MY EQUIPMENT WISH LIST
SONY FULL-FRAME 24mm f/1.5 G MASTER [About Euro 1600.00]
This is not at the top of my list as I will most likely purchase the new 24-70mm [discussed below] but I will not have the cash until mid 2025 and it could be very expensive.
The Sony Full-frame 24mm f/1.4 G Master is a premium wide-angle prime lens designed for Sony’s E-mount mirrorless cameras. It’s part of Sony’s prestigious G Master series, known for exceptional optical performance and build quality.
Key Features
Wide Aperture: The f/1.4 maximum aperture allows for incredibly shallow depth of field, beautiful bokeh (background blur), and excellent low-light performance.
Optical Design: Incorporates 13 elements in 10 groups, including two XA (Extreme Aspherical) elements and three ED (Extra-low Dispersion) elements to minimize distortion, chromatic aberration, and deliver outstanding sharpness even wide open.
Nano AR Coating: Reduces flare and ghosting for improved contrast in challenging lighting.
Fast, Quiet Autofocus: Uses Sony’s Direct Drive Super Sonic Motor (DDSSM) for fast and accurate autofocus, ideal for both photography and video work.
Physical Controls: Features a dedicated aperture ring (can be de-clicked for smooth operation during video), focus hold button, and AF/MF switch.
Weather Sealing: Dust and moisture-resistant for use in inclement conditions.
Strengths
Image Quality: Produces incredibly sharp images with corner-to-corner clarity, minimal distortion, and well-controlled aberrations.
Beautiful Bokeh: The 11-blade rounded aperture diaphragm creates smooth and pleasing out-of-focus rendering.
Low-light Capability: The f/1.4 aperture excels in low light and allows for creative use of shallow depth of field even in darker settings.
Build Quality: Feels solid and robust, with the level of quality expected from a G Master lens.
Common Uses
Landscape Photography: The wide view and excellent sharpness make it great for capturing vast landscapes.
Astrophotography: The fast aperture allows for gathering lots of light, making it suitable for capturing starscapes and the Milky Way.
Environmental Portraits: The wide view and shallow depth of field allow you to include context while beautifully isolating your subject.
Street photography: Offers a versatile field of view and the fast aperture makes it easy to work discreetly in low light.
Videography: Smooth autofocus and the option to de-click the aperture ring make it a great choice for video shooters.
Overall
The Sony Full-frame 24mm f/1.4 G Master is a top-of-the-line lens that offers a desirable combination of image quality, speed, and handling. While expensive, it’s a popular choice for professional photographers and demanding enthusiasts who want the very best in a wide-angle prime.
The rumoured Sony 24-70mm f/1.2 lens is a topic generating a lot of buzz in photography circles. Here’s a breakdown of what we know and what the potential implications could be:
The Rumours
Constant f/1.2 Aperture: The most striking aspect is the rumoured constant f/1.2 maximum aperture across the entire zoom range. This would be unprecedented in a zoom lens of this type.
G Master Designation: Likely to be part of Sony’s G Master series, indicating premium optical quality and build.
Target Market Probably aimed at professional photographers and videographers who demand the best low-light performance and shallow depth of field control.
Potential Pros
Shallow Depth of Field: Incredible subject isolation and beautiful bokeh, even compared to existing f/2.8 zooms at similar focal lengths.
Extreme Low Light Performance: Ability to shoot in extremely dim conditions without sacrificing image quality or resorting to extremely high ISOs.
Video Advantages: Superb for cinematic effects and low-light videography with smooth focus transitions.
Potential Cons
Size and Weight: An f/1.2 aperture in this zoom range would necessitate a very large and heavy lens design.
Cost: A lens with these specs would be exceptionally expensive and likely only accessible to those with large budgets.
Focus Speed: Larger, heavier lens elements might make autofocus slower, potentially a drawback for certain types of photography.
Why the Excitement?
Should Sony create such a lens, it would be a technical marvel. It would represent a huge leap in what’s possible for zoom lenses, offering creative flexibility and light-gathering abilities currently only found in prime lenses.
Important Considerations
Rumour vs Reality: Important to remember these are still rumours. Even if the lens exists, technical limitations or production costs may significantly influence its final form.
Practicality: While exciting, photographers must consider if the lens’s size, weight, and cost align with their shooting needs.
The Verdict
The rumoured Sony 24-70mm f/1.2 is a tantalising prospect. However, it remains to be seen if the rumours will materialise, and whether the benefits outweigh the likely drawbacks for a majority of photographers.