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

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

SonyFE 50mm F1.8SonySonnar T* FE 55mm F1.8 ZA
Overview
ReleasedApril 2016December 2013
Optics
Lens typePrimePrime
Focal length50 mm55 mm
Maximum aperturef/1.8f/1.8
Minimum aperturef/22f/22
Optical constructionSix elements in five groups; double-Gauss designSeven elements in five groups; Sonnar design
Special elementsOne aspherical elementThree aspherical elements, including two with both surfaces aspherical
Coatings–ZEISS T* coating
DiaphragmSeven rounded bladesNine rounded blades; maker specifies circular opening through two stops below maximum aperture
Angle of view47° full frame; 32° APS-C43° full frame; 29° APS-C
Mount and compatibility
MountsSony ESony E
Image circleFull frameFull frame
Image circle detailFull-frame coverage; 75 mm equivalent field of view on APS-CFull-frame coverage; 82.5 mm equivalent field of view on APS-C
Teleconverter support–Not compatible with SEL14TC or SEL20TC
Focus and stabilisation
AutofocusYesYes
Minimum focus distance0.45 m0.5 m
Maximum magnification0.14×0.14×
Optical stabilisationNoNo
Autofocus detail–Linear motor; internal focusing
Focus distance detail0.45 m minimum focus distanceMinimum focus 0.5 m; electronic manual-focus ring
Magnification detail0.14× maximum magnification–
Stabilisation detailNo optical stabilisation; compatible camera body stabilisation can be usedNo lens stabilisation; compatible bodies provide stabilisation
Design
Dust and moisture resistant–Yes
Filter diameter49 mm49 mm
Maximum diameter68.6 mm64.4 mm
Length59.5 mm70.5 mm
Weight186 g281 g
ControlsManual-focus ring; focus mode selected on camera; metal lens mountManual-focus ring; focus mode selected on the camera; no aperture ring
Filter detail–49 mm front filter thread
Weather resistance–Dust- and moisture-resistant design; not guaranteed completely dust- or moisture-proof
Dimensions detail68.6 mm maximum diameter × 59.5 mm lengthAluminium exterior; internal focusing preserves overall length
Weight detailApproximately 186 g lens; separate hood and caps excluded. Sony Netherlands launch release states 192 g, superseded here by exact-model Sony Japan technical specificationsApproximately 281 g lens; separate hood, caps and case excluded
Lens hoodALC-SH146 round bayonet hood, suppliedALC-SH131 petal bayonet hood
In the boxALC-SH146 hood, ALC-F49S front cap and ALC-R1EM rear cap; no case listedALC-SH131 hood, front cap, rear cap and soft case
Release detailSony Netherlands announcement dated 29 March 2016 states availability from April 2016; exact first on-sale day not established. Main release retains month precision. Full independent exact-model reviews read: Photography Blog on Alpha 7S and Amateur Photographer Andy Westlake with Alpha 7R II autofocus experience. Review differences in corner sharpness and longitudinal fringing are preserved; the Blog explicitly qualifies its 12-megapixel test body. Reviews assess original launch-era focus behaviour, not subsequent firmwareSony 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

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