50mm has been my go-to focal length for the majority of my professional career. It’s how I naturally see the world and envision a frame, before I’ve even pulled a camera up to my eye. Because the 50mm lens is a cornerstone of my camera kit, that’s the first thing I look at when I’m evaluating a camera ecosystem.
For 5 years, that lens was the Canon RF 50mm f/1.2; the rendering is beautiful, the colors and flares are amazing, and it the f/1.2 aperture is amazing in low light. And while I still adore that lens, the 50mm we’re talking about today is what gave me the confidence to switch from Canon to Sony last year — the Sony 50mm f/1.4 GM.
Also, I need to give a huge shoutout to my friend Benj for his review of this lens the he shared two years ago. While his overall impression was very positive, it was the image testing between this and his Leica 50mm Summilux that really convinced me to make the switch. It’s not an exact 1:1 copy, but to see an autofocusing Sony lens resemble anywhere close to Leica-level character really made an impression on me!
So, why exactly did the Sony 50mm f/1.4 GM give me the confidence to switch from Canon to Sony? In my opinion, it hits the perfect sweet spot of size, price, and performance.
Size-wise, it delivers on the promise that mirrorless cameras made when they first hit the scene; that everything would get smaller. That may have been true for camera bodies, but ironically, most mirrorless lenses have gotten comically larger. The 50mm f/1.4 GM, on the other hand, is relatively compact for its fast f/1.4 aperture, and well-balanced on most Sony camera bodies. They even managed to squeeze in a custom function button and an aperture ring, which I absolutely love. It may not have the same f/1.2 aperture that my previous Canon 50mm had, but the trade-off for the reduced weight and size is one I was more than happy to make.
Price-wise, at $1,299 brand new (and often found for around $1K pre-owned), it’s not cheap, but it doesn’t hit ultra-premium territory, either; and it still bears the excellent G-Master quality. Most of Sony’s G-Master line can be found in the $2K+ range, and that can add up quickly when you’re building out a kit suited for both photo and video. In this case, it feels like you’re getting an exceptionally well-built and professionally-capable lens, without paying that eye watering price tag often associated with G-Master lenses.
To piggyback off of price, the performance of this lens is truly exceptional, and it really emphasizes just how much lens you’re getting for the price. Of all the weddings, portrait sessions, studio gigs, travel, and corporate events that I’ve used this lens for, I honestly cannot think of a time where it missed focus or lost track of a face. The autofocus is absolutely fantastic and I have zero complaints. The image quality is exactly what you’d hope from a G-Master lens: the images are tack sharp, and yet they still have character to them. The f/1.4 aperture blows out backgrounds and renders lovely out-of-focus elements, allowing you to create beautiful, compelling portraits of your subjects. It just works, and it works so well, and it makes you want to keep using it.
I know it’s a bold claim, but I truly think this is the best 50mm lens in the Sony lineup right now. There are so many E-mount options to choose from, but I think the 50mm f/1.4 GM threads the needle and combines all the best features and performance into a fast, relatively compact lens, at a price point that doesn’t require you to open a new credit card. It does so many things so well, and at the end of the day, it gets me excited to create.
The exact design and feature set that Sony landed on with this lens has resulted in something very special; but don’t just take my word for it (or Benj’s) alone. Test it out yourself, because once you do, I have a strong feeling you’ll understand it, too.
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