Sony FE 24mm f/2.8 G, Sony FE 40mm f/2.5 G, Sony FE 50mm f/2.5 G: Brilliant Design of the Lens Hoods and Front Lens Elements
Related: Sony, Sony FE, Sony FE 24mm f/2.8 G, Sony FE 40mm f/2.5 G, Sony FE 50mm f/2.5 G, Sony Lenses
See prior posts for details on these lenses. They are here for testing and you’ll soon see some evaluations.
Sony FE 24mm f/2.8 G
Sony FE 40mm f/2.5 G
Sony FE 50mm f/2.5 G
I have call this out explicitly: Sony did not just design cheaper prime lenses. These are among the best-built and best conceived compact portable lenses I have ever seen, in design terms. Optical evaluation to follow of course.
First, we have the manual aperture ring which also works on A from the camera (I like to choose sometimes), the Focus Hold button (programmable), the AF/MF switch (super useful at times), and excellent linear focus by wire.
A top PITA for me out there in the field is that with most lenses, the lens shades do diddly squat if pointed anywhere near the sun. This is extremely awkard on steep sleeps and such, which are frequent scenarios for me.
Not so with these new G lenses. For starters, the front elements are recessed, which right away reduces non-image-forming light hitting that front elements. Add on the lens shades and the first thing I noticed in shooting towards the sun today is that I did not need to shade the front lens element from the sun with my hand. Shooting tighter to the sun I’d still have to , ut those small recessed elements reduce the need.
The lens hoods are so well designed: not only do they narrow-in, they are internally further baffled, to cut even more light out, particularly the 40mm and 50mm, but even the 24mm to a smaller extent. These are the smartest-designed lense shades I have seen in a long time.
Yes, that matters to real field shooting for optimal contrast, which is why I end up always shading the front lens element with my hand for most lenses. Even a bright sky can be an issue with some (or a less than pristine filter).
And with the 40mm and 50mm, the lens shade clips onto the hood or the lens without the hood—slick. The 24mm clips onto the lens, which keeps it at 49mm. And all of them share the 49mm size.
Sony FE 40mm f/2.5 G
Sony FE 24mm f/3.5 G
