I just bought that lens after spending months reading and watching reviews and test shots of different prime lenses. It's hard to be a poor photographer.
As a self-admitted Nikon fanboy, I won't disagree at all - in fact, I'd say this list gives the 50mm 1.8 S plenty of praise. When you're only beat out by lenses that weigh more than two punds and cost over 2000€, but you're a lens at as low as 450€ and weighing a pound, that's still a big accomplishment.
Excellent video as always, Christopher! As a Nikon Z7 landscape and product photographer, one lens that "lured" me into the Z System was the stellar reviews of this Nikkor S 50 f/1.8 lens! Several reviews compared it directly and even favorably to the Zeiss Otus, which is why I was a bit surprised that it came in 3rd, behind the Otus and the Canon. That said, an impressive showing indeed. Thanks again for your detailed and meticulous work!
Me too, was kind of surprised it wasn't in the list. But then I realized it's hardly available so probably isn't tested yet. Also really really expensive.
Another nice video Christopher--thanks. I'm looking at going with the Fujifilm X system, and their lenses look to be scary-sharp; appreciating your coverage of the 50mm. Wishing you joy in remembering His Nativity.
It does have a rather slow autofocus, but the image quality is quite lovely, regarding sharpness, colours AND bokeh. Also, it's one of the very few '50'mm lenses that focus closer than roughly 45cm (that's the reason why I have it), which makes it much more versatile.
@@Shadow81989 yep absolutely agree. If the AF was a little quicker it would be flawless. If you can work with that though it is brilliant in most all other respects
I was surprised the tamron didn't make it as well, especially considering how positive the review was. I don't think the af is really slow. Most 50mm aren't great for af, and the tamron while slightly slower than usual is still manageable.
Thanks for this video Chris. I purchased the Tokina Opera 50mm f1.4 per your recommendation, and love it. I now own the: Old Sigma 50mm f1.4, Canon EF 50 STM, EF 50mm f1.2L, Rokinon SP 50mm f1.2, a host of vintage M42 50's and now this Tokina Opera. The old 50mm L and the Opera are my favorite on my 5dsr and 5d Classic. The Opera is my go-to lately. It seems to blend the sharpness of modern lenses, with the character and smoothness of vintage glass.
All wow on your photos. If there somebody else's can say the best lens reviewer better than Mr Frost. Straight, no extra bleeps... real gem. Thank you Chris...
Christopher, I adore your channel. Thank you for this compilation and for ranking these lenses! I do want to say that I find the blur effect near the bottom of the frame (where you have overlaid text) to be distracting, especially when it comes to assessing image quality, since the blur resembles bokeh. Otherwise, lovely video. Have a wonderful Christmas!
The RF 50mm f1,2 is money. It was the reason I went back to Canon from Fuji. I wanted to use that lens and I´ve been very happy. That said the new Fuji 33mm f1,4 is pretty darn good as well. But side by side the Canon combo wins every single time...not taking size, weight and price into consideration, that is :)
It's not the sharpest but my favorite 50mm lens so far is the Minolta MD Rokkor 50mm f/1.4 It handles very nicely and it's inexpensive. The colors are also lovely.
I like the idea of this video, and would love to see for example best zoom trinities or best portrait primes (maybe in two sets, one closer to 70mm and one closer or over 100mm). It is quite sobering to see that the most expensive lenses, while not blindly following the brand and price alone, still beat the more affordable options without any questions. Another similar video might be highlighting best performers for given price range, again. I believe you did such videos past years, but it would be interesting to see what has changed this year, in the realm of more affordable lenses.
At the end of the day, one of my favorite fifties is the SMC Pentax-M 50mm f1.4 on my A7iii. It would be nice for some reviews of vintage lenses now and again, I could loan you one of my Super-Taks if you'd like!
The RF 50mm f/1.2 was the first RF lens I purchased, and I really like it, but I really wish Canon had some mid-range lens, in line with the Nikon S 50mm f/1.8 or Sony 55mm f/1.8. An update to the 27 years old 50mm f/1.4, with better optics, weather sealing but still maintaining the compact size would be perfect.
I’ve had 2 50’ish lenses that stood out to me. Not purely for the sharpness or over all optical quality, but I loved them anyway. My current one is the Fujinon 56mm APD lens. I love this lens. If I want to carry only the camera and one lens this is the one I choose. In the past I’ve owned several 50mm lenses and one that stood out was the 7Artisans 55mm 1.4. I loved that lens because it was so small and light and because it was very fun to just take photos with. It was far from perfect, but not unusable. And for the price, I never regretted buying it. I only switched to the Fujinon because I wanted auto focus and because the corners on the 7Artisans was not sharp enough for landscapes I thought.
