Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM vs Sony Sonnar T* FE 55mm F1.8 ZA

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Only show differences

Better figure, where one is clearly better

Share comparison

FE 50mm F1.2 GM compared with Sonnar T* FE 55mm F1.8 ZA

	SonyFE 50mm F1.2 GM	SonySonnar T* FE 55mm F1.8 ZA
Overview
Released
Released	April 2021	December 2013
Optics
Lens type
Lens type	Prime	Prime
Focal length
Focal length	50 mm	55 mm
Maximum aperture
Maximum aperture	f/1.2	f/1.8
Minimum aperture
Minimum aperture	f/16	f/22
Optical construction
Optical construction	14 elements in 10 groups	Seven elements in five groups; Sonnar design
Special elements
Special elements	Three XA extreme-aspherical elements	Three aspherical elements, including two with both surfaces aspherical
Coatings
Coatings	Nano AR Coating II; fluorine coating on front element	ZEISS T* coating
Diaphragm
Diaphragm	11 rounded blades	Nine rounded blades; maker specifies circular opening through two stops below maximum aperture
Angle of view
Angle of view	47° full frame; 32° APS-C	43° full frame; 29° APS-C
Mount and compatibility
Mounts
Mounts	Sony E	Sony E
Image circle
Image circle	Full frame	Full frame
Image circle detail
Image circle detail	Full-frame coverage; 75 mm equivalent field of view on APS-C	Full-frame coverage; 82.5 mm equivalent field of view on APS-C
Teleconverter support
Teleconverter support	Not compatible with SEL14TC or SEL20TC	Not compatible with SEL14TC or SEL20TC
Focus and stabilisation
Autofocus
Autofocus	Yes	Yes
Minimum focus distance
Minimum focus distance	0.4 m	0.5 m
Maximum magnification
Maximum magnification	0.17×	0.14×
Optical stabilisation
Optical stabilisation	No	No
Autofocus detail
Autofocus detail	Four XD linear motors and a floating-focus mechanism	Linear motor; internal focusing
Focus distance detail
Focus distance detail	Minimum focus 0.4 m; Linear Response MF	Minimum focus 0.5 m; electronic manual-focus ring
Magnification detail
Magnification detail	Maximum magnification 0.17×	–
Stabilisation detail
Stabilisation detail	No lens stabilisation; compatible bodies provide stabilisation	No lens stabilisation; compatible bodies provide stabilisation
Design
Dust and moisture resistant
Dust and moisture resistant	Yes	Yes
Filter diameter
Filter diameter	72 mm	49 mm
Maximum diameter
Maximum diameter	87 mm	64.4 mm
Length
Length	108 mm	70.5 mm
Weight
Weight	778 g	281 g (better)
Controls
Controls	Aperture ring with click on/off, AF/MF switch and two customisable focus-hold buttons	Manual-focus ring; focus mode selected on the camera; no aperture ring
Filter detail
Filter detail	–	49 mm front filter thread
Weather resistance
Weather resistance	Dust- and moisture-resistant design; not guaranteed completely dust- or moisture-proof	Dust- and moisture-resistant design; not guaranteed completely dust- or moisture-proof
Dimensions detail
Dimensions detail	–	Aluminium exterior; internal focusing preserves overall length
Weight detail
Weight detail	Approximately 778 g lens; separate hood and caps excluded	Approximately 281 g lens; separate hood, caps and case excluded
Lens hood
Lens hood	ALC-SH163 round bayonet hood	ALC-SH131 petal bayonet hood
In the box
In the box	ALC-SH163 hood, ALC-F72S front cap, ALC-R1EM rear cap, soft case and case strap	ALC-SH131 hood, front cap, rear cap and soft case
Release detail
Release detail	Sony UK announced on 16 March 2021 and specified April 2021 availability. Photography Blog gives May 2021; the maker's earlier month is retained. UK launch price omitted because the actual Sony UK press page lists only a euro price	Sony Japan revised its initial January 2014 launch to 20 December 2013 on 2 December 2013; main date retains month precision for regional release. Photography Blog Mark Goldstein tested an Alpha 7R in 2013; Digital Camera World Matthew Richards published in 2022. Their wide-open sharpness judgments differ. Maker lists a soft case despite Photography Blog saying no case was supplied