Sony has just launched two new G series lenses – the wide-angle FE 16mm f/1.8 G prime and the FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS super-telephoto zoom – together bringing the company’s total E-mount lens count to 79 and widening its range of available choices to meet specific creative needs.
“We are continuing our mission to ensure photographers, filmmakers and creators have a breadth of high-performing lens options to bring their visions to life,” said Yang Cheng, Sony’s Vice President of Imaging Solutions, in an announcement at launch time. Here’s a bit more about each.
Sony FE 16mm f/1.8 G
Engineered to capture dynamic ultra-wide perspectives, this is the widest prime lens in Sony’s current G lens lineup. It’s designed to pair seamlessly with the latest full-frame Alpha series cameras, along with the FX3 and FX30 cine cameras.
Optically, it uses two AA (advanced aspherical) elements combined with one Super ED (extra-low dispersion) glass element and three ED elements to deliver razor-sharp resolution throughout all apertures with edge-to-edge clarity across the entire sensor.
Built for use in challenging environments, the lens boasts a fluorine-coated front element, and the dust- and moisture-resistant barrel sports a focus ring, customizable focus hold button, focus mode switch, aperture ring and iris lock switch.
Although we usually think of architecture, sweeping landscapes and even astrophotography with such a broad focal length in play – and this lens certainly excels at capturing these subjects – the Sony FE 16mm f/1.8 G also offers a surprisingly short .15m minimum focus distance and a maximum magnification of 0.25x for excellent close-up shooting capability.
Features
- Compact, lightweight and easy to balance on a gimbal
- Two XD linear motors for fast, precise, quiet autofocus
- Two advanced aspherical lenses minimize field curvature and astigmatism
- Click on/off switch and an iris lock switch for quick, flexible aperture control
View Sony 16mm F1.8 G and 400-800mm F6.3-8 Pricing and Availability at Vistek
Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS
Following suit, this new lens also marks a Sony milestone: it’s the first α lens that zooms to a full 800mm, making it the longest-range full-frame E-mount lens on the market to date.
It’s ideally suited to bird and wildlife photography, where it’s essential not to get too physically close and scare the subject away, as well as sports and aerial shots, where distant fast-moving subjects abound.
Make no mistake: weighing in at 2,475g this is one hefty lens, but Sony claims that it’s optimized for both handheld and tripod-mounted shooting. (In fact, the tripod foot isn’t removeable, to the chagrin of many shooters, no doubt.)
The internal zoom design minimizes centre-of-gravity shift for smooth handling, and built-in Optical SteadyShot image stabilization helps reduce shake-induced blur. The relatively short 90-degree rotational throw makes for quick and easy focal adjustments.
Two high-speed linear focus motors ensure fast and precise AF performance through the entire zoom range. And with a whopping 27 elements in 19 groups, the 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS includes six ED elements to keep chromatic aberrations at bay and help provide reliable sharpness across the frame.
Along with trademark G series resolution, you can count on the 11-blade circular aperture to produce creamy backgrounds with stunning bokeh when shooting at a narrow depth of field.
- High resolution and natural bokeh throughout the zoom range
- Internal zoom for stable handling
- Fast, precise AF captures even fast-moving subjects
- Optical SteadyShot stabilization with mode switch
- Dust and moisture resistance plus high durability
- Minimal focus breathing for movies
