Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM Review – digitalcameras.ie

Introduction

This hands-on assessment covers all the things that you must know in regards to the Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM, an ultra-wide prime lens for Sony’s full-frame mirrorless E Mount. That is Sony’s widest f/1.8 lens, and it’s additionally a part of their skilled G Grasp collection. Each of those info point out a really superior lens.

Even so, the Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM is surprisingly small and light-weight. At 460 grams / 1.01 kilos, the lens is barely heavier than quite a lot of 14mm f/2.8 primes, but captures greater than twice as a lot mild. By comparability, one other 14mm f/1.8 lens at present – the Sigma 14mm f/1.8 Artwork – weighs a whopping 1170 grams / 2.58 kilos. Apparently, the even brighter Sigma 14mm f/1.4 Artwork weighs 1170 grams, too. We’re within the firm of some actually cumbersome glass!

Regardless of its small dimension, the Sony 14mm FE f/1.8 GM has a posh optical design with 14 parts in 11 teams. This contains one aspherical aspect, two excessive aspherical parts, two ED-coated parts, and one Tremendous ED-coated aspect. The value of the lens is comparatively excessive at $1600. Although, contemplating the weird nature of this lens, the value is just not surprising or out of line.

Broad, vivid lenses just like the Sony 14mm f/1.8 GM are famously well-liked for Milky Approach images. The 14mm focal size permits you to seize a dramatic view of the night time sky, and it additionally permits for longer exposures with out star trails. In the meantime, the quick aperture of f/1.8 captures quite a lot of mild even within the dimmest situations. Because of this, this lens lets you seize unusually clear Milky Approach pictures with good colours and minimal picture noise.

For this assessment, I examined the Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM extensively within the lab and within the discipline. More often than not, I used the Sony a7R V, however I additionally examined it on the Nikon Z8 utilizing Megadap’s Sony-to-Nikon adapter. I carried out this check in response to a query on our Member web page about this lens’s suitability on Nikon Z cameras.

How does the Sony 14mm f/1.8 GM maintain up in follow, each on its native Sony sensor and tailored to Nikon Z? Did Sony sacrifice any picture high quality of their pursuit of sunshine weight and portability? This assessment will reply these questions and extra.

Construct High quality

The Sony 14mm f/1.8 GM has a plastic barrel and an built-in, non-removable lens hood. As an internally-focusing lens, the entrance aspect stays fastened in place when the lens is concentrated. Sony’s well-designed lens cap slides straight over the hood and has two tabs that you should pinch earlier than it locks in place.

This lens is extensively weather-sealed. As you may see from the pattern pictures all through this assessment, I examined it in all the things from dusty desert situations to sub-freezing temperatures within the snow and ice. The lens held up with out challenge the complete time. I’ve no hesitation utilizing it in antagonistic climate.

Probably the most noteworthy side of the Sony 14mm f/1.8 GM’s construct high quality is how small and light-weight it’s. It weighs simply 460 grams (1.01 kilos) and simply suits in a typical digicam bag. For a lens with such a large focal size and vivid most aperture, this was hardly a given. As I discussed within the introduction to this assessment, Sigma’s competing 14mm f/1.8 and 14mm f/1.4 lenses are greater than twice the burden and considerably bigger.

As soon as concern with the Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM is tips on how to connect filters to it. There are not any filter threads on this lens. As an alternative, you need to use a clip-in filter on the rear of the lens – primarily only for ND filters – or connect a filter holding system to the surface of the barrel.

The excellent news is that you simply’ll discover such techniques obtainable from NiSi, Haida, Lee, and a wide range of different firms. Most of them are particular to the Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM and don’t work on different lenses. Right here’s a abstract of the primary choices:

Earlier than shopping for into one among these techniques, I like to recommend getting the lens first. Take it into the sphere and see if you happen to truly miss utilizing filters with it. Plenty of photographers who shoot at 14mm discover that they don’t use filters fairly often. That is even true of polarizers, because of the uneven sky challenge at ultra-wide angles.

Dealing with

The Sony 14mm f/1.8 GM handles as anticipated of a high-end, G Grasp collection lens. It has a pleasant set of controls, together with the same old AF-MF swap and a customized perform button on the facet of the lens.

The focusing ring on the entrance of the lens is just not mechanically coupled to the main target mechanism and feels a bit of on the unfastened facet of issues. The aperture ring isn’t mechanically coupled to something, both, however it may be clicked or de-clicked. It feels good and satisfying to make use of – although, admittedly, I stored it to “A” more often than not with the intention to management aperture through the digicam.

If something, it will have been good to have an aperture locking swap as nicely. Often, the aperture ring would rotate whereas in my bag. However it is a small nitpick of a well-built, well-handling lens. It nonetheless will get full marks from me.

Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM Specs

• Full Title: Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM
• Mount Sort: Sony E Mount
• Focal Size: 14mm prime
• Angle of View (Full Body): 114°
• Most Aperture: f/1.8
• Minimal Aperture: f/16
• Aperture Blades: 9, spherical
• Filter Measurement: N/A
• Lens Components: 14
• Lens Teams: 11
• Particular Components: 2 excessive aspherical, 1 aspherical, 2 ED glass, 1 Tremendous ED glass
• Anti-Reflection Coatings: Nano AR II
• Fluorine Coated Entrance Ingredient: Sure
• Picture Stabilization: No
• Inner Focusing: Sure
• Management Rings: Focus and aperture rings
• Perform Button: Sure
• Focus Motor: Twin XD Linear Motor
• Minimal Focus Distance: 25 cm (9.8 inches)
• Most Magnification: 0.1× (1:10)
• Mount Materials: Metallic
• Climate/Mud Sealing: Sure
• Dimensions (Size × Diameter): 100×83 mm (3.9×3.3 inches)
• Weight: 460 g (1.01 lbs)
• MSRP: $1600
• Lowest Sale Seen: $1498 (test present worth)

The following web page of this assessment covers the optical traits of the Sony 14mm f/1.8 GM, together with focusing efficiency and sharpness checks within the lab. Click on the menu under to go to “Optical Options”: