The 55 was the first lens I got for the A7ii when I moved from the A77 series. Basically got the lens because of the great reviews and the choices were very limited some years ago. It's by far the best lens I ever used, great contrast and sharpness, the bokeh is beautiful, fast and above all there is a certain "3D" feel to the images
Even this video since 2016 but this is the most great review for both lens 50mm & 55mm..complete review and give viewer or newbie make decisions which lens to take based on their task or personal needs..
As aways, another informative video! I shoot an A7II and when I purchased the 55 was the only lens available in this focal length, Paid a lot but NO regrets.
I use A7II. And I have a 85mm FE lens 1.8. but I feel it's too zooming to use marriage documentation. I want a lens with a rather wide view and good for portraits. it would also be better if you could video. I searched UA-cam and found options on Zeiss 55mm 1.8. can it replace the 85mm role that I have? because I had to sell it to get a 55mm zeiss lens. Thanks for the answer🙏🙏🙏
I believe they are the same price, difference being this one is FE, meaning it has both full frame and aps-c coverage, kinda nice to have one 50 that can do both.
Recently purchased the 55 1.8 for the Sony as7ii, great response and & agree with your review, very quiet. Old saying holds true, you get what you pay for.
yep because the 50mm OSS has stabilization, but if you are on full frame, it already has IBIS instead of OSS. meaning the stabilization is on the camera itself not depending on the lenses
for night time videography, in a music video, is it good enough the 50mm? will have light around, will deenoise in post... and wish to know how it is with the slog 2 on the a7s.. awesome review btw
tnx for the great review as always,but for crop like a6000 and a6300 do you test the old one? 50mm f1.8 oss?whats your opinion between these two?50mm f1.8 vs 50mm f1.8 oss but i think sigma 60mm f2.8 is the king of this focal with almost 300$ price and superb sharpness
Which A7 cameras do you own? I wish there was a MichaelTheMentor comparison for A7II & A7RII autofocus. I really like the RII autofocus but 24mp is plenty enough for me. Also itching for the 7III to be announced.
On target here. I just compared these two lenses myself, and came to much the same conclusion. The cheaper 50mm lens was soft along the right side of the frame however. I have no idea if this is just a weak copy, or if they are all similarly flawed. One thing for sure: The 55mm Zeiss lens easily deserves the four point eight out of five star rating.
Thanks for the review, very helpful! I'm currently trying to compare the FE 50mm with the slightly more expensive (~$299) E 50mm f/1.8 OSS Lens. As an amateur videographer, quick AF is important to me (especially since I'll be using a gimbal and can't manual focus) but cost is equally important so the $50 savings may mean the FE 50mm is a better choice for me. Any suggestions? I'd actually like to see a video comparison between these two lenses since they seem to be rather similar!
Great video Michael!!! thanks! Why is the 50mm better for the A6300? I was going to buy the 55mm, now I'm hesitating, i wanted to buy a Sony 35mm also for my A6300 which I recommend? All say that for video the best is the Sony 18-105mm but I am not convinced ...I have the 16-50mm kit and I think it looks like to 18-105mm
What a lot of reviews of lenses totally ignore is the lens character, IQ and basically real world shooting. Some lenses with softer corners at low apertures, also feature beautiful rendering from focus to out of focus areas. I will readily pay for a more expensive lens if it is worth it, but the Sony FE 50 1.8 for stills in my opinion renders an image more beautifully especially at lower apertures. I prefer it over the zeiss 55 1.8 which is clinically "boring". The Zeiss Loxia 50 also renders better than than the Zeiss 55 1.8. Real still photography is so much more than sharp brick walls, bokeh balls, and CA. By the way for those that still are concerned about the Sony FE 50 1.8 sharpness, have a look at Lenstip.com image resolution charts verses the Zeiss 55, as they rate the much cheaper Sony 50 actually sharper corner to corner from f/4 and up and equal beyond f/16. The Sony 50 1.8 is also really light and portable, and has the same magnification as the 55. For video, however the AF noise would be a deal breaker. I have also heard about sample variation with Sony lenses, so get a good one.
Rick S indeed I have both here, The 50 is sharper in the corner, he say other thing... 🤷🏻♂️. Regarding your other topic, is why I have some minoltas and modern voigtlanders....
You shouldn't have recommended this lens for APS-C cameras. They already have the E mount 50mm and it has image stabilization, which that alone makes it better than the FE. A more accurate recommendation would've been for people who just bought an a7 or a7ii and don't have the money to buy super expensive native lenses. That's what the lens was made for really. To offer an inexpensive way to get into the Sony full frame system and buy a good beginner lens
Do you own the new FE 50? How is the E mount working on your FF? Why would I want to pay for and carry 2 50s? Why would I want to have to go through the hassle of selling my E once I upgrade completely? These are all things to consider before saying one lens is the only lens to recommend, as you have.
