@@memoriesmakeus985 I was as confused, but I would suggest checking out Titla Mirage matte box, the manual one at least. I have PolarPro Basecamp that I use all the time, but I think Tilta Mirage matte box is the better one despite not fitting my 200-600mm G lens and much cheaper.
I’ve recently bought a Sony A7iii after 15 years of Nikon, and this lens arrived today after watching your videos. I honestly can’t believe how sharp it is wide open - seriously impressed. This little lens is a bargain, so thanks Pav!
Me too, Have been using Nikon for 14 years but have to admit that right now sony dominates the market and is far ahead compared with nikon. Sold all nikon gears for sony a7iv and super excited with its result
im a 10 year nikon and 2 z6 owner. but the focus on video its not as good as sony. so i might at the a7c with a 50mm. was thinking this 1.8 or the 2.5G
Thanks for this video. I just gifted myself a Sony a7 IV. Daughter recommended I get a 50 mm lens (nifty fifty) as I am a beginner. Read the reviews and was very hesitant to get it. Now that I've watched your video I'm glad I did purchase it and didn't invest in the G Master lens (yet). I appreciate how you commented on the pros and cons. This review was very helpful.
Glad it was helpful! Not the best lens on the market but it is very affordable. You should check out the lenses from Viltrox next. Still very affordable but better quality. After that Sigma and Tamron
@@PavSZ I’m using the A6000 and I’m looking at buying this lens but was put off by the reviews I have seen ! Do you think with the update it should be good on the A6000 body too. I didn’t want to buy the crop version in case I move to full frame at some point. Thanks
I have the ultra sharp Sigma 85mm f1.4 but still I think that the sharpness of the 50mm f1.8 is absolutely sufficient and I have to admit that sometimes for portraits it has its very own charme. Some people don't prefer the extreme sharpness of lenses like the Sigma for portraits at all, but prefer a slighly softer image instead, which I can absolutely understand. I absolutely love my 50mm f1.8 for travel photography. In my personal opinion wide angle lenses are absolutely overrated (at least for travel/ street photography). During my last Lissabon vacation I limited myself to only the 50mm f1.8 and I didn't miss anything.
Cheers for the video. The lens is £139 on Amazon at the moment and they ship with the V3 firmware. I think as it’s an older lens, features like buttons and image stabilisation aren’t really a big deal. I just bought it today as a lightweight walk around nifty fifty for my A74. I think the body will compensate for some of the misgivings and I’ll have a light, compact walk around for when I just simply don’t want to carry anything else in my bag. Perfect for honing the craft and it’s for stills only. :)
@@PavSZ I 100% agree! I bought a fairly cheap filter kit just to experiment with those with this lens. I gave up photography about 15 years ago and have just got back into it a couple of years ago! Will be interesting to compare it to lenses like my Sigma f1.4 85mm for example. How far apart is the end result etc
You'd have to use an adapter which could cost more than the lens itself. I don't think it would be worth adapting it. Check out budget friendly 50mm Z mount from Viltrox instead: th-cam.com/video/-ty8zrkFZMQ/w-d-xo.html
I’m a new beginner with a Sony NEX 7 that came with a 18-55mm kit lens & I wanted to know how much better would be the video quality be compared to my Kit lens? & what’s the difference between the OSS version of the Sony FE 50mm F1.8 Standard Lens?
You are right, however above f8 the AF gets more jumpy, even on V.03. Don't know why. I value this lens for days where there is no light at all and my f/2.8 Tamrons (28-75 G2, 35mm prime) are not fast enough. I do manual focus regularly, so the AF is not a big deal breaker for me. Edit: Tamron 35/2.8 is sometimes even cheaper. AF is equally old, but IQ is a lot better. =)
Are you in Leeds? All canals look similar but I cycle them a lot and it looked like near me. Is this lens now a real option for video do you think? I fancy the small G 50mm which is undoubtedly better but that has a smaller aperture and costs 4x. Will this do the job good enough for video?
maybe. As i said in my video, this lens works very well with the latest Sony cameras like a6400, a6500 etc. a7III or a7IV. It will be fine on your a5000, quality wise, but it might not auto focus the same as on my tests in my video
Autofocus in LOW LIGHT is pretty bad and makes a really funky noise, so be careful if capturing sound is important to you (if you have a shotgun mic rigged onto the camera, or using the sound directly from the camera).
with lens attached to the camera, go to your camera firmware menu and see what firmware your lens has got. Check what is the current lens firmware on the sony website and if yours is older than that, download the latest one and follow the instruction to update. www.sony.com/electronics/support/lenses-e-mount-lenses/sel50f18f/downloads
Hi I’m new to videography I have a Sony a7ii with this lens and for some reason my videos don’t come out as good as yours. I have my AF set to AF-C and it just seems like it has a hard time focusing on my moving person. Any tips to fix that? Would greatly appreciate it!!
