It’s rare to find a large aperture 35mm lens that manages to be compact and suited for active shooting, but that’s exactly what Sony has just added to its already impressive lineup of G Master lenses. This line of lenses—known for their remarkable resolution, sharp images, and sophisticated bokeh—now has a dedicated 35mm prime offering, the Sony FE 35mm F1.4 GM, which fits in just above the FE 24mm F1.4 GM in terms of dimensions and weight.
Thinking about adding another G Master lens to your Sony Alpha E-mount arsenal? The FE 35mm F1.4 GM is perfect for those looking for a fast, wide-angle prime lens that is well-equipped for both stills and video. A few features that immediately stand out to us are the Sony XD Linear Motors that provide a fast and precise autofocus which is unmatched by most compact lenses, and the bright F1.4 maximum aperture partnered with the impeccable resolution of the G Master series which makes this lens perfect for low-light environments and night shooting.
G Master Performance: Aperture and Bokeh
The best thing about the FE 35mm F1.4 GM is the way it handles light. Much like with other G Master lenses, Sony has achieved the perfect marriage between resolution and aperture: you won’t be sacrificing one for the other. With a maximum F1.4 aperture setting, this lens is perfect for dimly lit scenes, indoor environments, and night shooting—but maintains excellent corner to corner resolution even when the aperture is maxed out.
The technical components of this lens—like the Nano AR Coating II, two Extreme Aspheric (XA) elements, and an Extra-low Dispersion (ED) element—reduce flare and reflections while contributing to the clean imaging that has come to be expected from the GM line. The FE 35mm F1.4 GM makes exceptional use of available light (even if there’s not much) and delivers beautiful bokeh that doesn’t trade off with resolution thanks to its 11-blade circular aperture.
Focus: Fast, Quiet, and Dynamic
Another highlight of the FE 35mm F1.4 GM is its refined autofocus capabilities. Sony’s XD linear focus mechanism packs an incredible autofocus system into a compact lens. The super fast AF is both quiet and reliable, which makes it great for shooting video—and algorithmically monitored real-time eye AF support makes keeping your subject in focus a breeze. This tracking system manages to hold up even when the aperture is pushed to the extreme.
Compact Design and Versatility
This lens is designed to be highly versatile and mobile—and it shows, thanks to its compact and lightweight design, exceptional low light capabilities, and high performance autofocus. It’s small enough to bring along when you’re packing light, versatile enough to serve as your main lens for everything from portraits to starry skies, and powerful enough to capture stunning video on the go that’s always in focus. The dynamic Sony FE 35mm F1.4 GM has just earned a spot as one of our favorite 35mm lenses on the market.