Sony's 14mm F1.8 G Master Lens Is Tack-Sharp and Fast

Sony expands its G Master series with a wide-angle lens fit for filmmakers. 

The Sony E-mount series has a new option today with the addition of the Sony FE 14mm F1.8 G Master, a lens that from the initial images is sure to impress videographers and still shooters alike. The FE 14mm F1.8 touts all the optical design features we've grown to like about the G Master series, including its extremely reliable autofocus powered by linear actuators for fast and quiet operation. 

Optically, Sony has added two XA, one aspherical, two, ED, and 1 super ED element for edge-to-edge sharpness. There's a rear filter holder which can be paired with third-party filters or ones you create on your own. Sony includes a template for easy cut-out. 

The lens barrel features an AF/MF switch, a de-click aperture option best for video shooting, and a focus hold button. It also features Sony's linear response ring for better manual focus. As you'd expect from a G Master lens there's a fluorine coating on the front element to keep things clean, and the lens is dust- and moisture-resistant. 

During the press event, Sony put the FE 14mm F1.8 G Master up against the Sigma 14mm F1.8 DG HSM Art, and while the Sigma is tuned to SLR cameras, the Sony lens blew it out of the water in every way possible: distortion, sharpness, autofocus, chromatic aberration, resolution, contrast, and overall size. Obviously, it's a presentation from Sony and not an independent one, but it was impressive not even considering the Sigma 14mm F1.8 as an option if you're serious about image quality. 

The G Master series does come at a premium, and the FE 14mm F1.8 is no different. It's priced at $1,598 and will start shipping on April 21, 2021.