Sorry still not convinced. Maybe it was my (bad?) unit, but from my experience... worst lens I ever had (had..yes sold it). It was OK for pictures, especially for money. But video even after soft update, nightmare. Constantly hunting. Loud as hell. Cheap made, as you said. And overall USELESS in darker condition. Not recommending even for $200-250.
it's got issues but I have proven that it actually works. Yes, it's loud, yes, it's all cheap plastic but you won't get anything auto focusing for that price anywhere. For a lot of people this is all that they can afford. My point is that if that's all you have, you can make it work
I love this lens I own many G master Lenes and many times when I shoot with this lens it beats them. Even my G master 24mm 1.4 Sad when you pay so much for a lens. Thank for telling the truth many you tubers like bragging about the G masters and have no idea what they are talking about. If I put a photo side by side they probably would pick the 50mm 1.8
Maybe little bit too late answer for you - short answer is no. Long answer is maybe. I’ve had this lens since its debut and it has been my lens cap for a7rII. You can getaway with af issue by changing ‘Live view display setting effect’ off and have this option programmed into custom button - mine is set on c3. This allows the lens wide open until the moment you take picture hence more light into the sensor and slightly better af. But in a low light situation it struggles even more than the 3rd gen a7 (eg a7III onwards) cameras and you’ll need to use the af assistance light on. Because you have no setting effect on live view, you have to trust your skills and experience to make it perfect shoot - which I don’t have issues as I’ve been taking film photos in various format for 20+ years - hence it’s getting harder for most of newer gen photographers. However, if you have skills and purely using it as still photos it is very compact and capable lens.
I have this lens and im sorry but it's just not good for video. The autofocus is so noisy i thought it was broken. It is priced appropriately for what it is i suppose but i wouldnt recommended it for Video.
that's only a problem if you are recording audio on board. I have proven in my video that it focuses well in video. It is very affordable and if that's all you can afford, it will do the job
Hi Pav, thank you for great vodeo. In your openion what is best deal for Macro is: Sony FE 50mm f/2.8 Macro @ $600 or Sony FE 50mm f/1.8 Macro @ $400 or Sony FE SEL90M28G 90mm f/2.8 Macro Lens @ $1100
you check it from Setup 7/7 menu screen. Go to Version while the lens is on the camera. Download the latest firmware from Sony website and put it on SD card. Go back to the same menu and there will be option to update it now
ND filter darkens the picture so you can shoot at the lower shutter speeds. For example when shooting video at 60 frames per seconds at f1.8 aperture, you'd need a shutter speed of 1/120 ... this would be waaaay to bright in the daylight. This is when ND filter comes in, to darken the picture so it looks right. ND Variable filters turn giving you different level of darkening, depending on the situaton.
I didn't understand why SONY made that 50mm F2.5, with the F1.8 covering all the bases... Just to make it a little bit shorter? I can't find any comparison between the two on TH-cam either...
50mm f2.5 G is much better optically and build quality lens than the f1.8 FE. It is only f2.5 to keep the size down. Here is my review of it: th-cam.com/video/2oLbLuVGHds/w-d-xo.html
@@PavSZ Thanks for the answer! Low light capability is more important for me though. I've never broken a lens yet ;-) Even lack of weather sealing doesn't bother me on a 50mm, I won't be using that in bad weather anyway. If I spend ~500, I think I'd get the Zeiss 55mm. its not much bigger and my bag already has to be big enough for the 20mm F1.8G. So I can't shrink that anyway, unless I want to use the 20mm APS-C pancake, which allows me to use a small vertical belt bag. Its not bad at 30mm! I can skip the Samyang 35mm :) I don't know the F2.5 first hand, but I'd be surprised if it outdid the Zeiss 55mm, because that one is unbelievable - quite like the 20mm - so sharp all across the frame!
Sigma 30mm f1.4 is for APS-C cropped sensor cameras. If that's what you have than Sigma might be a better than this .... but that also depends on how you intend to use it.
@@PavSZ yeah I’m using the a6000 I’m feeling very jaded… the extra low light capabilities seems ideal because I LOVE shooting video at night… but at the same time having a less weight lens that would work on more gimbals with the Sony lens would also be ideal.. I guess what I’m wondering is does 1.8 to 1.4 jump for night low light footwge make a huge difference?
you need to download the new firmware from Sony website, put it on your SD card and update it in the camera www.sony.co.uk/electronics/support/lenses-e-mount-lenses/sel50f18f/downloads
are you shooting video with the 50mm? If so, I am finding myself having to be far away from the subject if I want to show a waist up shot. Is that normal?
I agree with you totally and in a pinch I had used it in a pro capacity and was blown away by results so long as I wasn’t using it for focusing. And it has a secret use it in crop mode and your jaw will drop. But now I am a Sony 50mm f1.4 snob and no I won’t give it up to get the new one. Hey Pav that’s a good question I don’t think I need to update my Sony distagon for the new as I did my rii and mkii. Absolutely had to now with the mkiii and riii I do not feel need to upgrade to iv or a1 because of the large files.
Thanks for the honest review, I'm picking one up today (used) so not spending very much at all. Just got the a7iv, hope it works as well as it did for you!
Thanks for the updated review. I'm looking for a lightweight. compact carry-around-lens and these informations are very helpful. By the way, it's easy to get great portraits with such a beautiful model. She's your daughter, right?
