3 Essential Sony Prime Lenses

This video is kindly sponsored by Sony.

Sony 14mm f/1.8 G Master
Sony 24mm f/1.4 G Master
Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master

Over the last few years, Sony has expanded their lens portfolio to include some of the best, top-of-the-line prime lenses on the market. G Master lenses usually share common characteristics such as XA (extreme aspherical) lens elements, XD linear motor autofocus, physical aperture rings, custom function buttons as well as other features.

In this video I want to share with you some of my recommendations with the 3 wide-angle, G Master prime lenses.

0:00 Intro: the 3 Sony wide-angle G Master Primes
1:37 Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 G Master
4:34 Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 G Master
6:33 Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 G Master
8:12 What is high performance in lens design?
8:50 How to analyze the field of focus in a lens
10:47 Sony lens pricing

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Ted Forbes
The Art of Photography
2830 S. Hulen, Studio 133
Fort Worth, TX 76109
US of A

[kevlarnegative]

I have just received my 35mm GM to pair with spanking new a7iv. I'm in tears. The sharpness plus the AF is just mind blowing!

[mautl]

Hello! In my opinion, my favorite trinity of lenses for Sony E (working with high resolution sensors), are the Sony GM 14mm f1.8, Sony GM 50mm f1.2 and Sony GM 135mm f1.8. It works very well with APSC mode with the final focal lengths: 14, 21, 50, 75, 135 and 200mm.

[kumamori_maro]

I traded my RX1R2 for the 35GM to go with my A7C. It was a difficult decision given how much I love the RX1 series, but this lens really wowed me. Replacing the 35 f2 sonnar is a tough task, but the GM’s performance turned out better in almost every way I can think of.

I’d like to add to the discussion on distortion with the 35. It really has almost no distortion, and often times leaving the profile correction off makes the photos look even better with great character. Fantastic lens!

[Biring]

Used the 20 1.8 for a shoot recently. Fell in love with it instantly

[markshirley]

My two go to lenses are the 20mm F1.8 and the 55mm. The 20 in crop gives me 30mm - so pretty much sorted for most stuff I shoot.

[JawadTajwar]

It's been 2 years I've been in photography. I still haven't tried any DSLR cameras or mirror less cameras. As because I've been using my phone and can't afford still to that level. Watching your videos make me keep up the spirit in becoming a professional photographer.

[Skipsul]

The 35GM is out of my price range, but I will say the Sigma 35 f/1.4 is a superb alternative (and the early versions are plentiful on the used market). It's heavy, of course, but I swear it's a magical lens.

[LimitlessLivingOver]

I have the GM 14 and the G 20. I think the 20 is just as good as any of my GM lenses

[stuartschaffner]

That was a really useful review! As someone who has used lenses from the 1950's onward, I am completely blown away. I know that sharpness is important, but for me the biggest improvement in all modern lenses is flare. I must admit that I have no fixed way of measuring flare, but I know how I feel about a lens's flare after a week or so of shooting. Mostly I look for texture and color texture in shadows, especially in high-contrast scenes. Zeiss had a nice term for it, which I can't remember right now.
I'm a member of the school of photography which claims that almost all well-composed photographs contain at least one cropping that is even better-composed. Inevitably I end up bringing the longer lenses, like the amazing 135 f/1.8 GM. Would love it for you to talk about the longer triad some day, once the 80ish mm GM comes out.
One small extra point. I believe that your star photos are so sharp that the Sony images show the Earth's rotation. All of the stars are sausage shaped.

[MattTrevett]

The 24mm GM is exactly as good as you say. Its tough to find any flaw whatsoever. That said, some people prefer a lens with flaws that give it character. My style is going for realism and accurate representation so this works just fine without any flaws.

[surflifeimages]

I recognize the guy in the video - Stan Moniz out of Laguna Beach, CA area. Big on astro and landscape photography. The GM lenses are really clean. I have been using my 24mm GM way more than any other lens. Might have to add the 14mm now.

[robert-zech]

Well rounded video, thanks! I have the 14mm GM as well as the 24mm GM from the bunch. The 24mm basically lives on one of my Sony bodies all the time - it is so good. Coming in after the ultra wides is the 50mm GM which i got after selling the 50 1.4 Sony Zeiss.
Also: just had to look it up (as i could not believe it) but there is no comparable ultra wide from Canon for the RF mount. I stopped looking at Canon after selling the R5 basically right after it came out - never looked back.

[iang]

I’ve had the 24mm and it was great but I replaced with a wide zoom. The 35mm is on my A7IV most of the time, unless I’m on a landscape adventure and need more range / options. It’s a belter of a lens.

[henryrogers]

For my Sony a6100, I have the Sony 35mm 1.8. Phenomenal! Kit lenses perform well also. I also shoot with film SLRs. One of them is my Minolta SRT-303. I have an adapter for my Minolta MC Rokkor 50mm 1.4 lens that I use on my Sony a6100. Stunning quality! I also have an adapter for my Canon FD 50mm 1.8 and 135mm FD 2.8 lenses taken from my Canon AE-1. All of these manual focus film SLR lenses are a joy to experiment with!

[schubertswings]

Such GREAT and helpful material here Ted, but that’s how you roll! Love the 35mm bench shot. What a photography channel, the best…….. 👍

[julianheritage]

Lovely lenses, wouldn’t mind the 35mm GM, have the 20mm G and it’s fantastic too. This week I picked up the Sony 135mm GM and wow, thought it would be too long for street, but on my first use in London at the weekend I was amazed, this lens is probably the sharpest and best looking bokeh I’ve seen

[fricki]

I'm always surprised when people call something like these "small" lenses ^^
Truly, times have changed.
That 24mm F/1.4 astrophotography sample in particular was stunning, I'll keep note of it if I ever get into the Sony system.

[ismagine]

Just in time! I’ve been looking for this for week! Would you do another covering 50, 85 mm GM lenses"?

[JimNix]

So good my friend! I love me some Sony lenses. I have the 24/1.4 and have to agree it's amazing. Thanks for sharing!

[markbray]

Thanks Ted how do they handel on the Sony Alpha 7c? weight size and balance please?