Hands-on with the Sony 24mm F1.4 G Master
 |
The Sony 24mm F1.4 is the latest lens to join the company’s premium G Master lineup. It’s impressively compact given its size, and at 445g (0.98lb), it’s 200g – or almost half a pound – lighter than the Sigma 24mm F1.4 Art for DSLR cameras. It’s even lighter compared to the E-mount Sigma 24mm Art lens – 335g lighter – or about half the weight.
The 24mm F1.4 balances really nicely on a Sony a7R III, with the center of gravity very close to the body. Sony claims that the short flange distance as well as the inclusion of two XA (extreme aspherical) elements help keep the lens’ size down.
Hands-on with the Sony 24mm F1.4 G Master
 |
The optical formula comprises 13 elements in 10 groups. Sony claims that the two XA elements combine with three ED (extra dispersion) elements to provide great resolution and coma suppression even at F1.4. The XA elements also help to combat field curvature and astigmatism, which are aberrations common to wide-angle lenses.
Hands-on with the Sony 24mm F1.4 G Master
 |
The XA elements are claimed to contribute to the quality of the bokeh rendition, which our initial shooting shows to be very smooth. Sony says that these elements are manufactured to a precision of 0.01 microns, which should help prevent busy ‘onion ring’ patterns in your out-of-focus highlights, and generally yield smoother bokeh.
The 24mm F1.4 G Master features a 67mm filter thread, compared with the 77mm threads found on comparable offerings from Sigma, Canon and Nikon.
Hands-on with the Sony 24mm F1.4 G Master
 |
The 24mm F1.4’s 11-blade aperture (seen here wide-open) also contributes to smooth bokeh, remaining circular down to F2.8. Continue closing the aperture down and you’ll be treated to some lovely 22-point sunstars.
Hands-on with the Sony 24mm F1.4 G Master
 |
In terms of controls, the 24mm F1.4 comes with a physical aperture ring that allows you to select F1.4 – F16 in 1/3 stop increments. You can also click it to ‘A,’ which allows you to use the command dials on the camera to control aperture instead.
This lens handles very nicely for video shooters, as well. The aperture ring can be de-clicked for smooth, silent control during video shooting, and the manual focus ring comes with excellent feel and a linear (as opposed to speed-sensitive) response for those who like to manually pull focus. Sony claims minimal focus breathing thanks to a precision internal focus mechanism. Lastly, the light weight makes it easier to mount and use on a gimbal.
Hands-on with the Sony 24mm F1.4 G Master
 |
On the other side of the lens is a customizable function button as well as the AF / MF switch. In terms of autofocus, a high-power direct drive SSM provides fast and silent autofocus, and Sony claims the new motor provides a higher level of positioning accuracy.
Sony also claims that this new motor provides three times greater thrust than the previous model, which we presume is the motor in the FE 35mm F1.4. In our preliminary shooting, we found the 24mm F1.4 GM focused slightly faster than the Sigma 24mm F1.4 Art, which itself is already quick for an F1.4 lens. The Sony had no problem keeping up with the newest member of the DPReview team, an excitable pup named Belvedere.
Hands-on with the Sony 24mm F1.4 G Master
 |
As with all of Sony’s G Master lenses, the 24mm F1.4 is built to a high standard. Despite its light weight it feels quite solid, it’s dust and moisture-sealed and comes with a gasket on the mount. All focusing is taken care of internally, providing an additional measure against dust incursion.
Hands-on with the Sony 24mm F1.4 G Master
 |
Until now, the most comparable option for Sony users wanting a fast 24mm was to adapt Sigma’s 24mm F1.4 Art (or Canon’s EF 24mm F1.4L II), or by the newly available E-mount version of the 24mm Art. The Sigma is a truly lovely lens, but even aside from the weight, the adapter pushes the center of gravity further out and it’s just not as comfortable to handle as the new G Master. The same holds true for the E-mount Sigma 24/1.4, which is essentially the same length as the DSLR version with the adapter.
Remove the adapter and the two lenses are more comparable, with the G Master actually measuring 2mm longer. But the G Master’s weight savings alone will make a significant difference for frequent travelers and users on all-day shoots.
Hands-on with the Sony 24mm F1.4 G Master
 |
Though we’ve yet to fully test the 24mm F1.4 G Master, our initial impressions of its optics are positive. The contrast is high even at F1.4 (like the Sigma Art), and is noticeably better than the more ‘veiled’ look of the Nikon and Canon equivalents wide-open.
Wide-open sharpness is great, though as you’d expect, stopping down to F2 or F2.8 gets you even sharper results thanks to the elimination of purple fringing visible around high contrast edges at F1.4. Bokeh is smooth, with no onion ring artifacts. As with all fast, wide-angle primes, you’ll notice some longitudinal CA (purple/green fringing), but it’s reasonably well-controlled. There’s some lateral CA near the edges, but it’s easily removed in post-processing. Distortion and coma also look to be well-controlled. Vignetting is noticeable, but it’s mostly gone by F2.8. If you shoot directly into the sun you’ll get some ghosting flare artifacts, particularly at smaller apertures, but the Sony fares very well in this regard compared to the Sigma Art. There’s not much veiling flare wide open even with the sun just out of the frame.
We think the 24mm F1.4 G Master fills a useful gap in the Sony ecosystem, with a focal length and aperture combination that make it useful for reportage and event shooting. The lens will ship in October for a retail price of $ 1400 USD.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)