Sony 50mm f/1.8 SAM DT Lens for Sony Alpha Digital SLR Cameras

by Sony

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 4.8 x 4.7 x 4.1 inches ; 7.7 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0029U0X24
• Item model number: SAL50F18
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #77 in Camera & Photo > Lenses > Camera Lenses
• Date first available at Amazon.com: May 17, 2009

Product Description

DT 50mm F1.8 SAM is a compact, lightweight, high-quality lens with a 50mm focal length (35mm format camera equivalent: 75mm) that is ideal for portraits and general-purpose photography. It is designed exclusively for use with ? digital SLRs incorporating an APS-C type image sensor.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

83 of 85 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The sharpest lens in my bag!, July 17, 2009

By 

Christopher J. Jurado (Oahu Hawai'i) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sony 50mm f/1.8 SAM DT Lens for Sony Alpha Digital SLR Cameras (Electronics)

Things I like:
1. Sharp and great colors! I've been using my kit lens for a while, and I wanted a lens for portraits. The quality of the images make it my preferred lens, and I only resort to my kit zoom lenses during events where I am unable to get close.
2. Light. Agreed that it is mostly plastic, but it is sturdy and looks good. I do not regret this purchase at all due to build quality.
3. Fast! Indoor photos can be shot by hand with natural light due to the large f1.8 aperture. Built in steady shot in every Sony Alpha makes this even better. Shutter speed indoors using just natural light (no flash!) shooting away from the windows can range between 1/8 to 1/120 of a second from ISO 100 to 400. Moving to higher ISO values (which my zooms would have done in order to get similar shots) would probably match the speed, but would have introduced much more noise.
4. Smooth bokeh. None of this hexagonal stuff you see in other lenses.

Things I don't like.
1. AF/MF switch. I have one on my camera, I don't need one on my lens. In order to attain full manual focus I need to swith both the lens and body.
2. 49mm filters. Why not the usual 55mm?
3. Not full frame. If you don't own an A900, and don't ever plan of upgrading to one - this doesn't matter to you.

I would recommend this lens to EVERYONE! It is cheap, and the quality of the images are superb! Furthermore, the fixed focal length forces a photographer to be more aware of how he/she is composing photographs. The lazy method of zooming in and out to fit the subject is no longer applicable. You have to move, and take into consideration objects around the subject. So in the end - you will be a better photographer - or a frustrated one due to the lack of zoom.

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You will rediscover photography!!, July 19, 2010

By 

M. Mokrzewski "Marcinmoka" (Toronto) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sony 50mm f/1.8 SAM DT Lens for Sony Alpha Digital SLR Cameras (Electronics)

Bombarded with messages that switching to a prime will make you a better photographer, I was skeptical at first, but ultimately made the plunge.

All I can say is : wow. This lens, coupled with a Minolta f/4 (i.e. The Beercan) made me re-evaluate what my Sony a200 was capable of.

Sharp as a tack, highly capable in low light situations, punchy yet accurate colour reproduction, bokeh as smooth as butter.. and all this for less than $200? Granted, it's no Zeiss f/1.4, but it doesn't cost nearly as much either.

As an added bonus, it truly will make you a better photographer in that you will now pay infinitely more attention to framing the shot.


On a side note, I was actually impressed as to the build quality. While it is made of plastic, the fit and feel seemed considerably higher than the equivalent Canon 50mm f/1.8 Mk II and seemed smoother in AF. I guess Sony has a reputation to establish.

I also compared it to the oft-used Minolta 50 mm f/1.7. And while it pales in build quality to the venerable Minolta, I was pleasantly surprised to discover the Sony yielding much sharper images than the Minolta.

28 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars excellent low light indoor lens., July 7, 2009

By 

PNFJR "Sachem" (boston) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sony 50mm f/1.8 SAM DT Lens for Sony Alpha Digital SLR Cameras (Electronics)

the sony 50 mm takes excellent pictures indoors if you use the A- aperture setting and dial down to 1/8 great sharp pictures without the need for a flash. But everyone should have a 50 mm in their kit. it is also great for portraits as to the wider aperature. Well worth the money and takes great pictures.