Lots of Sony 50mm for NEX reviews!
I particularly like cheap and good quality lenses. And the Sony 50mm f/1.8 for NEX is certainly one of them. Too bad it’s not available in black as the silver color really doesn’t look nice on my Sony NEX-7. Anyway, here are a couple of test you have to read if you are currently considering to buy the lens:
Joseph Eckert (Click here) posted a new 5mm for NEX lens test: “The price is pretty good for a lens with this large an aperture, and combined with decent sharpness this can make a good portrait lens. But make sure you know exactly why you are buying this, otherwise it might end up sitting around in your bag.”
Also 3D-Kraft (Click here) is busy testing the lens. And actually he compared the lens with the 10 times more expensive Leica Summilux: “you still see an advantage for the (10 times more expensive) Summilux, which has about half a stop wider aperture and is able to render a perfectly creamy bokeh. But the E 1.8/50 OSS can make some points with autofocus and optical stabilization which helps a lot in more agile situations.”
And the Flemish website Nexblog (Click here to read the google translation) compared the 50mm F/1.8 E-mount vs. Minolta 50mm F/1.4 RS (Click here to see the Minolta lens on eBay).
One more thing: Readers from USA, Canada and Germany sent me emails to say that the lens is currently shipping in their countries. Here is the list of shops (click on names) I usually check to see when it’s in Stock. Good Luck!
Australia: Sony.au, Digitalrev, Amazon, Adorama, B&H, eBay.au
Austria: Amazon.at, Sony.at, Pixmania.at, eBay.at
Belgium: Sony.be, Pixmania.be, eBay.be
Canada: Sony.ca, B&H, Pixmania Canada, Adorama, eBay.ca
China: Amazon.cn, Digitalrev, eBay
Denmark: Sony.dk, eBay, Pixmania.dk
Finland: Sony.fi, Pixmania.fi, eBay
France: Sony.fr, Amazon.fr, Pixmania.fr, eBay.fr
Germany: Amazon.de, Sony.de, Pixmania.de, eBay.de
Hong Kong: Digitalrev, Adorama, B&H, Amazon, eBay
Ireland: Sony.ie, Amazon.uk, eBay.ie
Italy: Sony.it, Amazon.it, Pixmania.it, eBay.it
Japan: Amazon.jp, Rakuten, eBay
Netherlands: Sony.nl, Pixmania.nl, eBay.nl
Norway: Sony.no, Pixmania.no, eBay
Poland: Sony.pl, Pixmania.pl, Redcoon.pl, eBay
Singapore: Digitalrev, B&H, eBay
Spain: Sony.es, Amazon.es, Pixmania.es, Redcoon.es, eBay
Sweden: Sony.se, Pixmania.se, eBay
Switzerland: Sony.ch, Amazon.de, Pixmania.ch, eBay.ch
United Kingdom: Jessops, Amazon.co.uk, Pixmania.uk, Warehouseexpress, eBay UK
USA: Amazon, Adorama, B&H, J&R, eBay

dyna
3 months ago |What the hell is an agile situation? Is it flexible? Moves like a ninja? Has a bit of gymnastics training?
Been looking for one of those my whole life.
Always knew the 50mm E was good, though.
Helge Hackbarth
3 months ago |Hi dyna,
as you qouted this from my review and as I am not a native English speaker, you perhaps can suggest me a better wording?
Yesterday I used that lens to record sequences for a dance video and I was very glad to have AF. My Summilux 50/1.4 ASPH is ahead in terms of image quality and bokeh but recording videos with quick moving objects is nearly impossible with such a manual lens.
Harvey
3 months ago |It was totally clear to me, Helge, and in a lot of languages ‘agile’ is correct. Perhaps ‘dynamic’ is the word dyna wanted to read
D.Ortego
3 months ago |Yes, the Summilux 50/1.4 is very hard to beat but my balance control isn’t what it used to be. I had to retire my Leica gear for that reason so now its auto-focus all the way.
bas076
3 months ago |I am realy want it but untill the lens will not be available on eBay for ~300$ I will not buy it. There is no chance I’ll going to pay almost 500$ for it.
Hello World
3 months ago |It’s for $299 right now!!
bas076
3 months ago |On eBay? Where?