If you're on the a6300, or any other crop body, you're probably better off with the O.S.S. version of the 50mm since it has stabilisation. If you buy it used you can sell it for about the same price you got it if you do decide to upgrade to full-frame.
Hey thanks for the heads up I'm an aspiring videographer would you have other top lenses for A6300 to shoot footage like jogging (scenic views), weight lifting, anything that will give a commercial cinema look. Would appreciate it.
@Michael The Maven Can you test the SEL35F18? I got the SEL50F18F for 99.99 NEW, but debating if I should exchange for the SEL35F18 for wider view ( I want a lens that I can put on 80% of time) . Should I return SEL50F18F for the SEL35F18? or just keep the SEL50F18F and buy the SEL35F18? Thank you!
I haven't tested it so I can't say. I hear it is very sharp, but because they are the same price I'd rather have a lens I can use on both full frame and aps-c being an A7rii and A6300 owner.
+MichaelTheMentor maybe you should test them side by side. I can loan you mine. I really like your reviews and also believe that the E 50 is better suited for the a6000 series because it is stabilized.
Great Test 👍 Unfortunatelly my 55 1.8 is very unsharp in the corners especially the right side. This unsharpness is there from F1.8 to 5.6. At F8 the corners become sharp. I m very disappointed about that on my A7II. The 50mm, which I also tested, is much sharper in the corners.
Why only give the 55 a 4.8 out of 5 stars? It is the 7th sharpest lens that DXOmark has ever tested, out of about 10,000 lenses. It is about as good as the $4000 Zeiss in Nikon mount. Seems like a solid 5/5.
+logan walsh I agree. When I shoot video Im usually manual focus anyway. Nice to have a native 50 that I can use on my FF and APS-Cs that doesn't cost an arm and leg
Thank you very much! Been looking for this for quite some time! Aldo i have som critics. Sometimes the numbers go little to Quick, when you look up you suddenly missed 2 numbers. And the answers take very long to process in the brain haha.. And i would like to see some real life comparissons not just on wires and walls but perhaps animals, people etc. LOVE YOUR VIDEOS! Thanks :)
Thanks, very nice video. The 50mm 1.8 is not really a great lens, if you compare it to the competition. Canon and Nikon have cheaper options, which are better in some aspects. And considering the price and weight of the 55mm 1.8 and the fact that it is only 1.8, it should be an absolute outstanding lens. Unfortunatly it is very good, but not really outstanding.
The Carl Zeiss 55mm is significantly sharper, in the distortion test I already saw that, for that alone it's better. But how much better to justify the price is hard to say, it depends on how much money you have, I guess. But the flare in the 50mm is quite beautiful and controlled, an incredible sunset lens, as I think lens flare is not necessarily a thing to be avoided when shooting landscape. Bokeh is better in the 55mm, but I don't care for it. In the chromatic aberration test I could not say for sure any of the two was better. I think it's more about how much you are willing to pay for increased sharpness.
Thank you so much for that video. It definitely helped me to choose. I did the "game", good to compare A vs B, so it's unbiased :) I choose my lense now I'll watch other Sony lenses video from you :)
Hi planning to buy the Sony 50mm OSS for my Sonya7ii...instead of the Sony 50 fe full frame one( because I don’t like the noise and the overall feedback toward this lens..)please advice.
Khashayar Dashti the combo is amazing!! No vignetting at all! Of course quality in pixel decrease a bit, but overall great lens. Please note since is apsc, crop factor will increase but the quality still great!! Buy it now.
I got the 55mm for my Sony A7 a few months ago. Wish i'd waited for this lens as i'd have enough money for a second lens in my bag but because of the Zeiss and its hefty price tag ill have to wait
Daniel Belcher Be happy! You got the right one! I first tried the 50 and the focus was hunting way too much, and it was loud. The 55 is better in every way.
hello michael can you please review SEL 50mm 1.8 vs FE 50mm 1.8 i know this both are different lenses but i wanna know how this both lenses perform with crop and full frame body's please make a video because i heard when we put a crop sensor lens on full frame body or a full frame lens on a crop sensor body we can see changes on focal length but on tony northrup channel in a video called crop sensor vs full Frame lenses he say that we don't looses focal length but as well as sharpness and performance i don't is that true or not but please make a in depth test video on this both lenses Thank you
+mc vers It is a little more complicated that that, I believe he is getting his info from DXO, which I do not have a very high opinion of. Secondly, differences, if any, may not even be perceptible to the human eye depending on how it is output. Think about it, how many Pro 7Dii owners will only put crop lenses on them? Finally, sharpness is not the only metric of a lenses performance, L caliber coatings in Canon can reduce CA, and lens flare, etc and APS-C lenses often do not have that same level of quality. In my professional opinion, it is absolutely ok to shoot with FF lenses on crop bodies.
