Sony has just announced the 60th lens in the E-Mount lineup, the new FE 50mm F1.2 G Master lens. This full-frame glass holds precise and fast optics, enhanced autofocus, and tracking capabilities, packed within a robust structure. Read below about this piece of impressive tech.
FE 50mm F1.2 GM
Today Sony unveils the newest addition to its G Master full-frame lens series – the FE 50mm F1.2 GM (G-Gold Master). The lens features the latest optics, including three XA (extreme aspherical) lens elements, that contribute to high resolution across the entire image and is maintained even when fully opened at F1.2 (as claimed by Sony). The new lens also ensures clear images in backlit scenes thanks to Sony’s Nano AR Coating II that effectively minimizes internal reflections so that flare and ghosting do not occur.
The FE 50mm F1.2 GM, our first F1.2 lens for the α brand, was designed without compromise to meet the changing needs of today’s content creators.
Neal Manowitz, deputy president for Imaging Products and Solutions Americas at Sony Electronics
Neal Manowitz, deputy president for Imaging Products and Solutions Americas at Sony Electronics stated: “The FE 50mm F1.2 GM, our first F1.2 lens for the α brand, was designed without compromise to meet the changing needs of today’s content creators.” Also, the lens incorporates a newly developed 11-blade circular aperture unit and fine-tuned optical design with minimal spherical aberration, which allows the achievement of smooth, deep bokeh in both the foreground and background. Watch the commercial video below:
High-Performance AF and Tracking at F1.2 for 4K videos
The lens can keep subjects in sharp focus even at an extremely shallow depth-of-field with fast, precise, quiet AF and tracking thanks to the four XD (extreme dynamic) Linear Motors which provide high thrust efficiency. When precise focusing is required, especially when shooting a 4K video with human eye tracking, the FE 50mm F1.2 GM allows the user to focus on composition thanks to its excellent response with minimum delay and low vibration. In addition, the lens’s floating focus mechanism, controlled by its dedicated lens drive algorithm, achieves high resolution over the entire focus range, with a minimum focus distance of 1.32 feet.
Check out the video below which demonstrates the XD Linear Motor:
Usability
With convenient controls and functions such as a Linear Response MF (Manual Focus), aperture ring with a click on/off switch, focus mode switch, and two customizable focus hold buttons, the FE 50mm F1.2 GM combines easy operation with professional control.
Robust structure
The FE 50mm F1.2 GM also features a dust and moisture resistant design and a fluorine front element coating that protects the lens from fingerprints, dust, water, oil, and other contaminants.
Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM Key features
- Fluorine coated front surface resists fingerprints, dirt, water, and other contaminants from sticking
- Four XD extreme dynamic linear motors
- Fast, precise, and quiet autofocusing
- Customizable focus hold button
- Focus Mode selection switch
- Aperture De-Click switch
- 14 elements in 10 groups
- Three XA (extreme aspherical) elements reduce aberration and maintain corner-to-corner sharpness 11-blade circular aperture
- Hybrid metal and plastic construction to balance weight and durability
- Resistant to dust and moisture
Pricing and Availability
The new FE 50mm F1.2 GM will be available in May and will be sold for approximately $2,000.00 USD. You can get notified of availability via the B&H website.
Final thoughts
The 50mm is one of the most requested focal lengths among filmmakers, due to its natural field of view, especially when shooting large format. Thus, the FE 50mm F1.2 G Master is an essential piece of glass to be utilized with Sony’s high-end Alphas, and particularly with the Alpha 1, when a polished, ultra-fast, and especially sharp imagery is needed, accompanied with solid AF capabilities.
