Home · Register · Join Upload & Sell

Moderated by: Fred Miranda

New fredmiranda.com Mobile Site

New Feature: SMS Notification alert

New Feature: Buy & Sell Watchlist

FM Forums | Sony Forum | Join Upload & Sell

Looking for a low cost 50mm lens that can handle low light conditions

BillD208
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Looking for a low cost 50mm lens that can handle low light conditions

I often shoot bands in very low light conditions. While I'm sure the 50 1.2 and 50 1.4 Sony lenses will do what I want I'm curious if there are lenses that are 90% comparable IQ wise and that can autofocus in dark conditions. If you have any experience with any of the following lenses in similar lighting conditions please let me know your opinions on:

Samyang 50mm 1.4 II
Sony 55mm F1.8 Sonnar
Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG DN
Any other lenses I should consider??

Some examples of conditions I shoot in are posted below. Thanks in advance.

DSC01988 by Bill Dyke, on Flickr

Mudhoney_01 by Bill Dyke, on Flickr

DSC06826 by Bill Dyke, on Flickr

Sep 08, 2023 at 10:35 AM

Newenglandrocks
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Looking for a low cost 50mm lens that can handle low light conditions

Samyang 50mm 1.4 II doesn't focus great in low light on the A9. It does focus, but it hunts a bit and gets "quietly" noisy and busy. Struggled a bit on eye AF versus the 24, 35 and 70-200GMii. I don't shoot 50 much, so it was easy to buy for the "occasional" 50mm use and works well for landscapes and relatively static subjects. But watching it struggle was under lighting conditions which are worse than what you will encounter.

Sep 08, 2023 at 10:48 AM

BillD208
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Looking for a low cost 50mm lens that can handle low light conditions

I kind of expected that with the Samyang in low light and now I'll eliminate it. I have a similar issue with my 85mm FE 1.8 where it is hunting for focus in low light and I want to avoid that. Thank you for your input.

Sep 08, 2023 at 01:00 PM

Eruditass
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Looking for a low cost 50mm lens that can handle low light conditions

The Samyang 45/1.8 focuses much faster than the Samyang 50/1.4 II, comparable to the Zony 55/1.8 from what I gather. I've never had problems in lower light with it, while I have had AF issues with the Samyang 50/1.4 and 35/1.4 (at least v1). The IQ is just a bit behind the Zony 55/1.8 but pretty close in the center.

Here's Dustin Abbot's review with some comments compared to the Zony 55:
https://dustinabbott.net/2019/08/samyang-af-45mm-f1-8-fe-review/

Edited on Sep 09, 2023 at 11:48 PM · View previous versions

Sep 08, 2023 at 02:02 PM

QuietOC
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Looking for a low cost 50mm lens that can handle low light conditions

The camera will hunt when the image is far out-of-focus. That is unavoidable with such large apertures. It is too bad Sony didn't implement their electronic focus limiter on E-mount.

I don't have the Samyang AF 50mm F1.4 II anymore, but it was remarkably sharp in center, which I expect would help as far giving contrast for the camera to detect.

Trying a few lenses back-to-back just now the 1.8/55 ZA tends to be somewhat quicker than the Samyang 45, but the little Samyang does pretty well. It did get a depth-of-field advantage from the manner I was testing.

Sep 08, 2023 at 05:01 PM

Newenglandrocks
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Looking for a low cost 50mm lens that can handle low light conditions

Eruditass wrote:
The Samyang 45/1.8 focuses much faster than the Samyang 50/1.4 II, comparable to the Zony 55/1.8 from what I gather. I've never had problems in lower light with it, while I have had AF issues with the Samyang 50/1.4 and 35/1.4 (at least v1). The IQ is just a bit behind the Zony 55/1.8 but pretty close in the center.

It might, but in my experience in low light similar to the OP's query, the SY45 still struggled. And I didn't like way it drew bokeh balls.

I think that Sony native might be the way to go here.

Sep 08, 2023 at 05:14 PM

tschopp
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Looking for a low cost 50mm lens that can handle low light conditions

I would think the Sigma 50 DN, would be a close 2nd if you can't get a 50GM. It has the new linear motors. My one minor complaint about sigma is that it can occasionally slightly miss focus, don't know if the new motors will help with that.

Sep 08, 2023 at 05:23 PM

chiron
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Looking for a low cost 50mm lens that can handle low light conditions

My bet would be on the Sony 55/1.8. Also, lightweight and inexpensive used. Excellent optically.

Sep 08, 2023 at 05:35 PM

gocolts
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Looking for a low cost 50mm lens that can handle low light conditions

chiron wrote:
My bet would be on the Sony 55/1.8. Also, lightweight and inexpensive used. Excellent optically.

^^This

Sep 08, 2023 at 05:42 PM

BillD208
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Looking for a low cost 50mm lens that can handle low light conditions

Thanks for the help everyone. Before I posted this my guess was that the Sigma would probably work out ok (and it's cheaper) but it never hurts to ask around because maybe you find an even cheaper option. I'll probably start looking for used 55s pretty soon.

Sep 08, 2023 at 05:54 PM

newdom
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Looking for a low cost 50mm lens that can handle low light conditions

You don't say what body you're using, but have you tried Focus Priority in Aperture Drive?

The newer Sigma 50/1.4 DG DN might do well as it's a new lens with all their latest development of AF know-how combined with newer voicecoil motors. Sigma 50/2 if you can go down to f2. As others have said the AF in the Samyang 50/1.4 ii is not great.

Sep 08, 2023 at 06:29 PM


FM Forums \| Sony Forum \| Join Upload & Sell

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.