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Help choosing 50 mm

MaurizioC
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Help choosing 50 mm

Hi there,
I have a sony a7iv and I am looking for a 50mm.

I have the sigma 45 f2.8 which has a nice rendering but I would like something with better af, slightly longer and faster.
I also have the sony 50 f2.5 which is great but I think the bokeh is a little busy.

What would you recommend?

Is the new sigma 50 f2 mm a good option or shall i consider only the 50 f1.4 gm?

I read good thing about the sigma 65 f2 but it's almost as big and as heavy as the gm so why choose it over the gm price aside?

Edited on Nov 19, 2023 at 12:25 PM · View previous versions

Nov 19, 2023 at 08:16 AM

1bwana1
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Help choosing 50 mm

For a Sony camera the 50mm f/1.4 and the 50mm F/1.2 cannot be beat. Both are World leading optically. Pick the one of these two that fit your size and price parameters.

I bought the f1.2 when it was new. It is amazing and never disappoints. Maybe the best 50mm AF lens ever made. But it is the larger and more expensive of the two.

Edited on Nov 19, 2023 at 11:27 AM · View previous versions

Nov 19, 2023 at 09:59 AM

aCuria
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Help choosing 50 mm

Lenstip has reviews on both the 50/2i and 50/1.4GM.

According to them the GM is better by a significant margin in resolution

The GM should have better AF

Nov 19, 2023 at 10:03 AM

steamtrain
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Help choosing 50 mm

MaurizioC wrote:
Hi there,
I have a sony a7iv and I am looking for a 50mm.

I have the sigma 45 f2.8 which has a nice rendering but I would like something with better af, slightly longer and faster.
I also have the sony 50 f2.5 which is great but I think the bokeh is a little busy.

What would you recommend?

Is the new sigma 50 f2 mm a good option or shall I like to the 50 f1.4 gm?

You wanted better AF, and the GM will do the best job for AF.

MaurizioC wrote:
I read good thing about the sigma 65 f2 but it's almost as big and as heavy as the gm so why choose it over the gm price aside?

The perspective of a 65mm is different. Portraits can sometimes benefit more from a little telephoto "compression" than the back ground blur from a larger compression. It's less flexible, and you might need more lens changes.

Nov 19, 2023 at 10:11 AM

da_habakuk
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Help choosing 50 mm

hm i have the 50mm 2.5 and find its bokeh quite nice. if u dont want to spend alot i would try out the samyang 50mm 1.4 mk2. i photogrpaph my running kids with good hit rate, like its low weight and its creamy bokeh..

Nov 19, 2023 at 10:17 AM

kaldur
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Help choosing 50 mm

aCuria wrote:
Lenstip has reviews on both the 50/2i and 50/1.4GM.

According to them the GM is better by a significant margin in resolution

The GM should have better AF

Herearound the GM is slightly more than twice as expensive as the Sigma 50/2. It is somewhat larger and heavier (though as I understand not particularly large or heavy). Lenstip liked both of these lenses.

I've only read about somewhat wonky af on the 45/2,8 and have only personally experienced it wide open near mfd. I haven't read about weird af on the rest of the i-series though I would certainly think first party options are generally better in this regard. How good is good enough af, how much do you like the i-series (with their distinctive build), what do you care about weathersealing (the Sony appears better) and how sensitive are you to the difference in price (which might not be so great in your market)?

(The Sony 40 and 50 2,5 seem small and nice with stellar resolution and AF, I've never felt inclined toward them for they seem to have this outlining going on in the bokeh in many shots. Visible in Lenstip's statue portraits)

Nov 19, 2023 at 10:40 AM

mudlake
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Help choosing 50 mm

If you can afford it, just get the 50/1.4 GM. You’ll never need another 50mm.

If you don’t mind the size and can afford it, get the 50/1.2 GM. It’s the best 50mm ever made. Exquisite images and doubles as a 75/1.8 in crop mode.

If you get either of the two GM’s, you will probably never use your Sigma 45/2.8 again.

Nov 19, 2023 at 11:35 AM

KarmaKramer
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Help choosing 50 mm

Generally speaking the GMs are always better for AF especially. If you don’t need the best, then get the newest Sigma.

Nov 19, 2023 at 11:44 AM

aCuria
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Help choosing 50 mm

kaldur wrote:
Herearound the GM is slightly more than twice as expensive as the Sigma 50/2. It is somewhat larger and heavier (though as I understand not particularly large or heavy). Lenstip liked both of these lenses.

I've only read about somewhat wonky af on the 45/2,8 and have only personally experienced it wide open near mfd. I haven't read about weird af on the rest of the i-series though I would certainly think first party options are generally better in this regard. How good is good enough af, how much do you like the i-series (with their distinctive build), what do you...Show more →

The OP has the 45i + 50/2.5 and is looking for an even better 50mm lens. Money probably isn’t an issue when you own multiple lenses of similar focal length….

The 50i isn’t as good in the autofocus department and since money doesn’t matter the GM is the right choice

Nov 19, 2023 at 11:56 AM

foto16
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Help choosing 50 mm

You might want to investigate into the Samyang 50 1/1.4 II. It's lighter and cheaper than the other f1.4 options but with great optical quality. You can search--there are many favorable reviews, such as

https://dustinabbott.net/2022/01/samyang-af-50mm-f1-4-ii-review/

https://www.lenstip.com/653.1-Lens_review-Samyang_AF_50_mm_f_1.4_FE_II.html

Nov 19, 2023 at 12:10 PM

MaurizioC
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Help choosing 50 mm

Thank you for your time and for your advices.

