Sony Planar T* FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA Lens

The Planar T* FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA Lens by Sony, featuring a standard perspective, rapid maximum aperture, and premium construction, is undoubtedly a preferred choice for full-frame E-mount photographers. Its 50mm focal length provides a versatile field of view, making it ideal for various applications such as portrait photography, landscapes, and beyond. Additionally, the lens's bright design facilitates creative depth of field manipulation and enhances performance in low-light conditions.

ZEISS Optical Design

Drawing from the ZEISS Planar optical design, this lens incorporates a configuration of 12 elements arranged in 9 groups, facilitating a substantial maximum aperture of f/1.4 while effectively reducing chromatic aberrations. The rapid f/1.4 maximum aperture is advantageous for operation in challenging lighting environments and provides extensive control over focus placement when utilizing shallow depth of field methods. The rounded diaphragm with eleven blades enhances the aesthetic quality of bokeh when applying selective focus techniques.

Each lens surface is treated with ZEISS T* anti-reflective coatings to reduce reflections, thereby enhancing image clarity, contrast, and color accuracy. The optical design includes one Advanced Aspherical (AA) element along with an additional aspherical element, which effectively manages astigmatism, field curvature, coma, and various spherical aberrations. Furthermore, the inclusion of an extra-low dispersion element in the lens design aids in minimizing chromatic aberrations and color fringing, resulting in superior clarity and color fidelity.

Autofocus and Handling

The Ring Drive Super Sonic Wave Motor autofocus system, along with the internal focus mechanism, ensures rapid, silent, and accurate autofocus capabilities, while also enhancing the ease of manual focus control. The AF/MF switch is conveniently positioned on the lens barrel, allowing for easy tactile adjustments between focus modes. Additionally, the physical aperture ring can be de-clicked, facilitating smooth and silent transitions in aperture settings, which is advantageous for video recording. The design is sealed against dust and moisture, making it suitable for use in adverse weather conditions, and the rubberized control rings improve handling in colder environments.