The Sony FE 50mm f2.5 G may not be a thrifty 50, but it's certainly a nifty 50! Check price at B&H: bhpho.to/3seeI8z // WEX UK: tidd.ly/2PlGotG Buy Gordon a coffee: www.paypal.me/cameralabs Gordon's In Camera book at Amazon: amzn.to/2n61PfI / Amazon uk: amzn.to/2mBqRVZ Like Cameralabs? Get the merch: redbubble.com/people/cameralabs/shop Sample images and written review: www.cameralabs.com/sony-fe-50mm-f2-5-g-review/ Music: www.davidcuttermusic.com​ / @dcuttermusic #sony #50mm #lens

Was considering the 50GM but decided to pick this lens up instead because I shoot landscape mostly and a little street and I really never need 1.2 @ 50mm, and your video put me over the top. This will pair nicely with my 24GM and 135GM. I had been carrying my old radioactive Super-Takumar 50 1.4, but having AF will be a nice change. I also won't have to carry my Sigma 24-70 all that much, and can just zoom with my feet. Truth be told, I've been gravitating more toward primes last year or so anyway.

Thanks for another great video! I wanted to tell you that I just purchased your book, “In Camera“, and I am really enjoying it! I love the images and the stories are great and I wish you the very best of luck with it! Sean

Super Helpful Video! Loved all the comparisons. Answered all my questions!

I actually really appreciate you comparing the 2.5 with the 1.2 GM lens. Although the two aren't all that comparable I did find it interesting to see the practical difference.

Great review of this wonderful lens. Love how you can set the aperture on the lens like old film-era lenses. All I need on my A7iii (plus a 49mm Urth polariser). Makes for a very lightweight, full frame mirrorless kit - so you are more likely to bring the camera with you.

as always, a symphatic, good review. Maybe have a look to the 20/1.8G and the new 40mmG. I hope the UWW f1.8 comes soon too.

Absolutely awesome, thorough review. Thank you Gordon.

Thank you very much for this very informative review! I was still looking for a compact 50 mm with autofocus to go with my 35/1.4 Nokton from Voigtländer. It seems I have found what I was looking for.

Really loving the size of these smaller lenses. Wish more more companies would produce these smaller, higher quality lenses. Nikon seems to feel a smaller lens should equal lesser quality. As an example, the new Nikon 40/2 is missing some of that magic found in the 50/1.8 S. Which is such a shame. Love this review. Many thanks.

Brillant review! Very helpful! Thanks!

That 1.2 is no longer needed in a normal lighting situation, since if you want greater bokeh with the 50 2.5, you edit the photo in lightroom, where you can choose the depth of field. I have 3 objectives: 24,40 and 50. a delight. thank you.

Gordon you always make great videos thank you!

Wow! That Sony 50mm 2.5 is so sharp! Love it! Thanks for the video

Superb Review Gordon! Been deciding between the Zeiss 55mm 1.8 and the Sony 50mm 2.5 G and went with the latter. This is to replace my Sigma 50mm 1.4 DG HSM which I love, but as I have the 24-70 Sigma and they weigh the same, I wanted something ultra light and feature packed! Very happy with my choice and your video really helped me make up my mind! Liked and subbed! Cheers!

Loved the review!

Thank you! I prefere this lens, 2.5 to 55 1.8. It came as a surprise for me. It has very good contrast and the autofocus is quick and faultless.

Good one sir..nice clicks too..focussing also good

Very good comparisson! a comparison between sony 50gm and 55 zeiss would also be interesting...

Thanks for the review, I own the GM but looking for a compact one, .I ‘ll wait a bit more to see if sigma release an f2. I loved the apo voigt but non af there.

Hm jw which would be preferred? Say 502.5 or 551.8? Considering similar pricing 🤔

By reading one of the first comments on the list I have discovered that you wrote a book, and as I have really appreciate your honest-professional review and comparisons, I have just place an order for your book (the Italian edition). I am in the middle of considering to buy an A7RIII and I am looking for a good prime standard lens, for what I have understand a better alternative to the Sony 50mm F2.5, would be the Sigma 50mm F1.4 (which is half the price of the nearly equivalent Zeiss), or an interesting alternative it would be the Sony Zeiss 55mm F1.8. What would you suggests as a good lens, fast, for an high res camera?

Focused on infinity the Sony's framing is very close to the Sigma's - as seen in your diagonal shot of the pier. It looks like it's focus breathing down to about 47mm at infinity - assuming that the Sigma is a true 45mm at infinity.

Excellent review

This seems like a steal. Pretty much the same great build quality, AF speed and accuracy with similar sharpness and IQ as the 50 f/1.2 GM, but way smaller, lighter and $1,500 cheaper. Those of us who don't need the faster aperture of the 1.2 GM are in luck. I prefer everything about the Sony 50 over the Sigma 45 In these tests as well. I was considering the Sigma, but this pushed me to the Sony. Going to pick one of these up to test out. Just need Sony to make one of these in 85mm.

Hi,thanks for the interesting review. For achieving the same DOF in an Apsc camera with the same focal length,you would need a lens with a f1.67 aperture, right? (2,5:1,5=1,67)

Thanks for the review! I kind of wish Sony would update the 50 f1.8 but I can't imagine it would ever have the same build quality as this lens.... Have you heard if a refresh of the Sony 50 F1.8 is in the works?