Nice review, thanks. I too love the Fujinon 50mm f2 on my x-pro3, and it's weather resistant. On Sony, I'm currently using the Zeiss Loxia series, in particular, the 50mm f/2 is very nice, compact, amazing colors, and decent sharpness.
1. Outstanding video. 2. Would love to see you test the Sony Zeiss 55mm F/1.8 3. Incidentally, the Fujifilm 35mm F2 is the 50mm equivalent (you already know that) and it's one of the sharpest lenses I've ever used. Fantastic set of primes, by Fuji.
So, I feel you should do a value proposition video as well with the 50mm. The best value for money 50mm lenses are the first thing a new photographer looks at and it's the first thing I wanted to know which is why I started to watch your channel.
Hello there Chris! You reviewed the Samyang 50mm 1.2 for Canon EF-M mount some years ago, and I purchased it based on your review. Honestly, it’s been my favorite lens ever! In times before plague I’ve taken it to Iceland and London, and all over the United States and it is such a staple in my bag. I love it so much! Thanks for informing me!
I liked the look of the Jarod setup! I managed to get a s/h Sony 1.4 Planar SSM Zeiss lens (A-mount) for £350, which I thought was a real bargain. Excellent results and probably much the same as the FE lens.
A first generation 50mm Summicron which combined seemingly endless resolution with a gentle, monochrome friendly rendering. The fourth generation Summicron which replaced it was excellent, but there was magic in that older glass.
Great news about the fuji, I recently moved from Sony a-mount to fuji. Well, half move. My favorite 50mm is my minolta 50mm f1.7 and it's not sharp at all lol... I just happen to love it. I'm buying the 50mm f2 for my fuji in future, though.
@@returntohome330 I've heard that. No interest on 18mm focal lengh as I already have the 16mm f2.8 - I prefer having those extra 2mm. Waiting for a 50mm f2 xc
Thanks for the interesting review! My only nit, is the distracting background music! I usually watch these videos wearing headphones. The music is much too prominent. I want to hear what you have to say, and not listen to dinner/elevator music. :-) Personally, sharpness is important, but overall rendering is more so. I prefer Zeiss rendering, but that is my personal taste.
Hi Christopher, Long time follower of your channel here! I know you don’t review any Panasonic gear, but with the release of the S5II I’m curious how the Lumix S 50 1.8 would fare against these lenses. It’s hard to find any good reviews of this lens and your format is just the golden standard for me :)
it is a very special lens. It is almost there in sharpness with the newest. I have it on the A7R IV, so sharpness is not an issue. Everything else in the images it makes are very beautiful. And probably could make it the overall number 1...
I know many people including you prefer the 35s but for me 50 is the perfect allround focal length, I'm just used to it from my film cameras, my little Sony Zeiss 55 1.8 lives on my camera and gives the perfect balance of size, sharpness and fast aperture for me
Just bought the Sony 55mm and was thinking about sending it back. But considering the size and as my xmas budget did not allow for the 50mm Planar, this re-review made me realize that it’s the perfect lens for me! Thank you 🙏🏻
The Canon RF 50mm f/1.2 has plastic on the outside to stop your fingers freezing to it in the cold. Inside, it's metal. The filter threads are plastic, which you could rightly criticize it for. The optics speak for themselves. Cheaper lenses have metal on the outside - chiefly for good looks - but are plastic on the inside.
Christopher, thanks for this very interesting review. I’m no fan boy of any system and just I love the ‘full frame’ look. But I changed to Fuji because of size and weight and the manual camera controls. I was a little dismayed though that you didn’t choose the 50mm equivalent FOV for the aps-c lenses. I wondered how the Fuji 33mm and 35mm 1.4 lenses would have faired. How about a similar review of the best aps-c 50mm FOV equivalent sharpest lenses? Happy Christmas.
Canons lenses never disappoints. I am still keeping old nifty fifty despite changing to Sony cameras. Their lenses have such amazing color rendition that actually looks as good even on my old Sony a6300. Sony optics are getting better, but have still long way to go compared to Canon and Nikon.
Hello prchise. I believe that another reviewer (Ricci) did a comparison of the Nikkor S 1.8 and the 1.2 and found that while the 1.8 equals the 1.2 in center sharpness, the 1.2 has somewhat better edge sharpness. Overall, a great testament to the very high-quality of the much less expensive Nikkor S 50 f/1.8.
I've used Canon 50mm's for the better part of 5 decades, when I look at the images from the RF50 I literally just shake my head. It is the best lens I've ever used.
