Sony FE 50mm f/1.8 Lens
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Slow AF, but a very credible lens for the money
B&H shipped my lens a day or so after a few online reviewers had already gotten theirs, and began panning it for focus issues and focus noise. And so, I was prepared to be disappointed even before I shot a single frame with mine. You may see some of those complaints in reviews here, I am sure. But the reality is, a few tweaks in how you set up your camera will assure focus issues, noise and hunting are fixed The FE 50mm f1.8 is the first Sony FE ... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Be sure to update the firmware...Good lens afterwards...
Camera: Sony a6500 I knew prior to purchasing that the latest firmware significantly improved performance. I can validate this claim as the received lens (date: 02/03/17) had firmware version 01 and its out-of-the-box autofocus was downright atrocious in low light situations especially when using smaller apertures. The following comments and overall rating are based on firmware 02 (which installed effortlessly): Autofocus significantly improved p... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
An excellent, not perfect, fast 50 at a great price
Let's start with the good. This is a fairly compact, shockingly lightweight, fast 50mm lens that can cover full frame and resolves well enough for 24MP APS-C pixel density even wide open. Color, microcontrast, and flare resistance (even without the excellent hood) are all very good, and it focuses fast on the Sony E bodies that have PDAF such as my A6000 and A7RII. Image quality is well above its very modest price, as is handling -- the build see... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Pretty great for the sale price of $198.99.
For the price the lens is fairly sharp. It compares to it's higher end much more expense 50mm zeiss counterpart to a point. For the price you have to deal with a much slower auto focus and tiny bit of chromatic aberration. As a side note this is my first electronic controlled focus ring on a DSLR. After reading reviews on many similar lens I was worried this lens would not be as responsive as needed however after using this lens those worries hav... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Worth the price... but I'm still sending it back
This lens has very good optics. Looks and feels good (better than the canon nifty fifty anyway). It's just, cheap. Sony seemed to do the best with what they had but it just isn't there enough to keep the lens in my bag. I moved from Canon to Sony and thought that this (and the 28mm f/2) would be a inexpensive way to start moving my prime lens collection over and finally kick the adapters. Wrong. I have the manual Zeiss 50mm f1.4 and adapt it and ... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Feels less than solid but works fine
Have had 3 Sony mirrorless cameras but have never owned a Sony lens. My thing is adapting film-era lenses. I figured I should have one Sony lens to go with my A7x body, so I bought this one. It's to replace a Minolta MC 55mm f/1.7 that I've used for years and that fits my shooting like a glove. My first impression of the Sony was how very lightweight it is, esp. compared to my Minny 55. That didn't exactly make me feel good, considering I acquire... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
AF Slow AF - hoping for a firmware update
The biggest complaint about this lens in its short time since its release has been autofocus - speed and sound. I'm using it on an A7II, and the focus speed is really, REALLY slow. In this way, I'm surprised (and skeptical) that I read so many pre-release reviews claiming quick AF. It's not. Not even close. I've been using older Minolta AF lenses (50mm f1.4 and f1.8) via the LA-EA4 adapter, and they are notably faster. I'm holding out for a firmw... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
I so wanted to like this lens
Image quality is great for the price. Once you hit f4 the lens is very sharp and has lovely pop and color rendering. Take it to f1.8 and no surprise it is softer and has lower contrast. CA is also bad wide open. For someone who is not using it wide open it's fantastic. Even slept with someone who snores. Welcome to the worst AF motor in the Sony Stable. This lens sound loud. This is not an STM or USM lens, this is gears on gears. If not for the n... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Slowest AF Possible
Don't get me wrong, this is an exceptional lens for the price. Great, sharp photos with acceptable trade-offs in most areas, but the AF is the slowest hunting creature I've ever seen. You may have heard people say that to get the shot you need to have your lens cover off, camera on, and always be ready. Unfortunately, with this lens you need to have the camera at your eye and focus held and hope the action crosses your already established... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
fully worth 5 stars and here is why
Yes it does not compete with Zeiss or Sony GM - but for $250 it is optically super - yes not the fastest focusing lens or totally quiet - but for the money it is a super lens - it is sharp and that at f1/8 wide open - it is very light and really quite small - it feels like no weight at all - well yes it is not weather resistant either - but one can but a plastic cover on it and body if one needs to be out in the rain - I am glad to see this 50mm... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
It's a good lens
I'm not overly thrilled to be honest and just on the fence on keeping it. I use my A7iii mostly for product shots and with quite a bit of comparison today between this and the kit lens, as well as the Zeiss 2.8/35mm and 70 to 200 2.8 G, this is just ok. Yes it works, you get a nice bokeh from the 1.8, but when comparing just the kit 28 to 70 to it at F4.5 the results were nearly identical. I'd give this one about 5% more detail than the kit when ... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Great buy for the money and works for me
My walk around lens when I travel is the Sony Vario-Tessar T* FE 24-70mm f/4 ZA OSS Lens on an A7 and I wanted a lens that was significantly smaller, lighter and faster. First off, I read a lot of reviews that went from bad to great so I decided to give it a try, the worst case being a return. The lens is incredibly small and light when fitted to the A7. It is almost like there is no lens on the camera when compared to the Tessar Since most of my... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Quality lens for a solid price!
