Sony FE 50mm F2.8 Macro E-mount lens review by QuietOC
 QuietOC#44530 date: May-30-2020 | |
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| sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 4 distortion: 4 flare control: 5 overall: 4.6 | tested on:
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| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | Opteka 15 F4 Macro Tamron 20 F2.8 OSD M1:2 Tamron 24 F2.8 OSD M1:2 Sony DT 30 F2.8 Macro SAM Tamron 35 F2.8 OSD M1:2 Sigma 45 F2.8 DG DN C Sony A 50mm F2.8 Macro Minolta AF 50 F2.8 Macro RS Minolta AF 50 F3.5 Macro Minolta MD 50 F3.5 Macro Tamron SP 60 F2 Macro Sigma EX 70 F2.8 DG Macro Tamron SP 90 F2.5 Macro Minolta AF 100 F2.8 Macro D Minolta AF 100 F2.8 Macro RS Vivitar 135 F2.8 Close Focusing |
| price paid: | 376 USD (used) |
| positive: | Size and weight Good sharpness and contrast Flat field Three position range limiter Focus distance encoder Lens Compensation Durable anodized finish 20 FPS support Sealing? 55mm filter |
| negative: | Chromatic aberrations Minor pincushion distortion Manual focus-by-wire Slow, noisy DC motor Extending/unit focusing f/16 minimum aperture More like 40 mm at minimum focus Less magnification than other 1:1 lenses Redundant MF switch |
| comment: | I've been using A-mount 50mm macro lenses for product photography but wanted native autofocus. I had upgraded to the Sony A-mount macro a year ago for the distance encoder that my previous Minolta RS version lacked. The FE macro is currently listed for $50 less than the A-mount lens this is after Sony raised the price of the FE lens $50 late last year (2019). It was once on sale in 2017 for $350 and had a few sales of $400 and was often on sale for $450. I made three unsuccessful Greentoe offers for this lens, before winning this used copy on eBay. "Made in CHINA" This lens extends less than the Minolta/Sony A-mount macro lenses. Its angle-of-view is wider than the A-mount 50mm. It's front element is less recessed. The focusing distance is 4 cm shorter at the same magnification, but the working distance is similar. In the plane of focus it is optically very similar to the older lens with more lateral CA. The autofocus is similar to the FE 50mm F1.8 and Tamron SP 60mm F2. The Tamron OSD primes are quieter and focus a bit faster. Like the FE 50 F1.8 this lens supports 20 FPS tracking AF on the A9 models. The f/16 minimum aperture is a problem for a dedicated life-size macro lens. The cheaper FE 50 F1.8 can stop down to f/22. The A-mount macros stop down to f/32. This lens continues the Minolta tradition from 1961 of a 55 mm filter thread diameter on macro lenses. |
rating summary
- total reviews: 5
- sharpness: 4.90
- color: 4.60
- build: 4.00
- distortion: 4.80
- flare control: 5.00
- overall: 4.66