50mm is my preferred focal lenght, and I'd like a small-cheap-and moderately fast lens as a walkaround for daily situations.
Priority is dimension/weight and good bokeh. I'm considering:
- Sony FE 50mm 1.8
- Viltrox Air 50mm f2
- TTArtisan 50mm 1.8
Not considering the Sony 2.5 G - I had it in the past and 2.5 is a tad too slow. Also, too expensive for my use case. Optically, the one I prefer is the Sony 1.8. Now, I have two questions:
- Anything else worth considering?
- How's autofocus for the Viltrox (mixed reviews: seems fast but less precise than the Sony) and the TTArtisan?
Of course, if someone owned more than one I'm super interested in their experience.
the Viltrox 2/50mm AIR is a very sharp lens, at large apertures clear sharper than the Sony 1.8/50. The Bokeh of the Viltrox is good too but you have to stop down to f2.8-f3.2 for my taste. For fast AF I have a Sony 1.2/50 GM which I love for sharness, rendering and AF but use the others ocacionally when size and weight matters.
Viltrox 50/2 is killer for the money, tiny, lightweight and great optically. Mine is for sale in the B&S here, but only because I prefer a slightly longer focal so picked up an older Sony/Zeiss 55/1.8 and am using that instead.
I actually own several. Of course my Sony FE 50mm f1.2 GM is the best and then there is my FE 50mm f1.4 GM. After that I rank either the Sony FE 55mm f1.8 and Viltrox 55mm f1.8 EVO.
Then there is the Viltrox 50mm f2 Air and Sony FE 50mm f2.5 G.
I also like the Sigma 50mm f2.0 DG DC Contemporary. But it’s heavier than the Air or about as big as the EVO. I think that’s the full collection of 50-55mm lenses I own. Way too many but those are the ones I currently own.
Watch for buying directly from Viltrox in Europe - if there is a quality issue, or if you want to return it, you have pay 40 EUR to ship it back to China. Until they open up service and return facilities in Europe, I am not buying from them.
I’ve owned so many 50’s over the years I’ve lost count. If you want excellent optics, light weight, small, AND cheap, the Viltrox 50/2 Air is the one you want. Beautiful rendering and extremely sharp. I would easily pick it over the Sony 50/1.8 and I own both.
Viltrox 50 Air is the Best 50 in the World. I own heaps of lenses including 50mm primes (9 with 3 of them Leica). Besides the giveaway low price, AF and small size, the Air has an extremely high-tech optical design.
If you don't mind a slightly tighter focal length the good old Sony Zeiss FE 55 F1.8 ZA may be a nice alternative. Can be found cheap on used market and is lightweight.