As with other reviews, you would have to be well funded to not choose the Sony 50 1.8, however, given the stellar performance of the Zeiss and more importantly, as I have just picked up a mint A7R, will choose the ZA as has a closer focal length of the A7R.
I love the videos u do and how indepth they are. But i have to honestly say that i really hate how you do mystery comparisons. There is no reason why i would want to jump back and forth through the video to figure out which shot was what. its' a comparison, just show us the results as were looking at the image. Its counterintuitive to turn it into a game. Wastes a lot of time as well.
The reason is to keep viewers unbiased in what they perceive as quality. Probably more obvious during Canon vs Nikon comparisons, but if you simply write your answers down as the video plays, your answers will be much more objective. I go through tremendous pains to set it up this way in order to help judge by results, not brand names or models.
Well for the rest of us unbias viewers that just want to know which lens distorts/vingettes/etc... it is a huge pain to have to go back and forth through the video. But again, I watch your videos because you do give good information in the end.
I like the mystery comparisons it keeps you honest when comparing the shots you write down what you perceive to be the best image without going into it with a bias opinion and wanting to see something that may not be there because you are already leaning towards a certain lens.
Isn't it always the money? If money is no issue... one would always buy the more expensive product. I have never seen a cheaper product in any category excel over a higher priced version.
I know this was posted months ago, but I just wanted to add that higher-priced products are usually better, but not always. Especially in the same brand/system, they are, but across brands, there is more variation. For example, a super-expensive Leica cannot beat an A7R III in about any shooting circumstance. Also, there are cheaper Sigma lenses that beat native lenses of the same type for the same price. But generally, of the same brand, higher-priced goods are better. Still, even then, you could say that the Sony A7 III is a better buy than the Sony A7R III. It is cheaper, and it has fewer megapixels, but it has other benefits. So comparisons are still very important, even when the products compared are at different price points.
Money, while important, simply helps measure the value-to-performance of whatever it is you are comparing and as such isn't always the most important thing. Even when money isn't an issue more expensive/higher products aren't always the best choice. Let's say I have an A7III and want an 85mm for portraits but at most I'd only use it 5% of the time (and non-professionally). Even if I could afford the 85mm 1.4 G Master the better buy would be one of the native 85mm 1.8 lenses simply because you just arent getting enough use to justify the slightly better performance the best native 85mm lens offers.
Appreciate the effort, but your test values for which lens was best/worse is horrible. I can’t tell looking at the “score” results which Lens is supposed to be “good/bad” since your questions where not dead on consistent thru the video, therefore leaving the viewer confused on some items
As you step any lens down in aperture its performance increases. There are precious few optics which are terrible at f8. At that point even lenses from the 1950s will perform well. The hallmark of a premium optic is very strong performance at is widest aperture. You buy a 1.8 lens to shoot at 1.8. If you're not going to shoot at f1.8, buy an f4. But if the performance isn't terrific at its widest aperture, comparatively (meaning against others in its class), it's not a fine optic. MTF charts are all produced with lenses tested at their widest aperture. That's how you know how good a lens is.
There are numerous MTF tests that have been done comparing the Sony to Canon's 50 1.8 and they all seem to suggest the Sony is sharper at 1.8 in the center than the Canon which is often regarded as a tremendous value. Is it the best? No. Is it a comparatively good value compared to the 55? Yes.
+MichaelTheMentor ad your video demonstrates optical evaluation goes beyond simply sharpness. Mtf charts show performance across the lens, from the center outwards. It shows the ability of the lens to render both sharpness and resolution, both fine and superfine resolution, sagitally and tangentially. So no it would be compelling to pick one area on the curve where one optic is better and say it is better. All characteristics sharpness, contrast, CA, flare resistance, color rendition, subject isolation, and resolution should be evaluated at or nearest the widest aperture, as all of these characteristics generally improve for all optics as you step down. The lensrentals writeup only addresses consistently low sample variation to help people have confidence in purchasing. I think the FE 50mm 1.8 is a fine example of what it is, a budget lens. Everything from build quality, to focusing means is reflexive of that. It is what it is.
+trevorpinnocky I think we agree, I'm not sure what your angle is to be honest. Many photographers can't or don't want to read MTF charts. They want to see the results with their own eyes in an image. As u mention Mtf charts won't show the number of other ways a lens performs, and you also probably know most lenses are sharper stopped down. I don't always shoot wide open because of this. You might want to also read the lens rentals article in detail, they test many units and came to the conclusion that the Sony was both sharper at center than the Canon and there was low variation between lens copies.
In Australia this lens is $450 - a ludicrous price to ask for a lens with such disappointing issues and whose equivalent (at least, in cost: Canon's 50mm 1.4) is superior in every aspect.
