Sony is lastly displaying some like to their APS-C cameras by launching three new lenses particularly for his or her crop sensor platform. The Sony 15mm f/1.4 G, which is able to tackle the Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN, is a lens designed for photographers and videographers who wish to hold issues broad. Let’s see the way it performs in our full evaluation.
Professionals
- Small and lightweight
- Climate sealing
- Snappy autofocus
- De-clickable aperture ring
- Good colour rendering
- Sharp
Cons
- Heavy ghosting
- Inexperienced fringing
- Heavy distortion with lens correction off
- The worth
Sony 15mm f/1.4 G — Technical specs
Sony supplied all technical specs for the Sony 15mm f/1.4 G:
- Designed for APS-C cameras
- Mud and moisture resistant
- 22.5mm equal focal size
- 2x linear AF motors
- Optimized for video
- Weighs 7.7oz / 0.48lbs
- Seven round aperture blades
- Lively Mode assist for strolling
- De-clickable aperture ring
- Focus maintain button
- Focus mode button
Sony 15mm f/1.4 G — Ergonomics and construct high quality
Sony’s G sequence lenses are smack dab in the course of the pack (Sony, Sony G, Sony GM) in terms of their construct high quality. This small APS-C prime isn’t any exception to that rule. That’s to not say that this lens is unhealthy. By no means; in truth, this lens’s construct high quality and total ergonomics are a few of the largest promoting factors. Due to its total dimension and weight, the Sony 15mm f/1.4 balanced close to completely on my loaner Sony a6600.
The lens weighs lower than half a pound (0.48lbs), it’s roughly three inches lengthy and takes 55mm filters. Fairly spectacular for a lens that has a most aperture of f/1.4. This lens is noticeably smaller Sigma 16mm f/1.4 it’s competing towards. Just like the Sigma 16mm, the Sony is mud and moisture resistant. I didn’t get to check the lens out within the rain, however I’ve subjected G sequence lenses to gentle showers earlier than they usually have faired simply wonderful. I’m certain will probably be the identical story with this lens.
From a controls standpoint, the Sony 15mm f/1.4 G is laid out properly. There’s a decently sized guide focus ring sitting behind the entrance ingredient, and there’s a de-clickable aperture dial. On the left aspect of the barrel, you’ll discover a perform button and the AF/MF change. On the proper sits the de-click change. All fall properly in attain once you’re holding the lens. The lens is all plastic, nevertheless it feels good, it has survived some unintentional bumps and it’s straightforward to make use of.
Sony 15mm f/1.4 G — Within the discipline
The Sony 15mm f/1.4 G — which offers an equal focal size of twenty-two.5mm — is good to tote round on Sony’s APS-C cameras. The lens weighs virtually nothing, it balances properly and the controls really feel nice. You possibly can management the aperture from the lens because of the devoted dial, or you possibly can depart it in A mode and management aperture values from the digicam physique. The de-click choice will delight videographers, and so will the sleek guide focus ring.
There’s no optical stabilization constructed into this lens, which is odd as Sony is advertising this lens as a strong choice for video. Let’s be trustworthy, IBIS within the a6600 is just not that nice. Nonetheless, I used to be in a position to handhold this lens with good method and managed to tug off acceptably sharp nonetheless photographs at 1/tenth of a second. Apart from this stuff, the lens is about as plug-and-play as attainable. It’s straightforward to make use of.
Sony 15mm f/1.4 G — Focus efficiency
If I needed to describe autofocus efficiency in a single phrase, I’d say that the Sony 15mm f/1.4 G is swift. Along with being a pace demon, the lens focuses precisely. Focusing from close to to far is near-instantaneous. I had no issues doing road pictures with this lens. When monitoring objects, it didn’t miss a bit. The efficiency is spectacular. You will get fairly near topics because of the minimal focusing distance of seven.87-inches.
As talked about above, Sony is touting this lens for video manufacturing. Videographers, you’ll be happy to know that there’s little or no focus respiratory when manually focusing. You’ll be capable of pull focus and create glorious clips with ease when utilizing this lens. Total focusing efficiency is strong. For those who’re debating between this lens and the Sigma 16mm f/1.4, the Sony wins handsomely right here.
