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Archive 2019 · Are you still using the Zony 55 1.8 often?

Enri
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Are you still using the Zony 55 1.8 often?

Looking at the fora that ask people of FM which lenses they have I have seen that one of the most owned (if not the most) is the Sony 55 1.8 ZA. Nevertheless, I can't see many images in FM threads (for instance in the Sony FE images thread) taken with this lens. So I would like to kindly ask every 55 owners: Are you still using the Zony 55 1.8 often?... what for (if the answer is Yes)... why not? (if the answer is Not).

Nov 25, 2019 at 04:36 PM

Enri
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Are you still using the Zony 55 1.8 often?

PD: an image as an example of typical use accompanying the answer would be very welcome.

Nov 25, 2019 at 04:39 PM

ysultan
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Are you still using the Zony 55 1.8 often?

I purchased and sold this lens more than I could count. 😃. I think I switched to Sony because I wanted to own this lens. However, I no longer have it. It is a good lens but overrated imo. I owned perfectly centered copies and ones that were less so. None of them was tack sharp wide open as people claim. I always had to stop it down to f2.2 to see the level of sharpness I like. Don't get me wrong, it's not soft wide open, but it isn't a "mini Otus" as some people who never touched an Otus like to say. The pronounced onion ring bokeh and bokeh fringing were the most off-putting aspects of this lens for me. Now I have the 50mm f1.4, and I like this lens a lot more.

Nov 25, 2019 at 05:19 PM

formula4speed
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Are you still using the Zony 55 1.8 often?

Use mine all the time, turns out it's a great lens for chasing around toddlers. Pairs nicely with the 28mm f/2 as a walk around set.

Also, while it's not perfect, it's pretty good at basically anything you would use a ~50mm lens for.

Nov 25, 2019 at 05:26 PM

benCKS
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Are you still using the Zony 55 1.8 often?

I still have one since a few years.. While i sold all the Sony Gear in between and rebought newer Sony cameras, the 55 1.8 always stayed here. Do i use it much? No, not at all. I just keep it as a little but good nifty fifty.

I prefer de rendering of almost every GM and Sigma Art Lens over the 55. But since all of them are way bigger and heavier, i just keep the 55 for the days i want to have a light System.

Nov 25, 2019 at 05:28 PM

grahamgibson
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Are you still using the Zony 55 1.8 often?

The 55/1.8 was my first lens for my Sony A7. I've had it for about 5 years now, and still use it regularly as the "fast/normal" prime in my bag. For about a year I used the CV40 mostly instead, but the 55/1.8 still comes out when I need autofocus. It gaps nicely with my new Tamron 17-28 wide zoom, so I've been using it more recently. The 55/1.8 can crop to be a short tele for portraits in a pinch, and does well as a landscape lens for stitching. I use it as a travel lens, and I've used it for events often as well.

Sips in the City by Graham Gibson, on Flickr

Santa Cruz by Graham Gibson, on Flickr

A San Francisco Sunset by Graham Gibson, on Flickr

Nov 25, 2019 at 05:30 PM

scalanc2
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Are you still using the Zony 55 1.8 often?

I mostly use 35 and 85 focal lenghta.
I also own a 50 Macro for the added value of close up.
Slow af but quite good quality.

Nov 25, 2019 at 05:45 PM

johnahill
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Are you still using the Zony 55 1.8 often?

I suspect like many here is was a 'gateway drug' for me, earlier on in e mount days I used it a fair bit but know we have so many other offerings (40 and 65 Voigt) I often use something else

Nov 25, 2019 at 05:50 PM

Mark_EL
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Are you still using the Zony 55 1.8 often?

The 55mm f1.8 was one of the first native lenses that I bought. I still own it and would not trade it for any other 50-ish lens out there. I just love it. Its fast, has fast and reliable AF, its tack sharp, small and very light weight.

I used to own the Sigma 50mm ART lens for Canon, which I also used with the MC-11 adapter. Optically that lens was pretty much perfect too, but man, that thing was heavy as hell and because of that, a discomfort to use for me. Especially on the smaller Sony cameras. I have since sold the ART lens and never once regretted it.

Nov 25, 2019 at 06:05 PM

philip_pj
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Are you still using the Zony 55 1.8 often?

It's small and comes along for: (i) fast shooting needs; (ii) bulk low light AF needs; (iii) short FL portraits; (iv) general (buildings, open street). It has little 3D and Sony's hard to remove blue/green cast in UV conditions, so not many landscapes and they are work-intensive. To half-replace it I have/will have two lenses: the CV 50/3.5 for open air shooting, and the 50/2 Apo-Lanthar for portraits, so all that's left is (i/ii) above. Not bad when you need two lenses to do half what it does.

