Sony has announced a new addition to its premium G Master series of lenses. The full-frame Sony 50mm F1.4 G Master prime lens has been designed for a wide variety of uses in both still and video production.
Image quality
As a G Master lens, the new 50 mm prime lens will give you the highest image quality. The lens has two XA (extreme aspherical) elements to correct field curvature and most types of aberration. The 50 mm lens also has one ED (extra-low dispersion) glass element that suppresses chromatic aberration. In addition, the lens features Sony’s original Nano AR Coating II, which reduces reflections even in a backlit scene.
Fast aperture
The new G Master 50mm prime lens has a fast maximum aperture of F1.4, which means it will be great in low light. You will also be able to achieve a very shallow depth of field when filming with the aperture wide open. The iris has eleven blades, giving an attractive circular bokeh in out-of-focus parts of your image.
Compact design
The new G Master 50mm prime lens is relatively small, measuring less than 3.8 inches (96 mm) in length and 3.2 inches (80.6 mm) in diameter. The lens is also light, weighing a little over 18 ounces (516 g). Sony says that the 50 mm lens is up to 33 percent lighter and has 15 percent less volume when compared to conventional models with the same specifications.
Autofocus
The new G Master 50mm prime lens has Sony’s high-thrust XD linear motors. It also incorporates an advanced control algorithm for smooth, responsive focus drive. As a result, Sony says that autofocus on the new lens is as much as 1.9x faster than conventional models with the same specifications. In addition, the 50 mm prime lens features the latest technology to reduce focus breathing and supports the breathing compensation function in compatible Sony Alpha cameras. Focus breathing is when the image changes size as you pull focus. The minimum focusing distance of the 50mm F1.4 G Master is 16.14 inches (0.41 m).
What we think
Sony’s G Master lenses are high-quality lenses designed to give you the best images you can get from your full-frame Sony mirrorless cameras. The new 50mm F1.4 prime lens also has great features for video shooting, such as fast, quiet autofocus and reduced focus breathing. In addition, its compact size means the lens should work well when paired with a Sony camera on a gimbal. The new lens has a professional price tag, but it’s still $700 cheaper than Sony’s F1.2 G Master 50mm lens. If you shoot on a Sony full-frame mirrorless camera, you should consider test driving the new G Master 50mm F1.4 prime lens.
Pricing and availability
The new Sony 50mm F1.4 G Master lens will be available in May 2023. It will retail at $1,299.