It might not be as good with auto focus as on my a7III, I think a7RII uses contrast detection AF - it will work if you don't need to photograph anything fast moving
Checking this out during the Amazon Great Indian Festival to purchase this lens at a good price (INR 19,130, approx GBP 189). I think once they provide more firmware updates, maybe, it can fix the corrections in the photos taken by the lens
@@PavSZ Tried this lens out yesterday, under low light conditions inside a room; and the pictures were quite good. Thanks for your insights on the video, which helped me make a decision on the lens purchase
Hey! So I've just my sony camera and only have a kit lens. I don't have a lot of money to spend so would this be a good first lens to buy? Or is there a better cheaper full frame AF lens?
this is OK lens, not amazing. There are a lot of other budget friendly options available. Check out lenses from Viltrox or if you are OK with manual focusing 7Artisans too
I'm conflicted with the lens. I switched from Nikon with the Nikon 50mm f/1.8 to the Sony system (a7s II) and this SEL50f 1.8 and have to be honest, it's super disappointing to me. I feel like I got way way better shots with the Nikon 50mm than this Sony 50mm it just doesn't feel as sharp and clear. Most of my shots just feel mediocre and down right "blah". I don't know how to describe it but I just feel like I got a dud compared to everyone that praises it. It's running the latest firmware too.
I said this in my video - this lens performs better with the current Sony cameras, like a7III or newer. I have used it on Sony a7sII in the past (in fact my first review of this lens was shot mainly with a7sII - th-cam.com/video/WYKANdKy4PA/w-d-xo.html) and I could never complain about its quality, it will never be a premium lens but the quality and sharpness it delivers are very decent. Auto focus however is really bad on a7sII - ok for photography, unusable for video.
you need to download the new firmware from Sony website, put it on your SD card and update it in the camera www.sony.co.uk/electronics/support/lenses-e-mount-lenses/sel50f18f/downloads
Hi Pav, after watching this video I had a crazy moment and bought this lens used, but like new, for a good price. I also picked up the Sony 35 f1.8 at the same time. Probably not fair on the 50 as the 35 has knocked my socks off with its sharpness and versatility. I wish that I had bought it sooner! The 50 is 'old school' compared to the 55 although I think it is the "newer" lens. I haven't had a chance to test the 50 against the 55 but I know that the 55 will win easily in the handling, build quality, etc.( I own the 55.) Do you have any tips for camera settings ( A7iii /A7C) to bring out the best in the 50 for still photography? I really want to love this lens as a small, lightweight, don't worry about it," throw in your bag, just in case you need it" addition to my kit- or did I just waste money that should have gone to the 50 ( or 40) G lens instead? - the G would have been $600 more!
35mm is a good lens and so is 55mm! This 50mm is cheap and it does the job better than most people think it does. There is no right settings for it - the settings will hugely depend on the situation and what you are shooting. Just put it on and use it! For the price it's unbeatable
@@PavSZ Thanks Pav, that is just what I intend to do, ha,ha! I am experimenting with using it in b/w - that should eliminate the CA problem (?) and being not the sharpest, it might produce images a little bit like old film photos. more dreamy rather than pin sharp ( like that 35!). It is nice and light on the A7C, -about a 100 gr. lighter than the 55 and there is a freedom in not worrying about walking about with an expensive lens in an urban environment.
@@PavSZ Just came back from taking the 50f1.8 (mounted on the A7C) out on a dull, cloudy day. I am happy to report that as a walk around lens in daylight, the auto focus was just fine. Out of a 100 shots only one was out of focus . Not a bad lens, at all, and so light, it made carrying the camera a pleasure instead of a burden. It does tend to struggle indoors at night but I will have to try some night time street photography with it.
I bought Sony A7III yesterday, used by low shutter count and perfect condition for $950 and it came with this lens, I was thinking if I need to upgrade the lens for food photography
Just about every TH-cam review tells you that the 55mm suffers from longitudinal chromatic aberration which is almost impossible to remove in post; its a ghastly lens and I wouldnt touch it with a bargepole. I dont regret choosing the 50mm f1.8 instead. Even the Samyang 45mm f1.8 is better, which I suspect has some purple finging but I have only noticed it once so cant be sure. The only Zeiss lens I have found without aberrations is the wonderful 35mm f2.8 which is a Sony essential buy.
Would you recommend this lens for automotive photography? Switching from Canon to Sony and I’m really eager to know what is good for cars on Sony’s side
The thing I am the most disappointed with in this lens is the crop factor. Am I missing something? Because once I zoom in so there's no vignette, isn't it basically a 35mm lens???
I think you are talking about Sony E 50mm F/1.8 OSS lens which is for APS-C cameras. I am talking about 50mm f1.8 FE (full frame) in my video. Different lens.
It should! It's not a perfect lens and it's never going to match overall quality of more expensive lenses but it does work well on modern Sony cameras including a7sIII
@@PavSZ thank you for your thoughts my friend. appreciate. well the reality is, sometimes it is hard to notice anymore if what lens a certain shot was shot at unless you tell them. it’s a matter of work around.
I have a new earned respect for this lens.
Are you a fan of it? Don't be shy, let us know here!
Hi Pav, what ND filter do you use also please? I need one but don’t know where to start as there are so many. Cheap and expensive
Yes this is my favourite lens to use
pls tell me, what is ver firmware this lens? Thank a lot
Hi, thanks for your review. When has the last version been released? And what version is it?
