# Sony FE 50mm F1.8 Standard Lens Review
If you are looking for a compact, lightweight, and affordable lens for your Sony E-mount camera, you might want to consider the Sony FE 50mm F1.8 Standard Lens (SEL50F18F/2). This lens is designed for full-frame cameras, but it can also be used on APS-C models with a 75mm equivalent focal length. It offers a bright f/1.8 maximum aperture that enables low-light shooting and shallow depth of field effects. It also features a 7-blade circular aperture that produces smooth and pleasing bokeh. The optical design consists of 6 elements in 5 groups, including one aspherical element that reduces spherical aberration and distortion. The autofocus system is driven by a DC motor that delivers fast and accurate performance, as well as quiet operation. The lens has a metal mount for durability and a 49mm filter thread for attaching accessories. It comes with a plain bayonet hood and front and rear caps.
Product Details
Here are some of the key specifications of the Sony FE 50mm F1.8 Standard Lens (SEL50F18F/2):
– Mount: Sony E
– Format: Full-frame
– Focal length: 50mm
– Aperture range: f/1.8-f/22
– Angle of view: 47 degrees (full-frame), 32 degrees (APS-C)
– Minimum focus distance: 0.45m (1.48 ft)
– Maximum magnification: 0.14x
– Optical design: 6 elements in 5 groups (1 aspherical element)
– Diaphragm blades: 7 (circular)
– Focus type: Autofocus (DC motor)
– Image stabilization: No
– Filter size: 49mm
– Dimensions: 68.6 x 59.5 mm (2.7 x 2.34 in)
– Weight: 186 g (6.56 oz)
Features and Benefits
The Sony FE 50mm F1.8 Standard Lens (SEL50F18F/2) has several features and benefits that make it a great choice for various shooting situations and subjects. Here are some of them:
Compact and Lightweight
One of the main advantages of this lens is its compact and lightweight design, which makes it easy to carry around and use with your Sony E-mount camera. It measures only 68.6 x 59.5 mm and weighs only 186 g, making it one of the smallest and lightest full-frame lenses available. It balances well with both full-frame and APS-C bodies, and does not add much bulk or weight to your camera bag.
Bright Aperture
Another benefit of this lens is its bright f/1.8 maximum aperture, which allows you to shoot in low-light conditions without having to use a flash or increase the ISO sensitivity too much. It also enables you to create shallow depth of field effects, where you can isolate your subject from the background and make it stand out more. The aperture can be stopped down to f/22 for greater depth of field and sharper images across the frame.
Smooth Bokeh
The lens also features a 7-blade circular aperture that produces smooth and pleasing bokeh, or the quality of the out-of-focus areas in your images. The circular shape of the aperture blades ensures that the bokeh is round and natural-looking, especially when shooting at wide apertures. The lens also has a minimum focus distance of 0.45m, which allows you to get close to your subject and create more blur in the background.
Refined Optical Performance
The lens has an innovative optical design that achieves clear, high-quality images by effectively minimizing distortion and chromatic aberration. A double-gauss configuration suppresses field curvature and distortion, while a precisely placed aspherical element controls spherical aberration and coma for excellent optical characteristics right out to the image periphery. The lens also has a multi-coating that reduces flare and ghosting caused by internal reflections.
Fast, Agile Focusing
The lens features a fast and accurate autofocus system that is driven by a newly developed DC motor focus actuator system that drives all lens groups for optimum focus precision and speed as well as quiet operation. The focus ring does not rotate during autofocus, but it enables smooth and precise manual focusing via a fly-by-wire electronic coupling. The lens also supports Direct Manual Focus (DMF) mode, which allows you to fine-tune the focus manually after autofocus is achieved.
Solid Durability
The lens is designed for reliability in a wide range of environments, with a metal mount that adds a sophisticated feel as well as solid durability. The lens does not have any weather-seals, but it can withstand normal use in various conditions.
Application of the Crowd
The Sony FE 50mm F1.8 Standard Lens (SEL50F18F/2) is a versatile lens that can be used for a variety of shooting situations and subjects. It is especially suitable for:
– Portraiture: The 50mm focal length is ideal for capturing natural and flattering portraits, whether on full-frame or APS-C cameras. The bright aperture and smooth bokeh allow you to create beautiful separation between your subject and the background, and highlight the facial features and expressions of your model.
– Street photography: The 50mm focal length is also great for street photography, as it gives you a standard perspective that is close to what the human eye sees, and allows you to capture candid moments and scenes with ease. The compact and lightweight design of the lens makes it discreet and convenient to use in public places, and the fast aperture and autofocus help you to capture sharp and clear images in low-light situations.
– Landscapes: The 50mm focal length can also be used for landscapes, as it gives you a moderate wide-angle view that can capture the beauty and details of nature. The lens has good sharpness and contrast across the frame, and minimal distortion and chromatic aberration. The aperture can be stopped down to f/22 for greater depth of field and optimal image quality.