Adam Maas
3 months ago |Retail at B&H. Why buy off eBay without a warranty if the retail price is the price you want.
bas076
3 months ago |Shippment from B&H and taxes(because B&H will declare full price + the price of shippment) will cost me half of this lens.
Hello World
3 months ago |I am in Canada and B&H should ship mine today.
bas076
3 months ago |Not everybody is Canadian, not for everybody shippment B&H cheap, and taxes low(this is about that B&H will declare full price of package and shippment).
Adam Maas
3 months ago |You do realize that B&H is a US retailer. We Canadians pay a premium to get stuff from B&H.
bas076
3 months ago |I prefer to get the stuff without or almost without paying premiums and close as possible to recomanded price. Untill now successfully. If I was payed premiums for every good Sony or Minolta lenses that touched my hands, I already was without pants long time ago.
Fants
3 months ago |What I don’t get is how anyone can call this “cheap.” The only thing that separates this lens from a typical $100 nifty fifty (and from samples I’ve seen it’s not even as good optically as many of them) is the OSS. Is that really worth an extra $200?
I have nothing against this lens, as it fills a hole in the lineup, but please let’s not let Sony get away with making us think it’s “cheap!”
Hello World
3 months ago |+1.
I agree
bas076
3 months ago |-1
Disagree. This is not cheap lens for its category, but yes OSS and built quality worth 200$. May be it is a little bit more then must be, but much less the situation when Canon will take 800$ for the 28/2.8 with IS. And who is the competitor? Who else have AF croped 50mm portret lens, not every lens 50mm, AF croped portret lens?
Vlad
3 months ago |Well, what are you comparing it to? The Nikon and Canon plastic ones? Between OSS, the metal body and the more elements it has, a price of 300US sounds rather reasonable.
Brandon
3 months ago |If you’re talking about legacy glass, it’s apples to oranges. Comparing like with like…of course it’s cheap. Where is this quality $100 current release fast glass you speak of? Thought so.
Adam Maas
3 months ago |The OSS, the build quality (it’s not plastic unlike the $100 Nifty Fifty’s), the AF with DMF (also not available on the $100 Nifty Fiftys). You’re getting your money’s worth even if the optics are comparable with a good $100 prime because its not a cheap plastic job. Compare the DT 50/1.8 SAM to the E 50/1.8 OSS and you’ll easily see where the money went.
hoho
3 months ago |The Eckert review didn’t impress me. He complains about the focal length because he feels it’s awkward (um… really? Step back or forward buddy). He likes real 50mm focal lengths and 85 mm focal lengths, but 75 he just can’t get used to… whatever… He says this lens is `Huge`. Apparently the only lens he likes on the 5n is the 16mm since it’s so small (and not very good optically). The whole review seemed like he focused on the wrong aspects of the lens and he didn’t even put up a sample 1.8 shot.
ronnbot
3 months ago |Actually, I agree w/ Eckert for the most part. I mean, I’ve had the cheap 50/1.8 lenses on my APS-C DSLR, not because I particularly like the 75mm FoV (80mm on Canon), but mostly they’re cheap. It isn’t wide enough like a normal/standard lens or long enough for portraits (to get good compression). Also, going closer/farther isn’t always practical/doable.
This lens is new and it isn’t for FF, so why stick to 50mm instead of choosing a FL with a more classical FoV? A 35mm or 60mm would’ve been better.
I haven’t seen one, but its measurements does indicate that it’s heavier and longer than most 50/1.8, somewhat defeating the main point of mirrorless – compact and light.
That said, the lens does seem sharp. Also, it is the only affordable, bright (f/2 or better) native lens so far.
Helge
3 months ago |If you compare sizes, you should take into account the size from camera back to front of lens. Due to the small flange back distance, it’s still competitive to other APS-C mirrorless systems.
Z-man
3 months ago |I sooooo wish it was a 30mm, at least it would give me a choice over the Sigma 30mm 2.8
J.P.
3 months ago |I just got this lens, and I’ve got to say, it’s really nice! I’m invested in canon (60D, 5D Mark II), and have many primes, but this one is easily the best hand-holdable one due to the oss (I’m shooting at 1/15 of a second, and still sharp at f1.8).
