GEAR MINI TESTS
SONY FE 24MM F/1.4 GM LENS £1344/$1398 sony.com
SPECIFICATIONS Mount: Sony E Aperture range: f/1.4-16 Optical construction: 13 elements in 10 groups Image stabilization: None Aperture blades: 11 rounded Close focus: 24cm/9.45in Filter size: 67mm Dimension (LxD): 92.4x75.4mm/3.64x2.97in Weight: 445g/0.98lb
But in a nod to old-school working, it has a real aperture ring that can be set to clickless or fully clicked in 1/3 stop increments using a button on the side of the lens. If you want to use the iris controls on the camera, the aperture ring also has an A setting to allow you to do so. The other side has a simple AF/MF button, so you don’t have to dive into camera menus to change the focusing settings. And there’s an extra button that can be programmed to lots of different custom options, such as focus lock, which is how we set it. In terms of image quality, it’s incredibly sharp right across the frame with very little distortion of any kind. The image is detailed and neutral with no vignetting to worry about. It controls flare very well, too. But the biggest bonus for filmmakers is that f/1.4 aperture, offering close focus ability and the smooth bokeh. This makes it a perfect partner for a Sony mirrorless camera used on a motorised gimbal. And
Every so often a lens gets rave reviews from users all over the globe, picking up cult status very quickly. Sony’s FE 24mm f/1.4 G Master prime lens falls into that category, despite its pretty steep £1349/$1398 price tag. It has become an optic that is truly coveted by photographers and filmmakers, particularly in the vlogging domain. It’s light and compact, yet offers incredible image quality, thanks to its 13-element construction of top- quality optical glass. And its fast f/1.4 aperture, a beautiful bokeh formed by an 11-bladed iris and close focusing ability make it one of the best lenses for use on a gimbal that you can buy. It’s part of Sony’s high-end G Master range of AF lenses that suits its full-frame cameras fitted with E-mount, making it ideal for the A7S III or FX6 and FX9 cinema cameras. Of course, it’s an AF lens with fly-by-wire focusing when used manually, so it’s not a lens for the traditionalist who loves the tactile feel of a proper cine prime.
because it’s small and light, you can use a lighter gimbal to take the strain off your arms. It’s quickly become the number- one choice of gimbal lens for the army of YouTubers who use Sony lenses, and it’s easy to see why. It’s just a shame there is no built-in image stabilisation for when you want to use it handheld without a gimbal. PROMOVIEMAKERRATING: 9/10 It’s the gimbal-using YouTuber’s Sony lens of choice with great image quality and a fast maximum aperture Pros: Optical quality, compact Cons: No image stabilisation, price
BELOW The fast 24mm Sony G Master lens is a perfect fit for mirrorless
38
PRO MOVIEMAKER
Powered by FlippingBook