LensSony80% by Neofiliac Team80% by External Reviewers

Sony FE 135mm F1.8 G Master

Full-Frame Lens

Product Gallery

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Product Overview

The FE 135mm F1.8 G Master is a strong addition to Sony's FE-mount lineup of full-frame mirrorless lenses. Using Sony's XA (extreme aspherical) and Super ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements to suppress all common lens aberrations. Nano AR Coating further reduces flare and ghosting when shooting in backlit conditions.
The FE 135mm F1.8 GM employs a total of four of Sony's XD linear motors, two for each group, to achieve quick and reliable AF tracking.
All these are packaged in a comparatively compact and lightweight package at 950 g.

Ratings

What we found

Neofiliac score 80%
Pros
  • Exceptional sharpness across the frame
  • Great flare resistance
  • Weather-sealed
  • Declickable aperture ring
  • Great build quality
  • Very fast autofocus
Cons

    What external reviewers found

    External score 80%
    Pros
    • Good for street, highly detailed landscape and urban views
    • Excellent build quality
    • Excellent image quality
    • Excellent build construction
    • Excellent handling and handling
    • Excellent autofocus
    Cons
    • Poor flare performance
    • Not yet a Lightroom lens profile
    • High price tag
    • Glossy filter thread
    • No manual focus
    • Vignetting at widest apertures

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    Specifications

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    External Reviews

    cameralabs[1]

    Reviewer score 84% (normalized by Neofiliac)
    Reviewers from cameralabs have found:
    The Sony FE 135mm f1.8 G Master is a telephoto prime lens designed for the Alpha series of full-frame mirrorless cameras. It captures a classic telephoto field-of-view that’s ideal for tighter portraits shot from a distance with minimal distortion. The lens employs 13 elements in 10 groups and an 11-blade circular aperture system. Two floating focus groups each driven by a pair of XD linear motors ensure focusing is swift and accurate.
    Pros
    • High resolution across the frame with attractive rendering of blurred areas
    • Fast f1.8 focal ratio delivers very shallow depth-of-field effects
    • Good for street, highly detailed landscape and urban views
    Cons
    • No manual focus breathing

    digitalpicture[2]

    Reviewer score 73% (normalized by Neofiliac)
    Reviewers from digitalpicture have found:
    As an "FE" lens, the Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM Lens is compatible with all Sony E-mount cameras. At review time, this lens model could not be found in retail stock. The Sigma has slightly less vignetting, very slightly less linear distortion, and shows slightly more flare.
    Pros
    • Excellent image quality
    • Compatible with all Sony E-mount cameras
    Cons
    • High price tag

    pcmag[3]

    Reviewer score 85% (normalized by Neofiliac)
    Reviewers from pcmag have found:
    The Sony FE 135mm F1.8 GM is the latest addition to the company's premium G Master series of lenses. It incorporates XA elements, which are molded into shapes that wouldn't be possible using traditional glass shaping and polishing techniques. The lens blurs with aplomb at its widest apertures, and an 11-blade circular diaphragm maintains bokeh even when stopped down.
    Pros
    • Incredibly sharp
    • Fast autofocus
    • High resolution
    Cons
    • No manual focus

    phillipreeve[4]

    Reviewer score 81% (normalized by Neofiliac)
    Reviewers from phillipreeve have found:
    The Sony FE 1.8/135 GM is the sharpest of them all, at least for all lenses that I have used yet. It is the first lens where nothing happens when I stop down except of decreasing vignetting and increasing diffraction. For most people, the GM will be the best choice but if travel or landscape photography is you main subject, the Batis is worth a thought.
    Pros
    • Very sharp and contrasty
    • Good CA correction
    • Wide open sharpness
    Cons
    • Glossy filter thread
    • Poor flare performance

    sonyalpha[5]

    Reviewer score 82% (normalized by Neofiliac)
    Reviewers from sonyalpha have found:
    Sony 135mm F1.8 GM is a new jewel in the GM serie, it will produce excellent results in Outdoor portraits, sports, weddings, street photography. Outstanding sharpness wide open from centre to corner Blazingly fast and accurate AF Reasonable size and weight Excellent color rendition Very smooth background blur Very good Bokeh Balls Clickless aperture for video Short focusing distance of 70cm Average Resistance to flare is good but Sigma 135mm is doing better on that matter.
    Pros
    • Fast, silent and accurate
    • Excellent build construction
    • Excellent handling and handling
    Cons
    • Not yet a Lightroom lens profile
    • Bokeh Balls are better, the only areas where the Sigma has the edge is a little bit better resistance to flare, and the price (1400 euros)

    techradar[6]

    Reviewer score 78% (normalized by Neofiliac)
    Reviewers from techradar have found:
    Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM is a G Master lens designed to partner with a full-frame camera. It uses a Super ED element towards the front and ED glass behind this, both helping to keep chromatic aberration to a minimum. An Extreme Aspherical (XA) element positioned directly behind these, meanwhile, should help combat spherical aberration. Focus is internal, and you can limit the range if you need to with the focus limit switch on the side of the lens.
    Pros
    • Sharpness and natural bokeh
    • Excellent autofocus
    • Excellent build quality
    Cons
    • Vignetting at widest apertures

    Also Check

    Product ComparisonProducts in LensProducts by SonyKeyword e-mountKeyword full-frameKeyword g-masterKeyword prime-lensKeyword telephoto

    References

    1. ^ Sony FE 135mm f1.8 GM review. [cameralabs].
    2. ^ Sony FE 135mm F1.8 GM Lens Review. [digitalpicture].
    3. ^ Sony FE 135mm F1.8 GM Review. [pcmag].
    4. ^ Review: Sony FE 135mm F1.8 GM. [phillipreeve].
    5. ^ Sony FE 135mm F1.8 GM. [sonyalpha].
    6. ^ Hands on: Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM review. [techradar].

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