photoxelsIt is exciting to see that lenses designed for Sony’s full-frame mirrorless cameras keep adding to the E-mount lens line-up. The latest is a 50mm standard prime lens with a superfast F1.2 aperture, ideal for shooting portraits. An 11-blade circular aperture provides smooth bokeh in both the foreground and background.
(Can you believe Sony has now 60 E-mount lenses? I can still remember when some photographers ridiculed the few lenses that came out with the introduction of the A7. Sony has doggedly filled in any hole in its E-mount lens line-up with top professional quality lenses. No one’s mocking now.)
Four XD (extreme dynamic) Linear Motors in a floating focus mechanism provides fast, precise, quiet AF and tracking. Minimum focus distance is 40 cm (1.32 ft). Other features include a Linear Response MF (Manual Focus), an aperture ring with a click on/off switch, a focus mode switch, and two customizable focus hold buttons.
The FE 50mm F1.2 GM features a dust and moisture resistant design and a fluorine front element coating that protects the lens from fingerprints, dust, water, oil and other contaminants. Filter diameter is 72 mm.
Sony aims the FE 50mm F1.2 GM at both still and movie photography.
Sony Electronics Strengthens its Alpha System with the Introduction of its 60th E-Mount Lens, FE 50mm F1.2 G Master™
SAN DIEGO, March 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Today, Sony Electronics Inc. unveils the newest addition to its G Master full-frame lens series – the FE 50mm F1.2 GM (model SEL50F12GM) – delivering excellent resolution and dramatic bokeh known to Sony’s G Master line, industry-leading AF (autofocus) capabilities and professional control and reliability in a compact and lightweight design. The lens’s maximum F1.2 aperture combines an impressive shallow depth of field for maximum creative expression with incredible light gathering capabilities, allowing for faster shutter speeds and lower ISO in low light settings, making it ideal for portraits, wedding photography, video and more.
“We’re excited to introduce our 60th E-mount lens – the FE 50mm F1.2 GM – which delivers a new level of expression and usability for still images and video as an F1.2 lens,” said Neal Manowitz, deputy president for Imaging Products and Solutions Americas at Sony Electronics. “We’re always listening to our customer to deliver the best imaging technology. The FE 50mm F1.2 GM, our first F1.2 lens for the α brand, was designed without compromise to meet the changing needs of today’s content creators.”
Excellent Resolution and Beautiful Bokeh
The FE 50mm F1.2 GM features the latest optics, including three XA (extreme aspherical) lens elements, that contribute to high resolution across the entire image and is maintained even when fully opened at F1.2. The new lens also ensures clear images in backlit scenes thanks to Sony’s Nano AR Coating II that effectively minimizes internal reflections so that flare and ghosting do not occur.
The FE 50mm F1.2 GM creates dramatic G Master bokeh at the maximum F1.2 aperture to provide dimensionality to every image. Using the newly developed 11-blade circular aperture unit and fine-tuned optical design with minimal spherical aberration, the lens can achieve smooth, deep bokeh in both the foreground and background.
High Performance AF and Tracking at F1.2
The lens can keep subjects in sharp focus even at an extremely shallow depth-of-field with fast, precise, quiet AF and tracking thanks to the four XD (extreme dynamic) Linear Motors which provide high thrust efficiency. When precise focusing is required, especially when shooting 4K video with human eye tracking, the FE 50mm F1.2 GM allows the user to focus on composition thanks to its excellent response with minimum delay and low vibration. In addition, the lens’s floating focus mechanism, controlled by its dedicated lens drive algorithm, achieves high resolution over the entire focus range, with a minimum focus distance of 1.32 feet.
Professional Control and Reliability in a Compact Form Factor
The FE 50mm F1.2 GM was designed with professional content creators in mind. With convenient controls and functions such as a Linear Response MF (Manual Focus), aperture ring with a click on/off switch, focus mode switch and two customizable focus hold buttons, the FE 50mm F1.2 GM combines easy operation with professional control. The FE 50mm F1.2 GM also features a dust and moisture resistanti design and a fluorine front element coating that protects the lens from fingerprints, dust, water, oil and other contaminants. Developed using Sony’s latest simulation technologies and the latest optical design, the lens comes in a surprisingly compact and lightweight form factor (φ3½ in x 4⅜ in, 27.5 oz.), providing high mobility and easy handling for a 50mm F1.2 lens.
Pricing and Availability
The new FE 50mm F1.2 GM will be available in May and will be sold for approximately $2,000.00 USD and $2,600.00 CAD. It will be sold at a variety of Sony’s authorized dealers throughout North America.
Exclusive stories and exciting new content shot with the new lens and Sony’s other imaging products can be found at www.alphauniverse.com, a site created to educate and inspire all fans and customers of Sony α – Alpha brand.
New content will also be posted directly at the Sony Photo Gallery. For detailed product information, please visit:
- (US) – FE 50mm F1.2 GM
- (CA) – FE 50mm F1.2 GM
About Sony Electronics Inc.
Sony Electronics is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America and an affiliate of Sony Corporation (Japan), one of the most comprehensive entertainment companies in the world, with a portfolio that encompasses electronics, music, motion pictures, mobile, gaming, robotics and financial services. Headquartered in San Diego, California, Sony Electronics is a leader in electronics for the consumer and professional markets. Operations include research and development, engineering, sales, marketing, distribution and customer service. Sony Electronics creates products that innovate and inspire generations, such as the award-winning Alpha Interchangeable Lens Cameras and revolutionary high-resolution audio products. Sony is also a leading manufacturer of end-to-end solutions from 4K professional broadcast and A/V equipment to industry leading 4K and 8K Ultra HD TVs. Visit http://www.sony.com/news for more information.
Notes:
i Not guaranteed to be 100% dust and moisture proof.
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