Atlasman
3 months ago |I’ll have an order in for this lens next week.
I wish Sony would have released their 35mm in a f1.8—that’s the one I would really want.
JonasM
3 months ago |Isn’t the 24mm f1.8 a 35mm equiv?
Adam Maas
3 months ago |The 35/1.8 is a DT lens and therefore a 50mm equivalent as the 24 is a 35mm equivalent.
I’d also like to see an E mount version of the DT 35/1.8 SAM, it’s a gem of a lens and a great normal for digital.
Clyde
3 months ago |a900 with Maxxum 100mm f2 vs NEX-7 with PEN FT Zuiko 60mm f1.5 comparison here:
http://www.dyxum.com/dforum/a900-vs-nex7-max-vs-zuiko_topic85112.html
Edgars
3 months ago |Joseph Eckert did a 5mm lens test
Bill Burton
3 months ago |I have stayed out of this until now but…
IT PISSES ME OFF Sony raising prices on lenses exploits the customers that are “locked in” to replace revenue lost to “Acts of God”. The prices of cameras aren’t going up in lockstep as those are the transactions the customer can most easily take their business elsewhere. I have not read of other electronic or camera manufacturers raising prices at this time.
Without further information this is someone mugging me because they lost their wallet and I don’t let people rob me without a fight.
This lost revenue may have even been paid for buy insurance BUT IS A PRICE OF BUSINESS and is calculated by every large firm in their many “Disaster Recovery” plans.
Sony Camera group didn’t have a good DR plan for the flood, or they decided to save the money. When it came time to pay the piper (get short term revenue for shareholders) they pass the cost on to ME, “All hail Sony’s mighty Quarterly report!”
I AM DAMN CLOSE TO CANCELING MY NEX7 AND TWO LENS ORDERS AND SELLING THE NEX5N AND THREE LENSES I ALREADY HAVE.
I may just see what fun I can have with my iPhone and wait for IQ reports for Fuji, Oly and eventually others that finally make a solid move into Compact System Cameras.
Mild Bill
doug
3 months ago |It’s worth noting that Sony is not raising the price of the 50mm f/1.8 E-mount.
Of course, that might have something to do with the fact that it hasn’t been released yet.
Poke
3 months ago |Just got mine on Wed. Great lens and a must have if you have a nex camera for $300.
C
3 months ago |Join m4/3, buy the two amazing Voigtländer lenses and be set for life.
Clyde
3 months ago |Life in the PAST lane.
IHUR
3 months ago |Does m4/3 have better IQ than nex?
Vlad
3 months ago |Does NEX has better lenses than m43?
GH
3 months ago |It does if you use M lenses, like many of us do on Nex.
Vlad
3 months ago |@GH That wasn’t my point. His question about IQ doesn’t make any sense in the current discussion. So I replied in the same vein.
But just out of curiosity, “many” of whom? Lol.
IHUR
3 months ago |@ Vlad
I use Voigtlander Nokton 40/1.4, Summicron 75/2.0 and zeiss 24/1.8 and I’m pretty much set for life.
Should had I taken those of beautiful images that I took from these lenses and my nex with m4/3 camera system, would have they been better? That was my previous reply to the other comment.
If you still think it doesn’t make sense, perhaps you need to go back to the other micro sensor fanboys forum where you belong.
Vlad
3 months ago |Interesting, veiled insult? You seem to denigrate m43 users for some reason.
Actually, it’s quite simpler than that. The OP shared his dissatisfaction with Sony and that he’ll look into other brands, such as Olympus. To that, the person you replied to, answered that the OP can get some m43 gear and be set for life. At that point I don’t see what your question about IQ has to see with anything. So, yes, it doesn’t make sense to me and I certainly don’t see why you are so offended.
To your last question, if you had used m43 instead of NEX, your pictures would have been pretty much the same. Maybe, technically speaking, slightly less clean and with less DR, but you would have carried less
andy
3 months ago |having a G3,GH2 and Nex 5n…with the same adapted Leica M & Canon FD lenses. I can say without a doubt that the IQ from the 5n is vastly better. Sharpness,colour,DR,noise.Everything.
