What happens when you take first-class image quality and beautiful bokeh and wrap it all in a compact and lightweight design? You get a lens like the Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master – a favorite among creators for a wide range of uses for both still and video. The popular prime has been named Best Wide-Angle Lens in Imaging Resource’s Camera Of The Year (COTY) Awards and was named Editors’ Choice by PCMag.com. Many photographers and filmmakers won’t leave home without the Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master, and below we take a look at some of the work created using the wide-angle lens along with why creators love it for, well, just about everything.
You want first-class image quality and beautiful bokeh, wrapped all in a razor-sharp, fast prime lens? Enter the Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master.
Sony Artisan Chad Wadsworth is a music culture and commercial lifestyle photographer, and he always packs this prime in his kit. “Everyone needs a great 35mm lens in their bag and the 35mm GM is my go-to for low light scenarios or when I want that crisp environmental portrait look. For this image I paired it with on-camera flash to make the carnival scene with Austin musician Mélat pop even more.” Read more in What’s In My Bag: An Alpha 1 Kit For Music Culture & Commercial Lifestyle Photography.
Photo by Chad Wadsworth. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master. 1/640-sec., f/5.6, ISO 640
Travel and adventure photographer and filmmaker Gregg Jaden calls the Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master his go-to lens for filming anything. “It frames beautifully,” says the Alpha Collective member, “resembling a hint of an anamorphic look and feel depending on where you position your subject. It also is wide enough for establishing shots and perfect for interviews or close-up portraits. It was my workhorse in my recent film.” Read more in What’s In My Bag: A Travel & Adventure Creative’s Kit For Photo & Video In Remote Places.
Photo by Gregg Jaden. Sony Alpha 7S III. Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master. 1/1000-sec., f/1.4, ISO 12800
Alpha Collective member Stan Moniz calls the 35mm f/1.4 G Master along with the 14mm f/1.4 G Master his favorite lenses for astrophotography. “These are the sharpest lenses I’ve ever shot astro with,” he says. “They’re insanely sharp and don’t give you any distortion or chromatic aberration.” Read more in Photo Fundamentals: Astro Exposure Basics Explained.
Photo by Stan Moniz. Sony Alpha 7 IV. Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master. 8-sec., f/2, ISO 1600
Sony Artisan and fashion photographer Nino Rakichevich says that 35mm is always the focal length he starts any photo or fashion shoot with, and that the G Master version is the best. “It’s my starting point and then I can change lenses accordingly. I actually have all of the Sony 35mm lenses ever made, but this G Master one is the best. It’s very light for all that it does and since it’s f/1.4 it’s a super fast lens.” Read more in What’s In My Bag: A Look At The Photo Kit This Pro Uses For Runway And On-Location Fashion.
Photo by Nino Rakichevich. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 35mm 1.4 G Master. 1/5000-sec., f/1.4, ISO 125
Sony Artisan and YouTuber Miguel Quiles likes to use the Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master for the majority of his talking head videos. Watch the video below to learn more about his setup and read more in See How This Key Addition Gives You A Perfect Vlogging Setup.
Photographer and Alpha Collective member Tiffany Nguyen loves the compactness and creativity provided by the Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master. “I love using prime lenses because they allow me to have so much more creative control over my images by really focusing on my subject while the background is full of buttery bokeh. Packing light when I travel is also super important for me and the compact size of prime lenses is hard to pass up. The fact that they tend to offer wider maximum apertures so you can have more freedom when shooting images and videos in low light conditions is also a huge plus. It’s definitely my go to lens whenever I’m taking photos of my puppy, Levi.” Read more in What’s In My Bag: A Sony Alpha & Xperia Kit For High-Quality Content Creation.
Photo by Tiffany Nguyen. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master. 1/320-sec., f/1.6, ISO 160
You will also always find the Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master lens in elopement and wedding photographer Henry Tieu’s kit. The Alpha Collective member says, “A 35mm is such a wedding photographer ‘must-have,’ and this particular G Master version is the one, the only and nothing else can compare to it. I love that it is super light-weight but so durable. I use this lens to capture most of my portraits.” Read more in What’s In My Bag: A Ready-For-Anything Adventure Elopement & Intimate Wedding Photography Kit.
Photo by Henry Tieu. Sony Alpha 7 IV. Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master. 1/500-sec., f/2, ISO 500
Conservation photographer and storyteller Paul Nicklen takes us behind his creative process and the lenses he relies on to tell the stories he’s most passionate about, and the Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master is one of the “beautifully sharp” primes the Sony Artisan says he includes in his kit. Watch the video below and read more in The Lenses Paul Nicklen Uses To Tell Stories That Matter.
Landscape and astrophotographer Dylan McMains typically uses zoom lenses, but there is one prime he definitely won’t shy away from. “By that same token, there is one prime lens that I think stands above all the rest in terms of its versatility (not just in landscapes). The 35mm f/1.4 G Master is an insanely sharp, light, amazing lens to have on you. Being less than 85mm, this lens is still wide enough to capture most landscapes, but still limiting enough to make me think a little harder about how to capture what I see in front of me.” Read more in What’s In My Bag: How This Complete Photo Kit Captures Powerful Skies & Breathtaking Landscapes.
Photo by Dylan McMains. Sony Alpha 7 III. Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master. 5-sec., f/1.4, ISO 4,000
Outdoor wedding and elopement photographer Maria Hildebrand always includes the Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master in her kit, calling it an all-time favorite. “This lens is so compact and lightweight and it is an all time favorite for portraits. The f/1.4 gives me enough light so together with a higher ISO I often use this handheld at night taking closer portraits of my couples. It is super sharp at f/1.4 and gives a beautiful bokeh.” Learn more about her gear in What’s In My Bag: The Complete Kit For Adventure Wedding Photography.
Photo by Maria Hildebrand. Sony Alpha 7 IV. Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master. 1/250-sec, f/1.4, ISO 640
Heath Rasmussen, who predominantly shoots urban, cityscape, street and commercial photography, always includes the 35mm f/1.4 G Master in his bag. “This is my all around lens and I would say one of the sharpest primes available. Its footprint is small and light and both color and bokeh rendering is outstanding. If I only packed one lens, this would be my choice as being the most versatile prime.” Read more in What's In My Bag: Four G Master Primes Capture Life In The City.
Photo by Heath Rasmussen. Sony Alpha 7R IV. Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master. 1/125-sec., f/2.8, ISO 100
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