Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM evaluate

Sony has been increase its full-frame mirrorless lens vary longer than anybody else, having launched its Alpha 7 system again in 2013. Because it’s gained expertise in making high-end optics to fulfill the calls for of high-resolution sensors, the agency has additionally refined its design philosophy. Its early efforts have been typically criticised for being too massive and heavy, however its more moderen lenses have delivered stellar efficiency in a extra compact type, exemplified by the excellent FE 24mm f/1.4 GM. The agency utilized the identical thought to the 35mm focal size, and right here I get to check the Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM.

These conversant in Sony’s vary will know that it already makes a lens with the identical fundamental spec, the Zeiss-badged Distagon T* 35mm f/1.4 ZA, which dates from early 2015. In distinction, this optic kinds a part of the agency’s premium G Grasp line, which was established a yr later. In comparison with the older mannequin, the FE 35mm f/1.4 GM is distinctly smaller and lighter, focuses nearer, and makes use of eleven diaphragm blades slightly than 9.

Sony has outfitted the FE 35mm f/1.4 GM with an 11-blade round aperture, right here proven at f/2.8

Surprisingly although, the GM shouldn’t be a direct alternative for the Zeiss lens that continues to be within the vary and sells for round $998 / £999, whereas the Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Grasp lens is priced at $1,400 / £1,500.

The FE 35mm f/1.4 GM balances higher on Sony’s Alpha 7-series cameras than the bigger Zeiss-branded 35mm f/1.4

The ZA lens isn’t the one different quick 35mm selection accessible to Sony E-mount customers. On the price range finish is the Samyang AF 35mm f/1.4 FE II, which prices round $650 / £636, whereas the extra premium possibility is supplied by the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG DN Artwork ($800 / £749). Nonetheless, each of those lenses are simply as cumbersome as Sony’s present ZA optic. So, in precept, the Sony GM possibility presents a novel mix of high quality and portability.

Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM: Options

Sony says that its G Grasp lenses are designed to mix top-level picture high quality, pace of use and reliability. Accordingly, the 35mm f/1.4 offers a function set that might be immediately recognisable to anyone who’s used one of many agency’s current G or G Grasp primes, together with weather-sealed building and a full array of controls.

The Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM incorporates a seal across the lens mount

Optically, the lens employs 14 components in 10 teams, together with an extra-low dispersion (ED) glass component to suppress chromatic aberration, together with two Superior Aspherical (AA) components to minimise peripheral aberrations whereas sustaining enticing background blur. In the same vein, an 11-bladed diaphragm is used to render out-of-focus highlights as round, slightly than polygonal, when the aperture is stopped down. Sony’s Nano AR Coating II is readily available to maximise distinction and minimise flare and ghosting.

A sturdy plastic hood is included within the field

Focusing is inner, with twin XD Linear Motors required to drive the massive focus group. On the minimal object distance of 27cm, the lens offers 0.23x magnification, an enchancment on the 0.18x provided by its predecessor. In terms of guide focus, the agency has included its Linear Response MF system that emulates the texture of a conventional mechanical lens.

The optic employs a 67mm filter thread

A bowl-shaped lens hood is provided, full with a locking button on its bayonet mount and a rubber-armoured rim to assist soak up unintentional impacts.  Filter customers are catered for by a comparatively small 67mm thread.

Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM: Construct and dealing with

Because of its modern optical design, the FE 35mm f/1.4 GM is distinctly extra compact than the FE 35mm f/1.4 Distagon ZA lens. Particularly, it’s 16mm shorter at 96mm in size, whereas its 76mm-diameter barrel is slimmer, too. The agency has used a mix of metallic and plastic in its building to cut back the load to 524g, representing a saving of greater than 100g.

The FE 35mm f/1.4 GM is healthier balanced on Sony’s A7 our bodies than its Zeiss-badged equal

Not surprisingly, this leads to a lens that balances higher on Sony’s comparatively small cameras. However whereas it’s an important match to the SLR-shaped Alpha 7 our bodies, it’s nonetheless a little bit massive for the compact Alpha 7C, on which I’d contemplate the a lot smaller FE 35mm f/1.8 to be a greater match. The latter can be less expensive at $748 / £549.

