Is This Premium 50mm Lens Worth the Price?

A wide-aperture 50mm lens is one of the most commonly owned and versatile options, useful for a wide variety of situations. This great video review compares two options for Sony shooters, the Planar T* FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA and the Sonnar T* FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA.

Coming to you from Julia Trotti, this great video review pits the Sony Planar T* FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA against the Sonnar T* FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA lens. Both are upper-end 50mm lenses, but there is still a distinct difference in price between the two, with the 50mm f/1.4 costing $600 more than the 55mm f/1.8. I will say that I used the more expensive lens when I reviewed the Sony a7 III, and it was the only 50mm lens I have ever liked (I just don't do well with the focal length). It is incredibly sharp and just so delightful in its contrasty rendering that it is truly hard to take a bad picture with it. It looks like both lenses are strong performers, though, and beyond that, the 55mm lens is far smaller and more portable, making it great for anyone who is a run and gun shooter. Check out the video above for Trotti's full thoughts on both lenses. 

Alex Cooke's picture

Alex Cooke is a Cleveland-based portrait, events, and landscape photographer. He holds an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and a doctorate in Music Composition. He is also an avid equestrian.

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