Sony has just announced its fastest lens to date: the 50mm f/1.2 GM. How good is this super-fast glass, and is it worth the money? Gerald Undone puts it to the test.
A few armchair critics have long suggested that the throat of Sony’s mount would never permit such a maximum aperture, having been designed for APS-C and therefore limited when it comes to full frame glass. It’s nice to be able to finally put that rumor to bed. What’s key, however, is how well this lens performs and whether that smaller throat does indeed bring any unwanted consequences.
Gerald Undone puts the new lens through its paces, checking sharpness, aberrations, and distortion. Pixel-peepers will be eager to see how the sharpness compares to the 50mm f/1.2 lenses from Canon and Nikon, with the Canon lens being the most expensive of this trio.
Those with smaller budgets might be keen to see if Sony is planning to update its nifty fifty, the FE 50mm f/1.8, which might not feel like such a good option when compared with the Rokinon AF 45mm f/1.8 for an additional $89. Certainly compared to Canon and Nikon, Sony’s everyday 50mm seems a bit lacking right now.
Will you be paying $2,000 for Sony's new 50mm lens? Let us know in the comments below.
