In this blog I will share my initial impressions of the Sony 50mm f/1.4 prime lens. I’ve used this lens extensively for just over a month, and I’m in a position to share my initial observations. This isn’t a full review, that will come later after extended use. This blog is also not affiliated with Sony in any way, and this lens was purchased with my own money at full retail price.

Build Quality

As always with GM products, the build quality is second to none. All the dials feel solid, the switches have zero play in them, and the focus dial feels well damped and premium. This lens is weather sealed, and while I have used it on a few rainy days, I need more time with it. Same goes for general wear and tear, the full review will cover it.

Ergonomics

The lens is fairly compact considering the size and it shares the same filter thread as a few of the other f/1.4 primes. It’s on the heavier side, but not to the point where it becomes unusable on smaller bodies. On the A7C and A7CR, this might be a slight touch too front heavy, but it’s just on the cusp, and I feel people will be split 5050 on this one. On bigger bodies like the A7R, it feels totally at home. Everything is great to hold, adjust and touch. No complaints.

Features

This lens is packed with features, and we can start with the fantastic lens hood. It’s incredibly solid, and has a sturdy locking mechanism. Many lens hoods feel flimsy, however this one is the opposite.

The aperture ring is solid and, just like all premium Sony lenses, can be de-clicked for smooth operation during video.

If you don’t want to use the aperture ring at all, you have the IRIS Lock which will lock the aperture ring in A.

You get two custom buttons, however they act as one and designed to always be at your finger tips regardless of camera orientation. I set mind to MF Hold, which keeps the camera in manual focus when held down, and allows for fine focus adjustment if needed.

The lens also comes in a really nice bag, and while it isn’t something I would personally use, I can totally see people appreciating such an addition.

Image Quality

This will be a very boring section as (surprise, surprise) the image quality is stellar. It’s pin sharp at all aperture values, and I only those testing the very extremes of the lens, and zooming into 400%, might seem some differences. The colour rendering is wonderful and the overall image has a very pleasing look. This isn’t a negative at all, but it might even be too sharp. I find GM Sony lenses to be so sharp that I have to remove all sharpening, add grain, and reduce clarity on all my shots. This is of course very subjective and I can see some sharpness enthusiasts smashing their monitor after reading this. Below are a few sample photos, and much more will come later once I’ve had proper time with it.

Autofocus

This is another very boring section that will be over in a few seconds. The AF experience is perfect in both photo and video, there’s nothing more I can say here. I think in future reviews I might not even bother including this section.

Summary

My first impressions are very positive, but this is not a surprise. The lens isn’t cheap, but I feel I’m getting value for money. I wasn’t sure if I wanted it when I first picked it up, but now I know I will never sell it.