LoCA annoys at times and I may have to remove green/magenta from just front/aft of the focal plane on people's dark hair in strong sunlight (but not always). At f3.2-f8 it's a total weapon. It's taken a large proportion of my portraits in Tibet, being small and fast and light - discreet. People don't find it to be perfect but they respect its performance.

f3.2 - ISO 3200 - 1/25s - a7rII

f3.5 - ISO 5000 - 1/30s - a7rII (improved bokeh at f3.2 onwards)

f8 - ISO 50 - 1/125s - a7II (detail-dependent image)

f2.5 - ISO 160 (mistake) - 1/8000s - a7rII

f8 - ISO 800 - 1/400s - a7II

Nov 25, 2019 at 06:55 PM

samosh
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Are you still using the Zony 55 1.8 often?

Don't use it much after I got Batis 40mm for walk around lens. But before that it was one of the favorite lenses I had.

Nov 25, 2019 at 07:29 PM

cantor
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Are you still using the Zony 55 1.8 often?

The 55 1.8 was my first good Sony lens which I bought when I still had my Sony A6300. It was very nice on that camera and I still use it once and awhile on my A7riii. I don't like the purple fringing you see in high contrast settings and it can be a little soft in the corners wide open but it is small and well made. I might replace it with the Voigtlander 50 f2 APO if the reviews on this site are stellar, as I suspect they will be.

Nov 25, 2019 at 07:31 PM

philodelphi
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Are you still using the Zony 55 1.8 often?

It's a fantastic walk around lens when you need autofocus. So small, such good quality. It fulfills the promise of mirrorless. Do I always use it? No, but I would never sell it.


	https://i.imgur.com/12Ru1au.jpg


	https://i.imgur.com/zGEmeZZ.jpg


	https://i.imgur.com/IeTOk5o.jpg


	https://i.imgur.com/ob4LMwG.jpg

Nov 25, 2019 at 07:50 PM

stevesanacore
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Are you still using the Zony 55 1.8 often?

Fantastic little light weight super sharp lens. I use it whenever I need a fast normal lens. Great for food shots and lifestyle. Looks great wide open too. It may not be an Otis but much sharper than any 24-70 zoom I've used in that range. YMMV

Nov 25, 2019 at 08:51 PM

1bwana1
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Are you still using the Zony 55 1.8 often?

Yep, still use mine regularly. Last Friday I shot a casual portrait of some friends with it.

I also shot some Landscapes on my recent trip to the Dolomites. It is an excellent all around, sharp lens that is small, light, easy to travel with.

A high quality, versatile lens that is almost always in my bag.

Edited on Nov 26, 2019 at 04:33 AM · View previous versions

Nov 25, 2019 at 09:18 PM

fhammond
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Are you still using the Zony 55 1.8 often?

Ha! Great timing: I just bought one. I rented the the Sony 50mm f/1.4 and the 55mm and I couldn’t see enough difference in quality between the two to justify the size, weight and cost of the 50mm. I had the 55mm several years ago when I had an A7s and thought it was great. If Sony had a lens as good as Canon’s RF 50mm f/1.2 I would have bought it but barring that, I think the 55mm is a great little lens.

Nov 25, 2019 at 09:37 PM

mudlake
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Are you still using the Zony 55 1.8 often?

I love my 55/1.8 and use it quite often. It fits perfectly in a vacation trio of 15, 24, 55. I usually use it for family images and very rarely for landscape. Sharp as a tack wide open and works well as an 85mm in crop mode.

Nov 25, 2019 at 09:59 PM

bwcolor
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Are you still using the Zony 55 1.8 often?

It was my first FF E-Mount lens but I rarely use it for photography. I use it regularly for soccer game videos.

Nov 25, 2019 at 10:01 PM

nandadevieast
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Are you still using the Zony 55 1.8 often?

Yes absolutely its the best lens that i own along with 35/1.8. Use it all the time.

Nov 25, 2019 at 10:02 PM

npgeorgeuw
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Are you still using the Zony 55 1.8 often?

Started with it and my A7rii, used it mostly for stitched panoramas hiking the PNW. Used the 90 macro for portraits most days. I haven't shot the 55 f1.8 for two years now shooting the 85 f1.4 and 135 f1.8 and the 25 1.4 for more intimate stuff. I do own the z50 F1.4 and there are differences between the two especially with tricky lighting and high dynamic range portraits. It was an awesome lens for hiking.

Nov 25, 2019 at 10:35 PM

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