Sony's latest full-frame G Master lens is a fresh take on an extra-bright prime. The FE 50mm F1.2 GM sports an angle of view that's not really wide or telephoto, but it's versatile—good for snapshots, portraits, and day-to-day photography.
It's Sony's first prime that opens up to F1.2, but unlike recent entries from rivals Canon and Sony, the FE 50mm F1.2 GM isn't any bigger than an F1.4 prime. The barrel is a little wider than the current-generation FE 50mm F1.4 ZA, but the new lens is the same weight, about 1.7 pounds.
For comparison, look at the Canon RF 50mm F1.2 L USM and Nikkor Z 50mm F1.2 S, which are noticeably bigger and denser—the Nikon weighs 2.4 pounds.
G Master Optics
There's no magic pixie dust at play. Instead Sony is leveraging its optical prowess. It's using three extreme aspheric (XA) lens elements in the optical formula. These ultra-curved pieces of glass work to sharpen edges and reduce optical aberrations.
Sony's molding techniques also work to minimize the onion ring effect that aspheric elements can cause in defocused highlights. As a member of the G Master family, the lens promises to capture photos with strong detail and pleasing defocused backgrounds.
The lens barrel is polycarbonate and, like many of Sony's cameras, is protected from dust and splashes. Its front element is coated with Sony's Nano AR anti-reflective finish, and also sports anti-smudge fluorine.
An aperture ring is included for photographers who like to set the f-stop via the lens. It can be set to click in at third-stop increments or turn freely. The latter is a plus for quieter and smoother adjustment when recording video.
Focus promises to be quick and steady, enough to use for recording moving pictures too. Four motors drive two focusing groups, a design that's fast enough to track moving subjects at F1.2 and also reduces the focus breathing effect. The lens focuses pretty close, to about 15.8 inches, for a decent 1:5.8 macro rating.
Price and Availability
The FE 50mm F1.2 GM is a welcome addition to Sony's catalog. It's not the first F1.2 for the system—Sigma beat Sony to the punch with its wider angle 35mm F1.2 DG DN Art—but a sized-down build makes Sony's take a bit more practical to carry.
We're eager to put the lens through its paces, but it's not quite ready to ship. Sony expects it to go on sale around May 13 for $1,999.99 in the US and $2,599.99 in Canada.