SONY 24mm F1.4 GM Wide Lens
SonySony 24MM F1.4 Wide Lens.
Sony has enhanced its line-up of flagship full-frame G Master series lenses with the launch of a highly anticipated 24mm F1.4 Prime lens. Expertly engineered to deliver best in class performance across all aperture settings, the new FE 24mm F1.4 GM (model SEL24F14GM) utilises Sony’s specialist advanced optical technologies to satisfy the needs of the most demanding photographers. It features a compact and lightweight design with a filter diameter of 67mm and measures just 75.4mm x 92.4mm and weighs a mere 445g. Meeting the strict standards for G Master status, the FE 24mm F1.4 GM combines the high resolution and beautiful bokeh that are the signature of the G Master series.
Realising consistently high resolution across the entire frame, even at F1.4, the FE 24mm F1.4 GM boasts a new optical design comprising 10 groups with 13 elements featuring two XA (extreme aspherical) elements and three ED (Extra-low Dispersion) elements. The incorporation of two XA elements effectively suppresses sagittal flare so that point light sources are accurately reproduced, making the FE 24mm F1.4 GM a compelling proposition for starscape photographers. Sony’s unique Nano AR Coating is applied to reduce flare and ghosting for impressive clarity, even in landscape shots where the position of the sun is often problematic with a normal lens.
This industry leading performance has been packaged in an extremely compact and lightweight body weighing just 445g. For landscape photographers who often have to walk for long distances to get to the perfect shooting spot, this provides a welcome reduction in the weight that they have carry, an advantage that is further compounded when the FE 24mm F1.4 GM is paired with one of Sony’s award winning α7 / α9 bodies. This lightweight package has been realised in part by the development of a new high power DDSSM (Direct Drive SSM) which delivers approximately three times greater thrust than the previous DDSSM, enabling fast response, high positioning accuracy and quiet operation for both stills and movie shooting.
In addition to its landscape and starscape shooting abilities, the FE 24mm F1.4 GM also has excellent close up performance of 0.24 metres (0.79ft.) and delivers soft and natural bokeh. As a member of Sony’s flagship G Master series lenses, the new lens features an incredible level of image quality and bokeh. As bokeh quality is directly affected by spherical aberration and axial and lateral chromatic aberration that can also cause colour bleeding, all of these factors are painstakingly controlled at the design and manufacturing stages and each lens is individually tested and adjusted to achieve maximum image quality and bokeh.
Stunning F1.4 resolution in a mobile prime lens:
Unsparing application of leading-edge technology achieves refined G Master performance with consistently high resolution and soft, natural bokeh even at the widest F1.4 aperture setting. The lens is both compact and the lightest in its class, maximising the E-mount portability advantage. It also offers fast, precise AF drive, plus top-level control and reliability that make it an outstanding choice for professionals.
Excellent corner-to-corner resolution:
Two XA (extreme aspherical) elements, one used for the front element, effectively compensate for coma, field curvature, and astigmatism that can be problems with wide-angle large-aperture optics, providing excellent corner-to-corner resolution even when shooting wide open at F1.4.
ED glass elements control colour aberration:
Three ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements are carefully incorporated in the lens’s optical path to minimise axial and lateral chromatic aberration, maintaining optimum sharpness throughout the image.
Compact and lightweight design:
A new optical design that reduces overall lens diameter by employing two XA elements, one for the front lens, combines with a newly developed DDSSM (Direct Drive SSM) focus drive system to achieve a remarkably light total weight of just 445 grams (15.7 oz.). The reduced size and weight of this lens makes it an ideal match for compact E-mount bodies.
State-of-the-art optical design faithfully reproduces point sources:
State-of-the-art optical design incorporating two precision XA elements suppresses sagittal flare, a common aberration in large-aperture lenses. Sagittal flare is a phenomenon that results in an unnatural spreading of point light sources that appears somewhat like a bird spreading its wings and becomes more pronounced towards the image periphery. Natural reproduction of point sources is particularly important for scenes that include stars or city lights at night, for example. (1. A star shot with the FE 24mm F1.4 GM shows no sign of sagittal flare. 2. Pronounced sagittal flare on a star shot with a conventional 24mm f1.4 lens.)
Nano AR Coating enhances flare resistance:
Sony’s original Nano AR Coating technology provides an effective solution, suppressing internal reflections that can lead to flare and ghosting so that optimum contrast and clarity are achieved in the widest possible range of shooting conditions. (1. Nano AR Coating / 2.Glass / 3.Transmitted light)
High-power DDSSM redesigned and optimised for the lens:
A redesigned high-power DDSSM (Direct Drive SSM) focus drive system contributes to reduced size and weight while delivering approximately three times greater thrust than the previous system.The increased power of the new DDSSM system provides faster, more precise, quieter autofocus drive capability, for outstanding performance when shooting stills and movies.
Easy de-click for movies:
An aperture ring provides the type of immediacy and response that professionals need for both still photography and videography. A Click ON/OFF switch allows the aperture ring click stops to be engaged or disengaged as required. Engaging the click stops provides tactile feedback that can make it easier to gauge how much the ring has been adjusted by feel, and is therefore a good choice for still photography. When the click stops are disengaged the aperture ring moves smoothly and quietly, providing seamless, silent control for moviemaking.
11 blades enhance bokeh beauty:
The lens’s aperture mechanism features 11 blades, the most used in α lenses, and a circular design that maintains an almost perfectly circular aperture even when the lens is stopped down by up to 1 or 2 stops so that beautiful, round bokeh is easy to achieve. This contributes to soft, smooth background bokeh that really makes the subject stand out.
High reliability in harsh conditions:
The focus ring feature a rubber material that makes control easy even in low temperatures, a lens hood lock button prevents unwanted detachment of the hood during transportation, and a dust and moisture resistant design enhances reliability for outdoor use.
Versatile fingertip focus control:
A focus mode switch makes it possible to quickly select auto or manual focus to match changing shooting conditions.
Smooth, versatile operation:
A focus hold button is customisable from body menu. The user can directly access a secondary function assigned to the focus hold button, such as “Grid Lines” to check composition when shooting landscapes, or “White Balance” to adjust white balance to match current lighting conditions or create a specific atmosphere.
Fluorine coated front element:
A fluorine coating on the front element resists fingerprints, dust, water, oil, and mud, and allows easy cleaning if such contaminants do become attached to the lens surface.
Excellent response and fine linear focus control:
The focus ring features Linear Response MF for fine, responsive manual focus control. Focus changes linearly in response to focus ring rotation, giving the user the control immediacy needed for fast, accurate manual focusing.
Mount | Sony E-mount |
Format | 35mm full frame |
Focal-length (mm) | 24 |
35mm equivalent focal-length (aps-c) | 36 |
Lens groups / elements | 10-13 |
Angle of view (35mm) | 84゚ |
Angle of view (aps-c) | 61゚ |
Maximum aperture (f) | 1.4 |
Minimum aperture (f) | 16 |
Aperture blades | 11 |
Circular aperture | Yes |
Minimum focus distance | 0.24 m (0.79 ft) |
Maximum magnification ratio (x) | 0.17 |
Filter diameter (mm) | 67 |
Image stabilization (steadyshot) | - (body-integrated) |
Hood type | Petal shape, bayonet type |
Dimensions | 75.4 x 92.4mm (3 x 3-3/4in) |
Weight | 445g (15.7oz) |