I use it on the R5 - it's amazing. My APO 50 Summicron-SL is better on the SL2, but it's really close. I even posted a thread about it on Fred Miranda and the Leica Forum. BUT (and it's a big but), the AF on the SL2 is no where near what the R5 has - and that actually makes the 50 1.2 on the R5 the better choice 90% of the time.
Still very happy with my Sigma 50mm 1.4 ART. Only reason I'm at all tempted to change is for a native Sony lens that's lighter but... I have higher priorities and this can wait
My favorite 50? Honestly, my old Minolta Rokkor f1.7. It was my first lens on my first serious camera nearly 30 years ago. It is on my Sony A7R3 all the time still. Yeah, it’s manual, yeah it’s probably not sharp by comparison with stuff today, but it has memories.
I'd like to know where the Leica Summilux-SL 50/1.4 on an SL2 would sit in this comparison. Glad to use the Fuji system mostly - a lightweight and affordable system with very sexy camera bodies (just personal taste - I love my X-Pro3).
Didn't see the newish Tokina Opera in there. It may be obscure but you can bet it's sharper than a number of the lenses you did refer to in this video.
Sigma f1.4 art on my Canon 5Ds or on my Nikon D800e is as sharp as I will ever need. And the Tamron SP 45mm f/1.8 Di VC USD has stabilization, so handheld it may be the "real world" sharpest unless you are using a tripod. And for those on a tight budget, the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM is surprisingly sharp. I know neither my Canon 5Ds nor my Nikon D800e are modern mirrorless cameras. Still, they make great images. On the other hand, if I do buy a new mirrorless camera, I will revisit this video (I have some older mirrorless cameras, but consider them mostly as toys). It seems, for me at least, that the new cameras always have some crucial shortcoming that makes the switch not worth it.
Had a sigma 50mm 1.4 art that I replaced with the Sony zeiss 55mm 1.8. Although the sigma takes some wonderful photos with that wider appeture, the weight wasnt worth it 🤷♂️ I also didnt like that the sigma had a T-stop of 1.7 even though it had a 1.4 F-Stopp.
I will agree with you - sort of. When I had the a7r iv, I loved the Zeiss Sony 50 1.4 ZA. I have the Canon R5 with the RF 50 1.2 L and it is a stunning lens in terms of sharpness - BUT... I also own the 50mm Leica APO Summicron-SL that I use with the Leica SL2.. It may be sharper than the Canon at f2 (minimum aperture of the Leica). This may have to do with the lack of an anti aliasing filter on the SL2, but I would love to see if you can get your hands on on and test it.
Christopher it would be great if you could get your hands on the new Nikon 50mmf1.2 it is absolutely amazing even at F1.2. Seasons greetings to you and your family, I hope you have a fantastic 2021 too. Thanks for sharing your reviews.
I would love to see you test voigtlander 40mm 1.2 lens I own one but would like to see it on your charts..and at 1.8 how it compares with the best..thanks keep up the great work.
I have used 50mm lenses made by Nikon, Pentax, Fuji, Mamiya, Miranda, and Canon. The 8-element Pentax 50mm f/1.4 Super Takumar was the sharpest lens I have ever used.
Thanks Christopher. As the happy owner of a Fuji 50mm F2 I'm glad that the only worthwhile upgrade is the R5 AND the RF 1.2, so you've just saved me £7K! Merry Christmas.
But the XF 50mm f2 is a 75mm equivalent lens? And in my testing the Z 50mm f1.8 S (which I got for a steal at £350 new!) performs quite a bit better than it. The Nikkor lens is tested by many to be one of the best 50s available.
Thanks Christopher-and I really appreciate your “no holds barred” approach in your lens reviews. However, if you are going to seriously claim the “7 sharpest 50mm lenses,” then you are either unfortunately out of date haven’t had access to Leica lens.? The Leica L 50F2 is the sharpest and most accurate 50mm lens by some measure. Then the Sony 50F1.2 is next (due to higher achromatic correction) with incredibly silent autofocus. The next choice between the Canon 50F1.2 and Nikon 50F1.2 is debatable (you have pipped the Canon to be extremely slightly ahead). The Canon 50F1.2 is thus 3rd or 4th. No FAN BOY EFFECT HERE - I own these Leica, Sony and Canon lens and the Nikon 58F.095 (and not the 50F1.2 which came afterwards). At this level, of course, the other characteristics of a lens-as you emphatically state-dominate the perception of the image. The Zeiss 50F1.4 truly deserves special mention (which would be 5th if I accepted you comparison) here for overall image quality and makes a a fantastic cinema lens. None of these differences will determine how great a photographer or film maker you are-its just “The 7 sharpest 50mm lens” title that provoked this slight rebuttal. Anyhow, please keep up the good work!!!
