Sony 14mm f1.8 GM REVIEW best ultra-wide prime lens!

[@cameralabs]

Testing Sony’s widest prime lens yet: my FE 14mm f1.8 GM review! Check prices at B&H: bhpho.to/2QGogLs // WEX UK: tidd.ly/3egM7d5 Ben's channel: kzbin.info/door/4oop-sEgs4rb4nI3NxCkNA Buy Gordon a coffee: www.paypal.me/cameralabs Gordon's In Camera book: amzn.to/2n61PfI / Amazon uk: amzn.to/2mBqRVZ Cameralabs merchandise: redbubble.com/people/cameralabs/shop Music: www.davidcuttermusic.com / @dcuttermusic #Sony #14mm #mirrorless 00:00 - Intro 00:33 - Sigma 14 1.8, Canon and Nikon 14 2.8 00:54 - Design, controls, hood, filters 02:45 - Focusing and breathing 03:10 - Landscape / distant quality 03:45 - Astro photography 04:42 - Closeups and bokeh ball rendering 05:30 - Sunstars / diffraction spikes 05:44 - Portrait and vlogging 06:58 - Video and gimbal filming 06:04 - Verdict and sample images

[@TourDeMadone]

I'm a Japanese. Your review emphasizes still images over videos. So very helpful and interesting. Thank you.

[@cameralabs]

Do itashimashite!

[@TourDeMadone]

@@cameralabs (*^_^*) DOUMO ARIGATOU＼(^o^)／

[@Bo_Hazem]

Yes, you usually can't see the imprefections with video as the lens correction is automatically applied.

[@javajack-1]

Another excellent review. You always have some new nugget of information missed by other reviews. My 14mm GM lens arrives next week. Can’t wait.

[@Bo_Hazem]

I'm so happy this came before buying the Sigma! Same price and much better in every aspect? What's not to like!

[@mr.andyalem5309]

Great and detailed review and video! Thanks Mate! Been eyeing this lens for awhile now

[@cameralabs]

It's a fantastic lens!

[@CharlieVN]

Amazing review, great looking lens too

[@cameralabs]

Thanks!

[@networm64]

My jaw dropped when I heard the weight is only 460gr! Great review as always Gordon!

[@cameralabs]

Thanks, it is really light!

[@andreasbrand3191]

oh and the price... sticked with Canon despite year long sensor envy and now after I've gotten an R5 I'm getting lens, price and lightness envy towards Sony... jeez.. In retrospect I should have switched 2015... hindsight is always 20/20

[@akkarparkiamopas3401]

@f/1.8 I still have found coma on the star near corner of the image. It is not Zero Coma I reckon. I tried it out with milky way last night here in New Zealand. My camera a7RIII Cheers

[@NetvoTV]

I plan to get A7RV with Tamron 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 (crop 2X to 800mm), should I pair it with a Sony 12-24mm F4 or 14mm F1.8 (crop to 28mm F3.6 DOF) as ultrawide and everyday lens if I use them mainly for photo and for video mainly with Panasonic HC-X1500 25-600mm camcorder? I was deciding between these and Loawa 10-18, Sigma 14-24 F2.8, Sony 16-35 F4 PZ, Tamron 17-50 F4 and Sony 20 F1.8 but I think >=30mm can covered with few steps back on the tele lens's 50mm, F2.8 is just slight better than F4 hence better get faster lens if I really need that, 17&16mm might not wide enough for indoor especially with the video crop, this is why I reduced to these 2 options, but will Sony update the 12-24mm F4 soon? Is Power Zoom needed or any of these even the fix lens can do dolly zoom just fine? And can I set profile for each lens so the pic&vid took by the golden look Tamron lenses and cooler look Sony lenses will look consistent?

[@mirrorlessny]

thanks for the vlog + ibis sample 6:02 👍 can't wait to vlog with this beast

[@cameralabs]

It's really fun!

[@MarcelVolker]

Gordon: "Really hard to get sun stars in the British weather" Ben: makes video with a sun star in every other scene 😐😂 Jokes aside great review as always Gordon!

[@cameralabs]

Ha ha, yeah Ben's section was sunstar-tastic!

[@RaymondKPhotoVideography]

How do you compare this to the FE 20mm f1.8 G Lens? especially with the distortion?

[@cameralabs]

Check out my review at cameralabs.com to see results for the 20

[@johncallery814]

How easy was this to manually focus on the stars. Thanks. Great review.

[@cameralabs]

Pretty easy with magnified assistance and peaking

[@prashantnz]

Thank you sir. Appreciated. Blessings from NZ.

