Sony FE 50 F1.4 GM Lens Review 

Do you have this lens in your arsenal Mark? Thanks for the answer and merry Christmas 😊

Wow, thanks! - I am trying to pack a little more contextual education into these reviews to help Alpha users decide if this is a lens to acquire or skip. Every user will have slightly different set of priorities, so comparative size and weight as well as optical and AF performance are important issues to address.

Glad you enjoyed it!

Glad you liked it!

I appreciate that!

Thanks! 👍

Thanks for the positive feedback

Thank’s for the positive feedback

@@AlphaCreativeSkills Sure! Thank You for your invested time in this! 🙌🏼

Glad you enjoyed it!

I use Freewell Quick-Swap magnetic filters - they are available form B&H: 67mm ND 64: bhpho.to/3YQkxJF 67mm ND 8: bhpho.to/3EuVzr3

Glad it was helpful!

Thanks for watching

My pleasure!

Thanks a lot 😊

You and me both!

There a rumours of a new APS-C body featuring the 26 megapixel backlit illuminated sensor we saw in the FX30 camera.

Yes Sony are killing it with new cameras and lenses. I did end up buying a FX3. I'm shortly going to buy a 50mm f1.4 GM rather than f1.2 (size, heft and same 67mm FT as my 24 and 35 f1.4 GMs). Trouble is Sony are so good at designing new excellent kit (eg new a9iii and 300mm f2.8) that they are securing an ever larger slice of my photo funds. I'm lucky that I can afford to indulge what is becoming an ever more extravagant hobby. If I didn't shoot a lot of pics and enjoy reasonable success in amateur exhibitions etc, then I'd have to diagnose myself as suffering from extreme GAS. Now and then I have a clear out and sell the kit I'm not using so much. But certainly Sony and a couple of other suppliers are keeping me busy.

That depends on your own personal workflows. I can usually get by with a 35 and 85 when working on location, but would want to switch out the 85 to a 50 when working in a confined location.

@@AlphaCreativeSkills Thank you for your advice! I am sold! I will pre-order one!

No worries!

I don’t know what lens I am about to test until I open the box and I only get the box a week or two before the announcement. If I tell anyone what I am testing Sony will remove my ambassador status and sue me for breach of contract.

It's totally understandable.

I am using the 50mm f/1.2 GM and 85mm f/1.8 (a light and fast focusing lens) wile waiting for the 85mm GM update. If Sony choose to update their 85mm GM with a lens that has an f1.2 aperture it may be no lighter than the current f/1.4.

Mark's general question area is on his Patreon support channel: Patreon.com/markgaler Best Wishes Admin Team for Mark Galer

If you apply the crop factor if your Fujifilm lens to the focal length and the aperture you would be looking for a 75mm F1.5. 85mm F1.8 and 1.4 for a full-frame camera (although there may be one or two 75mm lenses out there). I have reviewed the 85mm F1.8 and F1.4 Sony lenses.

I was not able to bench test the actual focal length of each lens and there is currently no profile available for the new 1.4

Thanks for the positive feedback

I think so!

@@AlphaCreativeSkills Yay! That will save me $700 :-)

I normally test lenses at sports events but AF reliability with bicycles, scooters and walking at very close range seems to indicate focus is not an issue. Did you see how many reviewers didn’t shoot anything moving - what’s that about?

@@AlphaCreativeSkills I know, laziness! Your reviews are always so in-depth. That is very much appreciated!

Thanks for your positive feedback

I didn't mention it in the review but this lens is also supported by the Focus breathing compensation feature found in the latest Alpha cameras

I tend to favour compact lenses with the A7C compact camera. I personally like the smaller 35 GM lens or the compact 50 G but different people bring different criteria to the decision making process. Check out my lens choice video on RU-vid and if you are still none the wiser consider joining me in my support channel- Patreon.com/markgaler

I understand your hesitation and desire for clarity, but everyone has a slightly different need set and personal preferences. So your question is best answered by you, after reflection on your own shooting situation and real needs. Personally I'm a big fan of my 35mm GM - Uber Sharp and helps separate people from their background - in short an excellent environmental portrait lens. But I first owned a f1.8 G 35mm and like it's more compact form, so I kept that as well, for when I want to go small and minimalist. But I'm fortunate to be able to afford both. I also plan to buy the 50mm F1.4GM and have yet to decide if I will sell my old (compact) Zeiss 55mm f1.8). But I can't stress enough - don't follow me, try instead to think through your own use cases - that should inform your decision and not what suits someone else.