While I do understand that there will be folks who get triggered by a review for anything nowadays cause... well it's the internet_ that doesn't mean they should, no? But these are the times we live in. Hoping that you have the time and Nikon the wherewithal to get you a copy of their just released 50mm f1/2 Z mount lens for testing. Thanks for all the hard work you do Cheers!!
I've used several of the lenses on this list, and the Canon 50mm 2.5 macro will mop the floor with them. I'm not a Canon fan boy, but the 50mm 2.5 is disturbingly sharp.
My absolute favorite 50mm is the Minolta MC Rokkor PF 1.4 58mm mountain and valley version. This is the only lens I miss if I don’t have it with me. Not a 50mm and not sharp, but magic without being tacky.
I fortunately own the 50mm 1.2 Canon RF, but for pure character the Zeiss 50mm 1.4 ZF is a more pleasing image. Sure, it's manual focus and isn't nearly as sharp, but the bokeh and overall feel is less clinical. That being said... owning the RF 50mm I find it difficult to justify taking it out these days when shooting portraits.
Good video,, but I think you should have waited until you test the Nikon 50mm 1.2 S, which surprisingly outperformed the Nikon 50mm 1.8 S. It would make Canon 50mm 1.2 run for its money. Specially the Nikon has much less focus breathing and nearly silent.
Me: what is the sharpest 50mm?
My wallet: The yong nuo 50mm f1.8
Yeaaa it is,
@@foxtrotcharlie6 autofocus is annoying but usable
lolled a lot
Soft at 1.8 sharp at 3.2
I just bought that lens after spending months reading and watching reviews and test shots of different prime lenses. It's hard to be a poor photographer.
As a self-admitted Nikon fanboy, I won't disagree at all - in fact, I'd say this list gives the 50mm 1.8 S plenty of praise. When you're only beat out by lenses that weigh more than two punds and cost over 2000€, but you're a lens at as low as 450€ and weighing a pound, that's still a big accomplishment.
But why does DXOMark gives Nikon 1.8s more number on paper than canon 1.2 L ?
@phenomdark27 cause dxo mark is all technical they dont represent real world use
Love the Fuji 50mm f2 - one of my favorite lenses!
Excellent video as always, Christopher! As a Nikon Z7 landscape and product photographer, one lens that "lured" me into the Z System was the stellar reviews of this Nikkor S 50 f/1.8 lens! Several reviews compared it directly and even favorably to the Zeiss Otus, which is why I was a bit surprised that it came in 3rd, behind the Otus and the Canon. That said, an impressive showing indeed. Thanks again for your detailed and meticulous work!
My Nikon S 50mm f1.8 Z Mount is a stunningly sharp lens
Agreed, I have moved on from the Z series for a number of reasons but that lens is my favourite lens I have owned to date across all systems.
Totally agree! It’s an insane piece of glas. Never had anything like that before. I had a lot. 👌
Unbelievable lens, totally agree, it's the only reason I can not leave Nikon despite moving on to an R5 :)
Be interested to know how the new Nikon Z 50mm 1.2 does in your test. When you get round to it 😀
Me too, was kind of surprised it wasn't in the list. But then I realized it's hardly available so probably isn't tested yet. Also really really expensive.
I can't wait to test it either! (and the Noct 0.95 ;-)
@@christopherfrost ua-cam.com/video/DFxoEX2UFgc/v-deo.html
Another nice video Christopher--thanks. I'm looking at going with the Fujifilm X system, and their lenses look to be scary-sharp; appreciating your coverage of the 50mm. Wishing you joy in remembering His Nativity.
It would be so amazing to watch, this kind of video, for vintage manual lenses too.
Love my Zeiss 55. It's not perfect but I'll forgive it's flaws for the character it has
Christopher, have you had the opportunity to test the voightlander 50mm f2 APO Lanthar;
@@AR-vf7vg My bank manager would kill me LOL!
Chris I'm so glad seeing your sharpness comparison.
Thanks and God bless
My favorite 50 mm is my canon 50 1.8 stm :))
Love my Zeiss Loxia 50mm f2 😍
If I want to get a vintage film look I'll use my pentax 50 f1.4
The Tamron 45mm SP f/1.8 VC does it for me and is by far the best '50' that I have ever used
It does have a rather slow autofocus, but the image quality is quite lovely, regarding sharpness, colours AND bokeh.
Also, it's one of the very few '50'mm lenses that focus closer than roughly 45cm (that's the reason why I have it), which makes it much more versatile.
@@Shadow81989 yep absolutely agree. If the AF was a little quicker it would be flawless. If you can work with that though it is brilliant in most all other respects
I was surprised the tamron didn't make it as well, especially considering how positive the review was. I don't think the af is really slow. Most 50mm aren't great for af, and the tamron while slightly slower than usual is still manageable.
