f1.4 ?s=eyJpIjo1NDkwODEwNDU5MSwiZSI6MTc2NDU3MDMzNywicyI6IjQzMWY5OWI2ZmVkODkzMWNjODcwNjMzZTAzZjBmYjRkOTg1MDk2YTYiLCJ2IjoxfQ">DSC02259 by stm geist, auf Flickr
f1.8 ?s=eyJpIjo1NDkwODM5MzU1NSwiZSI6MTc2NDU3MDM5MywicyI6IjY2YjNmNWEzNGEwMzA2NWM1ZDc4MzNiZWEyODI3OTJmNmZjMDBmYTUiLCJ2IjoxfQ">DSC02264-2 by stm geist, auf Flickr
I really miss the rich greens from this lens. Must be something about the coatings, but it is almost like you can see 50 extra shades of green, with this lens.
Its almost the end of 2025 and I've been fortunate to shoot with so many lenses. The ZA 50/1.4 remains one of my absolute favorites. Sharp with beautiful colors. Magic !
f1.4 & Nissin i40; iso 500 ?s=eyJpIjo1NDk4MjcyMTg1MiwiZSI6MTc2NTczMjc5NSwicyI6ImE1NDhkZTkwY2VmOTJiM2Q2ZjY0Mjc1YjM4NjYyYTQyOTc5ODVmYWYiLCJ2IjoxfQ">DSC02053 by stm geist, auf Flickr
f7.1; iso 400 ?s=eyJpIjo1NDk4NDAwMjYyNCwiZSI6MTc2NTczNzEyOCwicyI6ImNjOGFkZGE4OGVmYWE2M2VmZTEwMWIyZmEwOTIyZDg4YTY4NjAzMzQiLCJ2IjoxfQ">DSC00155 by stm geist, auf Flickr
f3.5 ?s=eyJpIjo1NDk4Mzc1NjUyMSwiZSI6MTc2NTczNzExMSwicyI6Ijg1YzczNThjMWU1MzhiMmQ1NjYwY2ZhZjkzNTMwNmVmNDI3ODYyNWUiLCJ2IjoxfQ">DSC00797 by stm geist, auf Flickr
f1.4 ?s=eyJpIjo1NDk4NDA1MzQ5NCwiZSI6MTc2NTczODYzOSwicyI6ImVhM2I5MmZkNDY5NzlhMzc0ZTJkZGFmODZmYmFmNzkxOTYxYzkwY2IiLCJ2IjoxfQ">DSC06428 by stm geist, auf Flickr
f1.4 ?s=eyJpIjo1NDk4ODI2OTkwNiwiZSI6MTc2NTkwOTI4MywicyI6IjFmMDE1YmVlMmJkY2EyMTE4OTczMTFiYWMwZTkxNzg5YzhlOTZjYWQiLCJ2IjoxfQ">DSC02061 by stm geist, auf Flickr
I’ve had the 50mm Planar for so many years now and still enjoy using it a lot, though it could certainly be a bit lighter. Beautiful, natural, and lifelike skin tones, plenty sharp enough for portraits at f/1.4, and it works well for landscapes too.
f9; iso100; 30 seconds ?s=eyJpIjo1MTA5MDY5ODE4NiwiZSI6MTc2NTk1NjMyNCwicyI6ImIwNmEwZWU1ZTZjODQ5NGQ0OWJjYzUzZTM0MTcwNTVmYmYyZjcyMjAiLCJ2IjoxfQ">DSC00406 by stm geist, auf Flickr
aman74 wrote:
Never owned one, but love the output I see. Is it’s 35mm partner as well liked?
No.There was inconsistency in quality control with this lens and some ZA 35/1.4 Distagons were not sharp even at f8.
However if the copy is well centered it is easily sharp across the frame at f4-5.6(corners),has Zeiss micorcontrast and colours and one big plus - seeet bokeh at f1.4 when the distance is close.
Peire wrote:
No.There was inconsistency in quality control with this lens and some ZA 35/1.4 Distagons were not sharp even at f8.
However if the copy is well centered it is easily sharp across the frame at f4-5.6(corners),has Zeiss micorcontrast and colours and one big plus - seeet bokeh at f1.4 when the distance is close.
Thank you. I knew at least one of the Zony’s had a lot of copy variation and I didn’t think it was the 1.4, thanks.
aman74 wrote:
Never owned one, but love the output I see. Is it’s 35mm partner as well liked?
The biggest difference between the Zony 50 and 35 (both of which have similar great colors and contrast) is that the 35 had lots of CA. I still loved it, but I had never had to actually bother with fixing CA in Lightroom, until that lens. I preferred the GM for sharpness and bokeh, but the contrast and color of the 35 Zony was jaw dropping. The Zony 50 is one I really miss. Its draw was very distinctive and complements, rather than is inferior to the GM f/1.2.
The 35 also suffered from a reputation of poor QA. The two I used were great, but there were a lot of reports of decentering in copies post launch. Also, the ASPH grinding left really interesting patterns in colored spec highlights that made them look like little cartoon fireworks.
I think they're both distinct and desirable, despite the minor flaws. It'd be very cool if one the lens rehouse services took them both on. They'd make for unique cine lenses, though the fact that Sony stopped at two is probably why we won't see it happen.
I am new to Sony, coming from Nikon. One of the key points of attraction is the Zony lenses, of which this is my favorite of all of them. I had the 50 1.4GM and it was nice and sharp but should I dare say "boring." Not this lens. Easily the best 50 1.4 I have ever used/owned, and would be the last lens I would ever part with. This thread, which I was just made aware of proves it in my view. A perfect blend of optical perfection with just the right amount of character and artistic flair.....what more can you ask for?
