Rent the Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM in Canada — a compact, lightweight standard prime that pairs G Master image quality with a fast f/1.4 aperture. It’s an ideal everyday lens for portraits, weddings, events, street and video on Sony full-frame. Key points:
- Fast f/1.4 aperture for low light and beautifully smooth background blur
- Very compact and light at around 510g — noticeably smaller than the f/1.2, so it’s an easy walk-around prime
- G Master optics with two XA and one ED element for crisp, corner-to-corner detail wide open
- Fast, quiet dual XD Linear Motor autofocus, plus an aperture ring, focus-hold button and 67mm filter thread
Our thoughts
This is the 50 I’d hand most people — you get almost all of the GM look and low-light ability of the f/1.2, but in a much smaller, lighter package that’s a joy to carry all day. At 510g it barely registers on the front of the camera, yet it’s razor-sharp wide open with lovely bokeh. For weddings, events and everyday shooting it’s hard to beat as a standard prime.
— Will, Founder
Key specifications
| Lens mount |
Sony E |
| Format |
Full-frame |
| Focal length |
50mm |
| Maximum aperture |
f/1.4 |
| Minimum aperture |
f/16 |
| Aperture blades |
11 (rounded) |
| Optical design |
14 elements in 11 groups, incl. 2 XA and 1 ED element |
| Coatings |
Nano AR Coating II; Fluorine front coating |
| Autofocus |
Dual XD Linear Motors, with focus-hold button |
| Controls |
Aperture ring (de-clickable) and AF/MF switch |
| Minimum focus distance |
0.38m AF / 0.41m MF |
| Maximum magnification |
0.16x |
| Filter thread |
67mm |
| Build |
Dust- and moisture-resistant; approx. 516g (1.14 lb) |
Compatibility & what you might add
- Fits any Sony E-mount body — full-frame Alpha and Cinema Line FX cameras. On an APS-C body it gives roughly a 75mm equivalent field of view, a lovely short portrait length.
- Takes standard 67mm screw-in filters — the same size as several other Sony primes, so a polariser or ND pairs easily.
- Great for video on a gimbal thanks to its low weight, de-clickable aperture ring and quiet autofocus.
- Want the ultimate low-light look? Step up to the FE 50mm f/1.2 GM, or browse the full Sony E-mount range.
Q&A
How does this compare to the 50mm f/1.2 GM?
Both are superb G Master 50s. The f/1.2 gathers a little more light and gives an even shallower depth of field for the ultimate cinematic look, but it’s bigger and heavier. This f/1.4 is smaller, lighter and easier to carry all day while still delivering that GM sharpness and gorgeous bokeh — for most people it’s the more practical everyday choice.
Is it sharp wide open at f/1.4?
Yes — the two XA (extreme aspherical) elements keep it crisp on your subject right from f/1.4, so you get soft, creamy backgrounds without losing detail. It’s an excellent portrait and low-light performer straight out of the box.
How big and heavy is it?
Impressively compact for a fast 50 — around 510g, so it balances beautifully and won’t weigh down a run-and-gun kit. It’s an easy lens to keep on the camera as your standard walk-around option. We ship it protected and ready to shoot.
Can I use it for video?
Yes — it’s a strong video lens. The aperture ring can be de-clicked for smooth iris pulls, the dual XD Linear Motor autofocus is quick and quiet, and its light weight makes it a natural fit for gimbal and handheld work.
Which Sony cameras does it fit?
Any Sony E-mount camera — every full-frame Alpha and Cinema Line FX body, plus Sony APS-C bodies. On full-frame you get the native 50mm; on APS-C it crops to roughly a 75mm equivalent, which is an ideal portrait focal length.
