Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 G Master lens review

Conventional wisdom is that you get a sharper result from a fixed-focal-length prime lens, like the Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 G Master, than you do from a jack-of-all-trades zoom. And sharpness is key, especially if you’re spending thousands on top-end Sony cameras with large, 50- or 60-megapixel full-frame sensors, such as the A1 II or the A7CR. We want to be able to pair such models with the very best optics to resolve the very highest degree of detail. Go big or go home; it’s no use going for a budget option here.

Sony has always marketed its G Master series as the best lenses it offers. Think of this family as the nearest equivalent to Zeiss lenses, which have long been the market exemplar. Thus, this bright and fast 50-mm f/1.4 maximum aperture option raises expectations from the start — that is, if you can stomach the high asking price.

So, in practice, can the Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 G Master lens compete with the best of the best?

Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 G Master lens: Design

★ ★ ★ ★

• Ridged aperture-control ring and separate focus ring
• Focus-hold buttons and iris lock switch
• Ability to attach 67mm filters

With a moisture- and dust-resistant build, the bulbous-looking Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 G Master lens feels solid in the palm and reassuringly well constructed; there’s nothing lightweight about this lens. That said, its 1.14-pound (516 grams) build is manageable, and when allied with the likes of Sony’s top-tier A1 II or A9 III cameras, this lens makes for a solid match, rather than a front-heavy one.

Although it’s a fixed-focal-length lens, a ridged aperture-control ring provides an array of settings, allowing easy adjustments to be made in the moment in a very hands-on way. Available apertures incrementally marked on the ring range from a maximum of f/1.4 for optimal brightness to a minimum of f/16 for a greater depth of field.

Lens caps and a lens hood are included in the box. The lens hood features a locking button to prevent accidental detachment, along with a padded carry pouch with Velcro fastenings. To provide a tight seal when screwed into place on the front of the camera, there is a thin strip of rubber around the lens mount, while 67-mm filters can be accommodated on the front.

Tucked just behind the front of the lens is a ridged and rubberized focus ring that is pleasingly tactile, with a dedicated switch for swapping between manual focus and autofocus provided on the lens barrel itself. There are two shutter-release-sized, customizable focus-hold buttons that can be operated by forefinger or thumb. Everything here falls readily under the forefinger or thumb, which makes for intuitive and swift use.

Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 G Master lens: Performance

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

• 50-mm focal length, which provides a natural field of view for still life and portraits
• Bright/fast maximum aperture, which produces creamy bokeh effects
• f/1.4 setting, which affords blur-free, handheld shooting

A 50-mm lens is an excellent option for portraiture and still-life work, in particular, by virtue of its natural field of view. That bright, fast f/1.4 maximum aperture provides plenty of opportunity to achieve beautiful bokeh-style effects, which isolate subjects with subtle background blur. It also offers photographers the chance to shoot handheld in lower light and still achieve sharply focused images that are free from the obvious effects of camera shake.

When the Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 G Master lens works in tandem with the in-body image stabilization systems of Sony cameras, such as the A1 II, the results are consistently impressive.

As with any camera or lens test, we were watching out for a potential falloff of focus toward the edges of the frame and any telltale examples of chromatic aberration. Typically, we might spot a bluish/purplish fringing or outline between areas of high contrast, such as the dark branches of a tree photographed against a bright, blue sky. However, we are happy to report that this lens showed none of those effects, even when we enlarged portions of our shots to really zoom in on the detail.

This was the case not just for daylight photography but also astrophotography, even when we enlarged portions of an image to 4x or 5x to really subject the stars at night to the same degree of scrutiny. As expected, a nano coating has been applied to the surface of the lens to minimize the possibility of ghosting or lens flare, with the supplied lens hood also helping to avoid the former in brighter conditions.

We shot at night wide open at f/1.4, with the camera and lens mounted on a tripod to allow for exposures of up to 10 seconds, and toggled between ISO1000 and ISO1600. The Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 G Master lens delivered pleasing results, with any possible instances of vignetting and coma distortion well under control, even into the corners of the frame. Day or night, this lens really showed its mettle.

