Sony presents FE 50-150mm F2 GM zoom for pros: Fast, light and high-priced
[08:00 Wed,23.April 2025 by Rob]
With the FE 50-150mm F2, Sony introduces a remarkably fast full-frame zoom lens designed for professional users in the fields of wedding, portrait, and indoor sports photography. Although the constant, maximum aperture of F2 requires larger glass elements in a complex construction (17 groups with 19 elements), it weighs only 1,340 g, making it lighter than the FE 70–200mm F2.8 GM OSS II (1,480g). The latter, however, features optical image stabilization, which is lacking in the new FE 50-150 mm F2.
With dimensions of 103 x 200mm, it is also the same length as the 70-200 f2.8, but has a slightly larger diameter. Accordingly, the filter diameter has also grown to 95 mm (77mm for the 70-200mm f2.8).
The FE 50-150mm F2 GM offers a minimum focusing distance of 40cm in the wide-angle range and 74 cm in the telephoto range. The stepless aperture control, linear manual focusing, and internal zoom function should be of interest to video users. The latter means that the length does not change when zooming, which we see as an advantage for gimbal shots. In addition, the FE 50-150mm F2 GM is compatible with Sony's Breathing Compensation function with selected Sony Alpha cameras.
The FE 50-150mm F2 GM features four XD (Extreme Dynamic) precision linear motors, which, according to Sony, ensure fast, accurate, and quiet focusing and are designed to fully exploit the autofocus potential in modern camera bodies. The AF tracking should, for example, easily keep up with the maximum speed of the Alpha III's continuous shooting at 120 frames per second. Through the integration of two XA elements (extreme aspherical elements), two Super ED glass elements (extra low dispersion), and three ED elements, the lens, according to Sony, effectively suppresses aberrations and is designed to provide sharp, high-contrast images throughout the entire zoom range.
So, if you can't get by with an F2.8, for example with the FE 70–200mm F2.8 GM OSS II, because shorter shutter speeds are needed or there is simply not enough light available indoors, you might find a suitable solution in the new FE 50-150mm F2 GM zoom. We would therefore classify it more as a special lens, especially since with the quite fast Sony cameras, you first have to be in the predicament of finding an F2.8 zoom to be too slow.
Availability and Price
So much performance comes at a price.
Sony gives a recommended retail price of 4,399 euros for the new FE 50-150mm F2 GM.
The new Sony FE 50-150mm F2 GM zoom is expected to be available from the beginning of June.
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