If there's one lens almost every photographer or videographer can get some use from, it's a wide aperture, normal length lens. Samyang has thrown their hat into the ring with the announcement of the AF 45mm f/1.8 FE lens, which offers Sony shooters a cheap and light option appropriate for a multitude of shooting scenarios.
The AF 45mm f/1.8 FE lens offers photographers and videographers another option around the 50mm length. Check out its specs:
- Weight: 5.7oz (162 g)
- Filter size: 49mm
- Minimum focus distance: 1.48 ft
- Maximum magnification: 0.12x
- Extra-low dispersion element to reduce fringing and chromatic aberrations
- Two aspherical elements to control distortion and improve sharpness
- Ultra Multi-Coating to reduce flare and ghosting
- STM autofocus motor with manual override
- Rounded nine-blade diaphragm for smoother bokeh
- Included lens hood
Preorder
The AF 45mm f/1.8 FE lens is quite affordable at $399, making it an intriguing option for photographers and videographers looking for a wide aperture lens with a normal focal length. You can preorder yours here.
Odd focal length... I suppose that's one way to make yourself stand out from the pack.
Tamron made a pretty good 45mm f1.8 VC (that's also weather sealed). Their 35mm version must have gotten more attention though.
Yeah, I remember Tamron's 45mm f/1.8 and I remember thinking it incredibly odd that they had both that and a 35mm f/1.8 since the two focal lengths were so similar... Both were excellent lenses for sure, but it felt like they were stepping on their own toes a bit doing that.
Usually when a company does something like that (release a lens so close to an existing lens), there's some sort of special quality such as macro capabilities or extra compact size, but that wasn't the case with Tamron if I remember. The 45 was just their straight stand-in for a 50.
I was very skeptical about this company but then decided to try their 85 and 14 mm versions. And I must say I love both! I’m sure this one is a good one too.
When did $400 for a normal 1.8 lens become affordable? Canon's equivalent is $125 and Nikon's is $200. What am I missing?
Nikon's new 50mm f/1.8 is $600.
I know, and I definitely wouldn't call it affordable. This latest generation of lenses is getting WAY out of hand, and I can't tell why.
Well, to be fair, the new 50mm f/1.8 is far better than the old one so I think that it's actually worth the price. Not sure how thing Samyang will perform, but their 35mm f/2.8 is no slouch and is optically not that far from the Sony 35mm f/2.8.