Sony 15mm f/1.4 G — Picture high quality
Picture high quality is a combined bag. A part of the problem right here is that there have been no lens profiles out there for this lens throughout our evaluation. Even the distortion compensation within the a6600 was ineffective. I’m certain that after lens profiles begin hitting varied enhancing suites, the photographs will probably be higher total. Within the evaluation state, although, the lens exhibited unhealthy distortion, ghosting and fringing. Nonetheless, heart sharpness, bokeh, and colour rendition are glorious. Let’s break issues down additional.
Distortion management
We will’t assist however let you know that this lens produces important distortion with none lens correction profiles enabled. In each picture above, you possibly can see the barrel distortion. The images bulge out within the heart, and objects on the perimeters have excessive curves. For instance, have a look at the portrait picture of the Devon Tower. The waterline of the pond within the foreground exhibits extreme curvature. We anticipated distortion as a result of it is a wide-angle lens, however we weren’t anticipating this a lot.
Ghosting, flaring, vignetting and chromatic aberrations
The largest draw back of the Sony 15mm f/1.4 G is the quantity of ghosting and fringing it produces. As you possibly can see within the photos of the statue above, at f/1.4, ghosting is minimal; nevertheless, as quickly as you attain f/5.6, it begins to turn into a difficulty. At f/16, properly, you received’t be utilizing these photos.
The picture of the flower exhibits inexperienced fringing. As soon as lens profiles have been added to the enhancing software program suites, I’m certain that the CA will probably be manageable. As you’ll anticipate, there’s a vignetting when taking pictures wide-open. However, once more, vignetting will simply be mounted as soon as lens profiles have been added to varied items of enhancing software program. Nonetheless, by the point you hit f/5.6, the vignetting calms down. Sadly, for these in pursuit of beautiful solar stars, the Sony 15mm f/1.4 G doesn’t produce the prettiest examples I’ve ever seen.
Sharpness
Within the heart, the lens is good and sharp when wide-open. Nonetheless, on the edges of the body, sharpness falls off. That is seemingly as a result of distortion the lens introduces. However, when wanting on the photos on my pc, I may see a number of wonderful element.
Cease the lens all the way down to f/5.6, and pictures sharpen up throughout the body. You possibly can shoot all the way down to roughly f/11 earlier than the consequences of diffraction present. Is it the sharpest lens I’ve ever used? No, nevertheless it’s greater than acceptable, and the sides and corners will seemingly get higher as soon as the distortion is underneath management.
Bokeh
You’re not going to purchase a wide-angle lens like this one for bokeh; nonetheless, having mentioned that, the quick aperture of f/1.4 does mean you can create some quite pretty bokeh once you shoot wide-open and on the lens’ minimal focusing distance. Bokeh balls aren’t completely spherical, however they’re OK for what this lens is. Don’t purchase this lens for the bokeh. Purchase it for the low-light taking pictures potential it brings, and take what bokeh you possibly can create as a bonus.
Colour rendition
I like the best way this lens renders colours. All the photos you will have seen right here on this evaluation had been captured utilizing the usual colour profile, and no alterations had been made concerning colours throughout processing. You’ll discover that the colours are nice and pure. You could possibly simply stroll round and shoot JPEGs and not using a fear on the planet in terms of colours. Glorious job, Sony.
Sony 15mm f/1.4 G — A great however costly APS-C lens
The Sony 15mm f/1.4 G is a welcome addition to Sony’s APS-C lens lineup. With an equal focal size of twenty-two.5mm, this lens will give photographers and videographers who wish to hold issues broad a pleasant choice. Nonetheless, it’s clear that Sony goes after Sigma’s 16mm f/1.4 Up to date.
In lots of instances, the Sony 15mm f/1.4 is the higher lens. It’s smaller and lighter, has higher climate sealing, focuses quicker, and has a implausible de-clickable aperture dial. Nonetheless, the Sony does exhibit extra distortion and ghosting than Sigma’s 16mm f/1.4.
Nonetheless, total sharpness is nice, the lens renders pleasing colours and good bokeh, and it has minimal focus respiratory, which is significant for videographers. Essentially the most important distinction between this Sony lens and Sigma’s choice is the worth, with this Sony 15mm f/1.4 G coming in sizzling at $750, it’s double the price of the Sigma.
Total the Sony 15mm f/1.4 G is a pleasant lens that ought to enhance when lens profiles are added to enhancing software program. You simply must resolve if you’d like an OEM lens from Sony or a third-party one from Sigma.