The FE 85mm F1.4 GM is one of Sony's older lenses and does not have the fast AF Linear XD focus motors found in the 24, 35, 50 and 135 GM lenses. It is hotly tipped to be replaced with a MK II version this year. You will, however, find a short review of this lens on my RU-vid channel.

I may look at f/1.8 primes first and start with the FE 85mm f/1.8

@@AlphaCreativeSkills care to give a short explanation why the 85? Because it is better? or easy to pair with the 35/1.8? Thank u for your reply.

Maybe watch my 85mm f/1.8 review, lens choice video or join me on Patreon.com/markgaler for a detailed response as I try to achieve a good match between your needs as a photographer and the most appropriate gear to meet these needs.

If you stop down to F2 you may as well own the FE 55mm F1.8 ZA if you don't need the blazingly fast AF of the 1.2 and 1.4 lenses. Didn't notice a problem with flare using either lens and I would purchase these to shoot primarily wide-open. I provide a link to ultra high-definition images to check sharpness and Raw files to my Patrons on Patreon.com/markgaler.

I live in hope but have no information about when this will happen.

@@AlphaCreativeSkills Yes me too! I wanted an a1 when it first launched 2+ YAG. It's gone from 'serious' interest to not so sure, given Sony's apparent reticence to upgrade the firmware with things like focus breathing. Now new firmware announced, so I may yet buy an a1 - but oddly not arriving until next Spring!!? Why? I was tempted to buy an a1 after selling my a7riv. I also had an a9 I planned to sell. That was time of a7iv launch - looked pretty good as a hybrid option, so bought one (back ordered on launch). Pretty good, so I then sold my a9, pending future releases and tried to decide what to buy, whilst learning to live with the strengths and some weaknesses of a7iv (eg rolling shutter). Missed the focus speed of my a9, once sold. Not so much the 62Mp of a7riv and poor AF with my 200-600. So still potentially in the market for an a1. Briefly got excited by new a9iii hype, but suspect it's not quite all I want it to be (weird ISO range IMO). With a7rV launch (plus option to shoot smaller res raw files) I was tempted. New rear screen and dedicated AF chip seem great hardware additions that I felt an a1 successor (a1+?) would probably have, but so sign of that anytime soon. After much reflection I bought an FX3 3 months ago(for an evolving video interest) but pretty poor for stills (too low res for much, if any, crop options). So still torn for another body I can use for stills and ideally video. Also wanting, ideally, new rear screen and Uber fast AF with low 'rolling shutter' options. A kind of son of a1/a9iii - now that might really be interesting. But meantime, I'm back wondering if I might yet buy an a1, despite no firmware upgrade for months and missing the rear screen of a7rV/a9iii.

No - I currently only produce eBooks for the Hybrid and Stills orientated Alpha cameras - so no eBooks for the A7SIII, FX3, FX30, ZV-E10 and ZV-E1 - although I have made a 100 page setup guide for the ZV-E1 available to my Patrons.

Size & Weight should also be a consideration (not just the price). The final decision should be yours, and yours alone.

I didn't notice any fringing when testing this lens. I have posted ultra high definition images to my Flickr Pro account (link in info below video) if you want to zoom in and I make Raw files available for my Patrons on Patreon.com/markgaler

Some can never get enough ‘bokeh’

Thanks for the visit

Since reviewing this lens I have been spending most of my time reviewing and traveling with the new APS-C A6700, APS-C lenses and FE 70-200 F4 Macro G. While traveling internationally, with zero checked luggage, I don’t tend to travel with the larger and heavier GM primes.

I should also add that as I already owned the 50mm F1.2 I didn’t add the 1.4 to my own personal gear.