This swap selects between clicked and clickless operation of the aperture ring

As we’d anticipate from a pro-spec optic, the barrel is dust- and moisture-resistant to be used outdoor in inclement circumstances. This features a rubber seal across the mount, which the ZA model lacks. A fluorine coating is utilized to the entrance component to assist shed raindrops and preserve it clear of fingerprints.

The aperture ring has clicks at one-third cease increments

Operationally, the lens matches Sony’s different current designs, with a big rubberised guide focus ring on the entrance and a slimmer aperture ring nearer to the physique. The latter could be switched between clickless and clicked operation, with one-third cease detents from f/1.4 to f/16. Rotating it additional engages an A place that fingers again management to a dial on the digicam physique.

An AF/MF swap and huge AF-stop button are discovered on the aspect of the barrel

On the left aspect of the barrel you’ll discover a big focus-hold button whose perform could be re-programmed from the digicam, with an AF/MF swap beneath it. Neither of those controls are discovered on the older mannequin, which makes the GM simply that bit extra nice to make use of.

Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM: Autofocus

Quick primes inevitably require massive focus teams, which suggests they hardly ever autofocus as rapidly as smaller-aperture lenses. That is true of the FE 35mm f/1.4 GM, however your expertise will rely tremendously on which digicam you employ.

Sony Alpha 7 II, Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM, 1/200sec at f/1.4, ISO 400

I examined the lens on cameras such because the Sony A7R IV and Sony A7C. On more moderen Sony cameras like this, the lens snaps into focus fairly neatly, however on older cameras such because the Sony A7 II it’s slightly much less decisive, focusing with a really noticeable ‘wobble’. Its AF pace can be extremely dependent upon the set aperture, as a consequence of Sony’s follow of stopping down the lens for dwell view and focusing.

Sony Alpha 7C, Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM, 1/30sec at f/1.4, ISO 100

Nonetheless, you’ll be able to’t fault the outcomes. Because of the inherent accuracy of on-sensor AF, I discovered that the lens nails focus each shot, irrespective of the place you place the topic inside the body. After all, it’s totally appropriate with all of Sony’s superior applied sciences together with real-time eye AF, so that you could be assured of getting environmental portraits good and sharp.

Sony Alpha 7 II, Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM, 1/4000sec at f/1.4, ISO 100

Guide focusing can be a really optimistic expertise, because of the finely-honed response of the main target ring. When MF help is enabled on the digicam, turning the ring will interact magnified dwell view. This enables the main target to be judged with essential accuracy, which I discovered significantly helpful for close-up taking pictures.

Sony Alpha 7R IV, Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM, 1/160sec at f/1.4, ISO 100

Alternatively, you need to use the digicam’s peaking show and toggle it on and off utilizing a perform button. However this isn’t at all times fairly such an correct software, particularly given how shallow the depth-of-field could be at f/1.4.

Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM: Efficiency

To get the absolute best impression of the FE 35mm /f1.4 GM’s talents, I paired it with the Alpha 7R IV. Its super-high megapixel depend offers an especially robust take a look at for any lens, however one which the lens handed with flying colors. It resolves an astonishing quantity of element from nook to nook, even should you level it at a flat wall and shoot vast open at f/1.4.

Sony Alpha 7 II, Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM, 1/640sec at f/1.4, ISO 100

Naturally, there’s a little bit blurring in the direction of the far edges and corners, and for the very sharpest outcomes throughout the body you’ll have to cease all the way down to f/5.6, with diffraction then taking the sting off wonderful element at smaller apertures. However in actual world use, the quantity of element you’ll be able to report might be restricted way more by depth-of-field limitations than by lens aberrations. Remarkably, the lens maintains a lot the identical spectacular sharpness by means of its total focus distance vary.