Thanks for this video Chris. I purchased the Tokina Opera 50mm f1.4 per your recommendation, and love it. I now own the: Old Sigma 50mm f1.4, Canon EF 50 STM, EF 50mm f1.2L, Rokinon SP 50mm f1.2, a host of vintage M42 50's and now this Tokina Opera. The old 50mm L and the Opera are my favorite on my 5dsr and 5d Classic. The Opera is my go-to lately. It seems to blend the sharpness of modern lenses, with the character and smoothness of vintage glass.
I've noticed that your editing and production values are going up over time!
All wow on your photos. If there somebody else's can say the best lens reviewer better than Mr Frost. Straight, no extra bleeps... real gem. Thank you Chris...
Canon makes cameras for RF lenses while other companies make lenses for their cameras.
Canon dead companie. Slow af. Bad colours lol.
@@backfilms1953 Canon lenses are way overrated IMO.
this is the way
Christopher, I adore your channel. Thank you for this compilation and for ranking these lenses! I do want to say that I find the blur effect near the bottom of the frame (where you have overlaid text) to be distracting, especially when it comes to assessing image quality, since the blur resembles bokeh. Otherwise, lovely video. Have a wonderful Christmas!
The RF 50mm f1,2 is money. It was the reason I went back to Canon from Fuji. I wanted to use that lens and I´ve been very happy. That said the new Fuji 33mm f1,4 is pretty darn good as well. But side by side the Canon combo wins every single time...not taking size, weight and price into consideration, that is :)
It's not the sharpest but my favorite 50mm lens so far is the Minolta MD Rokkor 50mm f/1.4 It handles very nicely and it's inexpensive. The colors are also lovely.
I did not test any other lens on this list, but my Zeiss 55 is incredible. Almost all the photos are magical.
"Honorable mention for APS-C cameras"
Hehe... Love you sire 😁
I like the idea of this video, and would love to see for example best zoom trinities or best portrait primes (maybe in two sets, one closer to 70mm and one closer or over 100mm).
It is quite sobering to see that the most expensive lenses, while not blindly following the brand and price alone, still beat the more affordable options without any questions.
Another similar video might be highlighting best performers for given price range, again. I believe you did such videos past years, but it would be interesting to see what has changed this year, in the realm of more affordable lenses.
At the end of the day, one of my favorite fifties is the SMC Pentax-M 50mm f1.4 on my A7iii. It would be nice for some reviews of vintage lenses now and again, I could loan you one of my Super-Taks if you'd like!
Use a Pentax SMC 50mm 1.4 on Z6, I know what you mean. Such beautiful and sharp lens!
The RF 50mm f/1.2 was the first RF lens I purchased, and I really like it, but I really wish Canon had some mid-range lens, in line with the Nikon S 50mm f/1.8 or Sony 55mm f/1.8. An update to the 27 years old 50mm f/1.4, with better optics, weather sealing but still maintaining the compact size would be perfect.
Manuel...I agree 110%!!!
Your wish is about to come true, but price-wise, not much different to the f/1.2.
I’ve had 2 50’ish lenses that stood out to me. Not purely for the sharpness or over all optical quality, but I loved them anyway. My current one is the Fujinon 56mm APD lens. I love this lens. If I want to carry only the camera and one lens this is the one I choose.
In the past I’ve owned several 50mm lenses and one that stood out was the 7Artisans 55mm 1.4. I loved that lens because it was so small and light and because it was very fun to just take photos with. It was far from perfect, but not unusable. And for the price, I never regretted buying it.
I only switched to the Fujinon because I wanted auto focus and because the corners on the 7Artisans was not sharp enough for landscapes I thought.
Nice review, thanks. I too love the Fujinon 50mm f2 on my x-pro3, and it's weather resistant. On Sony, I'm currently using the Zeiss Loxia series, in particular, the 50mm f/2 is very nice, compact, amazing colors, and decent sharpness.
1. Outstanding video.
2. Would love to see you test the Sony Zeiss 55mm F/1.8
3. Incidentally, the Fujifilm 35mm F2 is the 50mm equivalent (you already know that) and it's one of the sharpest lenses I've ever used. Fantastic set of primes, by Fuji.
So, I feel you should do a value proposition video as well with the 50mm. The best value for money 50mm lenses are the first thing a new photographer looks at and it's the first thing I wanted to know which is why I started to watch your channel.
Amazing video! Would love more of these for every focal length and zoom lens
The elephant in the room: which of these turns you into an artist rather than snapshooter?
would have wished to see the Voigtlander Nokton 58mm...it renders so beautifully 😌
Nikon Z lens is by far the best value for money.