Obviously, this is subjective, but I like the bokeh of the 50mm better. Even though the 50 is less rounded in center, I don't like the unsymmetrical shape of the 55 at the corners even more. Plus, the 55mm has the onion ring bokeh which I find unattractive. Another thought, if shot in exactly the same conditions, the 55mm is brighter which probably means it transmits more light at each specific aperture. Such a tough decision... I have the 50 and was very close to returning it for the 55mm but the value for what I use it for (portraits) it really can't be beat for the price. *my two cents* Either way, thank you for a very informative video!
The 55 was the first lens I got for the A7ii when I moved from the A77 series. Basically got the lens because of the great reviews and the choices were very limited some years ago. It's by far the best lens I ever used, great contrast and sharpness, the bokeh is beautiful, fast and above all there is a certain "3D" feel to the images
This is probably the most informative comparison I've seen by far due to the objective tests and you made it really easy to follow. Thank you.
Thanks for the tests. This is exactly the comparisons we need for buying decisions.
This has to be the best comparison of these lenses out there. Great work!
The Zeiss lens was the overwhelming winner here! Great helpful Comparison! For money, the Zeiss justifies the expense!
Thanks for the no nonsene and no repetitiive reviews of camera equipment.
Even this video since 2016 but this is the most great review for both lens 50mm & 55mm..complete review and give viewer or newbie make decisions which lens to take based on their task or personal needs..
Always nice reviews, i also like your use of colors and colored fonts, its always summer in your video's!
I'm getting the 55 tomorrow for my Sony a6300! can't wait :)
Your videos and comparisons are always the best!
I really appreciate your anonymous reviews, keep up the great work
You did a great job on this video Michael. Thank you for sharing it.
As aways, another informative video! I shoot an A7II and when I purchased the 55 was the only lens available in this focal length, Paid a lot but NO regrets.
Can't go wrong with the 55 if you can afford it
Maybe a dumb question, but is the the same as the 50 f1.8 E Mount that has "OSS" in the product name, or not?
No, that one is for APS-C cameras like the a6000/a6300. That does not fill the entire imaging circle of the FF sensor.
I've had the 50mm and boy was it noisy. I'll pay the extra just for better performance. Great video sir.
I use A7II. And I have a 85mm FE lens 1.8. but I feel it's too zooming to use marriage documentation. I want a lens with a rather wide view and good for portraits. it would also be better if you could video. I searched UA-cam and found options on Zeiss 55mm 1.8. can it replace the 85mm role that I have? because I had to sell it to get a 55mm zeiss lens. Thanks for the answer🙏🙏🙏
Great video, really helped me figure out the overall value of buying a 50mm lens. I am going with the Sony FE f 1.8. Thanks, Michael.
Nice review Michael. For Sony A6300 users I would recommend Sony E 50mm f1.8 OSS over FE 50mm f1.8. Better image quality, build, OSS and price.
I believe they are the same price, difference being this one is FE, meaning it has both full frame and aps-c coverage, kinda nice to have one 50 that can do both.
+MichaelTheMentor Sorry for the price part, looked up used price :(
+ObelixCMM it's all good my friend
50 OSS has also better focusing than the FE ... I find hard to use AF-C with the FE 50mm. hunts.
Thank you for your concise and helpful comparison! I'll check out your other stuff...
Great video, thank you very much. This is exactly the information I needed and it was delivered succinctly. Top stuff.
Was it the original version of the 55mm branded “Carl Zeiss” or the updated version branded just “ZEISS” on the lens front ID ring?
Recently purchased the 55 1.8 for the Sony as7ii, great response and & agree with your review, very quiet. Old saying holds true, you get what you pay for.
Love the video..
Very detailed and you touched on everything a consumer needs to hear.
Thank you Dave. I try to make videos that I would want to see if I was thinking about investing in a lens. Best wishes
The 50 is greatly improved by the v3 firmware. @michaelthemaven have you tested since the update?
wouldn't the 50mm OSS 1.8 be much better for a6300
legendp2011 is it? I have that lens on a Sony a6000 & preferred the non oss full frame version of the lens
Yes legend..way better.
yep because the 50mm OSS has stabilization, but if you are on full frame, it already has IBIS instead of OSS. meaning the stabilization is on the camera itself not depending on the lenses
Obviously, the SEL1850 OSS is specifically designed for APSC. After all, it's great for video as well, silent and fast focusing.
Thanks Michael. As much as I wanted the 55 Zeiss, i need to focus funds on school. The 50mm will do. Thank you again. Appreciate it
Cheers for the great review! The Zeiss makes it an 82.5mm on an A6300, so i'll hunt around for something that crops in at around 50.
