p.3 #1 · Pre-order: Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM ($1,998)
Steve Spencer wrote:
I agree that it is there, but IMO it is another lens that needs an update. It uses the older type of aspherical elements that causes onion rings in the bokeh. It has quite a bit of axial CA until at least f/2.8, and the rendering of the bokeh is a bit rough in transition zones. Yes it is sharp, yes it is small, and yes it focusses fast. For a lot of people that is what they care about most, but to me the Sony 20 f/1.8 goes further with good control of CA and nice rendering. I think Sony would do well to replicate that type of performance with a 28mm f/1.8G (where the 28 f/2 is less than stellar), a 50mm f/1.8G (where the 50 f/1.8 non-G is good for the price but doesn't compete in performance with the Nikon 50 f/1.8S and the 55 f/1.8 ZA is looking a bit long in the tooth as described above), and at 100mm where Sony could tip its hat to its Minolta heritage with a 100 f/1.8 (or f/2) G....Show more →
I think it depends on the use case of the 55/1.8. I wouldn't use it so much for landscapes, or architecture or similar things, for photographing people I really like the way the 55 renders. Whether the bokeh balls have a bit of onion rings when looking closely, is mostly not an issue at all and only enthusiasts look at such things instead of looking at the subject of interest in the image ;-)
Feb 24, 2021 at 02:23 PM
Steve Spencer Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: On
p.3 #2 · Pre-order: Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM ($1,998)
Holger wrote:
I think it depends on the use case of the 55/1.8. I wouldn't use it so much for landscapes, or architecture or similar things, for photographing people I really like the way the 55 renders. Whether the bokeh balls have a bit of onion rings when looking closely, is mostly not an issue at all and only enthusiasts look at such things instead of looking at the subject of interest in the image ;-)
I think the 55 f/1.8 is useable for portraits (and some of my favorites are with that lens), but the axial CA and the transition zone bokeh (more than the onion rings) make it far from my first choice and put it behind the competition. Sony, IMO, would be wise to offer something else in this focal length range that is small and has better optical qualities, YMMV.
p.3 #5 · Pre-order: Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM ($1,998)
Beni wrote:
No please no. What happened to the 50mm 1.4 GM, you know, the nice small one we were looking forward to?
Exactly what I thought...
Otoh, it could save me some money... the reason to buy a 1.4 gm would have been mostly the weight saving compared to my sigma art 50... But compared to a GM1.2 I'm not sure there will be much of a weight difference to justify buying it
p.3 #6 · Pre-order: Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM ($1,998)
Jman13 wrote
It's a pretty special lens, and at least to my eye pops considerably at f/1.2 in a way that most lenses do not. It's very sharp wide open with a beautiful falloff, IMO. If Sony makes one that can match it, it'd be great. Though I also think the ZA50/1.4 is a very good lens. Not quite as good as the Canon, but not too far off.
Went through all images in the Canon RF 50mm 1.2 Image thread before posting this. Very good images there that more often than not show the potential/power of the f1.2 aperture. However, although I liked those photos, I failed to see the magic.
I think it's just a matter of personal preference. For me, the magic remains kind of a trade mark of the 50 f1,4 ZA and the Fuji 50mm f1.0; I'd be happy with either one of these 2 lenses.
High hopes for a sensational 50 f1.2 GM? I don't know. We'll see.
p.3 #8 · Pre-order: Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM ($1,998)
Holger wrote:
Sharpness is for sure very very good. It is a very good lens, I fully agree. I just have difficulties with exclamations like "magic" etc.
Personally, I dislike the strong vignetting and the bokeh balls, which are not round from f2 on (Samples from Cameralabs, Opticallimits).
If the Sony is a GM, I am sure that falloff etc. will be pleasing. Then it is to the peepers to find differences at 200%.
I don't see the magic on the RF 50/1.2's strong optical vignetting. Hopefully Sony will take this in consideration.
p.3 #9 · Pre-order: Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM ($1,998)
I also fail to see the RF 50 magic. But I was more bummed more by the RF 85 1.2, mostly because the 85L has a really nice draw and reminds me of the 85 GM, Mino 85 ltd and some other highly abstracted and generally very pleasant renderings. And it’s a 85mm, not 50mm, so I expert more/better in terms of rendering.
p.3 #10 · Pre-order: Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM ($1,998)
I think Sony wanted to preempt Sigma from being the first on the market with a 50/1.2. The fun will probably be that Sigma will come with a 50/1.4 DG DN Art which will be more affordable and usable than an 1.2.
p.3 #11 · Pre-order: Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM ($1,998)
Bokeh is great actually.
