Prime lenses have an inherent cachet. In addition to their quantifiable traits, there's a certain 'x factor' that's inexorably tied to the experience of having a single, fixed focal length attached to the camera. It's just kind of cool to shoot with a prime lens. In the pantheon of today's optics, the Sony G Master line is at the very top. For photographers and videographers seeking exceptional  performance and versatility, Sony's f/1.4 prime G Master serve up the perfect combination of excellence and cool. In the zoom lens arena, photographers frequently build their lens quiver around a core triad to which they add other specialized zooms or primes to cover specific circumstances. For prime lens devotees, there's more like a core quartet of 24mm, 35mm, 50mm, and 85mm. In this guide we’ll explore the Sony 24mm f/1.4 G Master, Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master, Sony 50mm f/1.4 G Master and Sony 85mm f/1.4 G Master II are renowned for their edge-to-edge sharpness and resolution, beautiful bokeh and robust build quality, making them ideal for diverse shooting scenarios. Below, we cover the benefits of each focal length and see what creators who use them have to say about how they use each one. Whether you're capturing portraits, landscapes, or cinematic video, these f/1.4 primes will elevate your work to the next level.

See how leading creators use G Master primes and why they're renowned for sharpness, resolution, beautiful bokeh and robust build quality.

Sony 24mm f/1.4 G Master

The Sony 24mm f/1.4 G Master lens is a powerful tool for photographers and videographers who need exceptional image quality in a wide-angle perspective. This lens is particularly valuable for its ability to capture expansive landscapes and astroscapes, architecture and environmental portraits with stunning sharpness and clarity. Its fast f/1.4 aperture excels in low-light conditions, making it ideal for night photography and astrophotography. It also provides the ability to create beautifully smooth bokeh, allowing for effective subject isolation against a softly blurred background. As is the case with G Master primes, it’s incredibly compact and lightweight, making it highly portable and perfect for on-the-go shooting.

Sony 24mm f/1.4 G Master

Avid astro-landscape photographer, explorer and traveler Rachel Jones Ross (@rachel_jones_ross) calls the Sony 24mm f/1.4 G Master perhaps Sony’s sharpest and fastest lens, and you’ll always find it in her kit for astrophotography. She paired it with her Sony Alpha 1 to capture the aurora in the image below. The Alpha Collective member says, “The Sony 24mm f/1.4 G Master turned out to be a fantastic choice as the aurora danced in the gap between the mountains. If you look closely, you can see the detail in the trees as the setting moon once again illuminated the foreground.” Read more in What’s In My Bag: How This Adventurer And Nightwatcher Gets Ready For Prime Aurora Time.

Photo by Rachel Jones Ross. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 24mm f/1.4 G Master.

Landscape and nightscape photographer Brandt Ryder (@brandtryderphotography) has labeled the Sony 24mm f/1.4 G Master as the king amongst the G Master primes. He says, “When it comes to astrophotography, primes are king and G Master lenses are hands down the best astro lenses on the market. The G Master glass resolves extremely sharp images that also have very low coma resulting in pin point stars from corner to corner. In my opinion, king among them is the Sony 24mm f/1.4 G Master. This superfast f/1.4 lens is a game changer for astrophotography when used in combination with a star tracker allowing for ISO as low as 400 when shooting the night sky. This allows for extremely low noise and some of the cleanest night images out there in the photography world. 24mm also happens to strike the perfect balance for Milky Way photography allowing for scale and detail in the galaxy’s core.” Read more in What’s In My Bag: A Complete G Master Kit For Landscapes & Astroscapes.

Photo by Brandt Ryder. Sony Alpha 7 IV, Sony Alpha 7 IV Astromodified Visible + H-Alpha. Sony 24mm f/1.4 G Master. Ground, 5-Focus Stacked. 1/160-sec., f/8, ISO 320. Sky, 3-Focus Stacked. 120-sec., f/2, ISO 800

Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master

The Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master lens is an ideal choice for photographers and videographers who want versatility and superior image quality in a compact form. This lens is perfect for a range of applications, from street photography and environmental portraits to low-light and event shooting. Its 35mm focal length offers a natural perspective that closely resembles what the human eye sees, making it ideal for capturing authentic imagery. The fast f/1.4 aperture delivers that beautiful and creamy bokeh G Master lenses are known for, allowing photographers to effectively separate subjects from their backgrounds and enhance the overall visual narrative of the image.

Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master

Maine-based photographer and filmmaker David McLain says if he were allowed only one lens, the Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master would be it. “It's long enough to give you a sense of place but when you’re in tight and it's wide open, it could almost be mistaken for a longer portrait lens, " explains the Sony Artisan. “It frees me up to shoot in almost any light. I still can't get over the degree to which I can shoot in situations you think won't even show up. Some of the images from this shoot speak to that. I could shoot most of the pictures I would ever want to shoot with this lens. The manual aperture ring is back to the future and I still can't get over how small and light this lens is.” Read more in What’s In My Bag: This Pro's Simplified Kit For Authentic Storytelling.