[@keith2599]

Wow Dude that's one awesome lens and camera, Looks like il have to put some long work overtime in...Excellent review and video as always...Take Care...

[@cameralabs]

Thanks!

[@MichaelMa]

Thanks for the review. Good for lens development but I just don't see any shots that you couldn't substitute with a 16-35mm 2.8 and get the shot you were looking for, which is just such a more versatile lens.

[@cameralabs]

Sure the 16-35 as a zoom has more versatility BUT the 14 is wider, it's over a stop brighter, allowing easier use in low light and delivering shallower depth of field effects, it's much lighter allowing it to be more easily mounted on gimbals, trackers, drones etc, and it's cheaper too.

[@IsaacNYC212]

It's no surprise [to me] that Sony is coming out with so many products. I'm sure they are hoping this will gain them maximum exposure at the upcoming Olympics in Tokyo. I wouldn't be surprise if they are also an Olympic sponsor. It's genus marketing/strategy.

[@ericvaleraphotography27]

Hi Gordon, how do you think it compares to the 20mm 1.8G in image quality?

[@cameralabs]

As a G Master it should be better, but you can compare some results from my 20mm review at www.cameralabs.com/sony-fe-20mm-f1-8-g-review/

[@ericvaleraphotography27]

Thank's@@cameralabs I can't see the 14mm being as sharp from corner to corner at 1.8 but not had it in my hands..As you say it should be better for the GM but then the 20mm is built like a GM and has GM quality glass. Tough one i think.

[@EmmeandEffe]

As always Gordon, excellent review! You really deserve all those coffees :)

[@cameralabs]

Thanks!

[@Dustinrhoades]

Thoughtful review as usual, Gordon

[@cameralabs]

Thanks!

[@richardbedford6166]

Great advice, thank you.

[@cameralabs]

You're welcome!

[@leledreher]

Sony really blasting us with new lenses recently

[@cameralabs]

The G Master ones have been really excellent too.

[@andreasbrand3191]

imho getting better at it than Canon and therefore everybody else! fantastic value lens without rivals imho. ... even adding a labelled aperture ring, how sweet is that.

[@willclinecreative]

Any chance you could tell me if you feel something shifting inside of your lens when rotating it in your hand while off of the camera?

[@cameralabs]

I haven't seen it since my review, but I don't recall that, no.

[@willclinecreative]

@@cameralabs Thanks for answering! some other folks have responded saying it is normal when away from the body unpowered.

[@franccontreras5157]

Very helpful. Thanks

[@cameralabs]

You're welcome!

[@tongpopyro2691]

Sigma better come out with a DN version for the l mount, if sony can make it this small and light sigma should be able to

[@BurnsRubber]

Stunning lens. This might now be the best 35mm astro lens? Thanks Gordon and Sony.

[@cameralabs]

I'd say so

[@christiantheimprovguy1769]

Wow, great review! Thank you.

[@cameralabs]

Thanks!

[@joewellham1]

Sony knocking it out the park again. Nice looking review too.

[@max477]

please suggest camera and lenses under Rs 35000 ($ under 500) for product photography (compact size and stabilization) should be good at creating background blur images

[@cameralabs]

Under 500 is difficult these days, it'd have to be a second hand DSLR, or a budget model with a kit zoom. For blur, get a cheap 50mm f1.8 lens for it.

[@max477]

@@cameralabs Thanks for the advise.

[@michaelrobinson9255]

How is it for full frame?

[@cameralabs]

This review of it was on full frame.

[@alfredtolentino8614]

Great video. I’m on the fence between this Sony 14mm and the Sony 20mm f1.8...🤔

[@abisography]

Go with 14 mm if you are looking for wide. I had 20 mm, which I am selling to get 14mm. There are other lenses which are closer to 20 mm like 24-70 mm, which you buy later. But if you are really looking for wide, go with 14 mm.

[@RandumbTech]

I’ve got the 20 and am considering the 14 in addition to it. The 20 is perfect for talking head and vlog. It’s not wide enough for my real estate work tho.

[@alfredtolentino8614]

@@RandumbTech I got the 20mm and selling it. Got the 14mm on order. 👍📸

[@TheAgora123]

we need your review of the sony A1part 2

[@cameralabs]

If they stop releasing lenses, maybe!