@@memoriesmakeus985 I was as confused, but I would suggest checking out Titla Mirage matte box, the manual one at least. I have PolarPro Basecamp that I use all the time, but I think Tilta Mirage matte box is the better one despite not fitting my 200-600mm G lens and much cheaper.
I’ve recently bought a Sony A7iii after 15 years of Nikon, and this lens arrived today after watching your videos. I honestly can’t believe how sharp it is wide open - seriously impressed. This little lens is a bargain, so thanks Pav!
Great to hear! Thanks for watching!
Can I do toys reviews on this lense, inddoors and out door. Close up video
Me too, Have been using Nikon for 14 years but have to admit that right now sony dominates the market and is far ahead compared with nikon. Sold all nikon gears for sony a7iv and super excited with its result
im a 10 year nikon and 2 z6 owner. but the focus on video its not as good as sony. so i might at the a7c with a 50mm. was thinking this 1.8 or the 2.5G
@@kkoophotography I own both and the 50GM, the 2.5 is the far superior lens imo and absolutely perfect match to the A7C! but its also 3x the price
I had regretted my purchase until seeing this review. I'll be able to afford to eat while fuguring out what lens I want next.
It's not a bad lens for the money - totally usable
It is settled, I’m grabbing one today. Thanks for the excellent review!
Glad I could help! Thank you for watching!
I just grabbed one today and will check how it goes 😂😂
it's not the best lens in the world but it is OK for the price
Thanks for this video. I just gifted myself a Sony a7 IV. Daughter recommended I get a 50 mm lens (nifty fifty) as I am a beginner. Read the reviews and was very hesitant to get it. Now that I've watched your video I'm glad I did purchase it and didn't invest in the G Master lens (yet). I appreciate how you commented on the pros and cons. This review was very helpful.
Glad it was helpful!
Not the best lens on the market but it is very affordable.
You should check out the lenses from Viltrox next. Still very affordable but better quality.
After that Sigma and Tamron
Really helpful. But i have one question left. Does it have mount for any filter on the market? Or i have to buy a specific one?
standard screw on filter. Sorry but I don't remember the size
I LOVE this lens! Small, light and sharp. And cheap! AND native!! Thx for a Great review.
Totally agree! I now love it too.Thanks for watching!
I always laughed at the people ragging on it trying to sell you $1500 lenses that basically all do the same thing 🤣
@@PavSZ I’m using the A6000 and I’m looking at buying this lens but was put off by the reviews I have seen ! Do you think with the update it should be good on the A6000 body too. I didn’t want to buy the crop version in case I move to full frame at some point.
Thanks
Just buying it now. Thanks for the review! 😀
Hope you enjoy it!
This have been put aside, I was on the firmware 02, I had no idea about the 03. Now I’m up to date and will give it a new try. Thanks for the update!
Have fun!
How do you update lenses? Sorry
Have you tested that lens already? How is it doing after update?
@@Stasiek_Zabojca this is after update
Hey Robert, how was this lens after you updated? Worth the money now?
Did not work for eye-AF on my A7r5, I wonder if its anything in my settings?
it should work
And the the autofocus when u film is vers noisy!
it makes no difference when you don't record audio in the camera, I never do
Just bought it can't wait to try it
have fun with it
I have the ultra sharp Sigma 85mm f1.4 but still I think that the sharpness of the 50mm f1.8 is absolutely sufficient and I have to admit that sometimes for portraits it has its very own charme. Some people don't prefer the extreme sharpness of lenses like the Sigma for portraits at all, but prefer a slighly softer image instead, which I can absolutely understand. I absolutely love my 50mm f1.8 for travel photography. In my personal opinion wide angle lenses are absolutely overrated (at least for travel/ street photography). During my last Lissabon vacation I limited myself to only the 50mm f1.8 and I didn't miss anything.
I wouldn't compare it, quality wise, to Sigma 85mm but it is OK lens for most of situations
Best part of every review is your bloopers lol here we go 10k!!!!
you must be the only person who gets that far in my videos haha. Thanks man!
Cheers for the video. The lens is £139 on Amazon at the moment and they ship with the V3 firmware. I think as it’s an older lens, features like buttons and image stabilisation aren’t really a big deal. I just bought it today as a lightweight walk around nifty fifty for my A74. I think the body will compensate for some of the misgivings and I’ll have a light, compact walk around for when I just simply don’t want to carry anything else in my bag. Perfect for honing the craft and it’s for stills only. :)
It is a very good budget friendly option
@@PavSZ I 100% agree! I bought a fairly cheap filter kit just to experiment with those with this lens. I gave up photography about 15 years ago and have just got back into it a couple of years ago! Will be interesting to compare it to lenses like my Sigma f1.4 85mm for example. How far apart is the end result etc
@@thesampleist oh the results between this and any Sigma will be very far apart
What about using this lens on Nikon 6II?
You'd have to use an adapter which could cost more than the lens itself.
I don't think it would be worth adapting it.
