Sony FE 50/1.2 GM vs Sony FE 50/1.4 GM?
Related: Sony, Sony FE, Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM, Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM, Sony Lenses
I bought the Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM back when I tested it in 2021. Since then I have used it little. Gorgeous rendering, to be sure, but it’s a marginal performer for landscape.
Notwithstanding its fantasy MTF (see 50/1.2 GM MTF chart), the 50/1.2 GM is nowhere near the match of the Voigtlander FE 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar for practical field use.
Most troublesome, the Sony 50/1.2 GM has to be at f/5.6 just to get sharp across the field. But at least is vastly better-behaved than the Nikon Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.2 S.
Now we have the smaller/lighter/cheaper Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM (about $1298), and I’m thinking that it might be the better lens for landscape... and might not.
Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM
The fantasy MTF chart for the 50/1.4 GM is impressive, which is to say it is likely bullshit that as with the 50/1.2GM will not match reality. And stopped-down , it has more astigmatism than the 50/1.2 GM. Only field shots can really tell us much—what Sony can design vs what Sony can build are two different things.
Specifications
- Breathtaking G MasterTM image quality right out to the edges of the frame
- Innovative optics and a large F1.4 aperture deliver magnificent bokeh
- Highly mobile, lightweight and compact lens with incredible performance
- Fast, precise, quiet autofocus and tracking for stills and movies
- Circular aperture with 11-blade iris for naturally rendered bokeh
- Excellent close-up performance and magnification for eye-opening detail
- ED glass element minimizes chromatic aberration for precisely rendered edge detail
- Nano AR Coating II for outstanding clarity and minimized flare and ghosting
- Support for Active Mode2 stabilization for stable handheld video
- Dedicated aperture ring, click/de-click and iris lock switches
- Customizable focus hold buttons in two locations for easy access and control
- Linear Response MF for precise, repeatable manual focus control
- Instant auto/manual focus selection via AF/MF switch
- Front fluorine coating repels fingerprints, dust, water and oil
- Dust and moisture resistant3 design for reliability in challenging conditions
- Compatible with 67 mm filters same as SEL24F14GM and SEL35F14GM
- Round shaped, bayonet mount lens hood ALC-SH173 supplied
Nice specs on paper.
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Specifications
As per Sony.
| Focal length: | 20-70mm (nominal) |
| Aperture range: | f/1.4 - f/16 |
| Focusing range: | 16.1in = 41cm |
| Angle of view: | 47° |
| Number of elements/groups: | 14 elements in 11 groups |
| Diaphragm: | 11 blades, rounded |
| Magnification: | 0.39X = 1:2.56 |
| Filter thread: | 67mm |
| Weight (as weighed): | 18.2 oz = 516 (nominal) |
| Dimensions: | Approx. 3.2 X 3.8 in = 80.6 X 96mm |
| Street price: | about $1298 |
| Supplied with: | Front Lens Cap |