Its also so much more enjoyable to use. I see what my exposure settings/preview is clearer on 5n lcd/evf than m43rd counterparts ( gh2 has continuous preview and is still inaccurate) and when I take a picture no lag.
M43rds manufacturers need to sort the shutter lag issue out.
Fast AF is one thing but when you press that shutter you want to capture the image and some things move in that timeframe and thus go out of focus.
I look at it this way now
M43rds great lenses weak bodies
Nex great bodies weak lenses
Want AF modern lenses go for m43rds.
Using adapted lenses? Go for Nex.
I cant use legacy glass on m43rds ever since using the 5n. The lack of peaking,decent preview and low resolution evf/lcd and decent output with less crop makes m43rds way behind.
Sony knew they had few e mount lenses but was also aware that most were using adapted glass and gave us features to enhance that experience.
Vlad
3 months ago |@andy I agree with that:
“M43rds great lenses weak bodies
Nex great bodies weak lenses
Want AF modern lenses go for m43rds.
Using adapted lenses? Go for Nex.”
Tried the 5n, it was way better than expected, but I still can’t get over the lack of dials. Thankfully, there is the NEX-7.
As for the m43, I think it is great system and the new OM-D will hopefully put it back on track. I haven’t seen a huge difference in image quality, unless I shoot in low light or I need to pull up shadows, and I certainly haven’t seen any difference in terms of sharpness. But, in the end, yes, the Sony sensor is indeed special.
Clyde
3 months ago |I have a very hard time accepting the test results from NexBlog pitting the E-50 against Max 50RS. I’ve been through a few Max 50′s and the off center performance is much better than described. I would have seen this test as a miss-focus, or questionable sample variation. Not saying the E-50 is bad… it seems quite excellent. But the Max 50RS is better than what’s displayed here IMHO.
Portmixus
3 months ago |They used the nex on MF and 14x magnification…If you see this: http://www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/widget/Fullscreen.ashx?reviews=37,39&fullscreen=true&av=1,1&fl=50,50&vis=VisualiserSharpnessMTF,VisualiserSharpnessMTF&stack=horizontal&&config=LensReviewConfiguration.xml%3F2
It’s not hard to believe, remember, these are extreme corners on fine detail…
kevin
3 months ago |hmmmm i’m just curious when the full frame nex will come out. if they didn’t have FF on their road map, i would guess that their priority would be to make a 35mm e mount (50mm equiv) and not a 50!
but sony pushed out a 50mm e mount first… soooo…. FF nex by the end of 2012?
skeptical
3 months ago |this is not a full frame lens.
RHarrisPhoto
3 months ago |Easiest lens to make? They would have to do something pretty awful to mess this one up. You can’t really applaud them for this one, it’s lazy at best.
Vivek
3 months ago |Permanent markers work and can be used to change the color of the plastic body to black.
Excellent lens for the NEX-7.
I hope there will be a 30/1.4 or f/1.2 Sony E-Sonnar soon. The Sigma 30/2.8 is too slow for the NEX-7 and won’t cut it.
JonasM
3 months ago |Lol at permanent markers
REVENGE
3 months ago |Hey, it’s every bit as classy as the NEX7.
Arnold
3 months ago |The correct link is:
http://www.3d-kraft.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=114:e-18-50-oss-is-hot&catid=40:camerasandlenses&Itemid=2
Sahaja
3 months ago |Wish this were 60mm or even 70mm ~ that would be better for a portrait lens on APS-C than 50mm.
Helge Hackbarth
3 months ago |On the NEX-7 you have enough potential for cropping to the view of a 60mm still leaving you more pixel than with most other cams. So you are a bit more flexible with 50mm when distance to subject can not be enlarged.
kk
3 months ago |@Sahaja
In Joe Eckert’s review, he states that the 50mm is equivalent to 75mm on the Nex. Maybe, it is what you need. ??
Sonyfan
3 months ago |I hope the lens will come in black…
saiman
3 months ago |E mount badly needs ultra wide and tele zoom lenses of relatively compact sizes, e.g.
# 11-18mm lens of any aperture (e.g. 2.8 or 3.5-4.5)
# 200-400mm lens of some-what wide aperture (e.g. <6.3)
I think these are very important focal lengths to cover by the e-mount line-up before Sony focuses on any more primes.