Sony Carl Zeiss Planar T* Fe 50mm 14 Za Review

The optical structure utilizes twelve lenses, including aspherical and AA elements, an ED (extra-low dispersion) element, as well as Carl Zeiss T* anti-reflective lens coatings. This all comes housed in a grit- and moisture-resistant metal lens barrel that weighs 778 grams and is 108mm in length.

Other features include an eleven-bladed circular discontinuity for bonny bokeh; Sony's SSM (supersonic wave motor) for quick and quiet autofocus; a large manual focus ring with AF/MF switch; internal focusing; and a physical discontinuity band with a "de-click" switch for quiet functioning during video capture.

There's no lens-based epitome stabilization organization in the Zeiss Iron 50mm f/1.4, only stabilized stills and video are withal doable when combined with Sony cameras such as the a7R Two, which that features Sony'south camera-based 5-axis sensor-shift solution.

An East-mount lens, the Zeiss FE 50mm f/one.iv remains compatible with Sony APS-C mirrorless cameras such as the A6500, where it offers an equivalent 75mm focal length (taking into account the "ingather factor"), making information technology a proficient portrait and headshot option for smaller-chip Sony shooters.

Overall image quality

Tested on the 42Mp Sony a7R II, the Zeiss Atomic number 26 50mm f/1.4 achieves an outstanding overall score of 45 points, thanks to its splendid low-light performance.

Ranking in joint 5th identify for all lenses we've tested on the a7R Ii, and joint summit place for 50mm primes (aslope the cheaper $949 Carl Zeiss Loxia FE 50mm f/2), the Zeiss FE 50mm f/i.four is one of the best-performing optics we've evaluated.

Sharpness is extremely good, maximizing 41Mp of the Sony a7R II'southward 42Mp resolution, with uniform border-to-edge sharpness and loftier levels of acutance (over 70% between f/2 and f/eleven), and hit summit sharpness between f/2.8 and f/8. Using the maximum f/1.4 aperture, strong acutance of effectually 70% is recorded in the eye of the frame, with slightly softer results dropping to around lx% in the outer field. At the minimum f/16 aperture, diffraction reduces acutance marginally, down to around 65%, only resolution remains compatible.

Rather heavy vignetting of –two.5EV occurs at the maximum f/1.4 discontinuity, and although the issue improves with narrower apertures, some corner shading around –0.6EV remains evident at all other settings.

Chromatic aberrations are well-controlled at all apertures; there'south virtually no distortion equally y'all'd expect from a prime at this focal length; and splendid light transmission of ane.6 TStop ensures a brilliant viewfinder image and plenty of light for the autofocus sensor.

Highlights

• Outstanding sharpness
• Splendid low-cal transmission
• SSW autofocus motor
• Broad f/i.4 maximum aperture
• AF/MF switch and large manual focus band
• Physical aperture ring with "de-click" option for video

Drawbacks

• Heavy vignetting at f/1.four
• Large and heavy

Image quality compared

For our caput-to-head analysis we've pitted the Zeiss Fe 50mm f/1.4 against the cheaper $949 Carl Zeiss Loxia Atomic number 26 50mm f/2 manual focus lens, also as confronting the $498 Sony FE 50mm f/2.eight Macro, which features 1:i macro magnification focusing and a focus range limiter switch.

The Zeiss Loxia version achieves the same low-low-cal overall score, with both 50mm lenses producing excellent results in challenging lighting environments. The Zeiss Iron 50mm f/i.4 offers sharper results overall, however, and while the Loxia is still very practiced, providing excellent uniform resolution betwixt f/v.6 and f/11 and very good center sharpness at the wider apertures, the Zeiss Fe 50mm f/1.4 is stronger in the corners between f/two and f/iv.

The Loxia distorts a little more at 0.4% likewise, requiring a little correction for perfectly straight lines; and although both Zeiss 50mm options vignette quite heavily at their respective maximum apertures, the Loxia improves more rapidly using narrower apertures, about eliminating corner shading between f/4 and f/22.

For the more upkeep-conscious Sony shooter, the Sony FE 50mm f/2.viii Macro compares very favorably with the more expensive Zeiss competition, again with first-class low-light operation resulting in a very respectable overall score of 41 points.

Field acutance is very proficient on the Sony 50mm, as well, with loftier levels of uniform resolution at all apertures and peak sharpness approaching 80% acutance between f/4 and f/eight. With a ii-end slower maximum aperture compared to the Zeiss FE 50mm f/i.4, it'southward evidently not as bright a lens as the Zeiss, simply the cheaper Sony controls distortion and chromatic aberration well. Corner shading remains something of an issue on the Sony 50mm as well, however, with heavy vignetting around –ii EV at f/2.viii; and although it's reduced to around –0.6 EV using the smaller apertures, you'll need some correction for completely make clean results at all settings.

Conclusion

Adding a very fast f/1.4 maximum aperture selection to the Sony/Zeiss 50mm lineup will be welcomed by Sony a7 shooters looking for a high-performance, general-utilize, low-calorie-free lens.

Costing $1498, information technology's a pretty expensive option, and at 108mm in length and weighing 778g, it's a fairly bulky bit of drinking glass for apply on the smaller Sony mirrorless cameras, too. If yous're later the all-time results from your a7 series hybrid at 50mm, however, the Zeiss Atomic number 26 50mm f/1.4 is outstanding, delivering some of the all-time low-light operation and sharpness possible in this category.

The large manual focus ring, MF/AF switch and physical aperture ring with 'de-click' option brand information technology versatile for videographers, and for stills shooters its bright lite manual and SSW motor should facilitate excellent autofocus functioning even in low light.

Photographers, specifically videographers, who can live with a ane-finish slower maximum discontinuity and manual focus, can expect like depression-light performance and still excellent resolution from the cheaper $949 Carl Zeiss Loxia FE 50mm f/2 — a lens roughly half the weight and length every bit the Zeiss FE 50mm f/1.4. For effectually a third of the cost of the Zeiss, the Sony FE 50mm f/ii.eight Macro likewise delivers very good results, with excellent sharpness in its available aperture range. But if it'southward outstanding low-light operation, first-course sharpness at very wide apertures, and snappy autofocus that y'all desire in an FE-mount 50mm lens, the Zeiss FE 50mm f/1.iv is unrivaled and an excellent choice for the discerning Sony a7 serial owner.

Also consider

For greater insight into the performance of alternatives to the Zeiss Fe 50mm f/1.iv, delight see our A7R II best prime lens review, as well every bit our in-depth Sony FE 50mm f/two.8 Macro, Loxia Atomic number 26 50mm f/2 and Sony FE 50mm f/1.viii lens reviews.

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Source: https://www.dxomark.com/sony-carl-zeiss-planar-t-fe-50mm-f-1-4-za-lens-review/

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