Hello there Chris! You reviewed the Samyang 50mm 1.2 for Canon EF-M mount some years ago, and I purchased it based on your review. Honestly, it’s been my favorite lens ever! In times before plague I’ve taken it to Iceland and London, and all over the United States and it is such a staple in my bag. I love it so much! Thanks for informing me!
I liked the look of the Jarod setup!
I managed to get a s/h Sony 1.4 Planar SSM Zeiss lens (A-mount) for £350, which I thought was a real bargain. Excellent results and probably much the same as the FE lens.
I have the same lens with an la-ea5 ….sharp from f1.4 and better bokeh than the 55mm which I also own
When you get your hands on the Sony 50 1.2, would you please be able to make an update to this video? I know you did the RF and Z 50 1.2's already
A first generation 50mm Summicron which combined seemingly endless resolution with a gentle, monochrome friendly rendering. The fourth generation Summicron which replaced it was excellent, but there was magic in that older glass.
Great news about the fuji, I recently moved from Sony a-mount to fuji. Well, half move. My favorite 50mm is my minolta 50mm f1.7 and it's not sharp at all lol... I just happen to love it. I'm buying the 50mm f2 for my fuji in future, though.
It's hard to find bad lenses in the Fuji lineup the 18mm is the only one that comes to mind but the 16mm 1.4 is exquisite!.
@@returntohome330 I've heard that. No interest on 18mm focal lengh as I already have the 16mm f2.8 - I prefer having those extra 2mm. Waiting for a 50mm f2 xc
@@timgomes4810 The Fujifilm 50mm F2 is a fantastic lens too.
Thanks for the interesting review! My only nit, is the distracting background music! I usually watch these videos wearing headphones. The music is much too prominent. I want to hear what you have to say, and not listen to dinner/elevator music. :-)
Personally, sharpness is important, but overall rendering is more so. I prefer Zeiss rendering, but that is my personal taste.
Hi Christopher,
Long time follower of your channel here! I know you don’t review any Panasonic gear, but with the release of the S5II I’m curious how the Lumix S 50 1.8 would fare against these lenses.
It’s hard to find any good reviews of this lens and your format is just the golden standard for me :)
The sample pictures of Sony Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 in this video are stunning, colors popped really in amazing way, leaves every other lenses in dust
it is a very special lens. It is almost there in sharpness with the newest. I have it on the A7R IV, so sharpness is not an issue. Everything else in the images it makes are very beautiful. And probably could make it the overall number 1...
I know many people including you prefer the 35s but for me 50 is the perfect allround focal length, I'm just used to it from my film cameras, my little Sony Zeiss 55 1.8 lives on my camera and gives the perfect balance of size, sharpness and fast aperture for me
Just bought the Sony 55mm and was thinking about sending it back. But considering the size and as my xmas budget did not allow for the 50mm Planar, this re-review made me realize that it’s the perfect lens for me! Thank you 🙏🏻
Voigtlander 50mm f2 apo is missing 😁
The Canon RF 50mm f/1.2 has plastic on the outside to stop your fingers freezing to it in the cold. Inside, it's metal. The filter threads are plastic, which you could rightly criticize it for. The optics speak for themselves.
Cheaper lenses have metal on the outside - chiefly for good looks - but are plastic on the inside.
Christopher, thanks for this very interesting review. I’m no fan boy of any system and just I love the ‘full frame’ look. But I changed to Fuji because of size and weight and the manual camera controls. I was a little dismayed though that you didn’t choose the 50mm equivalent FOV for the aps-c lenses. I wondered how the Fuji 33mm and 35mm 1.4 lenses would have faired. How about a similar review of the best aps-c 50mm FOV equivalent sharpest lenses? Happy Christmas.
Canons lenses never disappoints. I am still keeping old nifty fifty despite changing to Sony cameras. Their lenses have such amazing color rendition that actually looks as good even on my old Sony a6300. Sony optics are getting better, but have still long way to go compared to Canon and Nikon.
Looking fwd to seeing you test the new Nikon 50 1.2 S. Should be razor sharp!
Hello prchise. I believe that another reviewer (Ricci) did a comparison of the Nikkor S 1.8 and the 1.2 and found that while the 1.8 equals the 1.2 in center sharpness, the 1.2 has somewhat better edge sharpness. Overall, a great testament to the very high-quality of the much less expensive Nikkor S 50 f/1.8.
@@stevelink3 cheerz, Steve. There are several reviews of the glass in question and one could say that 50 1.8 is the best bang for the buck.
I've used Canon 50mm's for the better part of 5 decades, when I look at the images from the RF50 I literally just shake my head. It is the best lens I've ever used.
