The 50mm f/1.4 is arguably one of the most popular lenses of all time. And Sony just released a second offer for their full-frame mirrorless lineup.
in 2016, Sony released Sony Zeiss Planar T* FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA. And since then, it has become a very popular lens in the Sony FE series. But in true Sony style, they just released the latest update, Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM. And just like when Sony updated it Sony 24-70mm GM II and 70-200mmGM IIThis new lens is lighter, faster, and smaller than any other full-frame 50mm mirrorless lens on the market.
To get started, let’s quickly compare some specs. The Sony Zeiss Planar T* FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA lens has a close focusing distance of 17.76 inches and weighs 780 g. Newly released Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art The lens has a close focusing distance of 17.7 inches and weighs 660 g. The new Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM lens has a close focusing distance of 16 inches and weighs only 516 g. The new GM lens also has a 67mm filter diameter, while the other two have a 72mm diameter. So this proves that the new GM lens is lighter, thinner and also significantly shorter. And from there, we don’t have much else to compare this lens with, because Canon and Nikon don’t even offer a 50mm f/1.4 lens in their lineup.
In addition to the external physical qualities of this lens and its better close focusing distance, this lens also features two of the new and upgraded XD linear motors for autofocus. These motors are paired with a fully internal focusing system, so the lens won’t change size when focusing. XD linear motors are also extremely quiet to help you achieve fast and quiet autofocus while recording video. These new motors will also be 1.9x faster than the already fast Sony Zeiss Planar T* FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA. Finally, the focus system is also designed to minimize focus breathing when recording video, and the lens can also track focus at up to 120 fps for use with slow-motion video. .
Looking back on the outside of the lens, you’ll find an aperture ring that gives you the control to adjust the aperture in 1/3-stop increments. You also have an iris lock and click switch to lock this ring and make it move more smoothly respectively. You’ll also find two programmable buttons that allow users to assign their favorite features to the lens for quicker and easier access. From here, all these wheels, buttons, and switches are dust and moisture resistant along with the mount and all of the lens seams.
At least one thing worth knowing when choosing this lens is that it is almost identical in size when compared to the FE 35mm f/1.4 GM and FE 24mm f/1.4 GM Glass. So when I shoot weddings, I have the new 50mm in my pocket along with my 24mm GM. So I found myself constantly reaching for one lens and accidentally grabbing the opposite lens, which isn’t a bad thing considering the build and quality of the lens. You’ll just need to keep in mind where each lens is in your bag, or physically mark each lens to help make changes as smooth and fast as possible.
What I like
- Unmatched size and weight.
- Extremely fast and accurate autofocus.
- All the bells and whistles you would expect from a GM lens.
What I don’t like
- While the close focusing distance is best in class, I still wish it was a bit closer. But I also know I’m being unreasonable with that request.
At the end of the day, the Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM lens as close to perfect as possible. It’s lighter, faster, and has more features than any other full-frame mirrorless lens. It will also sell for $1,299, which is cheaper than their old Sony Zeiss Planar T* FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA lens and not much more expensive than the Sigma 50mm Art. So this lens could justify upgrading from an older lens, and if it’s your first 50mm lens for your Sony, it should be at the top of your list.
