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Sony

FE 50mm F1.2 GM

Sony E Mount

Exquisite resolution and dreamy bokeh combine in a masterful f/1.2 prime.

$1,999

Launch price

Released Mar 2021

vs

Tamron

11-20mm F2.8 Di III-A RXD

Sony E Mount

11-20mm F2.8 Di III-A RXD — 11–20mm f/2.8 for Sony E, a popular choice in the tamron lineup.

$899

Launch price

Released May 2021

11-20mm F2.8 Di III-A RXD is 2 months newer.

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Wins

2categories

FE 50mm F1.2 GM

PortraitSports & Action

Wins

5categories

11-20mm F2.8 Di III-A RXD

LandscapeSports & Action

1 categories tied

TL;DR — Key differences

FE 50mm F1.2 GM wins 2 categories·11-20mm F2.8 Di III-A RXD wins 3 categories
  • AFE 50mm F1.2 GM has lower Max aperture (Wide) (f/1.2 vs f/2.8)
  • AFE 50mm F1.2 GM has lower Max aperture (Tele) (f/1.2 vs f/2.8)
  • B11-20mm F2.8 Di III-A RXD has lower Weight (335 g vs 778 g)
  • B11-20mm F2.8 Di III-A RXD has higher Max magnification (0.25 × vs 0.17 ×)
  • B11-20mm F2.8 Di III-A RXD has lower Diameter (65 mm vs 87 mm)

Key specs at a glance

FE 50mm F1.2 GM11-20mm F2.8 Di III-A RXD
Focal Length50 mm11-20 mm
Max Aperturef/1.2f/2.8
MountSony ESony E
CoverageFull FrameAPS-C
StabilizationNoNo
Weight778 g335 g
Min Focus40 cm38 cm
Filter Size72 mm62 mm

Use-case scoring

Which one for what?

Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class

Use caseFE 50mm F1.2 GM11-20mm F2.8 Di III-A RXD
Portrait
9.0Excellent
4.5Fair
Sports & Action
6.5Good
6.5Good
Video & Hybrid
4.5Fair
4.0Fair
Landscape
3.0Limited
8.0Excellent
Travel
2.0Limited
5.0Fair
Wildlife
3.0Limited
3.0Limited
Macro & Close-up
0.0Limited
2.0Limited

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose the FE 50mm F1.2 GM

  • Special elements

    Adds 3 XA (extreme aspherical)

  • Max aperture (Wide)

    f/1.2 vs f/2.8 — lower is better

  • Max aperture (Tele)

    f/1.2 vs f/2.8 — lower is better

  • Control ring

    Only FE 50mm F1.2 GM supports it

  • Custom function button

    Only FE 50mm F1.2 GM supports it

Reasons to choose the 11-20mm F2.8 Di III-A RXD

  • Special elements

    Adds Aspherical

  • Weight

    335 g vs 778 g — lower is better

  • Diameter

    65 mm vs 87 mm — lower is better

  • Length

    97 mm vs 108 mm — lower is better

  • Max magnification

    0.25 × vs 0.17 × — higher is better

  • Min focus distance

    38 cm vs 40 cm — lower is better

Shared specifications

Internal focus

Both support internal focus

Weather sealing

Both support weather sealing

Pros & cons at a glance

Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.

FE 50mm F1.2 GM

Pros

  • Outstanding sharpness wide open at f/1.2
  • Stunningly smooth, circular bokeh with 11 aperture blades
  • Extremely quiet and fast autofocus tracking
  • Manageable size and weight for an f/1.2 lens

Cons

  • Expensive investment for a single focal length
  • Heavy compared to standard f/1.8 options
  • Some visible vignetting wide open

11-20mm F2.8 Di III-A RXD

Pros

  • Versatile zoom range covers multiple focal lengths in one lens
  • Weather-sealed construction for outdoor shooting
  • Lightweight design easy to carry all day

Cons

  • Third-party or older alternatives may offer better value

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the FE 50mm F1.2 GM and 11-20mm F2.8 Di III-A RXD at major authorized retailers.

Tamron 11-20mm F2.8 Di III-A RXD

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Full specifications

= category winner

FE 50mm F1.2 GM
11-20mm F2.8 Di III-A RXD
Focal length (Min)
50 mm
11 mm
Focal length (Max)
50 mm
20 mm
Max aperture (Wide)
f/1.2+2.4 stops wider
f/2.8
Max aperture (Tele)
f/1.2+2.4 stops wider
f/2.8
Elements
14
16
Groups
10
12
Special elements
3 XA (extreme aspherical)
Aspherical
FE 50mm F1.2 GM
11-20mm F2.8 Di III-A RXD
Min focus distance
40 cm
38 cm−2 cm less
Max magnification
0.17 ×
0.25 ×+47%
Autofocus motor
XD Linear Motors
Linear / Stepping Motor
Internal focus
Yes
Yes
FE 50mm F1.2 GM
11-20mm F2.8 Di III-A RXD
Optical stabilization
No
No
OIS effectiveness
0 stops
0 stops
FE 50mm F1.2 GM
11-20mm F2.8 Di III-A RXD
Weight
778 g
335 g−443 g less
Length
108 mm
97 mm−11 mm less
Diameter
87 mm
65 mm−22 mm less
Filter thread size
72 mm
62 mm
Weather sealing
Yes
Yes
Diaphragm blades
11
9
FE 50mm F1.2 GM
11-20mm F2.8 Di III-A RXD
Lens mount
Sony E
Sony E
Format coverage
Full Frame
APS-C

Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.