Sony has announced a new E-mount lens, the FE 14mm F1.8 G Master (model SEL14F18GM), a compact ultra-wide lens with a large aperture of F1.8. It’s designed to capture the world with new perspectives and is said to deliver sharp resolution from corner to corner with little to no distortion. It’s suited for photographing landscapes, architecture, starry skies and interiors.
Compact and Lightweight Design
The new FE 14mm F1.8 G Master measures just 83mm x 99.8mm (3⅜ in x 4-inches) and weighs 460g (16.3 oz) yet its advanced optical technology is said to enable it to deliver superb resolution and stunning contrast.
Two XA (extreme aspherical) elements and one aspherical lens element maintain the resolution across the frame and contribute to its compact and lightweight design. Inaddition, two ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements and one Super ED glass element help suppress chromatic aberration and deliver excellent contrast at all apertures.
Thanks to its large maximum aperture, the FE 14mm F1.8 G Master is useful in low-light for both still and movie shooting. It’s especially useful for astrophotography.
The FE 14mm F1.8 G Master uses Sony’s original Nano AR Coating II technology to minimise flare and ghosting.
The FE 14mm F1.8 G Master has a minimum focus distance of 9.8-inch, but the wide maximum aperture enables the background to be blurred with attractive bokeh. Notably, the XA elements, a 9-blade circular aperture mechanism and control of aberration allow the FE 14mm F1.8 G Master to produce bokeh without the undesirable “onion-ring” effect.
Advanced and Quiet Autofocus
Using two XD (extreme dynamic) Linear Motors, focus can be accurately acquired and maintained even when shooting with narrow depth of field at F1.8 giving professional shooters the reliability they need to get the job done in challenging conditions. Moreover, the FE 14mm F1.8 G Master enables quiet AF with minimal vibration for smooth focus transitions, perfect for video content creation.
Professional Level Control and Reliability
The new lens also features a focus hold button, a focus mode switch and a focus ring. The focus hold button can be customised via the camera menu.
The FE 14mm F1.8 G Master also has Linear Response manual focusing for direct and precise focusing, plus an aperture ring for direct aperture control. This has click stops that can be switched ‘on’ for still photography or switched ‘off’ for quiet iris adjustments during video recording.
As it has a larger, bulbous front element, the FE 14mm F1.8 G Master has a rear filter holder that accepts standard sheet-type filters for ND, colour correction, soft filter and more.
A dust and moisture resistant design provides the reliability needed for challenging conditions. The front lens element features a fluorine coating that repels water, oil, and other contaminants. The rear element is also fluorine-coated to keep that surface clean when changing the rear filter.
The lens also has a built-in petal hood that effectively blocks extraneous light that can cause flare and ghosting.
Pricing and Availability
The new FE 14mm F1.8 G Master will be available in May for approximately £1,400 / $1,600 USD / $2,100 CAD / €1,600.