Sony Alpha 7C, Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM, 1/40sec at f/1.4, ISO 200

On the entire, optical aberrations are notable by their absence. If for some cause you determine to show off in-camera lens corrections, you would possibly have the ability to hint the barest trace of color fringing in the direction of the corners of the body as a consequence of lateral chromatic aberration. Nonetheless, should you use Adobe software program of DxO PhotoLab for uncooked growth, this might be corrected routinely.

Sony Alpha 7R IV, Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM, 1/50sec at f/11, ISO 100

Likewise, with high-contrast three-dimensional scenes shot vast open, color fringing could be seen round out-of-focus components of the scene when viewing recordsdata at 100% onscreen. However it’s straightforward sufficient to suppress in uncooked processing utilizing Adobe’s defringe controls.

Sony Alpha 7R IV, Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM, 1/6400sec at f/1.4, ISO 100

Analyzing uncooked recordsdata additionally reveals minor pincushion distortion, which once more is generally corrected within the digicam’s JPEG output. This may be suppressed in uncooked processing utilizing generic sliders, however for good correction a lens profile might be mandatory.

Sony Alpha 7C, Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM, 1/40sec at f/1.4, ISO 200

Massive-aperture primes invariably present robust vignetting on full body, and this one is not any exception, with pronounced darkening in the direction of the corners of the picture at massive apertures. Nonetheless, a gradual fall-off profile means it’s not aesthetically displeasing; in truth it may be very efficient at framing the topic. It additionally successfully disappears on stopping all the way down to f/4. In the event you don’t wish to see this vignetting, then setting Shading Comp to Auto within the digicam menu will virtually get rid of it from each JPEG and uncooked recordsdata.

Sony Alpha 7R IV, Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM, 1/2500sec at f/1.4, ISO 100

Out-of-focus backgrounds are typically delivered with a really pleasing blur, aided by a easy transition from sharp, in-focus areas. Flare isn’t an issue, even when the solar is positioned straight within the body, though you’ll inevitably see some patterning in such photographs should you expose for the highlights then draw up shadow element in post-processing.

Sony Alpha 7R IV, Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM, 1/160sec at f/16, ISO 100

General, about the one potential criticism is that Sony’s use of 11 rounded diaphragm blades offers rise to fussy 22-point solar stars at small apertures.

Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM: Verdict

After we reviewed Sony’s Distagon T* FE 35mmf/F1.4 ZA, we have been fairly pleased with its optical efficiency, however upset by its bulk, which made it an ungainly match for Sony’s small digicam our bodies. Nonetheless the agency has clearly discovered loads within the meantime, with the end result that the FE 35mm f/1.4 GM is a really totally different kettle of fish. It’s smaller and lighter, whereas being optically improved to the purpose of being phenomenal.

Sony’s FE 35mm f/1.4 GM is, like its 24mm and 135mm stablemates, a really gorgeous lens

Certainly with the Alpha 7R IV, it’s one of many best combos I’ve ever used, and on a par with its superlative 24mm f/1.4 and 135mm f/1.8 siblings. Place it on a less-demanding 24MP digicam such because the Alpha 7C, and it’ll ship picture recordsdata that fairly merely look flawless.

Sony Alpha 7 II, Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM, 1/30sec at f/8, ISO 1600

It’s not simply the optics that fulfill, both. The autofocus works nicely, significantly on current cameras, whereas I discovered the guide focus expertise to be glorious too. It’s at all times good to have an aperture ring on the lens, too, and it’s nice to see Sony now including them to its new optics as a matter in fact.

Sony Alpha 7R IV, Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM, 1/125sec at f/8, ISO 100

At $1,398 / £1,500, this isn’t an inexpensive lens, however it’s extra inexpensive than Canon or Nikon’s equal DSLR optics. Let’s not overlook that Sony nonetheless presents a compact f/1.8 different for these on a tighter price range, too. Finally, although, the f/E 35mm F1.4 GM is likely one of the best lenses we’ve ever examined.

Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM: Specs