Check out budget friendly 50mm Z mount from Viltrox instead: th-cam.com/video/-ty8zrkFZMQ/w-d-xo.html
I’m a new beginner with a Sony NEX 7 that came with a 18-55mm kit lens & I wanted to know how much better would be the video quality be compared to my Kit lens? & what’s the difference between the OSS version of the Sony FE 50mm F1.8 Standard Lens?
the quality would not be better. It would give you a different look
OSS version is for APS-C size sensor cameras and it is stabilized.
You are right, however above f8 the AF gets more jumpy, even on V.03. Don't know why.
I value this lens for days where there is no light at all and my f/2.8 Tamrons (28-75 G2, 35mm prime) are not fast enough. I do manual focus regularly, so the AF is not a big deal breaker for me.
Edit: Tamron 35/2.8 is sometimes even cheaper. AF is equally old, but IQ is a lot better. =)
it's because it is a cheap and an inferior lens.
Are you in Leeds? All canals look similar but I cycle them a lot and it looked like near me.
Is this lens now a real option for video do you think? I fancy the small G 50mm which is undoubtedly better but that has a smaller aperture and costs 4x. Will this do the job good enough for video?
This was shot near Chorley in Lancashire.
This lens is ok, just ok. You get what you pay for. It works better with a7IV or a7sIII than any older Sonys
Just imagine: sony 50mm f1.8 G - small, lightweight, weathersealed...650-800€ why cant we have nice things?
it is strange that there isn't one. There is Zeiss 55mm to fill that gap on the market
nice explain bro
Thanks
Thanks for the vid! Which lens are you shooting your talking head/studio setup with? Looks really neat.
Thanks! It's all filmed with Sigma 50mm f1.4 Art DG HSM on Nikon Z6 in 10bit N-Log to Atomos Ninja V
Which ND Filter did you use for this lens?
I used the cheapest K&F I could buy
How to update the len?
Find the firmware via google on Sony website. There are step by step instructions
Awesome video! Would this pair ok with my Sony a5000? Would it be a good option? Thanks
maybe. As i said in my video, this lens works very well with the latest Sony cameras like a6400, a6500 etc. a7III or a7IV. It will be fine on your a5000, quality wise, but it might not auto focus the same as on my tests in my video
Autofocus in LOW LIGHT is pretty bad and makes a really funky noise, so be careful if capturing sound is important to you (if you have a shotgun mic rigged onto the camera, or using the sound directly from the camera).
I did say that in my video. It is however a very, very cheap lens
What do you mean by downloading .03 installed ? I didn’t understand.
Thank you for your response
with lens attached to the camera, go to your camera firmware menu and see what firmware your lens has got. Check what is the current lens firmware on the sony website and if yours is older than that, download the latest one and follow the instruction to update.
www.sony.com/electronics/support/lenses-e-mount-lenses/sel50f18f/downloads
dang was about to grab one of this after this review till he mentioned i need a7iii or newer and im here stuck with my a7ii HAHAHAHHAHA
Anyone pls guide me..I have Sony zv e10, can i buy this lense to get good blurry photography
it will work on zv e10 and the answer to your question is in my video. Check out the samples shot with it (on a7III)
Thank you for a great updated review. I have but not used this lens and when I learn how to update will put back on my bag
you update it via the camera - very simple process
Go to Sony Support to find the Firmware Update.
Hi I’m new to videography
I have a Sony a7ii with this lens and for some reason my videos don’t come out as good as yours. I have my AF set to AF-C and it just seems like it has a hard time focusing on my moving person. Any tips to fix that? Would greatly appreciate it!!
a7II uses contrast detect AF - different than a7III i have filmed this video with and newer a7IV.
It will work with this lens but not brilliantly
Happy New Year! Really appreciate your reviews. Btw. Your review of the 7Artisans 50mm f1.05 made me get it. And it’s such a good lens!
Happy new year! Thank you so much!
Good choice - I love that lens!
Sorry still not convinced. Maybe it was my (bad?) unit, but from my experience... worst lens I ever had (had..yes sold it). It was OK for pictures, especially for money. But video even after soft update, nightmare. Constantly hunting. Loud as hell. Cheap made, as you said. And overall USELESS in darker condition. Not recommending even for $200-250.
it's got issues but I have proven that it actually works. Yes, it's loud, yes, it's all cheap plastic but you won't get anything auto focusing for that price anywhere.
For a lot of people this is all that they can afford. My point is that if that's all you have, you can make it work
Do you think this lens mounted on a Sony alpha 6000 would be okay?
yeah but you can't expect the same auto focus performance as on a7III
I love this lens I own many G master Lenes and many times when I shoot with this lens it beats them. Even my G master 24mm 1.4 Sad when you pay so much for a lens. Thank for telling the truth many you tubers like bragging about the G masters and have no idea what they are talking about. If I put a photo side by side they probably would pick the 50mm 1.8
Thank you for watching!
