Sony FE 14mm F/1.8 G Master Released – Fast Ultra-Wide Prime

Lens News

by Olaf von VossApril 21^st, 2021

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Yesterday, Sony introduced another fast prime lens from the popular G-Master series: The Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM is not only pretty fast, it also covers full-frame, of course, and is surprisingly compact for such a wide-angle lens. At around 460g (16.3 oz) it’s also relatively light. Important for filmmakers: The aperture can be de-clicked!

The new Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM prime lens for Sony E-Mount sports quite a few neat tricks for both photographers and filmmakers alike. For example it offers a rear filter holder which accepts sheet-type filters for ND, color correction, soft filter and more.

The iris is de-clickable and the lens design sports two XA (extreme aspherical) elements plus two ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements and one Super ED glass element for best optical performance.

Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 G Master prime lens

This lens is promoted by Sony not least for astrophotography. That’s why the company claims that “users can faithfully render point light sources, like stars for astrophotography, without having to use extremely slow shutter speeds. A common problem plaguing wide angle lenses is light entering at extreme angles that could reflect internally. The FE 14mm F1.8 G Master uses Sony’s original Nano AR Coating II technology to maximize clarity and effectively subdue flare and ghosting.”

The whole unit is pretty small in size, it measures just 3⅜ in x 4 in (83mm x 99.8mm) and weighing just 16.3 oz (460g), which is indeed impressive for such a wide angle lens, especially since it sports a fast f/1.8 aperture.

A feature often overlooked is the minimum focus distance of any given lens. The new Sony offers a 9.8-inch minimum focus distance, which is great for getting really close-up shots. The lens features a 9-blade circular aperture mechanism for smooth bokeh (which is indeed a thing with this lens, although its short focal length).

Of course this lens offer fast and reliable autofucs thanks to its twin XD (extreme dynamic) linear motors. According to Sony these operate quitely enough to not disturb any audio recording.

On the outside, the Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 G Master prime lens sports a focus hold button, a focus mode switch and a focus ring to ensure smooth, efficient operation in a wide range of shooting environments. For added customization, a number of functions can be assigned to the focus hold button from the camera body interface. The FE 14mm f/1.8 G Master also features Linear Response MF for direct and precise manual focusing.

A dust and moisture resistant design provides the reliability needed for challenging conditions. The front lens element features a fluorine coating that repels water, oil, and other contaminants. The rear element is also fluorine coated to keep that surface clean when changing the rear filter. The lens also has a built-in petal hood that effectively blocks extraneous light that can cause flare and ghosting.

Pricing and availability

The new FE 14mm F1.8 G Master will be available in May for approximately $1,600 USD.

What do you think? Do you already own other Sony G Master lenses? Share your experiences in the comments below!