GrandmaG Loc: Flat Rock, MI

I'm looking for a prime lens for my new Sony a7iii and was considering a 50mm. I think it would make a great traveling camera instead of taking my 24-70/4 (I kinda wished I would've gotten the 24-105!).

The zoom is great for everyday pictures and I have my D500 for action and portraits, so I don't want a slew of lenses for the Sony. The 24-70 is the only full frame Sony lens I have.

I've watched many reviews and youtube videos and still can't decide. Now, I'd like to hear from actual users. I read that the 55 has a mechanical flaw by this reviewer on B&H, who said,

"While its optically excellent, it is mechanically flawed. A well-known photo equipment rental company has had to repair many of these lenses due to a STUPID engineering design. A crucial part of the focusing motor, used for both AF and manual focusing, is only secured by a glob of glue!! When this coil releases from the glue, the lens cannot focus. From online discussions, it seems that Sony out-sourced repair centers will deem this defect 'unrepairable' (the rental company disassembles their lenses and reapply another glob of glue). The result for the rest of us is a very expensive paperweight."

I don't want to buy an very expensive paperweight!!

ballsafire Loc: Lafayette, Louisiana

Just fast answer--I'd get the Sony 50 f/1.8 or one for the D500--take your choice; then you might not use the lens so often.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Consider the new Sigma Sony E mount 50mm:

https://www.sigmaphoto.com/50mm-f14-dg-hsm-a

The Sigma 50 mm ART lens I have for my Nikon D850 is incredible.

GrandmaG Loc: Flat Rock, MI

The D500 is an ASP-C camera and I have a 50mm lens for it. A better comparison for the crop sensor camera is the 35mm. Thanks for the thought, though.

GrandmaG Loc: Flat Rock, MI

I have four Sigma lenses for my D500 and I love them all. Now you just complicated my decision!!

zug55 Loc: Naivasha, Kenya, and Austin, Texas

The big question is what you want this prime lens to do for you. If you buy a prime then it should be able to do something your current 24-70mm lens cannot do. Is the Sony 50mm in that category? I am not sure. The Sony/Zeiss 55mm definitely is in that category. I own that lens, and it is superb in every category, particularly sharpness and color rendition. (Yes, I saw the B&H review you are quoting.)

Somebody mentioned the Sigma Art 50mm--which by all accounts is superb lens. But it also is very heavy--it weighs almost 2 pounds! (815g) By comparison, your 24-70 weighs just under one pound (426g). So the Sigma is not a great travel lens. It is even heavier than the outstanding Sony 24-105mm. (The 24-105 is so good that sometimes this is the only lens I take along, just because of the convenience.)

The other question is whether 50/55mm is a good range for you. In my experience, the 35mm range is more useful as a general purpose lens for a full-frame camera. (The Sony/Zeiss 35mm is outstanding, and extremely small--a gem for travel photography. This is the lens that always makes it into my travel bag.) I would check the pictures you took with your 24-70 for the actual focal length. That gives you a clue as to what focal length works best for you.

GrandmaG Loc: Flat Rock, MI

Yes, I tend to agree with you that the Sigma would be a bit too heavy for the mirrorless camera. I looked at all the pictures that I have taken so far and out of 386 pictures, 143 were around 35, 70, around 50, and the balance anywhere in between.

Stan W. Loc: Tampa, Fl

I have and use the 55 1.8 for three years. No problems and it is a great lens.

Delderby Loc: Derby UK

I'm wondering what sort of travel and what sort of images you are looking to take on those travels? a small range zoom would seem to be ideal, or perhaps two small range zooms? With an expensive FF I guess IQ is important to you, and I, personally, limit my choices to 3x zooms for the IQ. Although I am not paranoid over IQ, it's there when I do need it.

repleo Loc: Boston

Grandma,
I have the Sony Zeiss 24-70 which as you know is a nice lens (there is also a 24-70 GM but I assume you have the Zeiss). I subsequently acquired the 24-105 G which is truly outstanding. I was saving for the FE 55mm 1.8 because I felt I wanted something faster than F4.0 but when the regular FE 50 f1.8 went on sale for $250 I decided to give it a try.

The 50/1.8 is an amazingly light lens and does a perfectly adequate job, but it is not going to excite you except for its price and lightness. You will hardly even know it is on the camera. I don't pixel peep, but I would say the IQ is fine. Focus is probably too noisy for video. At times, focus will go all the way out and back in again before stopping, but it makes small adjustments pretty quick.

For me, the biggest drawback with the 50/1.8 is that my 24-105 is so good I don't really need a prime in that range. I shoot mainly landscapes at around f8 so I don't need the faster lens that often. The 24-105 is streets ahead of the ZA 24-70, but it is a bit heavier and bigger. I also have the FE 28/2.0 which is a really nice sharp lens and about the same size and weight as the 50/1.8. I like the 28/2.0 for low light situations and is a perfect light 'walk-around' landscape prime.

For my money, I would sell or trade the 24-70, forget about the 55/1.8 and get the 24-105 G and the 50/1.8 or better still the 28/2.0 for a light travel / landscape lens.

ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or

I tend to agree with those who like the zooms. That is mostly what I use too. But if you think that you need a 50-55 prime then buy a used Minolta or Canon, or Pentax old film prime lens. There are lots of them out there in f1.8, f1.4, or f1.2. I personally have a Minolta 58mm f1.4 that I got at a yard sale for $10. Add another $10 for an adapter. For $20 I have one fast prime that will be very comparable to a modern lens at 1/100 the price. Be it fully manual though. Which is not a problem with my Sony Cameras with focus peaking. Happy Shooting.

GrandmaG Loc: Flat Rock, MI

Thank you for that. I watched some YouTube videos where even pros are traveling lighter with a mirrorless or 4/3 camera and 30 mm equivalent lens. Yet others like the 50 mm range.

GrandmaG Loc: Flat Rock, MI

We will be in St Augustine, Florida this winter and flying with one checked bag and one carry-on. Weight is a concern.

I would like to capture pictures of the city, people, sunrise on the ocean, etc. Also, I want a lens that shines in low light. The 50 range is considered a normal lens. That’s why I’m looking at it. I could take 2-3 lenses, but not heavy ones. I also heard good things about the 16-35/1.8 lens.

Edit: Maybe a small zoom and two small primes would fill the bill.

I also want a prime for video

GrandmaG Loc: Flat Rock, MI

Damn... I guess I didn’t research my lens choices well enough before I bought the camera. I’ve only shot ASP-C cameras and I LOVE the 24-70/2.8 on the D500, so I thought it would be a good match for the Sony a7iii. However, I am finding that I wish I could zoom in a little more.

I will call my camera store and see if they will make a reasonable trade! If I’m buying more expensive glass, then maybe.....

stevefrankel

I just bought the Sony 55mm f1.8 lens as my first (and maybe only) lens with my new Sony a7R ii. It arrived on Wednesday and it's truly superb -- maybe the best lens/camera combo I've ever used (see my book, "Choosing Great Cameras for Cruises & Tours"). It's working great now, and I bought Adorama's Green Leaf 5-year warranty for $165. It covers $3,000 worth of damage. I also have a camera floater on my USAA Valuable Property insurance. With both of these in place, a mechanical failure down the line will result in me receiving a new lens.