[@TheAgora123]

@@cameralabs thanks

[@AjaySingh-228]

Good One Sir

[@AR-vf7vg]

I hope I keep satisfied with my DN 14-24mm -to keep me away from these now three faboulous GMs 14, 20, 24, ..since I recon I would use them each "only" between f4 until 11 anyway. I mean I hope they there dont produce resoults I'd prefer. - And I find this DN sufficiently small and light to my taste. Compared to 3 separate lenses anyway. But as soon as I whant 35mm (often); I here wouldn't miss for anything the results (and most use) of the f1.2, despite it's pain of size and weight. The Sony 12-24 f4 for me lacked "lively rendering", and the 16-35 (in my opinion excellent (needed coverage) for reportage was pale for my type of work when compared to the DN 14-24mm, and since I needed to force me to carry the f1.2 35mm separatly, the new Sony 12-35 is no temptation for me neither. Ouff, lol. To make it short : I wanted to remind those who might appreciate it that in the "ultra wide range" it's sometimes already "difficult" enough to "preview" situations to wich we can pinpoint to settle for one focallength. I think it's rather even more rare these situations that cal for subject isolation, no? Sky - the subject is at infinity and shutter must really be kept shortest, and with minimal noise, so here no doubt.. For serious vloging: I never do it, but I guess it could have become a must, here too.

[@andreas7278]

I can assure you: If you owned the 14, 20 or 24mm primes for Sony you would not only use them between f4 and f11. It's a very different look which has lots of uses to create separation, depth and guide the viewer in a whole scene (which you get with wide angle lenses) and these lenses render very nicely unlike many other typical wide angle lenses.

[@AR-vf7vg]

@@andreas7278 You've put it nicely, and rightly. Thanks. It would open creative paths once I'd get used to look through them witch I admit never tried, relying on my reasoning only, based solely on never having missed it. But I sens you got it right... when I now think of me documenting artisan's activities where I resorted to using 17mm with engaged tilt (handheld). So I revise my (lol compulsive) reasoning: If one knows what focallength one is to settle with (finance..and readyness and my fear of choosing wrong made me settle for the zoom that equals or betters at "average appertures") then it makes hardly any sens to renounce availabilty of highest quality at widest apperture available, especially if they are not heavy or huge as these 3 g(e)m's

[@andreas7278]

​@@AR-vf7vg Exactly, it's also the other way round in case you wonder, i.e. if you mostly uses prime lenses you get used to play around with choosing the adequate aperture for the situation you are in and use it as a creative tool such as different compositions or coloring in prost processing but stop thinking about what exact focal length you would use in case you had a zoom in your hand right now but focus on what kind of shot you are going to go for with the tool in your hand. I am talking from experience since I owned a huge amount of primes but only few zooms over the years. With wide angle lenses many people seem to be of the impression that you only shoot them from f4 onwards and mostly at f8-f11 since a lot of the work you will see when looking at galleries will be classical landscape, architecture and such. Also many people who want a to get into wide angles settle for a good quality f4 wide angle zoom since it is considered a good sweet spot for size/weight/price that people are willing to accept while getting very good quality especially at those classy f8-f11 apertures. So they never get to play around with other things. I have had many people telling me "who needs a faster aperture than f4 for a wide angle anyways" and the correct answer is like with any other thing "it depends". You can perfectly do a studio portrait with f5.6, however having the option to shoot at f1.4 or f1.8 or something with a short tele has a good amount of usages. I personally like to take an 85mm or 135mm prime with me on travel and like what I can do with it, e.g. shot some very nice delphin shots in action recently and they would not look the same if I shot them at f4 with a 70-200mm f4 at all. I would rather crop in slightly if I can not get the perfect position sometimes having enough resolution left but still getting that kind of look. Of the three lenses above (14mm, 20mm, 24mm) I only own the 24mm 1.4 gm which became my most favourite travel and street photography lense ever and I can tell you that many shots are taken at either f1.4 or something like f3.2-f4 (depends what is my main focus and where I want to guide the view in the photo). I use it as my main way to guide view (which can also be achieved in other ways in a foto) and with the slow smooth transitions they create a 3d scenery which you don't get when shooting with small aperatures in the same way. In some cases they make it look like a portrait in a very different style (e.g. used that 24mm to take portraits inside a helicopter and I understand that you can do that as well at f2.8 or f4 but the result would look very different). In the end, every option has its pro's and cons, I personally feel like these sony wide angle primes are very unique due to two key factors: Size/weight which traditionally used to be very different (especially everything below 18mm with good quality) and rendering (not talking about aperture but overall pleasing rendering, you can take a photo of someone in front of difficult foliage with the likes of the 24mm 1.4 gm and it looks pretty similar to the rendering of a typical 50mm or 85mm prime, not exactly the same but very similar and very pleasing, from what I have seen this 14mm is obviously a little bit behind but the few photos I have seen, 2 of them with foliage behind, show that it sets a new bar here and what I consider pleasing). These are fun lenses to use and take with you and they perform in many difficult situations so well, e.g. shooting into the sun or low light on travel (large aperture combined with wide angle basically means that you can take fotos at very low shutter speeds hand held, you will be surprised how many shots you take still take at iso100 or at your next base iso640 under pretty low light situations, they just look clean and have pleasing colors and rendering without any fixing and playing around on your side which would end up being shot at iso1600+ in other cases). I feel like this new generation of lenses actually makes this really enjoyable, I don't think there are too many people who fancied lurking around older 1kg+ wide angle prime designs for street photography or run-and-gun shooting on tours/traveling but only brought it for specific purposes like milkyway shots. Lenses like this 14mm, 20mm or 24mm (same with these older zeiss batis designs which fall into the same category of lenses) actually allow for handheld video, nicely balanced gimbal shots and run-and-gun shooting which you would not want to do the same way with big zooms or those old high quality wide angle prime lense designs. This is also the biggest appeal of a camera like the Sony FX3 now, it packs most of what you would want outside into such an enjoyable package that you actually want to bring along and use and you would never do the same way you would use an FX6 or something like that. The latter you only bring for paid shooting and where everything is set up, it does not just randomly end up being with you or in your bag. Something like the FX3 can literally be taken with you on a walk to the park with your child, put into your backpack when shopping around to snap a shot here or there when actually being on the way to shopping or something, discrete street photography while having nice iso, DR and autofocus to make your work easy (you get great results even if you did not get everything perfectly in camera that second there) and obviously anyone who likes traveling. I bring 2-3 lenses and a small body like this outside into nature and enjoy it even when walking for a few hours, I can not say that if I have to bring a huge camera bag. In older days you had to compromise drastically if you did not want to carry around the big full frame dslr body and gigantic lenses all the time, nowadays there are some great options which really deliver while actually being something you want to bring along. Gear which collects dust on your shelf has never been useful after all.