Photo by David McLain. Sony Alpha 7R V. Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master. 1/80-sec., f/1.4, ISO 3200

Hawaii-based landscape, travel and lifestyle photographer Vince Lim (@vincelimphoto) chooses the Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master as his go-to lens for lifestyle photography, low light conditions, and portraits. The Alpha Collective member says, “The 35mm focal length provides a natural perspective, perfect for capturing candid moments and dynamic compositions in lifestyle shoots. Its wide f/1.4 aperture excels in low light, allowing for stunning detail and vibrant colors even in challenging lighting conditions. When it comes to portraits, the lens produces a shallow depth of field that beautifully separates subjects, creating images with a cinematic quality and an engaging, intimate feel. I've really loved this lens the moment I got it, and the combination of versatility and beautiful bokeh makes it an indispensable part of my kit.” Read more in What’s In My Bag: An Alpha 7R V & G Master Kit For Landscape, Travel & Lifestyle Photography.

Photo by Vincent Lim. Sony Alpha 7R V. Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master. 1/50-sec., f/1.4, ISO 400

Sony 50mm f/1.4 G Master

The Sony 50mm f/1.4 G Master lens is a versatile and indispensable tool for photographers who appreciate the classic "nifty fifty" focal length for its ability to deliver stunning, natural-looking images across a range of scenarios. The 50mm perspective is particularly favored for its versatility, providing a field of view that is close to what the human eye perceives, making it ideal for portraits, street photography, and everyday shooting. With its bright f/1.4 aperture, this lens excels in low-light conditions, allowing photographers to capture beautifully illuminated images with a shallow depth of field, creating the creamy bokeh effect. The lens has a compact design and robust construction, and paired with its fast, precise autofocus, the lens is a reliable choice for both professional and enthusiast photographers who seek superior image quality in a lightweight and durable package.

Sony 50mm f/1.4 G Master

Professional wedding and portrait photographer Kesha Lambert (@keshalambert) says the 50mm is a focal point that has a broad range of utility, and the Sony 50mm f/1.4 G Master is a solid choice for her work. The Sony Artisan says, “It’s a lens that you could photograph an entire wedding with. It has the right compression for couples portraits and detail shots, and gives you enough room to work in small spaces and capture group shots."

Photo by Kesha Lambert. Sony Alpha 7R V. Sony 50mm f/1.4 G Master. 1/250-sec., f/3.2, ISO 320

New York City-based photographer Jeremy Cohen (@jermcohen) is a big fan of the Sony 50mm f/1.4 G Master for its bokeh, sharpness and construction. The Alpha Collective member explains, “I took some photos of my friend, Rebeca, at a cafe and the lights in the background made for an incredible bokeh effect when I shot at 1.4. I loved it, not sure how I could imagine a better 50mm. Dare I say, it's perfect?"

Photo by Jeremy Cohen. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 50mm f/1.4 G Master. 1/250-sec., f/1.4, ISO 400

Sony 85mm f/1.4 G Master II

The Sony 85mm f/1.4 G Master II lens is a prime choice for photographers who specialize in portrait photography and desire top-tier optical performance paired with stunning aesthetic appeal. Renowned for its flattering compression, this 85mm second-gen G Master is perfect for headshots and portraits, capturing subjects with a natural, pleasing perspective that enhances facial features without distortion. The fast f/1.4 aperture facilitates excellent performance in low-light scenarios, while providing the ability to create a dreamy, defocused background—known as bokeh—which draws all attention to the subject and adds a professional, artistic touch to the composition. Whether capturing candid expressions or meticulously posed portraits, the Sony 85mm f/1.4 G Master II lens empowers photographers to translate their creative vision into breathtaking images.

Sony 85mm f/1.4 G Master II

Portrait photographer Niah Aldrich (@niahrosephoto) has already used the Sony 85mm f/1.4 G Master II for several portrait shoots, and she says it’s her new favorite that’s going in her kit. “There's no distortion and it's just a really accurate and nice lens for headshots or full body. I really like the bokeh and am just so pleased with how fast it is and how the focus always hits on my portraits.” Read more in A Portrait Pro Tests The New Sony 85mm f/1.4 G Master II and Seeing Red: Inside A Bold Portrait Session.

Photo by Niah Aldrich. Sony Alpha 7 IV. Sony 85mm f/1.4 G Master. 1/1600-sec., f/1.4, ISO 100

Wedding and elopement photographer Henry Tieu (@henrysdiary) also uses the Sony 85mm f/1.4 G Master II for his work. He likes to use it for not only capturing portraits, but also those important details of a wedding – the rings, table sets, flowers. The fast autofocus also helps him photograph those moments while not interfering with them. “It's super-fast,” the Alpha Collective member explains. “I can just stand in one spot and I know that I can get my focus dialed in. And with the focal length of 85mm, I can be further away from the subject and I don't have to really worry about interfering with a moment.” Read more in Sony 85mm f/1.4 G Master II: The New Must-Have For This Wedding Pro.

Photo by Henry Tieu. Sony Alpha 7 IV. Sony 85mm f/1.4 G Master II. 1/1600-sec., f/2, ISO 200