The following chart presents a comparison between basic parameters of the Sony E 15 mm f/1.4G and the parameters of other lenses with a similar focal length.
Before this launch the Sony E system featured the Sony E 16 mm f/2.8 model but it was a small, 'pancake' device so it would be difficult to compare these two. If you look at the offer of the rivals it seems the new Sony is the closest to 1.4/16 Sigma and Fujifilm instruments. You can notice at once that the Sony is the smallest and physically the lightest lens in this group, with the lowest filter thread diameter. Despite that, it is also a lens the most difficult to design due to a bit wider field of view.
In the photo below the Sony E 15 mm f/1.4G is positioned between the Sigma C 30 mm f/1.4 DC DN and the ultra-wide angle Sony E 11 mm f/1.8.
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The tested lens starts with a metal mount that surrounds a contact plate and a rear element, 27 mm in diameter. The element is put inside a black 25x21 mm frame with rounded corners and the area around it is black and matt, without any slits or electronic parts peeking through. From this side everything looks very well.
The proper body of the lens is made of plastics; it starts with a black, plastic ring that doesn't move. On the ring you can find a white dot, making an alignment with a camera easier, the mount type (E-mount), the lens's serial number along with information that it was produced in China.
On the other part of that immobile ring you see an indentation that passes into another part of the ring with increased diameter. That part features a frame with the name of the lens, the G series logotype, an aperture lock button (which can be alloted also other functions from the camera's menu level), a focusing mechanism mode switch (AF/MF) and a CLICK ON/OFF switch that controls an aperture ring.
Then you find an aperture ring, 13 mm wide, its middle featuring a relatively narrow stripe with ribs which is supposed to make your grip firmer. The ring can work in a clickless mode or every 1/3 EV step.
Further on you see a manual focus ring, 17 mm wide, completely covered by ribbing but without any distance or DOF scale. The ring is a focus-by-wire construction and its focus throw amounts to an angle of about 130-140 degrees. It's a value that allows you quite precise settings.
A narrow, metal ring that passes into a hood mount is another part of the lens. The front element doesn't move, it is convex and 31 mm in diameter. It is also surrounded by an inscription with the name and parameters of the lens, and a non-rotating filter thread, 55 mm in diameter.
When it comes to optical construction you deal here with 13 elements positioned in 12 groups. Among them you can find three aspherical elements, one made of low dispersion ED glass, and one made of Super ED glass. Inside, there is also an aperture with seven blades that can be closed down to a value of f/16 at the maximum.
Buyers get in the box with the lens: both caps, and a hood.
