Sony FE 50mm f1.4 GM lens is the smallest and lightest in its class

Sony has announced the new FE 50mm f1.4 GM lens, which is a standard prime lens claimed by the developer to be ideal for portraits, travel, street photography, and video.

The Sony FE 50mm f1.4 GM lens is composed of 14 elements in 11 groups, including 2 XA (extremely aspherical) elements and one ED (extra-low dispersion) element. Sony states that these specialized lenses are designed to reduce aberrations. Additionally, the lens elements are coated with Nano AR II to minimize flare and ghosting. The 11-blade aperture provides soft background defocus. The front element is fluorine-coated to prevent dust, oil, water, and other contaminants from adhering.

The FE 50mm f1.4 GM lens is a relatively compact lens, and Sony claims it is the smallest and lightest in its class. It weighs 516 grams, measures 80.6 x 96.0mm, and has a filter diameter of 67mm. The lens has a minimum focus distance of 0.41m and a maximum magnification of 0.16x in autofocus mode and 0.18x in manual focus mode.

According to Sony, the Silent XD linear focus motors make this lens ideal for video. The new lens can focus 1.9x faster than the original 2016 Sony/Zeiss 50mm F1.5 ZA. It’s also sharper and cheaper than the ZA version. The lens is dust and moisture-resistant, with sealed seams, buttons, bayonets, and switches equipped with rubber gaskets.

Price and release date

The lens will be available for pre-order from today on the Bhphotovideo.com and Adorama.com websites, and it will cost $1298.

Sony FE 50mm f1.4 GM specifications

• Focal Length: 50mm
• Maximum Aperture: f/1.4
• Minimum Aperture: f/22
• Lens Mount: Sony E
• Lens Format Coverage: Full-Frame
• Minimum Focus Distance: 16.1″ / 41 cm
• Maximum Magnification: 0.16x
• Optical Design: 14 Elements in 11 Groups
• Diaphragm Blades: 11, Rounded
• Focus Type: Autofocus
• Image Stabilization: No
• Front Filter Size: 67 mm
• Dimensions (ø x L): 3.2 x 3.8″ / 80.6 x 96 mm
• Weight: 18.2 oz / 516 g

Sony recently announced a 20-70mm F4 G standard zoom lens for full-frame mirrorless cameras. The lens features a lightweight and compact body and has a wide angle of 20mm, which is unique among standard zoom lenses, which typically have a wide angle of 24mm.

It is also available for pre-order on Bhphotovideo.com and Adorama.com at $1,098, and it will go on sale in March 2023.