Tks !!!

Great review Gordon. Think I’ll still stick with my old 55mm, always happy with its great quality and when using without the hood, the 55mm is still compact enough.

The best review I watched regarding Sony 50mm f2.5 G lens. Nice comparison with other 50s.. I'm more of a video guy and do you think shoul I get this one as my 1st 50mm? GM lens is too expensive for me. More power to you Sir 👍

You are the best Gordon!!!

This series needs a Sony 135mm f4 G lens. Think of street photographers like Saul Leiter, Fred Herzog...

One major issue is stabilisation works better with Sony lenses. Newer Sony cameras will correct focus breathing in camera, with a slight crop. These small G lenses are all very nice indeed, I have the 24.

I like these, but I went with Samyang 24mm 2.8 & 45mm 1.8 very compact $500 for the pair!

Thanks for the great video. Please tell me which Sony camera do you use this lens on?

Nice review...

ist this lens fast because of alpha 1 or is it a really fast lens even when mounted an alpha 7m3 too?

Hi Sir, Is this lens sharper than Sony 50mm f1.8 and Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 ?

Focus breathing is not a compromise in a lens design, in fact, is totally normal for any optical formula with focusing ability, lenses without that phenomena are corrected essentially with internal zooming. Potato Jet had a great interview with Art Adams from Arri about that.

Thank you for this very interesting review. I would recommend the Samyang / Rokinon 45 1.8 which is very light and very sharp. For me it is probably the best trade-off. In exchange for a faster lens and sharpness you have to give up some build quality and the customisable button.

I know it’s what goes on in photography but sigma updating the 35mm to f1.2 then the ungianting of the 85 hurt my heart rofl. I already have the 50 f1.4 but with all the new 50s now floating around it has to be on its way

Sony Fe 35mm f/1,8 is the best option i think.

If only this were faster, passed on the first one cause of the sluggish focus

This is perfect on the a7c

to me it is very obvious that 50 1.2 GM produces more contrast and richer color than 50 2.5 G

Eek, I might pull the trigger on this. Found it for £370!

Hey Gordon, Can you please do a test on best mid-range lens for Canon C70 and Red Komodo

Not a Sony user, just wanted to see Brighton :)

Hey Gordon, Can you please do a comparison on best Zoom Lens for Video. -Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM Lens -CANON RF 28-70MM LENS F/2 L USM -Sony FE 24-70mm f2.8 G Master Lens -Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 AF DG DN Art

Would this lens do well for a music video?

Why would you choose this over the sony 50mm 1.8?

Fast forward to 2024, if you had to choose what would you pick. Sigma 50mm F2 I-series or the 50mm F2.5G Sony?

For a 2.5 aperture, does this lens deserve the name nifty fifty for a price above $200? I believe the gold standard is Canon 50 1.8 deserving of the name nifty fifty because of what it delivers for the cost of less than $100.

Next lans Sony 85MM F2.8 G ...

40 2.5g and 50 2.5g，which will be the choice if only one to buy for everyday use？

Love the aperture rings and compact size, buy why cant we have a 28mm? 24 is too wide to walk around and 40 & 50 are claustrophobic

I really like your reviews. At the same time, you seem to be the most positive about Sony lenses in general and less critical about issues. These lenses are ridiculously overpriced to what the offer. The Nikon Z 50 1.8 is cheaper and easily outclasses this 50.

50 mil is what your see? Not true. Take a zoom lens and compare the picture from the viewfinder with what you see. When are they really the same? Try it for yourself. -- That being said, every lens has its purpose, a wide angle as well as a telephoto - and 50 mil is very useful.

I think Sony could have done what Canon did and crammed 1:2 macro capabilities into these lenses. Once you get really close up, even f/2.5 would still give a lot of background blur. I think that Sony is going after APS-C users looking to go FF while keeping the size and weight down. f/2.5 sounds slow for FF users but APS-C users should feel right at home if they have shot with f/1.4-1.8 lenses on their Fuji or Sony A6xxx.

Strange these have onion ring bokeh but use XA aspherical elements. I thought those were supposed to clear those up.

they couldn’t make this a 1.8?

The problem with this lens is that for that price you can get the Tammy 28-75mm..

Those sigma lenses are heavy. I have the 65mmm

Focus breathing bothers focus stackers? Not on Sony cameras...

Your reading the same script as with the 40mm

The price of Sony Zeiss 55mm f/1.8 of 2013 has dropped significantly and is a better, not much heavier or larger choice than the quite expensive smaller Sony 50mm f/2.5 G.

This is the exact same review as your 40mm f2.5g review. Why I even post a different video?

Nitty fifty for 600?)

The Nikon Z 50mm 1.8 is $600 and way better. This should have been $400.

not nifty fifty at all , far too expensive and killing the meaning of the definition. its a great one but 4 times to expensive for that title

They look to be fine lenses but my word someone at Sony design has gone bezerk with the ugly pen.

What a pile of crap of a lens.

Too expensive, too slow, too bulky. Pass.

Amazing, unbiased review. Ty, sir.