Sony Planar T* FE 50mm F1.4 ZA

Sony

Planar T* FE 50mm F1.4 ZA

Released July 2016

A full-frame E-mount F1.4 standard prime with Zeiss T* coating, eleven aperture blades and ring-drive SSM autofocus.

Mount
Sony E
Focal length
50 mm
Max aperture
f/1.4
Stabilisation
No
Weight
778 g

What reviewers say

Both praise construction, low colour fringing and attractive blur, while noting size, weight and wide-open vignetting. Photography Blog finds acceptable wide-open sharpness and fairly quick autofocus on the Alpha 7R II; Amateur Photographer finds exceptional wide-open detail but slower, wobbling autofocus on the same body. Their sharpness and focus-speed assessments differ; both find reliable accuracy.

From photographyblog.com, photographyblog.com, photographyblog.com and amateurphotographer.com

Optics

Lens type
Prime
Focal length
50 mm
Maximum aperture
f/1.4
Minimum aperture
f/16
Optical construction
Twelve elements in nine groups; double-Gauss design combined with a rear internal-focusing group
Special elements
Two aspherical elements in total including one AA advanced aspherical element; one ED glass element
Coatings
Zeiss T* coating
Diaphragm
Eleven rounded blades
Angle of view
47° full frame; 32° APS-C

Mount and compatibility

Mounts
Sony E
Image circle
Full frame
Image circle detail
Full-frame coverage; 75 mm equivalent field of view on APS-C
Teleconverter support
Not compatible with Sony E-mount teleconverters

Focus and stabilisation

Autofocus
Yes
Minimum focus distance
0.45 m
Maximum magnification
0.15×
Optical stabilisation
No
Autofocus detail
Ring-drive SSM (Super Sonic wave Motor)
Focus distance detail
0.45 m minimum focus distance
Magnification detail
0.15× maximum magnification
Stabilisation detail
No optical stabilisation; compatible camera body stabilisation can be used
Video features
Aperture click switch permits continuous adjustment without click sound

Design

Dust and moisture resistant
Yes
Filter diameter
72 mm
Maximum diameter
83.5 mm
Length
108 mm
Weight
778 g
Controls
Manual-focus ring, AF/MF switch and aperture ring with click on/off switch
Weather resistance
Dust and moisture resistant design; not guaranteed to prevent all ingress
Dimensions detail
83.5 mm maximum diameter × 108 mm length
Weight detail
Approximately 778 g lens; separate hood and caps excluded
Lens hood
ALC-SH143 petal bayonet hood, supplied
In the box
ALC-SH143 hood, ALC-F72S front cap, ALC-R1EM rear cap and soft case
Release detail
Sony US announcement dated 11 July 2016 on PRNewswire gives shipping in July; Sony Japan specifies 29 July. Main release retains month precision because exact global first day is not established. Two independent full reviews read: Photography Blog Mark Goldstein and Amateur Photographer Andy Westlake, both using Alpha 7R II. Their wide-open sharpness and focus-speed disagreement retained; AP page refreshed in 2023 includes later GM context. Blog focus paragraph incorrectly says 71 mm filter; maker 72 mm used. No inferred predecessor link

Pros and cons

Pros

  • F1.4 maximum aperture
  • Aperture ring with click switch
  • Dust and moisture resistant design

Cons

  • No optical stabilisation
  • 778 g lens weight

Closest rivals

Model
MountFocal lengthMax apertureStabilisationWeightReleased
Sony E50 mmf/1.8No186 gApr 2016
Sony E50 mmf/1.2No778 gApr 2021
Sony E50 mmf/1.4No516 gMar 2023

Sources

  1. sony.jp/ichigan/products/SEL50F14Z/spec.html
  2. sony.jp/ichigan/products/SEL50F14Z/feature_1.html
  3. sony.jp/CorporateCruise/Press/201607/16-0722
  4. prnewswire.com/news-releases/sony-releases-full-frame-fe-50mm-f14-za-prime-lens…
  5. photographyblog.com/reviews/sony_planar_t_fe_50mm_f1_4_za_review
  6. photographyblog.com/reviews/sony_planar_t_fe_50mm_f1_4_za_review/sharpness_1
  7. photographyblog.com/reviews/sony_planar_t_fe_50mm_f1_4_za_review/conclusion
  8. amateurphotographer.com/review/sony-planar-t-fe-50mm-f1-4-za-review

Photo: sony.jp

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