Sony Announce A Trio Of Compact G Lenses

Sony announced today a trio of full-frame prime lenses as part of its G series. These lenses represent a new style for Sony, with full metal, build aperture ring, and a number of advanced features at very compact and lightweight sizes.

A new series of lenses from Sony?

Although Sony did not mention this officially at the pre-release press event which took place yesterday, the new lenses look like direct competitors to Sigmas new I line of compact lenses (with an all-metal build, aperture ring, compact design, and a number of useful extra features like a de-click switch).

Again, Sony did not confirm that these new lenses will belong to a new line that will grow in the future but with 63 lenses in its line now it seems to make sense to create some differentiation and high quality all-metal compact line makes a lot of sense.

We will not be surprised if at some point in the future we will see other similarly designed lenses from Sony (with different focal lengths) being announced and Sony officially declaring a new line (this is actually just what Sigma did when it first announced the 40mm f/2.8 lens and only a year or so later the rest of the lenses in its I line).

The A7C with the new FE 24mm F2.8 G

A trio of lenses

All three lenses have very similar specs with some small differences – here are the main points:

FE 50mm F2.5 G

Lens: 50mm f/2.5 lens with FF coverage
AF mechanism: dual Linear Motors.
Optical design: 9-elements in 9 groups including 2 aspherical elements and a single ED element.
Aperture blades: 7.
Minimum focus distance: 40 cm (1:5.8 macro magnification).
Filter thread: 49mm.
Weight: 174g/0.38lbs.

40mm F2.5 G

Lens: 40mm f/2.5 lens with FF coverage
AF mechanism: dual Linear Motors.
Optical design: 9-elements in 9 groups including 3 aspherical elements.
Aperture blades: 7.
Minimum focus distance: 40 cm (1:5.8 macro magnification).
Filter thread: 49mm.
Weight: 173g/0.38lbs.

FE 24mm F2.8 G

Lens: 24mm f/2.8 lens with FF coverage
AF mechanism: dual Linear Motors.
Optical design: 8-elements in 7 groups including 3 aspherical elements and a single ED element.
Aperture blades: 7.
Minimum focus distance: 40 cm (1:5.8 macro magnification).
Filter thread: 49mm.
Weight: 162g/0.36lbs.

There are several common features on all three lenses including the metal (aluminum) body as well as the metal hood (a first for Sony?), MF/AF switch and a de-click switch, a focus hold button, and dual linear focus motors. All three lenses have some degree of dust and moisture resistance.

Price and Availability

All three lenses should be available in April 2021 and sell for around $600.

The FE 50mm F2.5 G on the A7C

Hands-on from across the web

As usual, several photographers and YouTube creators received the new lenses and published some initial hands-on videos which we shall bring to you below.

Gerald Undone on the trio of new Sony lenses with some comparisons

Dan Watson with the new lenses and some cool cars

PhotoRec TV with a look at the 3 new lenses

ZY Productions with 8 things you should know about the new Sony lenses

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Iddo Genuth

Iddo Genuth is the founder and chief editor of LensVid.com. He has been a technology reporter working for international publications since the late 1990's and covering photography since 2009. Iddo is also a co-founder of a production company specializing in commercial food and product visual content.