LensSony88% by Neofiliac Team88% by External Reviewers

Sony FE 35mm F1.4 GM

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Product Overview

Sony FE 35mm 1.4 GM is a fast full-frame prime lens for Sony's E-mount mirrorless cameras. With a f/1.4 maximum aperture at the versatile 35mm focal length, the FE 35mm 1.4 GM replaces the Zeiss-branded lens from 2015. It is considered the second-generation of this lens by many, even though it is the first such lens in Sony's G Master lineup.
In recent years, Sony has significantly upped its game in terms of optical quality that its lenses are able to deliver, all while retaining and, in some cases, strengthening its hold on compactness. The FE 35mm 1.4 GM is able to offer the bright f/1.4 aperture at a size considerably smaller and lighter than its competitors' offerings, or the Zeiss-branded Distagon unit for that matter.
The FE 35mm 1.4 GM uses two XD linear motors to provide fast and precise autofocus, which has been a key competitive advantage of Sony's latest cameras. Like other GM lenses, the SEL35F14GM uses 11 rounded aperture blades to ensure a smooth off-focus transition, particularly at smaller apertures.
Like other recent GM prime lenses such as the FE 135mm 1.8, the FE 35mm 1.4 comes with a de-clickable aperture control ring. For those who do not require the f/1.4 maximum aperture, Sony also markets the FE 35mm 1.8 G, which it released in 2020.

Ratings

What we found

Neofiliac score 88%
Pros
  • Excellent autofocus
  • Bright maximum aperture
  • Weather-sealed
  • Declickable aperture ring
  • Very well built
  • Well corrected
  • Very, very sharp
Cons
  • Not as sharp as Sigma 35mm F1.2

What external reviewers found

External score 88%
Pros
  • Excellent build quality
  • Excellent image quality
  • Excellent sharpness, very smooth background blur, excellent bokeh & color rendition
  • Very good bokeh rendering
Cons
  • Lacks f/1.4 aperture opening
  • Not the sharpest point of the lens
  • Bulky design
  • Bulky and heavy
  • Very heavy and heavy
  • Bokeh rendering could be better

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Specifications

External Reviews

cameralabs[1]

Reviewer score 91% (normalized by Neofiliac)
Reviewers from cameralabs have found:
The FE 35mm f1.4 G Master is Sony’s best 35 to date, exploiting their latest lens technologies to deliver superior results. Details toward the centre are bitingly crisp, while the rendering of blurred areas is satisfyingly smooth. Focusing is fast, accurate, consistent and operates in virtual silence. The whole feature-set packaged in a compact weather-sealed barrel with a de-clickable aperture ring.
Pros
  • Excellent image quality
  • Fast, accurate, consistent autofocus
  • Compact barrel
Cons
  • Bulky and heavy
  • Bulky design

digitalpicture[2]

Reviewer score 86% (normalized by Neofiliac)
Reviewers from digitalpicture have found:
The Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM Lens is compatible with all Sony E-mount cameras, including full-frame and APS-C sensor format models. The GM lens has noticeably less peripheral shading at f.4, less foreground and background color separation, and stronger geometric distortion. The primary reason to choose the ZA lens is its price.
Pros
  • Lightweight and compact
  • Compatible with all Sony E-mount cameras
  • 1-year limited warranty
Cons
  • Lacks f/1.4 aperture opening

dpreview[3]

Reviewer score 91% (normalized by Neofiliac)
Reviewers from dpreview have found:
The Sony FE 35mm F1.4 GM is a lens that, so long as you get along with the 35mm field of view, is easy to love. It provides the kind of sharpness wide-open that we just wouldn't have expected to see in fast primes up until the last few years. There is some cats-eye effect, but whether that bothers you is... well, up to you.
Pros
  • Excellent sharpness wide-open
  • Excellent build quality
  • Wide-open aperture
Cons
  • Lateral CA can be subtle
  • Vignetting could be more subtle

pcmag[4]

Reviewer score 86% (normalized by Neofiliac)
Reviewers from pcmag have found:
Even shot wide open, the FE 35mm F1.4 GM nets excellent clarity. It's just about as sharp as you can get with the a7R IV through f/8. There is a natural vignette, visible at images made at f/2 and wider settings.
Pros
  • Excellent image quality
  • Sharp f-stop
  • Excellent autofocus
Cons
  • No aperture ring

phillipreeve[5]

Reviewer score 90% (normalized by Neofiliac)
Reviewers from phillipreeve have found:
Bokeh rendering is probably a very important aspect for many people interested in buying a fast 35mm lens. There is a bit of wavy pincushion distortion but the profiles are doing a good job at correcting it. The Sony FE 35mm 1.4 GM features 11 rounded aperture blades which means it will only rarely yield obvious sunstars.
Pros
  • Very light and light
  • Very good bokeh rendering
  • Small aperture blades
Cons
  • Bokeh rendering could be better
  • Lateral CA are already corrected in most raw converters

sonyalpha[6]

Reviewer score 87% (normalized by Neofiliac)
Reviewers from sonyalpha have found:
The Sony 35mm F1.4 GM is the sharpest of all, closely followed by the, the main advantage of the GM is wide open and in the corners below F2.8. The Sigma offers maybe a smoother rendering and a more pronounced pop up effect for portraits; but a less good resistance to flare. Focus breathing is visible and is one of the only weakness of this lens.
Pros
  • Excellent sharpness, very smooth background blur, excellent bokeh & color rendition
  • Very compact and light, ultra fast AF compatible with the 30fps of the Sony A1
  • Very good results in all situation / sharpness is outstanding (including in the corne...
Cons
  • Very heavy and heavy
  • No clickless aperture ring
  • Very harsh for skin tones and busy background blur

techradar[7]

Reviewer score 85% (normalized by Neofiliac)
Reviewers from techradar have found:
The FE 35mm f/1.4 GM feels comfortable in the hand and balances perfectly with Sony A7 and A9 series camera bodies, thanks to a weight of 524g and dimensions of 96x76mm. The construction is a mixture of metal and plastic, as is the norm for many lenses, but this doesn't detract from the premium look and feel you'd expect from a G Master lens. Two of the elements are XA (extreme aspherical) ones that are said to help achieve edge-to-edge sharpness. Other lens features include a Nano AR Coating II to minimize internal reflections and to help stop ghosting and flare when shooting towards light sources.
Pros
  • Excellent sharpness at f/1.4
  • Incredibly fast AF
  • Excellent build quality
Cons
  • Vignetting can be noticeable
  • Not the sharpest point of the lens

Also Check

Product ComparisonProducts in LensProducts by SonyKeyword ces-2021Keyword e-mountKeyword full-frameKeyword g-masterKeyword mirrorlessKeyword prime-lens

References

  1. ^ Sony FE 35mm f1.4 GM review. [cameralabs].
  2. ^ Sony FE 35mm F1.4 GM Lens Review. [digitalpicture].
  3. ^ Sony FE 35mm F1.4 GM field review. [dpreview].
  4. ^ Sony FE 35mm F1.4 GM Review. [pcmag].
  5. ^ Review: Sony FE 35mm 1.4 GM – The perfect 35mm lens?. [phillipreeve].
  6. ^ Sony 35mm F1.4 GM. [sonyalpha].
  7. ^ Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM review. [techradar].

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