Published: March 23, 2021
Sony’s new trio of ultra-compact prime lenses the FE 24mm F2.8 G, 40mm F2.5 G & 50mm F2.5 G ($598) are ideal for landscape, travel and street photography thanks to their compact size, light weight, excellent optical performance and fast, precise and quiet autofocus.
For those of you who want an aperture ring it’s great to see this making its way into even small prime lenses like these. These ultra-compact primes are the perfect compliment to Sony a7C cameras.
Sony FE 24mm F2.8 G, 40mm F2.5 G & 50mm F2.5 G ultra-compact primes all measure just a bit longer than the FE 35mm F2.8 ZA.
Size comparison between Sony FE 24mm F2.8 G, 35mm F2.8 ZA, 40mm F2.5 G & 50mm F2.5 G
FIELD TEST:
Sony a7C | FE 24mm F2.8 G | 1/640 | F5 | ISO 100
Sony a7C | FE 24mm F2.8 G | 1/200 | F5.6 | ISO 100
Sony a7C | FE 40mm F2.5 G | 1/125 | F8 | ISO 100
Sony a7C | FE 40mm F2.5 G | 1/500 | F4 | ISO 100
Sony a7C | FE 24mm F2.8 G | 1/160 | F9 | ISO 100
Sony a7C | FE 40mm F2.5 G | 1/200 | F8 | ISO 100
Sony a7C | FE 40mm F2.5 G | 1/125 | F18 | ISO 100
Sony a7C | FE 40mm F2.5 G | 1/80 | F8 | ISO 100
Sony a7C | FE 40mm F2.5 G | 1/400 | F8 | ISO 100
Sony a7C | FE 24mm F2.8 G | 1/400 | F8 | ISO 100
Sony a7C | FE 24mm F2.8 G | 1/50 | F22 | ISO 100
Sony a7C | FE 24mm F2.8 G | 1/50 | F22 | ISO 100
Sony a7C | FE 24mm F2.8 G | 1/30 | F22 | ISO 100
Sony a7C | FE 50mm F2.5 G | 1/500 | F5.6 | ISO 100
Sony a7C | FE 24mm F2.8 G | 1/10 | F5.6 | ISO 100
Sony a7C | FE 24mm F2.8 G | 1/30 | F2.8 | ISO 500
Sony a7C | FE 50mm F2.5 G | 1/50 | F2.5 | ISO 100
Sony a7C | FE 24mm F2.8 G | 1/100 | F10 | ISO 100
SPECS:
SIZE:
Sony FE 24mm F2.8 G measures 2.7 x 1.8″ / 68 x 45 mm (diameter x length)
Sony FE 40mm F2.5 G measures 2.7 x 1.8″ / 68 x 45 mm (diameter x length)
Sony FE 50mm F2.5 G measures 2.7 x 1.8″ / 68 x 45 mm (diameter x length)
WEIGHT:
Sony FE 24mm F2.8 G weighs 5.8 oz / 162 g
Sony FE 40mm F2.5 G weighs 6.2 oz / 173 g
Sony FE 50mm F2.5 G weighs 6.2 oz / 174 g
FILTERS:
Sony FE 24mm F2.8 G, 40mm F2.5 G & 50mm F2.5 G lenses have a 49mm Front Filter Tread
LENS CONTROLS:
Sony FE 24mm F2.8 G, 40mm F2.5 G & 50mm F2.5 G lenses have a customizable Focus Hold button and AF/MF Switch
WEATHER SEALING:
Sony FE 24mm F2.8 G, 40mm F2.5 G & 50mm F2.5 G lenses have are dust- and moisture-sealed for working in inclement weather.
IMAGE STABILIZATION:
There is no optical stabilization on these lenses. Many Sony camera bodies have built-in sensor-shift stabilization.
AUTO FOCUS:
Sony FE 24mm F2.8 G, 40mm F2.5 G & 50mm F2.5 G lenses have XD Linear Focus actuators for extremely fast and precise focus tracking and responsive Eye AF.