Awesome video
I have the A7R ii, would the firmware update to this lens improve the autofocus when pairing with my camera?
probably it would but it's not a perfect lens for and R series of cameras - you get what you pay for, decent, cheap, prime
Maybe little bit too late answer for you - short answer is no. Long answer is maybe. I’ve had this lens since its debut and it has been my lens cap for a7rII. You can getaway with af issue by changing ‘Live view display setting effect’ off and have this option programmed into custom button - mine is set on c3. This allows the lens wide open until the moment you take picture hence more light into the sensor and slightly better af. But in a low light situation it struggles even more than the 3rd gen a7 (eg a7III onwards) cameras and you’ll need to use the af assistance light on. Because you have no setting effect on live view, you have to trust your skills and experience to make it perfect shoot - which I don’t have issues as I’ve been taking film photos in various format for 20+ years - hence it’s getting harder for most of newer gen photographers. However, if you have skills and purely using it as still photos it is very compact and capable lens.
I have this lens and im sorry but it's just not good for video. The autofocus is so noisy i thought it was broken. It is priced appropriately for what it is i suppose but i wouldnt recommended it for Video.
that's only a problem if you are recording audio on board. I have proven in my video that it focuses well in video. It is very affordable and if that's all you can afford, it will do the job
is that good for food photography too?
I can't see why it would not be
Hi Pav, thank you for great vodeo. In your openion what is best deal for Macro is: Sony FE 50mm f/2.8 Macro @ $600 or Sony FE 50mm f/1.8 Macro @ $400 or Sony FE SEL90M28G 90mm f/2.8 Macro Lens @ $1100
Sony FE 50mm f1.8 is not a macro lens
90mm is the best dedicated lens out there
Thank you
how do u like this one compare to the 50mm 2.5G. its almost 3x the price.
different lenses in totally different leagues
Just updated to Version 3 from 2? Even better and faster.
it is
Show us how to update firmware!!!!???🙌🏾
here is the info: www.sony.co.uk/electronics/support/lenses-e-mount-lenses/sel50f18f/downloads/00014689#preparation
It will work with a zv-e10? Thanks!
yes, it will but it will be more like 85mm on APS-C sensor camera like zv-e10
I have this lens but I'm not sure what adapter I need to be able to use it on my new camera, Canon 850D
I don't think you can use it on a Canon camera
I just bought this lens for my a7iii. How do i check which firmware is installed? And how do I update if needed?
you check it from Setup 7/7 menu screen. Go to Version while the lens is on the camera.
Download the latest firmware from Sony website and put it on SD card. Go back to the same menu and there will be option to update it now
@@PavSZ thank you very much, most helpful!
Very good material👏 What exactly is this ND filter? Looks fantastic😍
ND filter darkens the picture so you can shoot at the lower shutter speeds.
For example when shooting video at 60 frames per seconds at f1.8 aperture, you'd need a shutter speed of 1/120 ... this would be waaaay to bright in the daylight. This is when ND filter comes in, to darken the picture so it looks right.
ND Variable filters turn giving you different level of darkening, depending on the situaton.
@@PavSZ I think they were asking what ND filter are you using? I would like to know as well!
Which lens are you using on your video?
I think this was filmed with Nikon Z6 and Sigma 50mm f1.4 Art
Sony is just untouchable when it comes to AF...canon comes couple miles behind...
maybe, I never used Canon before so I can't comment .... not yet
No, you are not up to date. The newer R5 and R6 have state of the art autofocus. And that's from a Sony user.
Which one should i choose? Sony SEL 50mm-1.8 or Sony FE 50mm - 1.8
for what? for what camera?
Only you can answer those questions. Also one is for APS-C sensor cameras and the other one is for full frame cameras
@@PavSZ For APS-C camera
I have Sony a6300 .. Which is the best lens for it?.. please reply
there is no right answer to your question but I'd go for any of the black ones 😉
I didn't understand why SONY made that 50mm F2.5, with the F1.8 covering all the bases...
Just to make it a little bit shorter? I can't find any comparison between the two on TH-cam either...
50mm f2.5 G is much better optically and build quality lens than the f1.8 FE.
It is only f2.5 to keep the size down. Here is my review of it: th-cam.com/video/2oLbLuVGHds/w-d-xo.html
@@PavSZ Thanks for the answer!
Low light capability is more important for me though. I've never broken a lens yet ;-) Even lack of weather sealing doesn't bother me on a 50mm, I won't be using that in bad weather anyway.
If I spend ~500, I think I'd get the Zeiss 55mm. its not much bigger and my bag already has to be big enough for the 20mm F1.8G. So I can't shrink that anyway, unless I want to use the 20mm APS-C pancake, which allows me to use a small vertical belt bag. Its not bad at 30mm! I can skip the Samyang 35mm :)
I don't know the F2.5 first hand, but I'd be surprised if it outdid the Zeiss 55mm, because that one is unbelievable - quite like the 20mm - so sharp all across the frame!
Will it work on the sony a7ii for b roll and video? If not any lens you would recommend for the a7ii for b roll and video?
it will work but AF won't be amazing on a7II. Zeiss 55mm would be much better option for you in this focal range
what do you think is a better lens to use for filming video.. sigma 30mm 1.4 or this sony lens
Sigma 30mm f1.4 is for APS-C cropped sensor cameras. If that's what you have than Sigma might be a better than this .... but that also depends on how you intend to use it.
@@PavSZ yeah I’m using the a6000 I’m feeling very jaded… the extra low light capabilities seems ideal because I LOVE shooting video at night… but at the same time having a less weight lens that would work on more gimbals with the Sony lens would also be ideal.. I guess what I’m wondering is does 1.8 to 1.4 jump for night low light footwge make a huge difference?