The gm 1.2 is too heavy and expensive for me.
The gm 1.4 could be a solution but are there any lighter alternatives?

The gm 1.4 is better than the sigma 50 f2 according to lenstip but that is expected for the price difference. But is the sigma 50 f2 good?

Nov 19, 2023 at 12:23 PM

MaurizioC
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Help choosing 50 mm

Thank you for the samyang suggestion, I will look into it

Nov 19, 2023 at 12:26 PM

Jonas B
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Help choosing 50 mm

MaurizioC wrote:
Thank you for your time and for your advices.

The gm 1.2 is too heavy and expensive for me.
The gm 1.4 could be a solution but are there any lighter alternatives?

The gm 1.4 is better than the sigma 50 f2 according to lenstip but that is expected for the price difference. But is the sigma 50 f2 good?

There is some information/opinion on the Sigma 50i in a recent thread started by chiron
here.

I had the Sigma and now i have the 50/1.4 GM. The Sigma is no match for the GM (to my eyes). I see no point in the 1.2 version. But, that is me. There are of course many who will swear by the most expensive, heavier and faster option.

Nov 19, 2023 at 12:45 PM

QuietOC
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Help choosing 50 mm

The Samyang AF 50mm F1.4 II I tried seemed only good for portraits, but maybe it had some issue. Some copies seem to be better at the edges. It was very sharp in the center.

I like the 1.4/50ZA Planar and the Sigma 65i. The former is just as big and heavy as the 1.2/50GM. The 1.4/50GM seems an easy choice if you don't mind the price.

Nov 19, 2023 at 12:49 PM

MaurizioC
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Help choosing 50 mm

QuietOC wrote:
The Samyang AF 50mm F1.4 II I tried seemed only good for portraits, but maybe it had some issue. Some copies seem to be better at the edges. It was very sharp in the center.

I like the 1.4/50ZA Planar and the Sigma 65i. The former is just as big and heavy as the 1.2/50GM. The 1.4/50GM seems an easy choice if you don't mind the price.

The problem with the 1.4/50GM for me could be its size and weight (the price is very high too), that's why I wanted to understand how good is the Sigma 50/2.

The Samyang AF 50mm F1.4 II is very light considering the aperture but I read too its corner sharpness is not high

Edited on Nov 19, 2023 at 05:05 PM · View previous versions

Nov 19, 2023 at 04:59 PM

MaurizioC
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Help choosing 50 mm

Jonas B wrote:
There is some information/opinion on the Sigma 50i in a recent thread started by chiron
here.

I had the Sigma and now i have the 50/1.4 GM. The Sigma is no match for the GM (to my eyes). I see no point in the 1.2 version. But, that is me. There are of course many who will swear by the most expensive, heavier and faster option.

I am not considering the 50/1.2 GM due its size, weight and cost.
I don't doubt the 50/1.4 GM is a lot better of the Sigma 50/2 but is the Sigma 50/2 better than my 50/2.5G?
I will dive into the link you provided, thank you.

Lenstip published a very favorable review to the Sigma 50/2

https://www.lenstip.com/655.1-Lens_review-Sigma_C_50_mm_f_2_DG_DN.html

The sigma is in between the 50/1.4 GM and my Sony 50/2.5G as size and weight.

Nov 19, 2023 at 05:01 PM

MikeEvangelist
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Help choosing 50 mm

MaurizioC wrote:
Is the new sigma 50 f2 mm a good option or shall i consider only the 50 f1.4 gm?

Have you read Dustin Abbott's review? He is quite favorable about it. (I find that his opinions often match mine, so I'd feel quite comfortable buying it based on that review). I have the related Sigma 35mm ƒ2, which I love.

https://dustinabbott.net/2023/04/sigma-50mm-f2-dg-dn-c-iseries-review/

Nov 19, 2023 at 05:07 PM

MaurizioC
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Help choosing 50 mm

Thank you Mike i read Dustin's reviewe.
Also I read the thread started by chiron.

The Sigma 50/2 review's are positive but I am not sure its render is much better than my sony 50/2.5 to justify the change.

Of course it is faster but is also bigger and heavier.

Nov 20, 2023 at 06:41 AM

doc4x5
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Help choosing 50 mm

If you want the absolute best image quality across the field, consider the Voightlander 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar. Yes, it's manual focus but is impressively well built and easy to use.

Nov 20, 2023 at 10:03 AM

Newenglandrocks
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Help choosing 50 mm

foto16 wrote:
You might want to investigate into the Samyang 50 1/1.4 II. It's lighter and cheaper than the other f1.4 options but with great optical quality. You can search--there are many favorable reviews, such as

https://dustinabbott.net/2022/01/samyang-af-50mm-f1-4-ii-review/

https://www.lenstip.com/653.1-Lens_review-Samyang_AF_50_mm_f_1.4_FE_II.html

I have the SY50 AFii and bought it because of the rendering I saw here on FM in this thread here:

https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1730747/0

If you really love shooting 50 and have the funds, I’d recommend one of the GM variants. But I personally like 50 the least of any of the “regular” focal lengths, so I was looking for a fast option at a lower price point. I owned the FE50, SY45, and TT Artisan 50 f/1.4 (MF) before selling them all and settling on the Samyang.

Nov 21, 2023 at 09:32 PM

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