I use it on the R5 - it's amazing. My APO 50 Summicron-SL is better on the SL2, but it's really close. I even posted a thread about it on Fred Miranda and the Leica Forum. BUT (and it's a big but), the AF on the SL2 is no where near what the R5 has - and that actually makes the 50 1.2 on the R5 the better choice 90% of the time.
Was waiting a long time for this video :)
I have a little trouble believing that the Leica 50mm Apo Summicron does not make the list. Or for that matter the regular 50mm Summilux.
Still very happy with my Sigma 50mm 1.4 ART.
Only reason I'm at all tempted to change is for a native Sony lens that's lighter but... I have higher priorities and this can wait
Awesome review and as expected the Canon 50 mm tops the list. Proud to be a Canon Fanboy.
Wonder how the Voigtlander 50 apo f/2.0 would fare. It received good marks during its review here
I still love both my Canon 50mm 1.4 and 1.2L lenses.
I've been saving up for this specific lens but i want to know if the 20MP R6 would still see its benifit?
Yes. Yes it does, but alas, I was just renting it and had to return it.
No mention of the Voigtländer 50mm f2 APO-Lanthar.
Great video...Looking forward to a canon 50 1.2 vs new nikon 50 1.2
Thanks for the video, no planar 50mm f1.4?
Can you please one video for the best 85mm?
My favorite 50? Honestly, my old Minolta Rokkor f1.7. It was my first lens on my first serious camera nearly 30 years ago. It is on my Sony A7R3 all the time still. Yeah, it’s manual, yeah it’s probably not sharp by comparison with stuff today, but it has memories.
I still love my minolta 50mm f1.7
I'd like to know where the Leica Summilux-SL 50/1.4 on an SL2 would sit in this comparison. Glad to use the Fuji system mostly - a lightweight and affordable system with very sexy camera bodies (just personal taste - I love my X-Pro3).
I am surprised that the Samyang XP 50mm f1.2 hadn't made the list
Didn't see the newish Tokina Opera in there. It may be obscure but you can bet it's sharper than a number of the lenses you did refer to in this video.
No, I tested it, and it wasn't. 02:05
thank you for your reviews
Great jop bro .but We need review for panasonic L full fram lenses.
Please give us some reviews.
I don’t use Canon but I really like the RF f/1.2 lenses. It would be nice if Sony or Sigma made a 1.2 50mm and 85mm lens.
Sigma f1.4 art on my Canon 5Ds or on my Nikon D800e is as sharp as I will ever need. And the Tamron SP 45mm f/1.8 Di VC USD has stabilization, so handheld it may be the "real world" sharpest unless you are using a tripod. And for those on a tight budget, the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM is surprisingly sharp. I know neither my Canon 5Ds nor my Nikon D800e are modern mirrorless cameras. Still, they make great images. On the other hand, if I do buy a new mirrorless camera, I will revisit this video (I have some older mirrorless cameras, but consider them mostly as toys). It seems, for me at least, that the new cameras always have some crucial shortcoming that makes the switch not worth it.
The canon 50 1.2 can be had on the secondary market for $1800. That’s what I got it for and I love it.
Had a sigma 50mm 1.4 art that I replaced with the Sony zeiss 55mm 1.8. Although the sigma takes some wonderful photos with that wider appeture, the weight wasnt worth it 🤷♂️ I also didnt like that the sigma had a T-stop of 1.7 even though it had a 1.4 F-Stopp.
I will agree with you - sort of. When I had the a7r iv, I loved the Zeiss Sony 50 1.4 ZA. I have the Canon R5 with the RF 50 1.2 L and it is a stunning lens in terms of sharpness - BUT...
I also own the 50mm Leica APO Summicron-SL that I use with the Leica SL2.. It may be sharper than the Canon at f2 (minimum aperture of the Leica). This may have to do with the lack of an anti aliasing filter on the SL2, but I would love to see if you can get your hands on on and test it.
Great video, but no Panasonic S pro 50mm F1.4? :(
That lens is incredible. Sad it’s not in this list.
I love my Nikon 50mm 1.8 s !
Christopher it would be great if you could get your hands on the new Nikon 50mmf1.2 it is absolutely amazing even at F1.2. Seasons greetings to you and your family, I hope you have a fantastic 2021 too. Thanks for sharing your reviews.
I would love to see you test voigtlander 40mm 1.2 lens I own one but would like to see it on your charts..and at 1.8 how it compares with the best..thanks keep up the great work.
@Foto4Max True but i have to carry my gear on a motorcycle so light weight is essential..
With the recent release 50/1.2 from the Sony and Nikon...this needs an update 😁
And what is with the Nikon Nikkor 50mm 1:1,2 S ?
