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Sony FE 50mm F2.8 Macro 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 F2.8 MacroSonySonnar T* FE 55mm F1.8 ZA
Overview
ReleasedSeptember 2016December 2013
Optics
Lens typePrimePrime
Focal length50 mm55 mm
Maximum aperturef/2.8f/1.8
Minimum aperturef/16f/22
Macro lensYes–
Optical constructionEight elements in seven groupsSeven elements in five groups; Sonnar design
Special elementsED glass and aspherical elements; counts not specified in the cited maker feature textThree 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 supportNot compatible with Sony E-mount teleconvertersNot compatible with SEL14TC or SEL20TC
Focus and stabilisation
AutofocusYesYes
Minimum focus distance0.16 m0.5 m
Maximum magnification1×0.14×
Optical stabilisationNoNo
Autofocus detail–Linear motor; internal focusing
Focus distance detail0.16 m minimum from the image sensor; working distance approximately 50 mm or less at closest focusMinimum focus 0.5 m; electronic manual-focus ring
Magnification detail1.0× life-size maximum magnification–
Stabilisation detailNo optical stabilisation; compatible body stabilisation can be usedNo lens stabilisation; compatible bodies provide stabilisation
Design
Dust and moisture resistantYesYes
Filter diameter55 mm49 mm
Maximum diameter70.8 mm64.4 mm
Length71 mm70.5 mm
Weight236 g281 g
ControlsManual-focus ring, AF/MF switch, focus-range limiter and focus-hold button; magnification and distance markingsManual-focus ring; focus mode selected on the camera; no aperture ring
Filter detail–49 mm front filter thread
Weather resistanceDust and moisture resistant design; not guaranteed to prevent all ingressDust- and moisture-resistant design; not guaranteed completely dust- or moisture-proof
Dimensions detail70.8 mm maximum diameter × 71 mm lengthAluminium exterior; internal focusing preserves overall length
Weight detailApproximately 236 g lens; separate caps excludedApproximately 281 g lens; separate hood, caps and case excluded
Lens hoodNo hood listed by SonyALC-SH131 petal bayonet hood
In the boxALC-F55S front cap and ALC-R1EM rear cap; no case listedALC-SH131 hood, front cap, rear cap and soft case
Release detailSony Canada announcement dated 30 August 2016 gives September availability; Sony Japan specifies 24 September 2016. Main release retains September precision because exact first global day is not established. Two independent full reviews retained: Photography Blog credited Mark Goldstein on Alpha 7S and Sony Alpha Blog Marc Alhadeff on Alpha 7R II. Amateur Photographer Richard Sibley was also read but closely overlaps Photography Blog wording, so it is not counted as an independent second review. Reviews disagree on detected colour fringing and barrel material; maker does not specify barrel material here, so it is omittedSony 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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