The FE 50mm F1.8 ($249.99) is Sony's take on a low-cost prime lens for its full-frame mirrorless camera system. It captures a standard-angle field of view and offers a wide f/1.8 maximum aperture so you can blur backgrounds behind your subject and capture photos in subpar light. But it's on the pricey side for what it is, and is held back by some optical shortcomings when shot wide open. More annoyingly, its autofocus motor takes a long time to lock onto a target. There aren't a lot of alternatives available at this price point, however, so photographers on a tight budget may still find it to be a good choice. But our recommendation is to save your pennies and get the Zeiss Sonnar T* FE 55mm F1.8 ZA ($998.00 at Amazon) instead. Design The FE 50mm is small and light. It measures 2.3 by 2.7 inches (HD) and weighs just 6.6 ounces. The front element supports 49mm filters. Its barrel is sturdy polycarbonate and its lens mount is metal—it doesn't feel like a cheap lens. But neither doe...
The Sony FE 50mm f/1.8 is a budget full-frame 50mm lens for the Alpha mirrorless system. Optics are sound, but its autofocus motor is sluggish.
Crisp from edge to edge when stopped down; Light and compact; Minimal distortion; Solid construction with included lens hood
Slow focus; Noticeable chromatic aberration; Edge softness and dimmed corners at wide apertures; Omits optical stabilization