MINIMUM FOCUS DISTANCE:
Sony FE 24mm F2.8 G has minimum focus distance of 9.4″ / 24 cm (AF) and 7.1″ / 18 cm (MF)
Sony FE 40mm F2.5 G has minimum focus distance of 11″ / 28 cm (AF) and 9.8″ / 25 cm (MF)
Sony FE 50mm F2.5 G has minimum focus distance of 13.8″ / 35 cm (AF) and 12.2″ / 31 cm (MF)
APERTURE:
Sony FE 24mm F2.8 G, 40mm F2.5 G & 50mm F2.5 G lenses have 7 rounded aperture blades for smooth, rounded bokeh
APERTURE RING:
Sony FE 24mm F2.8 G, 40mm F2.5 G & 50mm F2.5 G lenses have a de-clickable aperture ring
FORMAT:
Sony FE 24mm F2.8 G, 40mm F2.5 G & 50mm F2.5 G lenses cover full frame sensor and smaller.
OPTICAL DESIGN:
Lens design includes an extra-low dispersion and aspherical elements to reduce a variety of aberrations, color fringing, and distortion. The optics are complemented by a coating that also suppresses flare and ghosting for improved contrast.
Sony FE 24mm F2.8 G features an advanced optical design of 8 Elements in 7 Groups
Sony FE 40mm F2.5 G features an advanced optical design of 9 Elements in 9 Groups
Sony FE 50mm F2.5 G features an advanced optical design of 9 Elements in 9 Groups
LENS CHARTS:
As you’d expect from a Sony G-badged lens, FE 24mm F2.8 G, 40mm F2.5 G & 50mm F2.5 G lenses offer excellent corner-to-corner sharpness.
Sony FE 24mm F2.8 G
Sony FE 40mm F2.5 G
Sony FE 50mm F2.5 G/a>
IN THE BOX:
Sony FE 24mm F2.8 G, 40mm F2.5 G & 50mm F2.5 G lenses come with front & rear lens caps & lens hood
PRICE:
Sony FE 24mm F2.8 G, 40mm F2.5 G & 50mm F2.5 G lenses have a street price of $598 USD. They begin shipping in May 2021.
THE BOTTOM LINE:
Sony FE 24mm F2.8 G, 40mm F2.5 G & 50mm F2.5 G lenses all offer excellent corner-to-corner optical performance in compact and lightweight form factor which makes them ideal for travel or any other time size & weight is an issue. When using the FE 24mm F2.8 G, be certain lens profile corrections are applied as this lens uses lens profile corrections to correct barrel distortion.
Order FE 24mm F2.8 G lens from B&H Photo | Amazon | Sony
Order FE 40mm F2.5 G lens from B&H Photo | Amazon | Sony
Order FE 50mm F2.5 G lens from B&H Photo | Amazon | Sony
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7 thoughts on “Lens Review: Sony FE 24mm F2.8 G, 40mm F2.5 G & 50mm F2.5 G Ultra-Compact Primes”
Great sample shots!!! Remember the beginning few to choose from. Ahhh! The return to the film lens size for the Full Frame camera also without IS, BUT with FAST AF! And switching to APS-C you get 24=36, 40=60 and 50=75 so two lenses in one. I love (ed) the first 35 f/2.8, so small. For the price all three (six) like the price of a telephoto! What is nice about small is your not like the big camera tourist in everyone’s way. Also as you walk around say a city you can carry in a small tear drop bag the camera with lens and other lenses and supplies needed without looking like a camera guy, concealed carry no permit needed! And for that small ultra wide Voigtlander 10mm you have the extra option also in the small bag.
Great range of example images wish more reviewers provided more images. But unsure on these lenses the size and weight appeal for travelling but not sure they could compete with my GM lenses for work.
Yup, I think that’s exactly what they’re designed for…
The weight difference is so minimal, I’m wondering if I could switch between the lenses without having to re balance my video gimbal at every switch. If so, that would be a biggie with video creators.
That’s an excellent point, Dale. Size, weight and balance of all three lenses is very similar. Not only are they ideal choices for gimbal use – but the balance should be virtually the same for all three.
Great review and images. Can you advise on levels of uncorrected vignetting for the 50mm from 2.5 to f8. I assume it’s similar to the 40mm but hopefully a little better. Sony lenses do seem to rely on correction but this can lead to flat looking edges.
I didn’t correct for vignetting so you can see for yourself.
I shot RAW and none of these lenses have lens profiles in Adobe Camera Raw or Lightroom yet (expect it in the next update), so the only corrections I made were manual barrel distortion correction for the FE 24mm F2.5 G – which is a must.
As for vignetting…unless you’re copying documents, I consider vignetting as a feature – not a bug – and I do not remove it.