Lens Review: Sony FE 50mm F1.2 G Master

Published: March 16, 2021

Sony FE 50mm F1.2 G Master Lens

Sony’s 60th E-mount lens comes on the five years after the launch of the first Sony G Master lenses. As with all Sony G Master lenses, the Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM ($1,998) is designed for both ultimate sharpness and beautiful bokeh. Other lens brands may offer one or the other – but not both.

The key to this combination are Sony’s XA Extreme Aspherical lens elements designed to resolve an industry-best 50 line pairs per mm and with surface polished within tolerances of 0.01 microns for extremely smooth falloff in out-of-focus areas.

Additionally, Sony has made huge advancements over the last 5 years in terms of autofocus. Sony FE 50mm F1.2 features four XD linear focus motors capable of keeping up with Sony Alpha 1’s industry leading 120 focus adjustments per second.

FIELD TEST:


Sony Alpha 1 + Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM • f/1.2 • 1/60 • ISO 2500


Sony Alpha 1 + Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM • f/5.6 • 1/250 • ISO 100


Sony Alpha 1 + Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM • f/1.2 • 1/20 • ISO 100


Sony Alpha 1 + Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM • f/3.5 • 1/400 • ISO 100


Sony Alpha 1 + Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM • f/F1.2 • 1/250 • ISO 100


Sony Alpha 1 + Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM • f/1.2 • 1/30 • ISO 100


Sony Alpha 1 + Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM • f/1.2 • 1/50 • ISO 100


Sony Alpha 1 + Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM • f/1.2 • 1/50 • ISO 100


Sony Alpha 1 + Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM • f/1.2 • 1/40 • ISO 100


Sony Alpha 1 + Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM • f/6.3 • 1/30 • ISO 500


Sony Alpha 1 + Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM • f/1.2 • 1/1250 • ISO 500


Sony Alpha 1 + Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM • f/1.2 • 1/3200 • ISO 100

SPECS:

SIZE:

Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM measures 3.4 x 4.3″ / 87 x 108 mm (diameter x length)

WEIGHT:

Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM tips the scales at 27.4 oz / 778 g

FILTERS:

Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM has a 72mm Front Filter Tread

LENS CONTROLS:

Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM includes two Customizable Focus Hold buttons, AF/MF Switch

WEATHER SEALING:

Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM is dust- and moisture-sealed for working in inclement weather.

Sony FE 50mm F1.2 wether sealing

IMAGE STABILIZATION:

There is no optical stabilization on this lens. Many Sony camera bodies have built-in sensor-shift stabilization.

AUTO FOCUS:

Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM features Dual XD Linear Floating Focus actuators just like those found in Sony FE 135mm F1.8 GM OSS for extremely fast and precise focus tracking and responsive Eye AF.

MINIMUM FOCUS DISTANCE:

Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM minimum focus distance is 15.7″ (40 cm) and maximum magnification of 0.17x

APERTURE:

Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM has 11 rounded aperture blades for smooth, rounded bokeh

APERTURE RING:

Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM has a de-clickable aperture ring

FORMAT:

Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM covers Fullframe sensor and smaller.

OPTICAL DESIGN:

Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM features an advanced optical design of 14 Elements in 10 Groups including a series of XA, aspherical, Super ED, and ED elements, which combine to reduce a variety of aberrations and distortions for a high degree of sharpness, accurate rendering, and notable color accuracy. An updated Nano AR Coating II has also been applied, which suppresses flare and ghosting for greater contrast when working in bright and backlit conditions.

LENS CHARTS:

IN THE BOX:

Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM comes with front & rear lens caps, lens hood & a padded lens pouch.

PRICE:

Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM has a street price of $1,998 USD

LENS COMPARISONS:


Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 G Master -vs- Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA

Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM -vs- FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA

Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 G Master ($1,998) is half a stop faster, roughly the same size and weight and $500 more expensive than the Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA ($1,498). Both offer exceptional image quality but the G Master offers better bokeh and faster autofocus.

Lens Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 G Master Lens Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA
Price $1,998 $1,498
Dimensions (ø x L) 87.0 x 108 mm 83.5 x 108 mm
Weight 1.71 lb / 778 g 1.72 lb / 780 g
Filter Size 72mm (Front) 72mm (Front)
Diaphragm Blades 11, Rounded 11, Rounded
Minimum Focus Distance 15.7″ / 40 cm 17.7″ / 45 cm
Auto Focus Type Four XD Linear Motors Ring Stepping Motor
Moisture Resitant Yes Yes
Aperture Ring Yes Yes


Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 G Master -vs- Canon RF -vs- Nikkor Z

Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM -VS- Canon & Nikon

Sony Canon Nikon 50mm F1.2 lens optical design

Lens Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 G Master Lens Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.2 S
Price $1,998 $2,299 $2,097
Dimensions (ø x L) 87.0 x 108 mm 89.8 x 108 mm 89.5 x 150 mm
Weight 1.71 lb / 778 g 2.09 lb / 950 g 2.4 lb / 1090 g
Filter Size 72mm (Front) 77mm (Front) 82mm (Front)
Diaphragm Blades 11, Rounded 10, Rounded 9, Rounded
Minimum Focus Distance 15.7″ / 40 cm 15.7″ / 40 cm 18″ / 45 cm
Auto Focus Type Four XD Linear Motors USM Ring Stepping Motor Linear Stepping Motor
Moisture Resitant Yes No Yes
Aperture Ring Yes No No

Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 G Master Lens ($1,998) is smaller, lighter, sharper, offers better bokeh, faster autofocus and yet somehow manages to come in cheaper than the Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM ($2,299) & Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.2 S ($2,097).

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