Sony 50mm f/1.4
Announced June 15, 2006
PixelMeter The PixelMeter is our 1–100 aggregate of reviewer scores from trusted publications and creators. Weighted by source tier — not a raw average, and not PetaPixel’s own review.
Reviewer Consensus
Strong
The Sony 50mm f/1.4 is a versatile standard prime that delivers excellent resolution and contrast when stopped down; however, it struggles with softness and significant vignetting at its widest aperture settings. While it offers a lightweight and well-sealed design, it also exhibits noticeable issues like noisy autofocus and a plasticky build quality.
Weighted from 6 reviewer scores
Pros
- High resolution and sharpness in the center and borders when stopped down
- Minimal barrel distortion and lateral color fringing
- Effective performance on APS-C sensors
- Compact and lightweight design with thorough weather sealing
- Resistant to flare and capable of creating defined sunstars
Cons
- Softness, low contrast, and heavy vignetting at wide apertures
- Optical aberrations including coma, chromatic aberration, and busy background blur
- Plasticky and gritty manual focus feel
- Noisy, slow, or non-internal focusing autofocus
- Mechanical limitations like focus breathing and field curvature
- Launch price $350 (USD)
- Focal length & aperture 50mm f/1.4
- Mount & coverage Sony A Full-Frame
- Stabilization None
- Close focus 45 cm (0.15x)
- Filter thread 55mm
- Autofocus motor RDSSM
- Weight & size 220g (7.8 oz) · 65.5 x 43 mm (2.58 x 1.69 in)
What the Reviewers Say
All 6 expert reviews, weighted into the PixelMeter score.
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- DPReview 88/100
Having reviewed four other 50mm F1.4 lenses of similar design over the past few months, we weren’t expecting any major surprises from the Sony version.
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Typical for most standard lenses the Sony produces excellent resolution figures EXCEPT at very large aperture settings.
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The Sony 50mm f/1.4 Prime Lens is fast, sharp, and compact, but its screw-drive autofocus system is noisy.
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Ignore the lack of acronyms and look at its performance instead: Sony's f/1.4 has some weaknesses but elsewhere it's a real cracker.
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The Sony 50mm f/1.4 feels junky, but works great, especially with the newest Sony A99 which corrects its distortion and gives this old-design lens instant manual-focus override.
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This really is a great lens. It's a must-have lens in a photographers's bag just because it's really versatile.