How to update my 50mm1.8 sir
you need to download the new firmware from Sony website, put it on your SD card and update it in the camera
www.sony.co.uk/electronics/support/lenses-e-mount-lenses/sel50f18f/downloads
Can I use this lens in the Sony ZV E10?
Yes
Done everything subscribed liked
Thank you so much!
Thanks for your valuable info.
I just got mine yesterday.
Glad I could help
Hello, which is the latest update if u don't mind? All i can find is the v3 from 2017 thank you.
that's the one
@@PavSZ umm aiight. seems kinda an old update how can that make the lens better. thank you for the reply :)
Which canal is that ?
Seems familiar
oh gosh, that was somewhere near Chorley in Lancashire
@@PavSZ thought it was - You must live in Lancashire
@@mok8591 i do
mind sharing what camera you used to shoot with???
Sony a7III
I love that black & white shot of the women sitting down nice : )
thanks
are you shooting video with the 50mm? If so, I am finding myself having to be far away from the subject if I want to show a waist up shot. Is that normal?
I do - it's not that bad on a full frame camera.
@@PavSZ I'm going to change the frame and you're right that will probably help
THanks Pav this review boosted my confident to buy this lens.
Great to hear! Thanks for watching!
I agree with you totally and in a pinch I had used it in a pro capacity and was blown away by results so long as I wasn’t using it for focusing. And it has a secret use it in crop mode and your jaw will drop. But now I am a Sony 50mm f1.4 snob and no I won’t give it up to get the new one. Hey Pav that’s a good question I don’t think I need to update my Sony distagon for the new as I did my rii and mkii. Absolutely had to now with the mkiii and riii I do not feel need to upgrade to iv or a1 because of the large files.
thanks for watching and very informative comment
what’s crop mode?
Would you recommend for a5100!?
for the price it is OK but you won't get the same auto focusing results as I got in my video (I was shooting with a7III)
I am making a purchase, but how one updates firmware of lens ?
via the camera. You download the firmware file, put it on SD card and update the lens via the camera
Thanks for the honest review, I'm picking one up today (used) so not spending very much at all. Just got the a7iv, hope it works as well as it did for you!
don't expect miracles and it will work very well for you on a7IV
$250.00 at Best Buy and Amazon.
Yes!
Awesome video, great channel!
thanks!
Thanks for the updated review. I'm looking for a lightweight. compact carry-around-lens and these informations are very helpful.
By the way, it's easy to get great
portraits with such a beautiful model. She's your daughter, right?
Glad you liked it! Thank you for watching!
No, Joanne is my friend
Surely if you shut down one or two stops, it will be as sharp as very expensive lenses are at full aperture?
possibly
good for video comparison
Thanks! 👍
Will this lens be good on my new A7R2? Would be using it for photos ...
It might not be as good with auto focus as on my a7III, I think a7RII uses contrast detection AF - it will work if you don't need to photograph anything fast moving
how can i update the firmaware for this lens to version 3 ?
via your camera - search for Sony 50mm f1.8 Firmware
Checking this out during the Amazon Great Indian Festival to purchase this lens at a good price (INR 19,130, approx GBP 189). I think once they provide more firmware updates, maybe, it can fix the corrections in the photos taken by the lens
it's a great lens for the price. There might not be anymore firmware updates for it
@@PavSZ Tried this lens out yesterday, under low light conditions inside a room; and the pictures were quite good. Thanks for your insights on the video, which helped me make a decision on the lens purchase
What camera suit for?
Every Sony but it will work better with cameras released in the last 3-4 years
Hey! So I've just my sony camera and only have a kit lens. I don't have a lot of money to spend so would this be a good first lens to buy? Or is there a better cheaper full frame AF lens?
this is OK lens, not amazing. There are a lot of other budget friendly options available. Check out lenses from Viltrox or if you are OK with manual focusing 7Artisans too
I'm conflicted with the lens. I switched from Nikon with the Nikon 50mm f/1.8 to the Sony system (a7s II) and this SEL50f 1.8 and have to be honest, it's super disappointing to me. I feel like I got way way better shots with the Nikon 50mm than this Sony 50mm it just doesn't feel as sharp and clear. Most of my shots just feel mediocre and down right "blah". I don't know how to describe it but I just feel like I got a dud compared to everyone that praises it. It's running the latest firmware too.
I said this in my video - this lens performs better with the current Sony cameras, like a7III or newer.
I have used it on Sony a7sII in the past (in fact my first review of this lens was shot mainly with a7sII - th-cam.com/video/WYKANdKy4PA/w-d-xo.html) and I could never complain about its quality, it will never be a premium lens but the quality and sharpness it delivers are very decent. Auto focus however is really bad on a7sII - ok for photography, unusable for video.
