without its flaws. It is expensive, costing more than twice as much as some of its competitors. It has no optical image stabilization, which may be an issue for handheld shooting at slower shutter speeds or longer focal lengths.
Additionally, it exhibits slight vignetting at wider apertures, which might need to be adjusted in post-processing. It also has a limited macro capability, with a minimum focusing distance of 0.4m and a maximum magnification ratio of 0.17x.
The Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM is an excellent standard prime lens that delivers high image quality and performance in a compact and weather-sealed package. It is ideal for photographers who need a bright and versatile lens for various scenes and subjects, such as portraits, landscapes, street photography and more.
However, it is also expensive and lacks optical image stabilization, so it may not be the best choice for everyone.
Further Reading
(1) Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM review | Digital Camera World