Sony FE 50 mm f/1.2 GM review - Coma, astigmatism and bokeh

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Sony FE 50 mm f/1.2 GM

16 March 2021

Maciej Latałło

7. Coma, astigmatism and bokeh

If you only stick to the area limited by the size of the APS-C sensor coma won't be bothersome at all. Corners of full frame are another matter – some problems are visible and, as a result, at the maximum relative aperture the point-like images of a diode get 'wings'. Those 'wings' are not a manifestation of classic coma but rather of optical aberrations of higher order. Still, it's important that, on stopping down the aperture by 1 EV, such aberrations can be reduced to almost zero.

It's also worth mentioning that the results of the Sony in the corner of full frame and at the maximum relative aperture remain better than those of the rival Nokton 1.2/50 when stopped down by 1 EV.

Center, f/1.2	Corner APS-C, f/1.2	Corner FF, f/1.2

Center, f/1.8	Corner APS-C, f/1.8	Corner FF, f/1.8

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Astigmatism, understood as an average difference between horizontal and vertical MTF50 function values, amounted to 17.8%. It is a surprisingly high value but you should also remember that it belongs to the medium range, close to high level but still medium. Perhaps a bit lax f astigmatism correction is the price you have to pay for high results in other testing categories.

The appearance of out-of-focus images is very nice, with smooth light spread in circles. Onion ring bokeh doesn't make itself felt despite aspherical elements; a brighter rim that appears on more significant stopping down is not especially intensive. Mechanical vignetting is clearly visible for a change but only by f/1.2; by f/1.8 it becomes moderate and by f/2.5 it disappears completely.

Center, f/1.2	Corner APS-C, f/1.2	Corner FF, f/1.2

Center, f/1.8	Corner APS-C, f/1.8	Corner FF, f/1.8

Center, f/2.5	Corner APS-C, f/2.5	Corner FF, f/2.5