Conclusion: if you are poor casual scrub like me get the 50 because no money :(
for night time videography, in a music video, is it good enough the 50mm? will have light around, will deenoise in post... and wish to know how it is with the slog 2 on the a7s.. awesome review btw
tnx for the great review as always,but for crop like a6000 and a6300 do you test the old one? 50mm f1.8 oss?whats your opinion between these two?50mm f1.8 vs 50mm f1.8 oss
but i think sigma 60mm f2.8 is the king of this focal with almost 300$ price and superb sharpness
50 OSS has also better focusing, build than the FE ... I find hard to use AF-C with the FE 50mm. hunts.
stefano giovannini tnx for answer,what about bokeh and sharpness? 50 oss is better in these too?
Great and comprehensive review!
Thanks for the effort on this video.
thanks for the review. the Sony 50 is stunning for photos on the A6000
Which A7 cameras do you own? I wish there was a MichaelTheMentor comparison for A7II & A7RII autofocus. I really like the RII autofocus but 24mp is plenty enough for me. Also itching for the 7III to be announced.
As said before, love the way you review ;) That's perfect ! Thanks !
Thanks! Just picked up a 50mm, 1.8 for $149 in Orlando. Question, does this lens auto track for video purposes? Seems to be not working.
I own the 50mm f1.8 OSS crop sensor Sony lens. Given you recommend this new FE 50mm f1.8 for A6300 users too, how does it compare to the lens I own?
Thanks for sharing your experience.
Thanks, great review and methodology.
On target here. I just compared these two lenses myself, and came to much the same conclusion. The cheaper 50mm lens was soft along the right side of the frame however. I have no idea if this is just a weak copy, or if they are all similarly flawed. One thing for sure: The 55mm Zeiss lens easily deserves the four point eight out of five star rating.
hello, how bout af on Sony A7II ?
iamcherish Apple Pro that’s what I shoot with as well!
Looks like the 55m still can't be beat. It's the gold standard.
Love your reviews. Would you do a comparison between the Sony FE55mm f1.8 and the new Sony FE50mm f1.4 please? Thank you.
Thank you Michael
I used FE 50mm f1.8 with a6000, buy the manual (the focus ring around the lens) didn't work. Can you explain me? I really wonder. Thanks.
Love the way you review :D
My Instant Search Sony 55mm orsony 24-70 mm lens which one to buy
Thanks for the review, very helpful! I'm currently trying to compare the FE 50mm with the slightly more expensive (~$299) E 50mm f/1.8 OSS Lens. As an amateur videographer, quick AF is important to me (especially since I'll be using a gimbal and can't manual focus) but cost is equally important so the $50 savings may mean the FE 50mm is a better choice for me. Any suggestions? I'd actually like to see a video comparison between these two lenses since they seem to be rather similar!
50mm lens auto focus doesn't function on my a7 when shooting video, is it normal?
i am currently shooting with the sony a6000 . what would be a good lense for landscape photography?
Great video Michael!!! thanks! Why is the 50mm better for the A6300? I was going to buy the 55mm, now I'm hesitating, i wanted to buy a Sony 35mm also for my A6300 which I recommend? All say that for video the best is the Sony 18-105mm but I am not convinced ...I have the 16-50mm kit and I think it looks like to 18-105mm
I have heard that the 50mm 1.8 OSS is really good for the A6300. Fast autofocus and Image stabilized.
Which one is which??
Very professional. Thank you.
What a lot of reviews of lenses totally ignore is the lens character, IQ and basically real world shooting. Some lenses with softer corners at low apertures, also feature beautiful rendering from focus to out of focus areas. I will readily pay for a more expensive lens if it is worth it, but the Sony FE 50 1.8 for stills in my opinion renders an image more beautifully especially at lower apertures. I prefer it over the zeiss 55 1.8 which is clinically "boring". The Zeiss Loxia 50 also renders better than than the Zeiss 55 1.8. Real still photography is so much more than sharp brick walls, bokeh balls, and CA. By the way for those that still are concerned about the Sony FE 50 1.8 sharpness, have a look at Lenstip.com image resolution charts verses the Zeiss 55, as they rate the much cheaper Sony 50 actually sharper corner to corner from f/4 and up and equal beyond f/16. The Sony 50 1.8 is also really light and portable, and has the same magnification as the 55. For video, however the AF noise would be a deal breaker. I have also heard about sample variation with Sony lenses, so get a good one.
Rick S indeed I have both here, The 50 is sharper in the corner, he say other thing... 🤷🏻♂️. Regarding your other topic, is why I have some minoltas and modern voigtlanders....
You shouldn't have recommended this lens for APS-C cameras. They already have the E mount 50mm and it has image stabilization, which that alone makes it better than the FE. A more accurate recommendation would've been for people who just bought an a7 or a7ii and don't have the money to buy super expensive native lenses.
