Sony plugs a gap in its G Master lens range, and with a lens that some thought couldn't be done – an E-mount f/1.2 prime
(Image credit: Sony)
This isn't the first full frame 50mm lens in Sony's full frame E-mount line-up – there are no fewer than four others – but it's the first to bear the prestigious G Master branding and first lens in the entire Sony range to offer a maximum aperture of f/1.2.
The aperture of the Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM is a welcome surprise because many believed that the Sony E-mount, which is physically narrower than Nikon's Z mount and Canon's RF mount, wasn't wide enough to allow apertures as wide as this. Clearly that's not the case.
Officially designated SEL50F12GM in the Sony catalog, the FE 50mm F1.2 G Master includes three XA (extreme aspherical) lens elements in its design. These XA lenses use ultra-high precision manufacturing techniques and are a trademark of Sony's G Master lenses.
A maximum aperture of f/1.2 will obviously tempt bokeh fans, and Sony claims its new lens is designed for high resolution right across the image, even wide open. The bokeh benefits from an 11-bladed circular aperture mechanism and a design which minimises any spherical aberration.
Sony says the FE 50mm F1.2 G Master has a 'compact and lightweight design', but these things are relative, and any full frame 50mm f/1.2 lens is going to be pretty hefty. This one measures 87x108mm and weighs 778g.
Ultra-fast prime lens designs can mean the autofocus motors have to drive big, heavy focus elements too, but the new lens has no fewer than four XD (extreme dynamic) Linear Motors with high thrust efficiency. Alongside this, the new lens has Linear Response MF (Manual Focus), an aperture ring with a click on/off switch, a focus mode switch and two customizable focus hold buttons.
The FE 50mm F1.2 GM also has a dust and moisture resistant design and a fluorine coating on the front element to resist fingerprints, dust, water, oil and other contaminants.
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Rod is an independent photography journalist and editor, and a long-standing Digital Camera World contributor, having previously worked as DCW's Group Reviews editor. Before that he has been technique editor on N-Photo, Head of Testing for the photography division and Camera Channel editor on TechRadar, as well as contributing to many other publications. He has been writing about photography technique, photo editing and digital cameras since they first appeared, and before that began his career writing about film photography. He has used and reviewed practically every interchangeable lens camera launched in the past 20 years, from entry-level DSLRs to medium format cameras, together with lenses, tripods, gimbals, light meters, camera bags and more. Rod has his own camera gear blog at fotovolo.com but also writes about photo-editing applications and techniques at lifeafterphotoshop.com