The Nikon 50mm f1.7 is also a very sharp lens, one of the sharpest according to Ken Rockwell and around £100 on ebay, have mine adapted on the A7Riii.
I have used 50mm lenses made by Nikon, Pentax, Fuji, Mamiya, Miranda, and Canon. The 8-element Pentax 50mm f/1.4 Super Takumar was the sharpest lens I have ever used.
Thanks Christopher. As the happy owner of a Fuji 50mm F2 I'm glad that the only worthwhile upgrade is the R5 AND the RF 1.2, so you've just saved me £7K! Merry Christmas.
But the XF 50mm f2 is a 75mm equivalent lens? And in my testing the Z 50mm f1.8 S (which I got for a steal at £350 new!) performs quite a bit better than it. The Nikkor lens is tested by many to be one of the best 50s available.
Sad the tamron 45mm VC SP did not made to te list
Awesome review, very informative as usual. How about sharpest 35mm FE comparison? Would love to see that!
I'll probably do a 35mm version eventually but new ones keep coming out which are sharper than ever hehe
I love my Mitakon and laowa 50mm renditions in that order. I have the sigma but being clinical is not everything on my z9
Thanks Christopher-and I really appreciate your “no holds barred” approach in your lens reviews. However, if you are going to seriously claim the “7 sharpest 50mm lenses,” then you are either unfortunately out of date haven’t had access to Leica lens.? The Leica L 50F2 is the sharpest and most accurate 50mm lens by some measure. Then the Sony 50F1.2 is next (due to higher achromatic correction) with incredibly silent autofocus. The next choice between the Canon 50F1.2 and Nikon 50F1.2 is debatable (you have pipped the Canon to be extremely slightly ahead). The Canon 50F1.2 is thus 3rd or 4th. No FAN BOY EFFECT HERE - I own these Leica, Sony and Canon lens and the Nikon 58F.095 (and not the 50F1.2 which came afterwards). At this level, of course, the other characteristics of a lens-as you emphatically state-dominate the perception of the image. The Zeiss 50F1.4 truly deserves special mention (which would be 5th if I accepted you comparison) here for overall image quality and makes a a fantastic cinema lens. None of these differences will determine how great a photographer or film maker you are-its just “The 7 sharpest 50mm lens” title that provoked this slight rebuttal. Anyhow, please keep up the good work!!!
I wonder about the new Sony GM 50mm F1.2 and the 1.4??
While I do understand that there will be folks who get triggered by a review for anything nowadays cause... well it's the internet_ that doesn't mean they should, no? But these are the times we live in. Hoping that you have the time and Nikon the wherewithal to get you a copy of their just released 50mm f1/2 Z mount lens for testing. Thanks for all the hard work you do
Cheers!!
I’m still knocked out by my Carl Zeiss 50mm 1.4 Pancolar it’s performance in the the whole is in my opinion stunning. 50 yrs old plus.
Great roundup , thanks.
Missing that Sony 50mm f1.2. It’s the sharpest of all of these
Fujifilm 50mm f1.0 and 56 1.2?
they are crop sensor equivalent to 75mm f/1.5
For apsc you should have added the Sigma 56mm f1.4, it's better than the Sony 55mm f1.8.
Beyond the 55mm scope of the video
I was waiting for Sigma 56mm f1.4...
He only took 45-55mm was also hoping for the sigma 56mm
Thanks for a good review. Did you try Leica lenses?
Can i use that sigma 50mm with nikon Z5?
I've used several of the lenses on this list, and the Canon 50mm 2.5 macro will mop the floor with them. I'm not a Canon fan boy, but the 50mm 2.5 is disturbingly sharp.
My absolute favorite 50mm is the Minolta MC Rokkor PF 1.4 58mm mountain and valley version. This is the only lens I miss if I don’t have it with me. Not a 50mm and not sharp, but magic without being tacky.
The canon 50mm is incredible, as well as your review.
I fortunately own the 50mm 1.2 Canon RF, but for pure character the Zeiss 50mm 1.4 ZF is a more pleasing image. Sure, it's manual focus and isn't nearly as sharp, but the bokeh and overall feel is less clinical. That being said... owning the RF 50mm I find it difficult to justify taking it out these days when shooting portraits.
Good video,, but I think you should have waited until you test the Nikon 50mm 1.2 S, which surprisingly outperformed the Nikon 50mm 1.8 S.
It would make Canon 50mm 1.2 run for its money. Specially the Nikon has much less focus breathing and nearly silent.
I've been wanting to release this video for months and I couldn't wait any longer. I had to release it some time ;-)
Either way, I always enjoy your reviews.
And I can’t wait for the zooms.