It’s a very personal preference based on size, weight and cost. I was hoping this video would help users make their own decision

I do not think that would happen anytime soon. Currently the best affordable F1.8 from Sony is the Zeiss 55mm F1.8 (I have it and it is excellent). The Sony 50mm F1.8 is not good by any means. GM is usually the sony line for bigger F stop lens with premium features. It would be nice for sony to remake a 50mm F1.8 G lens (The G line up is a little step up). Of course theres always third party options for Sony E mount. Or if you prefer vintage lenses! I hope this answer your question

@@gundamaction1201 Thanks for taking the time to reply. Highly appreciated. I still find it interesting we now have different versions of the same lens within the GM lineup. A faster, more expensive, and a “budget” (slower) version of the same lens. I wonder if it will be the same for more lenses in the future - that we will get two tiers within the GM lineup. A “GM Fast” and a “GM Budget”. That would give us four tiers of lenses. Maybe the faster will be rebranded “GM+”, who knows :) Agree the FE50/1.8 is quite terrible but I would have expected a G version (maybe 1.4 as all brands are making cheaper 1.4s now) to replace it, not a GM. I suppose the worst of the standard lenses will be discontinued and replaced - both the 50 and 85. The latter I dislike even more than the 50 due to the absurd color fringing which destroys all contrast when “fixed in post”. :)

I am guessing but think Sony will move its attention to other focal lenses now that they have a choice of 7 lenses in this range. Sony still need to update they ageing 85mm f/1.4 to one with silent and fast focusing linear XD focus motors. Personally I would like to see some lighter weight telephoto primes now, e.g. f/2.8 135mm and f/4 200mm and 300mm GM primes. I think however we will see the 300mm f/2.8 GM before these latter two lenses appear.

@@AlphaCreativeSkills Interesting, thanks for the reply. As all producers are expanding their lineup so much I am sure we will see an avalanche of new focal points and apertures to stay competitive. And thanks for the video, also. Of the 8,000 Sony review youtube videos being released at the same instant, yours are always among the better. In your opinion, having experience with both 50mm lenses, are there any noticeable optical differences between the 1.4 and the 1.2? If shooting both at say 2.0, would you be able to tell the difference between them? I am a happy owner of the 1.2 albeit slightly annoyed it just lost $500 in resell value. So I am wondering if I should replace it with the 1.4, which I am sure will be much more liquid in the 2nd hand market than the 1.2.

@@realthoprivate I was gonna suggest the 85mm F1.8, yes the fringing is an issue. I do love the 35mm F1.8 and 85mm F1.8 for their price, quality, weight, and size. I did switch to the 35mm GM and love it even more. A new 85mm GM would be very welcome addition to replace the aging 85mm GM as Mark mentioned. Right now I am saving up for the 20-70 F4 G lens. I can’t wait to just travel with it. This focal length is an excellent travel lens.

I have a lens choice video that outlines my personal preferences and the reasons why they work for me.

@@AlphaCreativeSkills thank you as always! I have watched that video. Am a big fan of your channel and work.

It’s tempting when you love wide aperture primes 🙂

I photograph portraits of people who have noticed the camera with their consent but many of the street images are photographed before they notice the camera or just as they notice the camera - this is the way it has always been done and there is no right to privacy in a public space. Most people think they have just got in the way of my photo of the bridge.

Usually no longer than a couple of minutes per image in Lightroom - I have Lightroom editing seminars on my Patreon.com/markgaler support channel where patrons can download the raw files I am editing.

I have hung on to my 55 ZA even after adding some of the GM lenses to my lens lineup. I have now owned the 55 ZA lens for 11 years - it owes me nothing.

@@AlphaCreativeSkills Thanks for the feedback.

It’s just as likely they may make an 85mm f/2.5 G compact prime

Thanks for the positive response

It’s long overdue

Yes - most users just make the decision to wear the or not wear them. Half-wearing them seems like a decision that could not be made.

There are always Samyang and Sigma choices for photographers who can't afford the premium quality Sony G Master lenses. They just may not be as fast focusing and, in most cases, as small or as lightweight unless they reduce the number of features.

The best is never too expensive, just unaffordable for those that don’t have the budget

You are mistaken - I used the F1.2 and F1.4 lenses in my comparison

@@AlphaCreativeSkills thanks for clarification.

Hopefully we will see a new 85 GM in 2024

@@AlphaCreativeSkills yea i am sure they will. Though for me, I have my basis covered now with the 12-24GM, 35GM, 50GM and the 70-200GM. I have noticed the trend is shooting portraits with wider lenses though i never really liked that ultra wide feeling in a portrait shot - i guess we all have our own preferences.