Sony Carl Zeiss FE 55mm F1.8 ZA Sonnar T* E-mount lens review by wingedpower

wingedpower#36829 date: Apr-12-2017
sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 5 flare control: 4 overall: 4.8	tested on: film camera: APS-C: 6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP; 16MP; 20MP; 24MP full frame: 12MP; 24MP; 36MP; 42MP; 61MP
ownership:	I own this lens
compared to:	* Sigma ART HSM 35/1.4 via LA-EA3 * Sigma EX DG HSM 85/1.4 via LA-EA3 * Zhong Yi Mitakon Speed Master 50/0.95
price paid:	$515 USD
positive:	* Super light * AF on A7II is snappy * Very compact * Sharp * Great colors
negative:	* Not as "fast" as a 1.4 but also not nearly as heavy. * Well balanced on the A7II (less so on the A6000)
comment:	This is a very nice lens. Very nice. It's a full frame lens, so it's 50mm on the A7 line and about 75mm on the A6000 line. It is a dense piece of metal and glass, but it isn't heavy like the Sigma ART 50mm/1.4. It is a bit heavier than the screw driven Sony A-mount 50mm/1.4. The weight is less than the Speedmaster 50/0.95. AF is good and SILENT. EyeAF and lock-on works with this lens on the A7II. While I don't normally use a 50mm because of the 35mm, I can see this being a good walk around lens. The MFD does present a bit of an issue at 50mm in a close indoor space. For that, 35mm is a better choice. When you have this lens on the A7* cameras, it feels GREAT. Manual AF with this lens is... ok. Because of the fly by wire, it's not nearly as nice as the A-mount lenses or the fully many lenses.