DC.Watch had the opportunity to speak with Sony about their G series of lenses and below you can find some excerpts from the interview. Since the interview is translated I will do my best to clear up the language.
- G Master lenses weren’t around when E-mount started because Sony focused on making compact/lightweight lenses for mirrorless since A-mount was pretty much complete.
- The focus on compact/lightweight glass is why Sony released f/4 zooms, FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA and FE 35mm f/2.8
- The release of the a7RII necessitated the development of G Master glass to satisfy professionals.
- Similarly, the release of the Sony a9 required lenses like the FE 100-400mm f/4.5-56 GM OSS be developed for sports and press.
- Sony is trying to make their E-mount system complete thanks to the a9, which is why the development of the FE 400mm f/2.8 is actually ahead of schedule.
- G Master glass is 100% developed by Sony with no compromises to get the best possible performance and bokeh.
- G Master lenses are also designed for video functionality and the lenses coming were designed with the a7RIII and a9 in mind.
- G Master lenses are Sony’s most durable and robust lenses.
- Operational feeling, sound, image shake and focus movement are all taken into consideration for movies with G Master lenses.
- Sony claims their G Master designs expand on what Zeiss has done for Sony in the past with lenses like the A-Mount 85mm f/1.4 from Zeiss.
- Sony won’t flat out say their G Master designs are better than Zeiss and leaves it up to consumers to decide.
- The only clarification given about the difference between Zeiss and G Master designs is that Zeiss designs focus on resolution and contrast, while G Master designs focus on resolution and bokeh.
- G Master lenses are designed to a higher standard than G lenses like the excellent FE 12-24mm f/4 G and FE 90 f/2.8 Macro G OSS
- It’s unlikely we will see G Master 35mm or 50mm f/1.4 lenses for at least 2 years since Zeiss versions of these lenses were released fairly recently and they are excellent.
- The FE 100-400mm G Master is the only G Master lens currently made in Japan. The Others are made in Thailand at the moment.
- Sony somewhat acknowledges that the very popular FE 85mm f/1.8 can rival the FE 85mm f/1.4 GM, but says the feal of the lenses also plays a part.
- Sony thinks that the use of the 1.4x and 2x teleconverters will help fill gaps when the FE 400mm f/2.8 is released because the teleconverters don’t slow down the lenses ability to AF at all and you simply get more depth of field.
- Lens development should outpace camera development in the coming years and lenses will become outdated after 10 years.