So far have really enjoyed using this lens. I fully believe in the idea you get what you pay for. While its $248 which is very low compared to most Sony E mount lenses it gets the job done and takes some solid photos and works well enough for video for the price you pay. It has some AF noise especially as it by default it continuously focuses on all cameras Ive used it with so far even in one shot AF modes with the half press. Its not a G Master ... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Not a Bad lens actually
I got this lens from a friend as a package deal when i purchased from him Full Frame Sony A7 body to try out FF system without going Canikon as i prefer mirror less systems. Anyways i have purchased A7 MK2 since along with Sony/Zeiss 55mm f1.8 for 4 times the price of this one so i have something from a top shelf to compare this relatively cheap lens to. After recent firmware update to 0.2 it is quite a bit faster at AF and became not a bad lens ... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Bang for da Buck
Being a $200 lens, you would think not to expect much from it like I did, but I was blown away by the value I got here. It of course isn't the sharpest prime glass, and the older-style motors that drive the AF are noisy and quite slow but that's it as far as complaints go. Its nice and small which fits great with my A7II for a compact set-up that's easy to take around. I'm more of a video shooter, and I've come to terms that I can really only use... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Great basic lens
As a non-professional who will not be as demanding as a pro, I wanted a simple, not-too-expensive 50mm prime. I could not be happier with this one. The f/1.8 means I've used it in extremely low-light situations with no problem. I've found the images clear and without artifact. And the very short DOF leads to some highly artistic shots with a beautiful blur to the background. I use it on a Sony alpha A7 III and using the A7's low-loss optical zoom... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
TERRIBLE
What makes me extremely upset is when companies try to get as much as possible out of their customers in such a painfully obvious way. Sony does it with its poor batteries that require you to buy 5-6 and a grip. That is what sony is doing with this lens. The image quality is good, but the autofocus is TERRIBLE... So terrible that it doesn't even work while in video mode. This lens causes the camera to go to manual focus when in video. WHY???? Cau... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Great under f10
Great under f10 with adequate light with continues auto focus and expandable flexible spot focusing. Very little issues with this lens at f1.8. The f1.8 in this lens is for Bokeh, not low light. For low light get the sony 85mm f1.8. Love this focal length though and the build quality is great -- it makes the lens nice and light and cheap. Plus the bezel of the front element is metal. It's metal where it matters. No brainer to put this in your bag... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Firmware Version 02 Addresses Focusing Woes; Good Optics
The Sony FE 50mm f/1.8 gives the first-time, full-frame mirrorless user a clearer picture (no pun intended) of what his a7-series camera can achieve. The lens allows astounding light transmission (T-stop) of T1.8, matching its advertised F-stop; rival lenses like the Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G has a transmission rating of T2.0. Additionally, sharpness is superior to comparable Canon and Nikon nifty fifties; many details are retained in the images even at... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
It could be better, but not for the money
Haven't used it all that much as I got it 10 days ago but so far it is just what I needed. Sure, the 1.8 in most lens comparisons is the 97 pound weakling when it comes to build quality, but not all that much slower than it's bigger sibling the 1.4 - about two thirds of a stop really (but a stop is twice the light). However when you consider the costs (around seven times more) you have to decide what 'better' is worth to you. The 1.4 or a 1.2 if ... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Great starter lens for FE Mount =]
I bought this lens for my nephew, who is starting in video & photo on his recently purchased A7S. I've borrowed it several times for quick shoots and for an entry-level lens, Sony continues to impress me on their optics. The focusing motor is very quiet, responsive, smooth, and pleasant for a small investment like this. I'm spoiled by Zeiss, so this is a pleasant surprise. There is some distortion, naturally - but we shoot i RAW, so this is adj... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
FE 50mm f/1.8 Lens by Sony... Not so Fantastic Plastic
You get what you pay for... Pro's: Price Light, small form factor Pretty sharp Nice bokeh at f1.8 close focus area at f1.8 color rendition looks good. Auto focus may be acceptable for shallow depth of field video (just as long as you don't move much) Con's: Auto focus constantly hunts (slow) Loud auto focus motor sound like heart pump (unacceptable to the pro shooter) No steady shot f1.4 would have been nice. Firmware update? Keep your receipt. T... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Great lens for the money
I am very happy with this lens. The image quality is outstanding. I am sure if you did some close scrutiny of images comparing it to more expensive lens there will be a difference but it will probably be minor. I can't emphasize enough how happy I am with the image quality. The only downside I have seen with the lens is that it can hunter for focus in autofocus. It is also slower then more expensive lens in autofocus. So if you are doing photogra... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Good AF, great IQ, only downside is the noise.
I have a Sony A7, focuses quick and is accurate. It's more than usable at 1.8, didn't notice any bad fringing or softness. In low light it does slow down, but my copy never hunts. Also more importantly it doesn't backfocus. Many of my previous FE lenses would always backfocus. Only thing I don't like about the lens is the noise, it's almost as loud as the Canon 50mm 1.8 II. I was hoping it would be quiet like the STM one. If it was, it would have... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
