Fotasy 50mm F1.8 (5018E) APS-C Lens Review

Fotasy 50mm F1.8 APS-C (5018E)

Aperture: F1.8-16
Elements/group: 6/4
Angle of view(AOV): 32°
Aperture blades: 12
Clickless aperture
Glass: Multi-Coated
Minimum focus distance: 300 mm
Front thread diameter: 46 mm
Length: 49 mm

I was so impressed with the $45 Fotasy 35mm F1.6 APS-C (3516E) that I also ordered their $49 Fotasy 50mm F1.8. Again from Rainbow Imaging but this time via Amazon. I actually ordered it at first directly from Amazon, but Amazon didn't have it in stock, and I didn't feel like waiting the extra time. And Rainbow Imaging had fulfillment by Amazon for it which is also covered by Prime.

I mistakenly thought the 35mm F1.6 was a C-mount lens with an adapter, but I discovered this was not the case when I tried to remove the adapter. Both of these Fotasy lenses are native E-mount (Maybe one of the moderators could move the other review into the E-mount forum.) There are very similar looking C-mount versions of both of these lens sometimes sold with E-mount adapters, but these are not those.

This lens looks very similar to the 35mm F1.6. It is slightly longer by a 1 mm or so. Both the aperture and focus throws are longer on this lens. The front element is larger and less recessed.

Both of these lenses are somewhat long compared to the other manual E-mount lenses I've tried. They share the same 46mm filter thread size as the Discover 25mm F1.8, which I've learned is a common filter size for micro-4/3rds lenses.

Like the 35mm F1.6 this lens has excellent image quality. Both of these lenses have better image quality than my better copies of the Sony DT primes. Both show some slight tilt to opposite corners, so they certainly aren't perfect, but they are quite good.

This exposes wide-open like the Minolta F1.7 and Sony F1.8 lenses. The aperture scale again seems to be pessimistic especially on the more stopped down end of the scale. Like the 35mm F1.6 there is no depth-of-field scale.

There is supposedly a newer version of both of these with the same optics. I have only seen those in C-mount on eBay under other brands, and they are a little more expensive. Maybe they have improved the quality control/tilt issues.

F1.8 Center


F1.8 Mid


F1.8 Extreme Top Left


F1.8 Top Left


F1.8 Bottom Right


This is as bad as the Fotasy 50mm gets, and it's not very bad.

F2.8 Center


F2.8 Mid


F2.8 Extreme Top Left


There is some tilt helping out here, but really?

F2.8 Top Left


F2.8 Bottom Right


Anyway quite the nice performing $50 lens. Fotasy definitely seems to have their APS-C mirrorless lens design act together. This is what I was hoping for from the more expensive Meike/Neewer lenses, but didn't find. Maybe Fotasy will come out with some more focal lengths. A fast manual 16mm for APS-C would be appreciated.


Edited by QuietOC - 12 March 2017 at 23:54