[@mikechan31]

@@andreas7278 thank you for the very long yet informative comment. I, too, own the 24mm 1.4 GM and in my opinion the best travel & versatile prime ever made.

[@skach-v]

How to unsee this superhero looking down on you at about 4:50? ))) I guess longer lens will make him disappear.

[@NeXMaX]

Safe to say Sony’s been in a bit of a glass onslaught so far in 2021

[@cameralabs]

It's been pumping them out! But then so has Canon...

[@NeXMaX]

@@cameralabs Great time to be in either system, really.

[@andreasbrand3191]

@@cameralabs but Canon's are more expensive (some much more), MUCH bulkier and heavier. I'm willing to bet a similar RF 14mm prime will be more like 2500€. They might make a 14 f/1.4 to show off and put a 3000 price tag on it judging from their RF offers thus far. If no third party RF lenses are being offered I feel they might maintain such high pricing, then again Sony E mount is getting more attractive with each new release at this point. If the A7 mk4 is going to be a hit like the mk3, then Canon has to do something about it... me (R5 user) hoping for it!

[@cameralabs]

@@andreasbrand3191 yep, I suspect an RF version of this lens would be a lot more expensive.

[@andreasbrand3191]

@@cameralabs sadly yes... I kind of fear new RF lens releases now instead of looking forward to them. Too bad 3rd parties aren't offering anything yet, then again, nobody is anywhere near sony when it comes to compactness... price/performance seems superb.

[@nishalmj6913]

Waiting for a 14mm 1.4 from sony

[@cameralabs]

Not gonna happen

[@andreasbrand3191]

@Nishal MJ... why would you.. it's not like that would make a noticeable difference in any application

[@JonathanPetersonlisten2EITS]

ANOTHER LENS ANNOUNCEMENT?!

[@cameralabs]

WHY EVER NOT?

[@JonathanPetersonlisten2EITS]

@@cameralabs This is amazing.

[@andreasbrand3191]

great review, thanks. You know what's funny? .. While I'm a Canon shooter and having been so for two decades I kept myself from switching to Sony wanting much better sensors for a long time.. then came the R5 and I thought, great, I now have a comparably good sensor and can keep my glass. Out of a sudden, the lenses are becoming the envy. Sony E mount now has, smaller, lighter yet more affordable high end lenses to die for while on Canon RF they're top notch optically, but super expensive and HUGE... and fewer in numbers/choice. I'm not sure Canon will offer comparably compact/lightweight yet optically great/fast glass on RF soon... they probably won't.

[@cameralabs]

Sony is producing some really good lenses right now, many of which are lighter and more affordable than the competition. I do like the RF system and it too has some great lenses, but some are very expensive.