Sony FE 50mm F1.8

Sony

FE 50mm F1.8

Released April 2016

A 186 g full-frame E-mount F1.8 standard prime with a metal mount and seven-blade aperture.

Mount
Sony E
Focal length
50 mm
Max aperture
f/1.8
Stabilisation
No
Weight
186 g

What reviewers say

Both praise image quality, low weight and affordable access to a fast standard prime, but criticise slow, audible autofocus. Photography Blog finds very little fringing and strong corners on its 12-megapixel Alpha 7S; Amateur Photographer notes longitudinal fringing and softer corners, while finding accurate focus and good stopped-down detail. Neither recommends it wholeheartedly for quick-moving subjects.

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

Optics

Lens type
Prime
Focal length
50 mm
Maximum aperture
f/1.8
Minimum aperture
f/22
Optical construction
Six elements in five groups; double-Gauss design
Special elements
One aspherical element
Diaphragm
Seven 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

Focus and stabilisation

Autofocus
Yes
Minimum focus distance
0.45 m
Maximum magnification
0.14×
Optical stabilisation
No
Focus distance detail
0.45 m minimum focus distance
Magnification detail
0.14× maximum magnification
Stabilisation detail
No optical stabilisation; compatible camera body stabilisation can be used

Design

Filter diameter
49 mm
Maximum diameter
68.6 mm
Length
59.5 mm
Weight
186 g
Controls
Manual-focus ring; focus mode selected on camera; metal lens mount
Dimensions detail
68.6 mm maximum diameter × 59.5 mm length
Weight detail
Approximately 186 g lens; separate hood and caps excluded. Sony Netherlands launch release states 192 g, superseded here by exact-model Sony Japan technical specifications
Lens hood
ALC-SH146 round bayonet hood, supplied
In the box
ALC-SH146 hood, ALC-F49S front cap and ALC-R1EM rear cap; no case listed
Release detail
Sony 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 firmware

Pros and cons

Pros

  • F1.8 maximum aperture
  • 186 g lens weight
  • Metal lens mount

Cons

  • No optical stabilisation
  • No external AF/MF switch

Closest rivals

Model
MountFocal lengthMax apertureStabilisationWeightReleased
Sony E50 mmf/1.4No778 gJul 2016
Sony E50 mmf/2.8No236 gSept 2016
Sony E55 mmf/1.8No281 gDec 2013

Sources

  1. sony.jp/ichigan/products/SEL50F18F/spec.html
  2. sony.jp/ichigan/products/SEL50F18F/feature_1.html
  3. mynewsdesk.com/nl/sony-nederland/pressreleases/sony-bolsters-full-frame-fe-lens…
  4. photographyblog.com/reviews/sony_fe_50mm_f1_8_review
  5. photographyblog.com/reviews/sony_fe_50mm_f1_8_review/sharpness_1
  6. photographyblog.com/reviews/sony_fe_50mm_f1_8_review/conclusion
  7. amateurphotographer.com/review/sony-fe-50mm-f1-8-review

Photo: sony.jp

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