Canon 50mm 1.2 vs Sony Zeiss Planar 50mm 1.4 E Mount: I am looking at purchasing one of these 50mm lenses in the title for my Sony a7r iv. Has anyone done a side by side comparison of...

Opusx300

I am looking at purchasing one of these 50mm lenses in the title for my Sony a7r iv. Has anyone done a side by side comparison of the two on their Sony? If so, what did you like and dislike about each? I prefer to hear about real life experiences from those of you here on the hog. I know native lenses usually perform better but that canon sure does seem tempting to me. Thank you.

tommy2 Loc: Fort Worth, Texas

My 2 cents worth from renting the Canon a couple times. It is a stellar lens but very heavy. Didn't buy one because of that then and how much I thought I'd use it. Been thinking about getting one now that my interest in subjects to photograph are changing.

repleo Loc: Boston

tommy2 wrote:

My 2 cents worth from renting the Canon a couple times. It is a stellar lens but very heavy. Didn't buy one because of that then and how much I thought I'd use it. Been thinking about getting one now that my interest in subjects to photograph are changing.

And add the cost and weight of an adapter to the Canon

Blair Shaw Jr Loc: Dunnellon,Florida

Opusx300 wrote:

I am looking at purchasing one of these 50mm lenses in the title for my Sony a7r iv. Has anyone done a side by side comparison of the two on their Sony? If so, what did you like and dislike about each? I prefer to hear about real life experiences from those of you here on the hog. I know native lenses usually perform better but that canon sure does seem tempting to me. Thank you.

Either lens would be a good choice. Get the one YOU want and not the one I'd pick. Try before you buy is a good solution for splitting-hairs in some circumstances. It only has to please you first & foremost.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

The Canon lens is spectacular from about f/2 and smaller. Unless cost is a limiting factor, I'd go with the Sony.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

Opusx300 wrote:

I am looking at purchasing one of these 50mm lenses in the title for my Sony a7r iv. Has anyone done a side by side comparison of the two on their Sony? If so, what did you like and dislike about each? I prefer to hear about real life experiences from those of you here on the hog. I know native lenses usually perform better but that canon sure does seem tempting to me. Thank you.

Try these reviews:
https://kenrockwell.com/sony/zeiss/50mm-f14.htm
https://kenrockwell.com/canon/lenses/50mm-f12.htm

Seems like the Sony/Zeiss might be your best choice.

Opusx300

tommy2 wrote:

My 2 cents worth from renting the Canon a couple times. It is a stellar lens but very heavy. Didn't buy one because of that then and how much I thought I'd use it. Been thinking about getting one now that my interest in subjects to photograph are changing.

Thank you for your response. I guess from your response that you have not done a side by side? You have just tried the Canon?

Opusx300

repleo wrote:

And add the cost and weight of an adapter to the Canon

Thank you for your response. I understand the weight and cost parameters. The weight of the canon to sony e mount adapter plus the lens is roughly the same as the Sony lens. The cost would be a couple of hundred more.

Per my original post, I am looking for people who have done their own real life comparison. Have you done such a comparison?

Opusx300

Blair Shaw Jr wrote:

Either lens would be a good choice. Get the one YOU want and not the one I'd pick. Try before you buy is a good solution for splitting-hairs in some circumstances. It only has to please you first & foremost.

Thank you

Opusx300

CHG_CANON wrote:

The Canon lens is spectacular from about f/2 and smaller. Unless cost is a limiting factor, I'd go with the Sony.

Thank you.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

I believe the Zeiss 50mm f1.4 Planar is manual focus only? Compared to the Canon 50mm f1.2, which is autofocus.

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

Opusx300 wrote:

I am looking at purchasing one of these 50mm lenses in the title for my Sony a7r iv. Has anyone done a side by side comparison of the two on their Sony? If so, what did you like and dislike about each? I prefer to hear about real life experiences from those of you here on the hog. I know native lenses usually perform better but that canon sure does seem tempting to me. Thank you.

You are aware that Zeiss lenses are manual focus ONLY? Zeiss makes great lenses for those who want them, but they do not autofocus.

Opusx300

Please refer to the title of my message. It states sony zeiss 50mm 1.4 Planar e mount, which is an auto focus lens. Have you had real life experience between that lens and the canon I mentioned?

BTW, Zeiss itself does make auto focus lenses for the sony e mount. Guess you have never heard of the Zeiss Batis lenses.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

mas24 wrote:

I believe the Zeiss 50mm f1.4 Planar is manual focus only? Compared to the Canon 50mm f1.2, which is autofocus.

I just checked, and discovered the Zeiss 50mm f1.4 Planar FE , Sony Brand name, is autofocus.

BebuLamar

Opusx300 wrote:

Please refer to the title of my message. It states sony zeiss 50mm 1.4 Planar e mount, which is an auto focus lens. Have you had real life experience between that lens and the canon I mentioned?

BTW, Zeiss itself does make auto focus lenses for the sony e mount. Guess you have never heard of the Zeiss Batis lenses.

And would the Canon lens AF with the Sony camera? You would also need an adapter. To me unless the performance is significantly better I see no good reason to use the Canon lens on the Sony.