Is Sony’s 50-150mm f/2 GM the Only Lens You’ll Need?

The Sony FE 50-150mm f/2 GM is one of the most remarkable lenses in recent years, promising to replace several primes in your bag. Here's what you can expect from it.

Coming to you from Mark Bennett's Camera Crisis, this in-depth video walks you through the experience of using the Sony FE 50-150mm f/2 GM lens. If you rely on fast zooms, that should grab your attention, particularly when Bennett compares the 50-150mm f/2 to his Viltrox 135mm f/1.8 and notes that for a slight weight increase, you’re getting much more flexibility.

Bennett spends time on the lens build and feature set, underlining that you’re getting G Master-level construction. The zoom and focus rings are smooth, the controls are well-placed, and the collar is easy to adjust or remove. The weather-sealing and the premium lens hood both add to the utility as well. You’ll find three programmable focus hold buttons, an autofocus/manual focus switch, a full-time DMF switch, an iris lock, and an aperture ring with de-clicking. The little details, like the peekaboo door for filter adjustments, make it easier to keep shooting without hassle.

Key Specs

• Focal Length: 50 to 150mm

• Maximum Aperture: f/2

• Minimum Aperture: f/22

• Minimum Focus: 1.3' (wide) / 2.4' (tele)

• Maximum Magnification: 0.2x (1:5 ratio)

• Optical Design: 19 elements in 17 groups

• Aperture Blades: 11 rounded

• Autofocus: Yes, four XD linear motors

• Stabilization: No

• Tripod Collar: Removable and rotating

• Filter Size: 95mm

• Dimensions: 4 x 7.9 inches / 102.8 x 200 mm

• Weight: 2.9 lb / 1340 g

Sharpness is where Bennett gets specific—he compares this lens to a Sony 85mm prime and finds the zoom is actually sharper at 85mm than the prime. You don’t always get that with a zoom, especially a fast one. The autofocus performance is instant and silent, as you’d expect from a G Master, and the lens holds focus even when tracking action at high frame rates. Focus breathing is nearly nonexistent, with or without compensation enabled, which is rare for zooms in this range. Minimum focusing distance and 0.2x magnification let you get closer to your subject than you might expect, which is useful for details and tighter shots.

Bokeh quality, sunstars, and flaring are all strong points, providing smooth backgrounds, no distracting artifacts, and flare that stays controlled without ruining contrast. On the downside, there’s no built-in optical stabilization and it’s not parfocal, so you won’t keep perfect manual focus while zooming. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Bennett.