Sony has just announced three new prime G lenses for the E-mount and it has a twist.
Sony’s announcement hit many ears today. It contains not one, not two, but three new lenses, all in a new range from their G-series. The three lenses are primarily at 24mm, 40mm and 50mm. The 24mm has a maximum aperture of f / 2.8, while the 40mm and 50mm lenses have a maximum of f / 2.5. Oddly enough, all three lenses are identical in size and almost the same in weight. The lenses are all extremely compact and indeed weigh very little, but the heaviest weighs only 174 g.
As you can see, with the Sony a7C, you can have one of the lightest mirrorless setups in the smallest shape on the market. However, it is noteworthy that they are also compatible with APS-C sensors.
Specifications and price
Each lens is extraordinarily close in almost every respect. Let’s start with the price, because I know this is what many of you will be scanning the article for: all three are $ 598. I was initially surprised by this, but given how similar they are, it makes sense.
There are very few differences between the specifications. Each lens has 7 rounded aperture blades, autofocus, the same dimensions and no built-in image stabilization. The differences are few, but there are a few. The first is the most obvious: the 50mm and 40mm primes are both f / 2.5 at their widest aperture, while the 24mm is the more traditional f / 2.8. The next difference is the minimum focus distances. The 24mm can focus from 24cm (9.4 inches), the 40mm can focus from 28cm (11 inches), and the 50mm can focus from 35cm (13.8 inches).
What are your thoughts?
Although they are not ridiculously fast – which is very much in vogue these days – they are small in shape, light in weight and reasonably priced. There seems to be an interest in reducing the size and weight of mirrorless equipment with Sony, and pairing the a7C with these three primes is an attractive proposition for most shooters who enjoy being able to run and gun , but not to sacrifice on their kit. Many of us are past the days of dragging a 6 foot backpack full of so many lenses around that it affects the curvature of our spines.
In terms of performance, it looks sharp and with pleasant bokeh. I look forward to getting their hands on them and seeing if this is indeed the great value it looks like. It is also noteworthy that this brings the total number of Sony E lenses to 63! This number has been creeping in for some time and now feels like a distant reminder that their lack of lenses is considered a deterrent for many people.
What do you make of these new lenses?
All photos courtesy of Sony Electronics