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Archive 2025 · Sony 35mm F1.4 GM vs Sony 50mm F1.4 GM

milend
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p.1 #1 · Sony 35mm F1.4 GM vs Sony 50mm F1.4 GM

I need some advice regarding the 35mm and 50mm 1.4 GM lenses. My current lens lineup consists of:

- 24-70mm F2.8 GM2
- 40mm F2.5
- 24-50mm F2.8

The 24-50mm is my current favourite lens because it's relatively lightweight and it covers my most used focal lengths - 28mm, 35mm and 50mm. So it stays on my A7IV all the time.

I find the 40mm redundant because I bought it with the intention of having a lighter weight setup but the package is still not small and not much of a difference between the 24-50mm, so I never use this lens.

The 24-70 is too bulky, so I'm going to sell it.

My use case is simple - photos of my family (we have a newborn baby). I'm looking to add a fast prime and would love to hear from parents who went through the early years of their children - which focal lens worked best for them?

The advantages of the 35mm is that it's more versatile, I can capture more of the environment but it's harder to compose as field of view is wider. On the other hand, the 50mm makes it easier to compose, better suited for portraits but might not be wide enough indoors.

Alternatively, I could just continue using my 24-50mm (which I think will use 90% of the time if I got one of these 1.4 primes) and don't get anything else.

Apr 04, 2025 at 02:25 PM

maly149
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p.1 #2 · Sony 35mm F1.4 GM vs Sony 50mm F1.4 GM

If you look at your photos taken with the 24-50, where do you hang out more? Wider or longer? I'd probably lean towards 35mm personally, just to get more context to the photos.

Apr 04, 2025 at 03:26 PM

Surfnsun
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p.1 #3 · Sony 35mm F1.4 GM vs Sony 50mm F1.4 GM

35mm has been just about perfect for my family. It�s not too tight, not too wide�just right. I find myself seeing the world in a way that naturally fits this focal length. More than anything, it helps me capture memories that keep me smiling long after the moment�s passed.

Apr 04, 2025 at 03:38 PM

fotografur
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p.1 #4 · Sony 35mm F1.4 GM vs Sony 50mm F1.4 GM

35GM all the way.

Better for indoor/tighter areas and you can crop with your A7rlll. Crazy close focus on it too.

A few of my shots with it. I also have the 50 f1.2 GM

https://www.flickr.com/photos/25182288@N04/albums/72157719482796053/

Apr 04, 2025 at 03:40 PM

Robin Smith
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p.1 #5 · Sony 35mm F1.4 GM vs Sony 50mm F1.4 GM

My prediction is you�ll get the 35mm and in a year wonder why you bought it as the 24-50 does everything the 35 does and more. I say this as you say the 40mm is �not small� and it is one of the smallest lenses in the system. The 35mm GM will almost match the 24-50 in size. Personally I would sell both the 40 and the 24-50 and keep the 24-70. Much more useful in the long run. The baby will not be little and close for very long. There�s plenty of bokeh at f2.8 at 50 and 70mm, particularly at baby photo distances.

Apr 04, 2025 at 03:55 PM

JD07
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p.1 #6 · Sony 35mm F1.4 GM vs Sony 50mm F1.4 GM

As a parent who has been through this not so long ago, and to directly answer your question, I would go with the 35GM. However, I think either 35mm or 50mm is good for child/family photos so it really comes down to your preferred focal length. And if are going to keep the 24-50 f/2.8 you can shoot at both 35mm and 50mm, so the question is really, at what focal length do you want to have the wider aperture?

Alternatively, if you have the 24-50 and you are going to add only one lens, maybe something longer would add more to your kit? An 85mm is probably the obvious choice if you go that route, although again it comes down to what is going to work for you in the circumstances in which you are going to shoot. I have to say the idea of a 35mm (I have the 35 GM) and the Sigma 65mm f/2 (I have had an eye on one for a while but haven't bougth one - FWIW there is an Arthur R Youtube video recommending the Sigma 65mm for newborn photography) appeals to me. However, you have 50mm in the 24-50 so you might think 65mm is too close.

Personally though, and as @Robin Smith has already suggested, I would keep the 24-70mm f/2.8. I have the Sigma DN Art version and I find it very useful (although I have the 35GM too, for low light and greater subject separation when I want that).

Apr 04, 2025 at 07:17 PM

snappu
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p.1 #7 · Sony 35mm F1.4 GM vs Sony 50mm F1.4 GM

I would sell all of your lenses and get the 35GM, 50GM and maybe something like a 16-35/4 PZ or 20-70/4. You really don't need a F2.8 zoom for a newborn. They barely move. And you'll find that F2.8 isn't enough for indoors, as you often need to keep the room dark for the baby.

My daughter is 4 and most of her earlier photos were shot with the 35GM. For the first 2 years I used a zoom only for video. When your baby starts running around zooms can be useful. The 50GM is nice to have to fill the frame with your baby for soft portraits.