That's what the lens was made for really. To offer an inexpensive way to get into the Sony full frame system and buy a good beginner lens
Do you own the new FE 50? How is the E mount working on your FF? Why would I want to pay for and carry 2 50s? Why would I want to have to go through the hassle of selling my E once I upgrade completely? These are all things to consider before saying one lens is the only lens to recommend, as you have.
You might want to actually read the title of the video, it was comparing the 50 to the 55.
Awesome review!
Hey, what happen to the Sony a6300 crash coarse training video's I clicked on the link and it said the video's aren't available?
If you're on the a6300, or any other crop body, you're probably better off with the O.S.S. version of the 50mm since it has stabilisation. If you buy it used you can sell it for about the same price you got it if you do decide to upgrade to full-frame.
Hey thanks for the heads up I'm an aspiring videographer would you have other top lenses for A6300 to shoot footage like jogging (scenic views), weight lifting, anything that will give a commercial cinema look.
Would appreciate it.
Michael, can u review Sony Zeiss 55mm vs Loxia 50mm. Thanks
@Michael The Maven
Can you test the SEL35F18?
I got the SEL50F18F for 99.99 NEW, but debating if I should exchange for the SEL35F18 for wider view ( I want a lens that I can put on 80% of time) . Should I return SEL50F18F for the SEL35F18? or just keep the SEL50F18F and buy the SEL35F18? Thank you!
btw Subbed!
awesome as usual
Excellent as always! thanks! =-D
Personally I found a used 55/1.8 from a guy who'd hardly used it and got it a lot cheaper. What a lovely lens it is.
Wouldn't you rather recommend the E 50 f/1.8 instead of the FE for crop sensor?
I haven't tested it so I can't say. I hear it is very sharp, but because they are the same price I'd rather have a lens I can use on both full frame and aps-c being an A7rii and A6300 owner.
+MichaelTheMentor maybe you should test them side by side. I can loan you mine. I really like your reviews and also believe that the E 50 is better suited for the a6000 series because it is stabilized.
+Alien In-California good point!
Should've just put the lens instead of "A" or "B" ..cuts to the chase and it sucks to always reference back and forth to the answers afterwards.
That's why I suggest writing it down. When I post the answers as viewers take the test, it suddenly becomes less objective
True and good point for being a "less objective" test.
Great video. Thank you.
Can you review the new 30mm Sigma Contemporary lens?
Great Test 👍
Unfortunatelly my 55 1.8 is very unsharp in the corners especially the right side. This unsharpness is there from F1.8 to 5.6. At F8 the corners become sharp. I m very disappointed about that on my A7II. The 50mm, which I also tested, is much sharper in the corners.
thaank you!! i have the 50 FE and love it but wanted to know about the 55mm
Why only give the 55 a 4.8 out of 5 stars? It is the 7th sharpest lens that DXOmark has ever tested, out of about 10,000 lenses. It is about as good as the $4000 Zeiss in Nikon mount. Seems like a solid 5/5.
Robert Silvers brand new cost
awesome review
Excellent video! Noise doesn't bother me. I film outside and record audio separately. I'm going to save money and get the cheaper lens
+logan walsh I agree. When I shoot video Im usually manual focus anyway. Nice to have a native 50 that I can use on my FF and APS-Cs that doesn't cost an arm and leg
+MichaelTheMentor my thought exactly
Thank you very much! Been looking for this for quite some time! Aldo i have som critics.
Sometimes the numbers go little to Quick, when you look up you suddenly missed 2 numbers. And the answers take very long to process in the brain haha.. And i would like to see some real life comparissons not just on wires and walls but perhaps animals, people etc. LOVE YOUR VIDEOS! Thanks :)
Just am unbelievable review. Wow
Thanks, very nice video. The 50mm 1.8 is not really a great lens, if you compare it to the competition. Canon and Nikon have cheaper options, which are better in some aspects.
And considering the price and weight of the 55mm 1.8 and the fact that it is only 1.8, it should be an absolute outstanding lens. Unfortunatly it is very good, but not really outstanding.
The Carl Zeiss 55mm is significantly sharper, in the distortion test I already saw that, for that alone it's better. But how much better to justify the price is hard to say, it depends on how much money you have, I guess. But the flare in the 50mm is quite beautiful and controlled, an incredible sunset lens, as I think lens flare is not necessarily a thing to be avoided when shooting landscape. Bokeh is better in the 55mm, but I don't care for it. In the chromatic aberration test I could not say for sure any of the two was better. I think it's more about how much you are willing to pay for increased sharpness.
Thank you so much for that video. It definitely helped me to choose. I did the "game", good to compare A vs B, so it's unbiased :)
I choose my lense now I'll watch other Sony lenses video from you :)
How accurate on the A7ii? 200 is cheap but still a waste if it doesnt work.