I have v2 how can I update
you need to download the new firmware from Sony website, put it on your SD card and update it in the camera
www.sony.co.uk/electronics/support/lenses-e-mount-lenses/sel50f18f/downloads
Hi Pav, after watching this video I had a crazy moment and bought this lens used, but like new, for a good price. I also picked up the Sony 35 f1.8 at the same time. Probably not fair on the 50 as the 35 has knocked my socks off with its sharpness and versatility. I wish that I had bought it sooner! The 50 is 'old school' compared to the 55 although I think it is the "newer" lens. I haven't had a chance to test the 50 against the 55 but I know that the 55 will win easily in the handling, build quality, etc.( I own the 55.) Do you have any tips for camera settings ( A7iii /A7C) to bring out the best in the 50 for still photography? I really want to love this lens as a small, lightweight, don't worry about it," throw in your bag, just in case you need it" addition to my kit- or did I just waste money that should have gone to the 50 ( or 40) G lens instead? - the G would have been $600 more!
35mm is a good lens and so is 55mm!
This 50mm is cheap and it does the job better than most people think it does.
There is no right settings for it - the settings will hugely depend on the situation and what you are shooting.
Just put it on and use it! For the price it's unbeatable
@@PavSZ Thanks Pav, that is just what I intend to do, ha,ha! I am experimenting with using it in b/w - that should eliminate the CA problem (?) and being not the sharpest, it might produce images a little bit like old film photos. more dreamy rather than pin sharp ( like that 35!). It is nice and light on the A7C, -about a 100 gr. lighter than the 55 and there is a freedom in not worrying about walking about with an expensive lens in an urban environment.
@@PavSZ Just came back from taking the 50f1.8 (mounted on the A7C) out on a dull, cloudy day. I am happy to report that as a walk around lens in daylight, the auto focus was just fine. Out of a 100 shots only one was out of focus . Not a bad lens, at all, and so light, it made carrying the camera a pleasure instead of a burden. It does tend to struggle indoors at night but I will have to try some night time street photography with it.
Would you still recommend this lens to someone looking to get an A7II?
It's the cheapest Sony lens that money can buy. It does deliver great results but AF won't be that brilliant on a7II - it's an old camera now
@@PavSZ alright so A7III then
I bought Sony A7III yesterday, used by low shutter count and perfect condition for $950 and it came with this lens, I was thinking if I need to upgrade the lens for food photography
only you can answer that question
$950 for a used but perfect condition A7III and 50mm lens? That’s a HUGE steal. I’m struggling to find both below $2000
Got mine for $850 with a 35mm lens :O I thought it was highway robbery lol! Its a great camera!
Great video but please tell me which camera body you used for these photos and videos samples?
I did say it in my video - it was a7III
What song is that in the video?
Good question!
app.soundstripe.com/songs/12839
Thanks PAV, maybe I need one.
it's cheap enough to risk it 😉
thanks pav, I'll buy this lens instead of 55 1.8 for my a7c
Please don't get me wrong, 55mm is a better lens but this will do the job if you can't stretch your budget
Just about every TH-cam review tells you that the 55mm suffers from longitudinal chromatic aberration which is almost impossible to remove in post; its a ghastly lens and I wouldnt touch it with a bargepole. I dont regret choosing the 50mm f1.8 instead. Even the Samyang 45mm f1.8 is better, which I suspect has some purple finging but I have only noticed it once so cant be sure. The only Zeiss lens I have found without aberrations is the wonderful 35mm f2.8 which is a Sony essential buy.
Hi great video thank you. Would you recommend this lens for Sony A7R4?
it is OK but it will not be the optimal combo for R4
Thanks PAV, highly appreciated.. .as always, it helps me decide and get other lens for much more better quality...
you're welcome
Is this the latest version of the budget sony 50mm?
this is the same old version with 2017 firmware update (v .03)
@@PavSZ thank you :)
❤️️
😍
Would you recommend this lens for automotive photography? Switching from Canon to Sony and I’m really eager to know what is good for cars on Sony’s side
A 24-70mm or a 28-75mm lens is the most versatile for automotive photography
que tal?, con que lente estas grabando este video?
sorry, I don't speak Spanish
No 50 mm has oss…
true
You take some great stills and very nice video work. Thank you for posting. Which model camera were you using?
Thank you.
I did answer your question in my video. I have used a7III
Why the fuck is the price over 300 after years..
300 of what? £143 here
@@PavSZ euros.. :(
@@FoxMan72 still the cheapest AF Sony lens
Is this lense telephoto?
no, it's a 50mm prime
The thing I am the most disappointed with in this lens is the crop factor. Am I missing something? Because once I zoom in so there's no vignette, isn't it basically a 35mm lens???
sorry 75mm!
I think you are talking about Sony E 50mm F/1.8 OSS lens which is for APS-C cameras.
I am talking about 50mm f1.8 FE (full frame) in my video. Different lens.
@@PavSZ yes, you are right! Do you think the 50 oss is a decent lens? I just updated the firmware last night lol
I watch your video about sigma 24-70mm and I bought I'm very happy with that. After see this video I go to buy this lens too.
Big difference between Sigma and this.
I know. I mean, I believe you are good and trust youtuber
I am wondering if it will work well with my a7s3. 🧐
It should! It's not a perfect lens and it's never going to match overall quality of more expensive lenses but it does work well on modern Sony cameras including a7sIII
@@PavSZ thank you for your thoughts my friend. appreciate.
well the reality is, sometimes it is hard to notice anymore if what lens a certain shot was shot at unless you tell them. it’s a matter of work around.