Apr 04, 2025 at 08:10 PM

mudlake
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p.1 #8 · Sony 35mm F1.4 GM vs Sony 50mm F1.4 GM

We raised three kids and if I were to do it all over again with lenses, I would keep your 24-70GM II as it is a fantastic lens for so many situations. It's the perfect do-it-all lens (and it does it all very, very well). Next, I would skip the 35GM (as much as I love mine) and get the 50/1.4GM. Fifty millimeter lenses are perfect for capturing moments both indoors and out and also give a perfectly natural look for people. You really can't go wrong with either the 35 or 50, but I would easily choose the 50mm over the 35. Thirty-five millimeter is very handily available in your 24-70GM and at f1.4, the 50mm gives you much better bokeh than the 35.

Apr 04, 2025 at 09:18 PM

jaybr
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p.1 #9 · Sony 35mm F1.4 GM vs Sony 50mm F1.4 GM

I don�t own the 24-50, I have a number of excellent primes in that focal range, and I own the Tamron zoom combo (17-28/2.8 & 28-200/2.8-5.6). But, IMO I think f2.8 is fine for indoors and lower light shooting if used with modern post processing denoising solutions. The 24-50 focal range at f2.8 in such a compact/light form factor is very appealing too. 24mm is usually wide enough and 50mm is long enough for most of my general shooting. The only thing I don�t like about this lens is the heavy barrel distortion at 24mm (obviously correctable and designed this way to keep it compact).

I would probably pair this lens with something like the inexpensive Samyang FE 75mm f1.8 (which I also own) for occasional portrait shooting.

J

Apr 04, 2025 at 09:27 PM

ckc11
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p.1 #10 · Sony 35mm F1.4 GM vs Sony 50mm F1.4 GM

As a parent who has been through this, general rule of thumb is that focal length tracks exponentially with your kid's age. So like others have mentioned, when they're babies, they don't move so 35GM (or 24GM) is perfect. Even as toddlers 35GM is great as you're never more than a step or two from them. Once you hit pre-teen, you're definitely well in 50mm territory. Teenagers and beyond, they don't want to be seen anywhere near you so you'll be in the bushes with a 600mm like you're stalking snow leopards in the wild

Apr 05, 2025 at 01:10 AM

nineblade
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p.1 #11 · Sony 35mm F1.4 GM vs Sony 50mm F1.4 GM

When you shoot with your 40, does it feel too tight or too wide? That can dictate whether you go 35 or 50.

Apr 05, 2025 at 04:45 AM

rob_ww
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p.1 #12 · Sony 35mm F1.4 GM vs Sony 50mm F1.4 GM

Depends on where you take most of your family photos. When we had a smaller house, the 35mm was preferred. Now we live in a larger house with larger rooms, 50mm is fine. I love the 24-50 which I use 90% of the time for travel and outings, but as others have said it doesn't particularly apply to family photo situations. And the extra light gathering of f1.4 will be useful for indoor shots.

I would not keep the 24-70 zoom as I don't find the extra reach to 70mm makes much difference. Once children are moving around a longer lens -- an 85, 135 or even 200 -- is much more useful. Our daughter was already getting further away at 2 years old, playing with others on the swings, paddling in a pool or exploring the back of the garden. A 135 was very useful for that range.

Apr 05, 2025 at 05:43 AM

jp.gomez
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p.1 #13 · Sony 35mm F1.4 GM vs Sony 50mm F1.4 GM

milend wrote:
I need some advice regarding the 35mm and 50mm 1.4 GM lenses. My current lens lineup consists of:

- 24-70mm F2.8 GM2
- 40mm F2.5
- 24-50mm F2.8

The 24-50mm is my current favourite lens because it's relatively lightweight and it covers my most used focal lengths - 28mm, 35mm and 50mm. So it stays on my A7IV all the time.

I find the 40mm redundant because I bought it with the intention of having a lighter weight setup but the package is still not small and not much of a difference between the 24-50mm, so I never use this lens.

The 24-70 is too bulky,...Show more →

Both 35GM and 50GM are phenomenal lens. Can't really go wrong with either. It's the focal length that you really have to figure out which is best for you.

I've shot exclusively with 55ZA for almost 3 years. Single lens setup until my son turned 3 y/o. I got away with most of the shots with 55mm FOV. Its whenever were eating out I find the need for something wider. I could take photos of my folks across the table with 35mm without moving a seat, with 55mm I have to stand up each time. That was the turning point.
Even paired 55 with 28 but it didn't click on me, unlike the 35 & 85mm I switched to after. Today I have 35mm on 4 of 6 of my lenses.

You have 24-70 GMii that should cover the portrait FOV end, I think 35GM would suit you more. I crop with it to get to 52mm F2 in a pinch but I'd like to have a true 50mm prime down the road. Here GAS-ing for 50GM 1.2 even though I have Tamron 35-150mm with 50mm F2.2

Apr 05, 2025 at 07:43 AM

Seabassius
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p.1 #14 · Sony 35mm F1.4 GM vs Sony 50mm F1.4 GM

snappu wrote:
get the 35GM, 50GM and maybe something like a 16-35/4 PZ or 20-70/4.