When combined, the high-quality lens and high-resolution full-frame camera sensor deliver a lifelike level of detail and color. The almost-three-dimensional images had true depth, with subjects appearing to leap off the screen when viewed on a desktop.

The only caveat to an unequivocal recommendation is this lens’s high asking price, which would alternatively buy any keen amateur an enthusiast-level mirrorless camera body. However you look at it, this lens is a serious investment, even if you get a return on investment in the superbly detailed, best-in-class images.

Sony A1 II: Functionality

★ ★ ★ ★

• Construction comprising 14 elements in 11 groups
• One extra-low dispersion ED element, plus two Extreme Aspherical XA elements
• Minimal chromatic aberration and enhanced corner sharpness

With Sony’s latest cameras presenting themselves as hybrid solutions ably suited to both video recording and stills shooting, the Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 G Master lens is a perfect option for either pursuit.

Two XD linear AF motors offer a swift and nearly silent internal focus response. Sony claims that these have a boosted autofocus speed this time around, and we’d describe them as lightning fast. You also get focus-hold buttons and an iris lock switch. Selecting a different aperture in the moment is a cinch, with a low audible click and a definite “bite” point with each setting selected and locked.

As always with Sony, the build quality is high. It didn’t feel like our aperture choices could be accidentally nudged out of whack while we were handling the lens or camera. For those who are also using this lens to shoot video, reassurance comes in the form of compatibility with Sony cameras’ onboard focus breathing correction to avoid any distractions for the viewer.

All in all, the Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 G Master lens is not only functional but very fluid to use. If you pair it with a camera like the Sony A1 II, which features artificial intelligence-enhanced autofocus, you can give your full attention to your subject and framing, rather than fretting about what the camera or lens may or may not be doing.

Again, in low light, this lens performs very well, with the autofocus able to pinpoint a subject when we were shooting both at dusk and in near-complete darkness, with only the stars and moon to illuminate our surroundings on a nearly cloudless night.

How we tested the Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 G Master lens

We used the Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 G Master lens while shooting at various apertures depending on the conditions at the time, which, as is typical for February in Britain, were dull and rainy one moment and bright with strong sunshine the next.

We used the Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 G Master lens in conjunction with Sony’s latest 50MP A1 II full-frame mirrorless body. That’s the most expensive, most technically advanced flagship camera in Sony’s current lineup, meaning the demands of its sensor and lightning-fast AF performance really put this lens through its paces. It was a perfect pairing in many respects, with the body and lens also boasting a similar degree of weatherproofing.

User reviews of the Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 G Master lens

Users say the Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 G Master lens is perfect for portrait shoots, engagement shoots and weddings. The sharpness of focus is singled out for praise, as is the background blur, “creamy bokeh” effect when shooting at maximum aperture, which lifts a subject from its background. Other users equally praise this lens’s low-light performance, its robust construction, and its relatively compact size for its class.

Should I buy the Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 G Master lens?

This lens is for those who want to squeeze the maximum possible detail and resolution out of whichever Sony full-frame sensor incorporating camera body it’s being matched with. Its ultra/bright, fast f/1.4 aperture will allow for great results in lower and more challenging lighting conditions without the aid of flash, such as star gazing, while also providing creamy defocused backgrounds so portrait or still life images really stand out. Yes, there are less expensive alternatives out there, including those from third-party manufacturers. But if you’ve already invested a huge amount in your camera body, why not opt for the best glass to go with it?

If the Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 G Master lens isn’t for you

Creatives on a tighter budget should check out less-expensive alternatives from third-party suppliers that would suit full-frame Sony E-mount cameras, including from Sigma and Tamron. For example, Sigma offers its own very capable Japanese-made 50mm prime in the f/1.4 DG DN ‘Art’ series lens, which is almost half the price of this Sony behemoth. Alternatively, if a bright, fast f/1.4 aperture isn’t quite enough, Sony E-mount users should also look at the even-larger-aperture FE 50mm f/1.2 GM lens, which delivers flawless results but comes at an even greater expense.