Field Test: Sony’s all-new FE 24mm f/1.4 G Master is a wide-angle stunner
posted Thursday, September 20, 2018 at 10:00 AM EDT
Click here to read our Sony 24mm f/1.4 GM Field Test
The all-new Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM, which is Sony's 30th overall lens and 8th G Master optic, may not be a focal length that immediately jumps off the page to every shooter, as it is generally seen as a somewhat specialized lens for astrophotography and landscape photographers. That said, there are plenty of reasons for all types of photographers to take a look at this lens becuase, based on what I've experienced with it in the field, there's quite a bit more that's possible than just shooting stars and mountainscapes.
But that's not to say it won't be great at those things either.
Sony touts a unique lens arrangement and the inclusion of two XA elements as the main reason why their lens will create sharper and cleaner images that can usually be expected of the 24mm focal length. The placement of an aspherical lens as the front element (while conventional placement is as the second element) means they were able to achieve even sharpness from corner to corner regardless of aperture setting. Those two XA elements will apparently nearly eliminate sagittal flare, a common problem with wide angle lenses that makes stars appear flared and spread out instead of as pinpoint sources of light.
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In my testing, I found the lens to be incredibly sharp with a wonderfully thin focal plane that isolates subjects beautifully. Additionally, the lens has a very close minimum focus distance of 0.24 meters (0.79 feet), which allows for some rather unique perspectives, especially considering the wide angle of the optic.
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Knowing all this, the 24mm f/1.4 GM is actually a very solid choice as a portrait lens as well as for landscape and still life shooting. Don't believe me? I don't blame you, it seems far-fetched. But give me a chance to change your mind and check out my full hands-on field test.