I like this idea. Looking back through my LR catalog, most of my twins (now 13) photos for the first few years were with a 50 1.4 and then I had a zoom for environmental and those were usually in the under 24 to 30 range.

If one lens it would be 50 1.4 and a good quality iPhone. If two I would do the 50 and the PZ or 20/70 mentioned above. As they got older probably and more mobile the 35 1.4 or 24 1.4 would be added. Then you're in to a tele once sports start and next thing you know you're taking pictures of birds....

Apr 05, 2025 at 08:41 AM

darbo
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p.1 #15 · Sony 35mm F1.4 GM vs Sony 50mm F1.4 GM

I�ve had the 35GM but later sold it. A year later I got a 50 1.4GM and super love it. I really really regret selling the 35GM and want to add it back in my bag again�.but the 50GM stays; it�s too great to ever let got of!

I also love the idea of supplementing the primes with a zoom. The PZ 16-35mm F4 would be absolutely fantastic for the size/weight and image quality.

Apr 05, 2025 at 09:28 AM

Dave Sanders
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p.1 #16 · Sony 35mm F1.4 GM vs Sony 50mm F1.4 GM

We're I you - and I'm not - I'd keep the 24-70GMII and add a fast 85 like the Sigma Art. When my daughter was a baby and a toddler, way back when, I used a Nikon D2x with a 35 and 50/1.8 for a ton of shots, so 50ish and 75 equivalent. As she got older and I went FF with Sony and Nikon, I used fast 28, 35, 55 and 85 primes a lot. Lots of lens changing. Hey, I was younger and more determined.

If I did it again, and had the money I did now, I'd definitely buy a fast 24-70 and a couple of primes, likely starting with an 85 like the Sigma Art, then adding the 35GM and finally a 50.

If size is your main concern, yes, stick with the 24-50 but I'd pick up something longer.

Apr 05, 2025 at 12:30 PM

Donzo98
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p.1 #17 · Sony 35mm F1.4 GM vs Sony 50mm F1.4 GM

I agree with you completely on the 24-50... I absolutely love it, and use it as a walk-around lens on my A1II. I sold my 24-70 too.

If I were you, I would use the 24-50, and pair with a 50 GM, either 1.2 (I have that), or the 1.4 (which I had). The 1.4 is smaller... pretty much the size of the 24-50.

Both 50's are amazing... can't go wrong with either.

Apr 05, 2025 at 01:41 PM

NJPhotographer
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p.1 #18 · Sony 35mm F1.4 GM vs Sony 50mm F1.4 GM

The 24-50 is wonderful. I suggest adding a 35/1.4 or 35/1.8 ... either one would be perfect. The 40 is redundant. The 24-70 is too big.

Apr 05, 2025 at 01:52 PM

jaygould
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p.1 #19 · Sony 35mm F1.4 GM vs Sony 50mm F1.4 GM

I would just keep the 24-50.

Maybe get a cheaper 35 f1.4, like a Samyang (it's $399 brand new right now on sale). If you like it a lot then you can consider switching to a GM later. The 50mm f1.4 from Samyang is really good as well, I think it's $499.

Apr 05, 2025 at 06:20 PM

Lukacs
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p.1 #20 · Sony 35mm F1.4 GM vs Sony 50mm F1.4 GM

If you have high resolution sensor (42-60MP) then 35GM works perfectly as a 50 f2 lens. It's sharp even at f1.4 so you can crop without hesitation. This lens is extremely versatile, indoor, outdoor also. 50mm a bit tight for indoors, also I've found with kids I rarely used my 50 1.2GM in crop mode, 75mm is too long for me.
Question with 24-50, do you need the prime at all? I was a huge fan of 1.2 and 1.4 f-stop for separation, but in real world scenario for family, most time I have to stop down to f4-f8 to get everybody in focus. You can get nice shots outside lining up your family members, kids on a decent distance (5-6m), and getting good separation. Or individual portraits from 2-3m. Indoor however I found f1.4 unusable most time, because the subject too close to get both eyes in focus, or my other kid obliterates in background due low DOF. For indoor tiltable or off camera flash is more practical and lot cheaper.
I had the 50 1.2GM (sold it few weeks ago), it has better rendering than 35GM in lot of situations, it's an "art" lens. Outside I find 50mm better, but F2 is enough, so either you can crop from 35 1.4 or go with a small f2 prime. But again that f2.8 zoom is not far from f2, and it's small, versatile.
Overall I wouldn't go for GM zoom or prime unless you have A1 or A7RIV, V, (or professional use with S series for high fps shoot), because they are way overkill for a 24 or 33MP sensor. G series are more compact, more affordable and still has high optical performance. Also there are lot of non Sony brand options for lot cheaper. On other side I opt only for best primes for 60MP sensor, for A7RV 20G, 24GM, 35GM, 50GM, 85GM, 135GM, or Sigma 35 1.2, 50 1.2, 85 1.4, or Voigtlander APO series are essential options.

Apr 06, 2025 at 01:32 AM

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