Is it true that the FE 50 1.8 on an ASP-C camera is not as sharp as the SEL50F18?
Programmer Qn depends on too many factors to say
Could you do a comparison video when you have a chance?
Hi planning to buy the Sony 50mm OSS for my Sonya7ii...instead of the Sony 50 fe full frame one( because I don’t like the noise and the overall feedback toward this lens..)please advice.
Isn't the 50mm OSS an apsc lens? You'd get crazy vignetting on the a7ii
Khashayar Dashti you won’t, Yes it is apsc, great lens! Great quality! Using for headshots with a7ii.
Francis how is the combo wide open at f 1.8? I can understand if there is little to no vignetting if the aperture is closed down
Khashayar Dashti the combo is amazing!! No vignetting at all! Of course quality in pixel decrease a bit, but overall great lens. Please note since is apsc, crop factor will increase but the quality still great!! Buy it now.
Francis are you using the combo is FF more or apsc mode though?
which one would be the best for the a6500?
55 1.8
neither , get sonys native 50mm 1.8 for the crop sensor it has inbuilt image stabilization and much quicker. this 50mm is a slug.
Are these for the full frame or APS-C?
Greg Wallace FE is full frame
I got the 55mm for my Sony A7 a few months ago. Wish i'd waited for this lens as i'd have enough money for a second lens in my bag but because of the Zeiss and its hefty price tag ill have to wait
Daniel Belcher Does it makes noise when focusing? Have heard the noise is coming from opening and closing the aperture.
haven't experienced it but it might. I haven't taken that many videos with it.
Daniel Belcher Be happy! You got the right one! I first tried the 50 and the focus was hunting way too much, and it was loud. The 55 is better in every way.
hello michael can you please review SEL 50mm 1.8 vs FE 50mm 1.8 i know this both are different lenses but i wanna know how this both lenses perform with crop and full frame body's please make a video because i heard when we put a crop sensor lens on full frame body or a full frame lens on a crop sensor body we can see changes on focal length but on tony northrup channel in a video called crop sensor vs full Frame lenses he say that we don't looses focal length but as well as sharpness and performance i don't is that true or not but please make a in depth test video on this both lenses Thank you
+mc vers It is a little more complicated that that, I believe he is getting his info from DXO, which I do not have a very high opinion of. Secondly, differences, if any, may not even be perceptible to the human eye depending on how it is output. Think about it, how many Pro 7Dii owners will only put crop lenses on them? Finally, sharpness is not the only metric of a lenses performance, L caliber coatings in Canon can reduce CA, and lens flare, etc and APS-C lenses often do not have that same level of quality. In my professional opinion, it is absolutely ok to shoot with FF lenses on crop bodies.
+MichaelTheMentor well thanks for the info appreciated 😊 btw i JUST love your tutorials
Chose the 55mm all the way of the test. Clear clear winner
As with other reviews, you would have to be well funded to not choose the Sony 50 1.8, however, given the stellar performance of the Zeiss and more importantly, as I have just picked up a mint A7R, will choose the ZA as has a closer focal length of the A7R.
I love the videos u do and how indepth they are. But i have to honestly say that i really hate how you do mystery comparisons. There is no reason why i would want to jump back and forth through the video to figure out which shot was what. its' a comparison, just show us the results as were looking at the image. Its counterintuitive to turn it into a game. Wastes a lot of time as well.
The reason is to keep viewers unbiased in what they perceive as quality. Probably more obvious during Canon vs Nikon comparisons, but if you simply write your answers down as the video plays, your answers will be much more objective. I go through tremendous pains to set it up this way in order to help judge by results, not brand names or models.
Well for the rest of us unbias viewers that just want to know which lens distorts/vingettes/etc... it is a huge pain to have to go back and forth through the video. But again, I watch your videos because you do give good information in the end.
+Nelson Pun thanks. I'm Not trying to make your life hard.
I like the mystery comparisons it keeps you honest when comparing the shots you write down what you perceive to be the best image without going into it with a bias opinion and wanting to see something that may not be there because you are already leaning towards a certain lens.
Michael, you could use annotations, then Nelson (and I) could just turn them on if wanted. :)
new a6000 user i am. And thanks for the review...
Ayhan Çapan Yoda?
New 50mm is good enough. Important that buyers update to 3.10 firmware.
Isn't it always the money? If money is no issue... one would always buy the more expensive product. I have never seen a cheaper product in any category excel over a higher priced version.
I know this was posted months ago, but I just wanted to add that higher-priced products are usually better, but not always. Especially in the same brand/system, they are, but across brands, there is more variation. For example, a super-expensive Leica cannot beat an A7R III in about any shooting circumstance. Also, there are cheaper Sigma lenses that beat native lenses of the same type for the same price. But generally, of the same brand, higher-priced goods are better. Still, even then, you could say that the Sony A7 III is a better buy than the Sony A7R III. It is cheaper, and it has fewer megapixels, but it has other benefits. So comparisons are still very important, even when the products compared are at different price points.
