Lens review

Sony DT 50 mm f/1.8 SAM

11. Summary

Pros:

• very good image quality at the center and the edge of the frame,
• insignificant chromatic aberration,
• small distortion,
• fairly well corrected coma,
• very good work against bright light,
• quite fast autofocus,

• noticeable astigmatism,
• vignetting larger than in with competitors,
• autofocus could be more accurate and quieter,
• too much plastic in the body

On one hand, we understand cuts in the price and the necessity of presence of the lowest category of products. On the other hand, we are thinking if it’s necessary to economize maximally, putting plastic everywhere possible. Sigma shows that even in the cheapest lenses we can get a metal bayonet. The competing Nikkor 1.8/50 is also better made-up. Canon makes the worst impression, but its price is the lowest. Since we’re talking about price… On the conference we heard that the recommended retail price of the tested lens is to amount to $150., which means that in the cheapest shops it will available for around $140. This is still too much, though. The cheapest in the field Canon is currently offered for the price of $115, a bit more expensive Nikkor for around $135. Let’s hope that the price of the Sony will soon be verified, or the company will let us buy the lens in competitive prices in sets with an appropriate DSLR.

Sample shots:

Camera: Sony A100 Parameters: 50 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/60 sek., ISO 200 File: 3872 x 2592 pix, 2.4 MB	Camera: Sony A100 Parameters: 50 mm, f/3.5, exp. 1/50 sek., ISO 200 File: 3872 x 2592 pix, 2.3 MB	Camera: Sony A100 Parameters: 50 mm, f/8.0, exp. 1/320 sek., ISO 200 File: 3872 x 2592 pix, 2.5 MB
Camera: Sony A100 Parameters: 50 mm, f/1.8, exp. 1/640 sek., ISO 200 File: 3872 x 2592 pix, 2.0 MB	Camera: Sony A100 Parameters: 50 mm, f/1.8, exp. 1/1000 sek., ISO 200 File: 3872 x 2592 pix, 2.4 MB	Camera: Sony A100 Parameters: 50 mm, f/2.0, exp. 1/640 sek., ISO 200 File: 3872 x 2592 pix, 2.5 MB
Camera: Sony A100 Parameters: 50 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/320 sek., ISO 200 File: 3872 x 2592 pix, 2.1 MB	Camera: Sony A100 Parameters: 50 mm, f/1.8, exp. 1/1000 sek., ISO 200 File: 3872 x 2592 pix, 2.0 MB	Camera: Sony A100 Parameters: 50 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/640 sek., ISO 200 File: 3872 x 2592 pix, 2.7 MB
Camera: Sony A100 Parameters: 50 mm, f/8.0, exp. 1/60 sek., ISO 100 File: 3872 x 2592 pix, 2.5 MB	Camera: Sony A100 Parameters: 50 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/125 sek., ISO 100 File: 3872 x 2592 pix, 2.5 MB	Camera: Sony A100 Parameters: 50 mm, f/4.0, exp. 1/250 sek., ISO 100 File: 3872 x 2592 pix, 2.4 MB
Camera: Sony A100 Parameters: 50 mm, f/2.0, exp. 1/1000 sek., ISO 100 File: 3872 x 2592 pix, 5.7 MB	Camera: Sony A900 Parameters: 50 mm, f/1.8, exp. 1/160 sek., ISO 800 File: 6048 x 4032 pix, 2.9 MB	Camera: Sony A900 Parameters: 50 mm, f/1.8, exp. 1/100 sek., ISO 800 File: 6048 x 4032 pix, 2.2 MB