SONY MASTERS THE FAST 35MM WIDE-ANGLE

THE NEWEST ADDITION to Sony’s growing line-up of premium G Master lenses for the FE mount is the FE 35mm f/1.4 GM. It’s the 39th FE mount lens, giving Sony’s full-frame mirrorless camera system the most extensive line-up of dedicated lenses. It features a compact and light weight design that’s just 96mm in length and tips the scales at 524g.

The optical construction comprises 14 elements in 10 groups, including two XA (Extreme Aspherical) types to optimise centre-tocorner sharpness, and one ED (Extra-Low Dispersion) type to counter chromatic aberrations. Sony’s advanced Nano AR Coating II is employed to minimise internal reflections to reduce ghosting and flare. A pair of ‘XD Linear Motors’ (Extreme Dynamic) drive autofocus and provide the high thrust efficiency needed for precise subject tracking while also minimising vibration and noise. Sony says that new control algorithms optimise the XD drive’s speed and precision. The minimum focusing distance is 27cm, giving a maximum reproduction ratio of 1:4.3. An 11-blade diaphragm gives an almost circular aperture to create very smooth-looking out-of-focus effects. The screwthread filter fitting is 67mm.

The new FE 35mm f/1.4 GM has a clickstopped aperture collar that can be switched to seamless adjustment when shooting video. It also features an AF/MF switch and focus hold button that can be assigned other functions as required. The barrel tubes are magnesium alloy and the lens is fully weather sealed, plus it has a fluorine coating on the exposed surface of the front element to better repel moisture and grease.

The Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM is available in Australia now priced at $2,449. For more information visit www.sony.com.au.