Money, while important, simply helps measure the value-to-performance of whatever it is you are comparing and as such isn't always the most important thing. Even when money isn't an issue more expensive/higher products aren't always the best choice.
Let's say I have an A7III and want an 85mm for portraits but at most I'd only use it 5% of the time (and non-professionally). Even if I could afford the 85mm 1.4 G Master the better buy would be one of the native 85mm 1.8 lenses simply because you just arent getting enough use to justify the slightly better performance the best native 85mm lens offers.
Then you need to look at more products, and with a more critical eye.
How does this compare to the Sony emount 50mm that came out before this one?
I would be using this on my 5100. Thanks in advance.
+Pathological Buyer The E mount's better because it has image stabilization
+The Dead Immortal thanks!
Absolitley get the e-mount version. Great autofocus and image quality. Plus it has OSS. Avoid the FE version at all costs.
+Zahidy Housepup OSS isn't FF, so there's that.
exactly my point. Apart from terrible autofocus, there's no stabilization
5:27 haha I read SILENT AS FUCK!
How would the 50 mm 1.8 OSS version compare to the 55 mm 1.8 for the A6500 ?
Simon Bear same question. Mike you still there?
scamhealy I haven't done the tests, so I cannot say
Michael The Maven ok thanks.
Appreciate the effort, but your test values for which lens was best/worse is horrible. I can’t tell looking at the “score” results which Lens is supposed to be “good/bad” since your questions where not dead on consistent thru the video, therefore leaving the viewer confused on some items
As you step any lens down in aperture its performance increases. There are precious few optics which are terrible at f8. At that point even lenses from the 1950s will perform well.
The hallmark of a premium optic is very strong performance at is widest aperture. You buy a 1.8 lens to shoot at 1.8. If you're not going to shoot at f1.8, buy an f4. But if the performance isn't terrific at its widest aperture, comparatively (meaning against others in its class), it's not a fine optic.
MTF charts are all produced with lenses tested at their widest aperture. That's how you know how good a lens is.
There are numerous MTF tests that have been done comparing the Sony to Canon's 50 1.8 and they all seem to suggest the Sony is sharper at 1.8 in the center than the Canon which is often regarded as a tremendous value. Is it the best? No. Is it a comparatively good value compared to the 55? Yes.
Here is a good one by lensrentals.com: www.lensrentals.com/blog/2016/05/sony-fe-50mm-f1-8-mtf-and-consistency/
+MichaelTheMentor ad your video demonstrates optical evaluation goes beyond simply sharpness. Mtf charts show performance across the lens, from the center outwards. It shows the ability of the lens to render both sharpness and resolution, both fine and superfine resolution, sagitally and tangentially.
So no it would be compelling to pick one area on the curve where one optic is better and say it is better.
All characteristics sharpness, contrast, CA, flare resistance, color rendition, subject isolation, and resolution should be evaluated at or nearest the widest aperture, as all of these characteristics generally improve for all optics as you step down.
The lensrentals writeup only addresses consistently low sample variation to help people have confidence in purchasing.
I think the FE 50mm 1.8 is a fine example of what it is, a budget lens. Everything from build quality, to focusing means is reflexive of that. It is what it is.
+trevorpinnocky I think we agree, I'm not sure what your angle is to be honest. Many photographers can't or don't want to read MTF charts. They want to see the results with their own eyes in an image. As u mention Mtf charts won't show the number of other ways a lens performs, and you also probably know most lenses are sharper stopped down. I don't always shoot wide open because of this. You might want to also read the lens rentals article in detail, they test many units and came to the conclusion that the Sony was both sharper at center than the Canon and there was low variation between lens copies.
In Australia this lens is $450 - a ludicrous price to ask for a lens with such disappointing issues and whose equivalent (at least, in cost: Canon's 50mm 1.4) is superior in every aspect.
Chose correctly the 55 for all of them.
great sir thanks for your guideence...Vilas Gholse from India
Obviously, this is subjective, but I like the bokeh of the 50mm better. Even though the 50 is less rounded in center, I don't like the unsymmetrical shape of the 55 at the corners even more. Plus, the 55mm has the onion ring bokeh which I find unattractive.
Another thought, if shot in exactly the same conditions, the 55mm is brighter which probably means it transmits more light at each specific aperture.
Such a tough decision... I have the 50 and was very close to returning it for the 55mm but the value for what I use it for (portraits) it really can't be beat for the price. *my two cents*
Either way, thank you for a very informative video!
I'm liking flare on 50mm than 55mm😅