Sony Carl Zeiss FE 55mm F1.8 ZA Sonnar T* E-mount lens review by TheEmrys
 TheEmrys#11817 date: May-7-2014 | |
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| sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 5 flare control: 5 overall: 5 | tested on:
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| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | Minolta 50/3.5 Sony 50/1.4 Minolta 50/1.4 Tamron 90/2.8 Di CZ Planar 50/1.4 |
| price paid: | 998 |
| positive: | Sharpness Color Contrast Small Light |
| negative: | Serial number is on a sticker |
| comment: | This is my favorite lens ever made. I love the 50mm focal length, and this lens alone was worthwhile for me to switch from a-mount to e-mount. This lens is really the brass ring. It has the superior sharpness, color, and contrast that Zeiss manual focus lenses are known for. The SSM is a tremendous asset. It is a very bright f/1.8 lens, due to the transmission being t/1.8. I cannot get this lens to flare as much as I try. The hood is really superfluous. The micro-contrast makes boring images pop. AF is nicely quick and pretty accurate. If you are a 50mm shooter, this lens is worth switching for. Sharp corner to corner from f/5.6. At f/1.8, the lens is sharp over the center 80% of the frame. I never thought I would find a lens sharper wide open than the Minolta 80-200 HS G, but I have. This lens, while not as dainty as the 35/2.8, is wonderfully small and balances extremely well on the a7. When coupled with the 24-70/4, it is an amazing kit. My only gripe is that the serial number for the lens is on a stupid sticker. What happened, Sony? Do a bit of C-N-C on the barrel before assembly and do it right. Not good for a $1k lens. |
; 36MPrating summary
- total reviews: 25
- sharpness: 4.90
- color: 4.96
- build: 4.76
- distortion: 4.92
- flare control: 4.84
- overall: 4.88