Fstoppers Reviews the Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 G Master Lens

One of the most favorite prime lens focal lengths is now in the G Master line. Does it live up to expectations? 

In the past few years, Sony has definitely developed an expansive array of lenses for their full frame mirrorless system. Of course, the G Master lenses sit on top of the hierarchy as the premium line that delivers the most outstanding quality and focusing performance among all of them. In addition to the trinity of zooms and premium telephotos, the G Master line consists of the 24mm f/1.4, the 85mm f/1.4, and the 135mm f/1.8 primes. Using and choosing prime lenses is mainly based on preferences on perspective and angle of view, and it’s without a doubt that many photographers choose the 35mm range as their go-to prime lens length. For a good number of years, many Sony users have been asking for a 35mm, and here it finally is. 

Build and Design

One of the most striking attributes of the Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master is its size. Standing very similarly close to the 24mm f/1.4, this lens is one of the most portable G Master lenses in the line. It comes in at just 96 mm long and 76 mm thick, with a filter thread diameter of 67 mm. Many photographers prefer the 35mm range as their walk-around lens for street or travel photography, and whether brought alone or in combination with other lenses, given the size and the weight of just 524 grams, this lens would barely feel heavy even during long shooting days.

The exterior of the lens features an AF/MF switch alongside a customizable focus hold button that can be reassigned for custom shortcuts through the camera body’s menu. This button is common to Sony’s G and G Master lines of lenses. On the other side is a click switch that controls (or deactivates) the clicking of the manual aperture ring, a good feature that would be very handy for video shooters who might want to use the adjustment in aperture as a visual effect. The focus ring was also given quite a bit of width for better control and was placed in a comfortable position on the more distal end of the lens, while the aperture ring sits proximal to the mount, as it usually is placed.

Internally, the optical design consists of 14 elements in 10 groups with 11 rounded diaphragm blades that render a unique background blur at large apertures. The lens also comes with a reversible lens hood made of hard and durable plastic with a protective rubber outer rim. One can appreciate that the way the hood was built and how it covers a good fraction of the length of the lens also offers a bit of impact protection.

Image Quality and Autofocus

A good fast prime should deliver pristine sharpness even at the most shallow depth of field. Though often maxed out at f/1.4, a flagship-level lens should deliver optimal sharpness even at smaller apertures. The Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 G Master definitely upholds that standard. At maximum aperture, the lens delivers outstanding detail both in the center and periphery. Sharpness peaks around f/2 and is maintained for most of the aperture range. On visual inspection, chromatic aberration seems to only appear on backlit scenes but even then is barely noticeable and far less than what 35mm lenses commonly have.

There is a minimal vignette at a maximum aperture that’s barely noticeable depending on the situation and disappears as the aperture closes. The lens’ optical construction with 11 rounded aperture blades is said to have been made as such to bring out the unique quality of the image at maximum aperture to give a very creamy textured bokeh with well-defined bokeh orbs. Of course, the capability to use an f/1.4 opening gives the photographer or videographer much more room for low-light situations. 

Focusing on the lens becomes barely a concern. It packs XD (Extreme Dynamic) linear motors for high efficiency focusing that makes possible a very adaptive, swift, precise, yet quite accurate focusing system in both single and continuous autofocus, whether capturing stills or video. The autofocus is also very reliable even in low-light situations, capable of precise focus and adaptive focus tracking. The minimum focusing distance stands at just 0.27 meters, giving more capability for detailed close-ups for food, product, and still life photography.  

Application

The 35mm range remains to be a favorite focal length for many photographers across different genres of photography. Probably due to its close resemblance to the actual angle of view of human vision, it’s a favorite of photographers who mainly photograph things similar to their own perspective. That is why such a lens has so many different applications. 

Many street photographers prefer 35mm because the images are close to what they actually see in the streets. Of course, in dynamically moving scenarios, the remarkable AF system and tracking mechanism of the 35mm f/1.4 GM can make shooting a more discreet and non-technical process. Nighttime street photography can also be more comfortably done with this lens. Portraits can also be done quite well with a 35mm f/1.4 lens. The angle of view offers the convenience of rendering both close-up portraits and wider shots. When wide open, the lens can offer quite a beautiful way of isolating the human subject even in very busy locations. In contrast, the good optical performance also offers stunning detail in environmental and on-location portraits. 

A 35mm f/1.4 would also be quite capable of shooting products and food. For the same reason that the angle of view remains quite true to the viewer’s perspective, it can maintain size and scale. The close minimum focusing distance also contributes to this application whether shooting at a large aperture to isolate certain details or with a small one to keep more in focus. Personally, I’ve also tried to make use of the fact that this lens can allow me to do night photography at lower ISO levels. Though generally not the most ideal lens for wide nightscapes compared to the FE 24mm f/1.4 GM, it can still do very well if the scenario fits the angle of view. 

Overall, the Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 G Master is quite a perfect lens for those who prefer to use primes of this length. It delivers outstanding image quality with great low-light capability and an excellent focusing system. The lens offers full professional control to photographers and videographers while keeping the shooting workflow efficient and comfortable. 

What I Liked

• Size
• Ergonomics
• Image Quality

What Can Be Improved

• Slight vignette at maximum aperture