For me 55 is the first 50/1.8 that was sharp wide open. I am still surprised how they didn’t make a capable 50 in last 2000 years when every camera came with this lens as a kit i am told. Bokeh is actually great and smooth.
Steve Spencer wrote:
I agree that it is there, but IMO it is another lens that needs an update. It uses the older type of aspherical elements that causes onion rings in the bokeh. It has quite a bit of axial CA until at least f/2.8, and the rendering of the bokeh is a bit rough in transition zones. Yes it is sharp, yes it is small, and yes it focusses fast. For a lot of people that is what they care about most, but to me the Sony 20 f/1.8 goes further with good control of CA and nice rendering. I think Sony would do well to replicate that type of performance with a 28mm f/1.8G (where the 28 f/2 is less than stellar), a 50mm f/1.8G (where the 50 f/1.8 non-G is good for the price but doesn't compete in performance with the Nikon 50 f/1.8S and the 55 f/1.8 ZA is looking a bit long in the tooth as described above), and at 100mm where Sony could tip its hat to its Minolta heritage with a 100 f/1.8 (or f/2) G....Show more →
p.3 #12 · Pre-order: Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM ($1,998)
f1.2 means it's probably going to be a big boy...dunno if it'd be worth selling my ZA if it's going to be just as big, especially when the ZA is an amazing lens as is. I was hoping they'd go small with another f1.4 around 24-35mm sized.
Feb 24, 2021 at 03:44 PM
Steve Spencer Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: On
p.3 #13 · Pre-order: Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM ($1,998)
6683 wrote:
Bokeh is great actually.
For me 55 is the first 50/1.8 that was sharp wide open. I am still surprised how they didn’t make a capable 50 in last 2000 years when every camera came with this lens as a kit i am told. Bokeh is actually great and smooth.
We will have to agree to disagree about the bokeh and that makes sense with bokeh. Not everyone likes the same thing.
p.3 #15 · Pre-order: Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM ($1,998)
tdlavigne wrote:
f1.2 means it's probably going to be a big boy...dunno if it'd be worth selling my ZA if it's going to be just as big, especially when the ZA is an amazing lens as is. I was hoping they'd go small with another f1.4 around 24-35mm sized.
If the rendering is close the advantage would be AF speed... maybe. I'm going assume the T stop will be good so you could potentially gain some light advantage as well. No guarantees, though, becuase am F stop of 1.2 doesn't necessarily mean greater light transmission - although GM lenses are usually pretty good in that regard.
p.3 #16 · Pre-order: Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM ($1,998)
JVan_02 wrote:
Ahahahaha. Knew they weren't gonna replace the 50 1.4 ZA like they were the 35.
Wonder how compact they're gonna manage to make this one though. I know it's one of their design tenants, so obviously some effort has been made. I think the only disappointing signal by this release is that it's looking more likely the 20 1.8 G was a one-off, and we won't be seeing more 1.8 lenses on a GM level.
I think there is a good chance for more 1.8G lenses. I suspect eventually we'll see a 1.8G replacement for 1.8/55;
EDIT: well, I guess I doubt it now. Can’t see a 1.8G as well as the 2.5G they gave us!
p.3 #20 · Pre-order: Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM ($1,998)
Maybe you’ll get a 50 1.2 GM at 600 grams and $1700! I, unlike others, don’t think this lens will be over 2k. I could easily see Sony designers’ goals for this lens as basically a 50 1.4 GM but with the bonus 1/3 stop thrown in. Same size, weight, and price as an erstwhile hypothetical 50 1.4 GM. Look at the Sony 35 1.4 GM and the 35 ZA; the GM undercuts it at checkout. Maybe my expectations are too high, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Sony designs this lens as if no one would ever want for a 50 1.4 GM.
mudlake wrote:
All I wanted was a 50/1.4 GM at 500 grams and $1,300. This 1.2 will be bigger and more expensive which means a likely no buy. I’ll wait and see...
