Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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 The lazy method of zooming in and out to fit the subject is no longer applicable.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.

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.

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.

This lens is superb for showing Depth Of Field and portraits without a flash. I've read reviews that stated the lens is made of plastic ... it is actually made of aluminum. This lens was specifically designed for the Sony alpha series of DSLR cameras. I struggled between the 1.4, 50mm lens and this one and this won out. I am in no way disappointed in my choice ... I saved some money for my next lens and I'm happy with the photographs produced through this lens.

After using my kit lens for about a year, I decided to start the exploration of different lenses. I have had my eye on this one almost since I got my camera (a Sony a330) and finally decided to get it for myself as a Christmas present for myself from my parents. It is great for portraits and everyday shooting. I don't think I have taken it off since I got it. The only thing is that the plastic case seems like it would scratch easily.

(see the update at the end) Picture quality in low light is definitely better (see posted comparison pics of this lens vs kit 18-55 mm lens), with a much tighter depth of field. That said, the improvement is only moderate at best, and the limitation of a fixed focal length will probably mean I'll stick with the kit lens for the most part.

A good buy if you only shoot indoors without a flash, or if you won't miss the $$. Otherwise, stick with the kit lens.

Side notes: other reviewers have commented that the construction is poor. It is plastic, but feels well constructed to me so far. The autofocus motor is quick but loud.

UPDATE:
Wow, I was wrong. Having used this lens for a couple of months now I need to revise my prior post. Compared to the 18-55 mm kit lens, pictures with this lens are MUCH sharper, the depth of field is MUCH tighter, and you can shoot in significantly lower light conditions. This became readily apparent at a recent birthday party, where seemingly impossible shots in near darkness were not just possible, but possible without a tripod. Definitely worth it (to me), and now my standard indoor lens.

This is a MUST have lens for anyone with an A mount camera. I got it with my A55, and it has become my most used lens. Its low light performance is outstanding, and sharpness is excellent - but do stop it down at least one or two stops to get best results. Bokeh is awesome for portrait shots. At this price, you can not get a better lens. My only issue - the 50mm focal length on an APSC sensor is too tele for some indoor use. If you want to get closer to your subjects or get more field of view, get the slightly more expensive 35mm 1.8 lens.

Love this lens - it's so affordable and offers some great results! The low f1/8 means I can bump up my shutter speed and catch some great action shots as well as indoor shots without a flash. I can also get some beautiful blurry backgrounds for quick portraits. Love love love!

I bought this lens after a friend raved about her canon lens of the same type.

Okay, I'm no pro. I can compose a picture well and I usually get consistently good results in good natural light. But this lens magically makes almost all my pictures look great. In low light, they're significantly better than anything I got before, with truer color and less blur. And in natural light, closeups are amazing: crisp, brilliant and professional looking, with razor sharp focus and an attractively soft background. After snapping a few breath-taking pictures right off the bat that I would have had to *really* work for before, I suddenly realized that all of my friends' pictures I admire on flickr and not from brilliant photographers with extraordinary cameras, just amateurs like me with this magic lens. I shoot a lot of craft how-tos, so I am psyched to dramatically and instantly improve the quality of my photos through absolutely no skill of my own. Yay!

Getting the focus just right on a moving subject can be tricky if you're used to a zoom, but on anything still, it's easy peasy lemon squeezy. You definitely need to hang onto your zooms--this isn't suitable for every shot--but man, what a treat!

I thought that all lens had to be zoom lens but I was wrong. This lens is fun to use. I would have to bring a lot of my "zoom" photos in to PhotShop and blur the background or crop the photo or brighten the photo. NO more the lens is great for taking pictures of people up close and in many cases you do not need a flash. So I would recommend this easy to use lens as a must have in your camera bag.