Sony 50mm 2.8 Macro
A great macro lens, and more...
Introduction -
The Sony 50mm 2.8 Macro is an often overlooked lens for the Alpha kit. I haven't figured out just yet why this is, but I think I have a good idea. What does it offer that would make one want it for your kit? Well, the Sony 50mm 2.8 is a very sharp lens, it's built like a rock, comes complete with a focus hold/DOF preview button and a focus limiter, and has some seriously creamy-smooth Bokeh. Those who want a lens for portraits, well, it fits that bill too.
I have had my 50mm Macro lens for as long as I have had my aging A100, I have used this lens probably more than any other lens in my kit. I have used it for portraits, landscapes even, and of course almost all of my macro work. This lens has ever to disappoint me in any facet of its design or image quality capabilities. Pairing it with the A700, and recently even with the A200 (Macro report to follow soon on the A200), this lens has shown that no matter what camera it is on, it elevates the image quality to an almost superstar status.
The Sony 50mm 2.8 isn't the most popular lens with the "press" it has received, that title (and deservedly so) has been owned by its big brother, the Sony 100mm 2.8 Macro. Arguably the best macro lens that has ever been made in any mount, the 100mm 2.8 Macro has cast its shadow on the 50mm 2.8 for quite some time now and has become a legend in the photography community. Well, I think it is finally time the little brother gets the attention it deserves.
Great review Carl
Now you really have me thinking about this lens. UGH!!
:) thank you!
The idea is to inform, to help satisfy your needs :).
Glad it was helpful, and thank you for letting me know.
Carl
My favorite lens
I have this lens and it is great. Also an excellent portrait lens.
Most of the macro shots I do are not animals so, I prefer the versatility of this lens as a 50mm.
Your opinion of this one vs the other 50mm lenses
I love the 50mm range on my a100 and now a700, i often find myself using the 50 1.7 Minolta (Original) for portrait type stuff and have been dying to get a new 50mm toying between the sony 1.4 and the macro. I already have and love an older version of the Tamron 90mm macro for 'real macro' work. So the question is, in your opinion, which of the 3 50mm lenses is best for portrait work? and are they good enough to bother replacing the 50 1.7 or should i just keep saving for the eventual 85 CZ and 70-200G?
Love the site and thanx for the reviews! It surely is not helping the lens lust in my world.
~brian
I just landed a 50M :)
Carl,
I just landed the 50M and should have it in a week or two. Luck would have it that a guy I offered to buy another lens from was interested in selling this and the CZ 135 to me. This will fill a couple of holes in my lineup ;) Hopefully, other people are as interested in these two as I am!
Exellent Matt, good find!
A great lens to have in the lineup. I mean the 50mm yeah, of course ;)
Carl
I agree and disagree with you on this one Carl.
First of all I agree with 95% of everything you say regarding the 50mm f2.8 AF macro. I have the older version, but they are all great lenses and everyone should have one, not only for macro work but when the need arises to photograph flat artwork. These macros excel at even, distortion free, corner to corner coverage because of their flat field of focus design.
Where I differ with your opinion is the use of this lens in portraiture. Technically, YES, any lens can take a portrait and a flat field of focus is not a bad idea if you are trying for a soft focus of facial features with sharp detail of the eyes. But that particular technique is almost exclusively for photographing women and infants.
A sharp portrait of a male subject is usually the preferred methodology in portraiture and almost impossible with the shallow depth of field inherent in flat field of focus macro lenses. Thusly that is why I also carry a 50mm f:1.7 which can perform the task very well and a bit longer like an 85 would be even better.
So Yes any lens can take a portrait but not all lenses can take a good portrait. ;-)
Just had to state that! It goes back forty years to my formal education. . .
Hi Paul, thank goodness someone
disagrees with me about something! :)
I see your points, and they are valid. Wasn't implying it's main purpose should be as a portrait lens, so I'll be more careful next time around with how I word "usage". I agree, the focal plane of the 50mm 1.7 is better suited for such :)
I think you mean to say if you were going to choose a lens for professional portraiture, you wouldn't choose the 50mm Mac rather the 50mm 1.7, is that correct?
Thanks for opening up your thoughts here!
Carl
Yep that's it but with a smile of course! ;-)
I understood what you were looking at when you made the statement but as we already agreed it is not my first choice when it came to portraits and yes that little 50 f1.7 is really an under appreciated lens I think. Particularly when it becomes a 75mm effective focal length on our Alpha cameras.
Probably vulnerable to sensor reflections
The statement in the review saying that this lens "never flares or ghosts" makes me suspect that an issue (though a somewhat obscure one) has been overlooked. I and others have documented a known problem with the earlier Minolta and Konica Minolta versions of this lens that can lead to bright circular sensor reflections in the center of the image when used with DSLRs. My article on this can be seen at [http://thesybersite.com/minolta/sensor-reflection]. The test shots made with my KM 50mm f/2.8 Macro (D) tell the story. There's little reason to think that Sony's version is dramatically different from the earlier ones, so I believe it is equally vulnerable to such sensor reflections if tested under the right conditions.
Thank you
I believe the Minolta version was designed prior to digital coatings a that are now applied to the new Sony lenses.
If you can duplicate the problem with the Sony lens I would be suprised, and would like to see a sample and how you did it. (ghosting)
By my statement I am not suggesting that it is not possible to do the afformentioned, I'm saying in my experience to date (and I've had a lot with this lens) I have yet to see that happen (ghosting). I am sure that if one wanted to make the lens flare they could aim it at the sun and duplicate that. But based on it's inherited deeply recessed design, merits it is very difficult to duplicate even a lens flare.
Carl
If I had one, I'd be happy to test it...
"I believe the Minolta version was designed prior to digital coatings a that are now applied to the new Sony lenses."
My theory is that the reflection is being precisely focused onto the sensor by the concave surface of the rear element, so I have doubts that improved anti-reflective coatings can overcome that.
"If you can duplicate the problem with the Sony lens I would be suprised, and would like to see a sample and how you did it."
I can't test the Sony version, since I don't own one. ;)
However, you could test yours. I described exactly the conditions that produce sensor reflections in the article that I referenced above. I too would very much like to see the vulnerabilty of the new lens either proved or disproved.
Minolta 50 - 1.7
I scored a Minolta 50mm 1.7 on ebay a couple weeks ago for $100.00. What a great purchase. This is my first prime lens and I'm very impressed with the quality and brightness of it with my A200. I've always shot with a zoom of some kind because of the flexibility and I typically take pictures on trips and like a "swiss army knife" set up. I purchased this lens mostly because of what I've read on this and other sites and I wanted to photograph our baby that is coming in a couple weeks. For people that enjoy tuning their setup and getting a little creative I would say it is a must. I know all you "old pros" probably live by primes but they are a little rare among the "newbie’s".
Just my two cents. Take care you guys and keep the pointers coming for us new folks!
Congrats on the 50 1.7!
Are prime lenses fun?
And they have an unlimited zoom, your legs! ;)
Creative, yes a must. Must play with a prime. It forces you to use the right side of the brain. Never been happier being forced into anything in my life!
C
Minolta 50 1.7
Yes, I'm having a lot of fun. Here are a couple shots that I would like comments/guidance on:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24893096@N03/2392924860/sizes/l/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24893096@N03/2392923540/sizes/l/
I do not do any "post-shot" editing other than a crop here and there.
I have been so happy with this new lens, and for the cost I couldn't beat it.
Thanks again,
Zach