Similar Products Comparison
There are several other lenses that offer a similar focal length and aperture range as the Sony FE 50mm F1.8 Standard Lens (SEL50F18F/2), but they differ in terms of price, size, weight, optical quality, autofocus performance, and other features. Here is a comparison table of some of the most popular alternatives:
| Lens | Price | Size | Weight | Optical Design | Diaphragm Blades | Focus Type | Image Stabilization | Weather-Seals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony FE 50mm F1.8 Standard Lens (SEL50F18F/2) | $199.99 | 68.6 x 59.5 mm | 186 g | 6 elements in 5 groups (1 aspherical element) | 7 (circular) | Autofocus (DC motor) | No | No |
| Sony FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA Sonnar T* Lens (SEL55F18Z) | $998.00 | 64.4 x 70.5 mm | 281 g | 7 elements in 5 groups (3 aspherical elements) | 9 (circular) | Autofocus (linear motor) | No | Yes |
| Sony Planar T* FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA Lens (SEL50F14Z) | $1,498.00 | 83.5 x 108 mm | 778 g | 12 elements in 9 groups (2 aspherical elements, 1 ED element) | 11 (circular) | Autofocus (ring drive SSM) | No | Yes |
| Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens for Sony E Mount (311965) | $949.00 | 85.4 x 99.9 mm | 815 g | 13 elements in 8 groups (3 aspherical elements, 1 SLD element) | 9 (rounded) | Autofocus (HSM) | No | No |
As you can see from the table, the Sony FE 50mm F1.8 Standard Lens (SEL50F18F/2) is the cheapest, smallest, and lightest option among the four lenses, making it a great value for money and a convenient choice for everyday use. However, it also has some drawbacks compared to the other lenses, such as lower optical quality at wide apertures, slower and noisier autofocus system, lack of image stabilization and weather-seals.
The Sony FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA Sonnar T* Lens is a premium lens that offers superior optical performance, with excellent sharpness, contrast, color rendition, and bokeh quality across the frame and aperture range. It also has a faster and quieter autofocus system, and weather-seals for enhanced durability. However, it is also much more expensive, slightly larger and heavier, and has a narrower maximum aperture than the Sony FE 50mm F1.8 Standard Lens (SEL50F18F/2).
The Sony Planar T* FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA Lens is another high-end lens that offers outstanding optical performance, with superb sharpness, contrast, color rendition, and bokeh quality across the frame and aperture range. It also has a wider maximum aperture than the other lenses, which enables even better low-light performance and shallow depth of field effects. It also has a fast and quiet autofocus system, and weather-seals for enhanced durability. However, it is also the most expensive, largest, and heaviest option among the four lenses, making it less convenient to carry around and use.
The Sigma
The Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens is a third-party lens that offers excellent optical performance, with high sharpness, contrast, color rendition, and bokeh quality across the frame and aperture range. It also has a wide maximum aperture that enables great low-light performance and shallow depth of field effects. It also has a fast and quiet autofocus system, and a solid build quality. However, it is also very expensive, large, and heavy, and does not have weather-seals or image stabilization.
Representative Product Reviews
Here are some of the representative product reviews from verified buyers of the Sony FE 50mm F1.8 Standard Lens (SEL50F18F/2) on Amazon:
– 5 stars: “I love this lens! It is sharp, fast, and lightweight. It is perfect for portraits, street photography, and low-light situations. The autofocus is quick and accurate, and the manual focus is smooth and precise. The bokeh is beautiful and creamy. The lens is well-built and durable. It is a great value for money and a must-have for any Sony E-mount user.”
– 4 stars: “This lens is a good option for those who want a compact and affordable 50mm lens for their Sony E-mount camera. It has decent image quality, especially when stopped down to f/2.8 or smaller. The autofocus is not very fast or quiet, but it works well enough for most situations. The lens does not have image stabilization or weather-seals, but that is expected for the price. The lens hood is very basic and does not lock in place.”
– 3 stars: “This lens is okay, but not great. It has some issues with sharpness, contrast, and chromatic aberration at wide apertures. The autofocus is slow and noisy, and sometimes hunts in low-light or low-contrast scenes. The lens feels cheap and plasticky, and the focus ring is too loose and sensitive. The lens hood is useless and falls off easily. I would recommend saving up for a better 50mm lens if you can.”
– 2 stars: “This lens is disappointing. It has poor image quality, with softness, distortion, and vignetting at wide apertures. The autofocus is unreliable and frustrating, and often misses focus or fails to lock on the subject. The lens is noisy and rattles when shaken. The lens hood is flimsy and does not fit properly. The lens is not worth the money and I regret buying it.”
– 1 star: “This lens is terrible. It has awful image quality, with blur, haze, and purple fringing at wide apertures. The autofocus is broken and does not work at all. The lens is defective and makes a loud grinding noise when attached to the camera. The lens hood is broken and does not attach to the lens. The lens is a waste of money and I returned it.”
Conclusion
The Sony FE 50mm F1.8 Standard Lens (SEL50F18F/2) is a budget-friendly lens that offers a standard focal length and a bright aperture for your Sony E-mount camera. It has some advantages such as its compact size, light weight, smooth bokeh, refined optical performance, fast focusing, and solid durability. However, it also has some drawbacks such as itIf you are looking for a cheap and convenient 50mm lens for your Sony E-mount camera, you might want to give this lens a try. However, if you are looking for a higher quality 50mm lens with better performance and features, you might want to consider other options such as the Sony FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA Sonnar T* Lens or the Sony Planar T* FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA Lens.
If you are interested in buying the Sony FE 50mm F1.8 Standard Lens (SEL50F18F/2) or learning more about it, you can click on this [link] to go to its Amazon page.
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