[ad_1]
The Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM lens is a speciality lens for astrophotographers and the like. One other high quality lens within the G-master lineup, this bulbous lens features like a dream beneath the celebrities and past.
When you’re in search of a wide-angle low aperture lens and you’ve got the funds for it, you must undoubtedly contemplate the Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM.
I had a blast making an attempt this lens out and testing its capabilities. While you need a terrific lens and also you don’t need to make compromises you’ll be able to certainly get every thing you need in a comparatively small bundle.
Extremely Really helpful
Wonderful picture high quality and distinctive subject of view for astrophotography and something requiring an extremely huge angle.
For me, a large lens like this that features so fantastically in low gentle is for my part one of many greatest Sony lenses for astrophotography. As you’ll see, I didn’t discover a lot to complain about aside from its protruding form that compelled me to be a little bit extra light and conscious with my gear.
Let’s dive into the main points, see what you assume, and provide help to justify the price of this Sony G-master lens.
Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM Specs
- Ultrawide View
- Light-weight/Compact
- Very Sharp
- Quick Aperture
- Supreme for Astrophotography
- No Entrance Filter Mount
- Some Coma at Widest Aperture
- Costly
- Focal Size: 14mm
- Most Vary: f/1.8 – f/16
- Lens Mount: Sony E-mount
- Minimal Focus Distance: 9.8″ / 25 cm
- Optical Design: 14 Parts in 11 Teams
- Focus Sort: Autofocus
- Picture Stabilization: No
- Filter Dimension: rear filter (no threads on entrance)
- Dimensions (ø x L): 3.3 x 3.9″ / 83 x 99 mm
- Weight: 16 oz / 460 g
Construct & Ergonomics
The Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM lens is of the wonderful construct high quality we’ve come to count on from a G-master lens. It’s comparatively compact and light-weight for the focal size.
The lens comes with the usual focus and aperture rings seen on most newer G-master prime lenses from Sony. The aperture ring is de-clickable which is good should you plan on adjusting your aperture whereas capturing video.
There’s a AF/MF swap which is good in case you are capturing astrophotography and don’t need the main target to wander. Moreover, the inclusion of a spotlight maintain button is helpful. It will also be custom-made to serve different functions.
The built-in lens hood protects the protruding entrance lens ingredient and the lens cap is cup-shaped to guard the lens. Due to the lens form, you’ll be able to’t use conventional screw-on filters however the lens has an possibility to include filters onto the rear aspect of the lens.
I’m certain there are additionally some third-party adapters accessible for front-mounted filters however I believe many individuals might be utilizing this lens for low gentle astrophotography the place filters aren’t wanted.
The Sony 14mm f/1.8 lens is a workhorse designed with performance in thoughts. It’s totally featured and handles effectively with comfy rubber rings to grip. It additionally balances effectively on the Sony mirrorless cameras because of its smaller dimension.
The high-quality climate sealing made me unconcerned when utilizing this lens in rain or snow.
The one draw back was my considerations concerning the form. I used to be apprehensive about scratching the entrance ingredient, which is sort of bulbous and the lens cap doesn’t simply slip into my again pocket as a result of massive form.
You undoubtedly need to be extra cautious with this lens, nonetheless, it is a character trait of most super-wide lenses so there isn’t actually resolution with different producers.
Focus Efficiency
Sony A7RIV + Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM | 1/2000 f/2 ISO 100
As anticipated for a Sony G-master lens this lens focuses extraordinarily effectively. When paired with a latest-generation digital camera just like the Sony A7IV it tracks topics very effectively. After all, focus often isn’t a problem with such a large focal size.
Even at f/1.8 the hyperfocal distance to have every thing in focus out to infinity is round 1.8m or 6ft. This makes getting landscapes sharp in your body fairly easy.
When capturing astrophotography this lens could be simply switched to handbook focus with the included focus swap. Moreover, the handbook focus ring could be mixed with Sony’s focus peaking settings to shortly set up what parts are in focus.
Even at f/1.8 in low gentle conditions it locks focus in a short time. Video shooters will admire the silent focus motors. And the handbook focus ring has a clean however agency feeling.
Picture High quality
Sony A7RIV + Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM | 1/320 f/4 ISO 100
With a minimal aperture of f/1.8, this lens excels in low gentle. The Sony 14mm f/1.8 makes a superb lens for astrophotography particularly when paired with Sony A7IV or A7SIII.
As talked about within the earlier part, the lens additionally focuses shortly in low gentle. It does have a slight vignette at f/1.8 however that may be simply corrected in lightroom.
The sharpness of this lens is phenomenal. This can be very sharp all through the body and all through the aperture vary.
Many individuals are curious concerning the chromatic aberration and coma of this lens. Sony has claimed that they’ve principally eradicated points right here however in my testing, there may be nonetheless some coma on the minimal aperture of f/1.8. Regardless of this, it’s nonetheless among the best lenses in the marketplace for astrophotography.
General I used to be very impressed with the picture high quality of this lens.
Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM Pattern Photos
Listed below are some pattern photos that had been taken with the Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM.
Sony A7RIV + Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM | 1/100 f/4 ISO 100
Sony A7III + Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM | 1/125 f/11 ISO 100
Sony A7III + Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM | 1/320 f/4 ISO 100
Sony A7III + Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM | 1/1600 f/4 ISO 100
Sony A7RIV + Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM | 1/2000 f/2 ISO 100
Sony A7RIV + Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM | 1/200 f/1.8 ISO 100
Options to Sony 14mm f/1.8
When you’re available in the market for an ultrawide lens, the Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM is among the greatest selections. It provides a really quick aperture and glorious picture high quality.
Sigma provides a 14mm f/1.8 lens for an equal worth nevertheless it doesn’t have fairly as many options and it isn’t native to the Sony system which I want.
Moreover, you is likely to be contemplating the Sony 12-24mm f/2.8 or Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 that are each glorious lenses however they’re much costlier and let in two stops much less gentle.
In comparison with the competitors, the Sony 14mm f/1.8 is unquestionably a transparent winner.
Worth for Cash
At round $1,600 it’s a bit dear however as they are saying, you get what you pay for. Prime-notch high quality prices cash particularly in the case of lenses and the cheaper alternate options received’t ship the identical efficiency.
When you want a quick wide-angle lens for issues like structure or astrophotography, that is it. Cheaper alternate options to this lens both sacrifice max aperture (go all the way down to f/2.8) or focal size.
If you need top-quality and the widest, quickest aperture, this lens is your best option.
Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM Evaluation | Conclusion
The Sony 14mm f/1.8 is one other beautiful lens within the Sony G-master lineup. It provides every thing you possibly can ask for in a quick wide-angle prime. You get what you pay for, a top quality lens with out sacrificing aperture or focal size and luckily, this lens will maintain its worth.
Given the value of this huge low-aperture prime, it’s a little bit of a speciality lens however will probably be the prime selection for sony astrophotographers. General, I actually loved utilizing this lens.
With that in thoughts, I don’t assume I’ll be preserving this lens as a part of my package. I’m not a devoted astrophotographer and having such an costly speciality lens in my package isn’t probably the most environment friendly use of funds. If I do get extra centered on astrophotography I’ll doubtless be very eager about upgrading to this lens.
c
Disclaimer: All suggestions are neutral and primarily based on person expertise, with no bias to the merchandise or the model. The merchandise on this put up could include affiliate hyperlinks.
[ad_2]