Sony 50/1.4 - First Impressions

I took the plunge, and instead of hunting for a used, $275 minolta RS, I spent $350 for a new Sony. Here are my initial impressions:

(1) Quality of the glass - Exceptional. I don't see a bit of difference in shots taken with this and my recently departed (sale to jazochromatic) 50/1.4 original. AF is just as fast, colors are just a nice...as expected. Coating seems different on the front element however. I am looking forward to seeing if this newest version can handle chromatic abberation better than the older models did.

(2) Exterior feel - It felt lighter. Perhaps more plastic in this one gives it less weight. It is a very attractive lens, not a shiny black...more matte black instead, less prone to scratches it seems. It looks good mounted on the camera too. I really like the orange stripe at the mount, adds a bit of flare. The front of the lens is really bare, simply a 1.4/50 and a 055 on the other side. No sony, no alpha, nothing else. The hood is small, and nice. The grip actually is its worse feature. It is too slick. No ribs/grooves at all. Go feel your 7d thumb grip on the back, now do you feel those slight bumps? This lens doesn't have any of those...it's slicker. The zoom ring is the same material. If you have sweaty fingers, good luck MFin.

3) Construction - Made in China?? Is all of their glass going to be made over there? What happen to proven, quality Japanese manufacturing?

Overall, it is everything I had expcted optically, but the exterior left me wanting just a bit more. It looks really, really nice, but it could have better useability in regards to its materials (i.e grip and focus ring)

















I meant 'focus' ring, not zoom :)

Edited by H20boy - 11 September 2006 at 01:27

Thanks for the update. I didn't even know this lens was available yet. I've been pondering it. But am waiting for Zeiss to announce some stuff and see if the rumored 1.4/50 CZ shows up.

I really like what sony has done visually with the lenses. Really cleaned up the look. The grip doesn't look much different then my 1.7/50 RS. The problem is it is just too small.

I really like how they cleaned the front up and kept it simple. Real shame that when you get to the bottom they have all sorts of stuff there cluttering it up. But hey at least the lenses now have model numbers!

The 1.4/50   Leica/Zeiss like notation is a very nice change. never liked seeing "AF 50mm 1:1.7 (22)"   just clunky looking.

Curious how they changed the red dot to a flat top orange thing, looks cheap.

Also a real shame that it looks like sony is using the crappy black rear caps, and not the nice white ones. The white ones are great, they hold better, seam to fall into place better, and let you see through the lens some.

Is this thing Internal or External Zoom. I just noticed today that my 2.8/24 is internal. Would be nice to see that on more of the primes.

Far as China, yes, everything is moving to there. From what I understand, this lens is not a re-badge, but a un-released Minolta lens (like the 35G). So it was upgraded to D status and was to get built in the new China plant.

Now, get taking photos.

PhotoTraveler wrote: Curious how they changed the red dot to a flat top orange thing, looks cheap.

I think it fits rather nice with the cosmetic look of their lens lineup. No more rounded edges, mostly bevels.

This lens is an external zoom. Any idea what the EU only symbol and note mean?

Think I will stick with my Minolta 50mm 1.4 :P

After all, it's baught and paid for.

Well, shame they have to make it so big and ugly with that. What's wrong with small little logos :/

Well, Sony is probably full updated. The RoHS stuff didn't kick in till earlier this year, KM probably never bothered.

Far as the CE, thats on lots of stuff. Included, the 17-35, 28-75, 28-100, 24-105, 100-300. (I own those)

It's the stuff left of the serial number that bothers me, All the sony blah blah stuff, and the big thing about the EU.