Back in 2013, I finished my review of the Sony Zeiss 50mm f1.4 lens for A mount. This lens, at least to me, came oddly late. At the time, I was transitioning fully away from DSLRs and instead to mirrorless cameras. In fact, I mandated to the staff that we’d only be testing DSLR lenses adapted to mirrorless camera bodies — if we tested them at all. Something about this lens was really, really special. For starters, I stated that it focused faster than nearly any 50mm f1.4 lens that we’d tested at the time. Sure, it lost accuracy in low light. But if you always have good lighting when working with this lens, you’ll fall in love.
The image quality of this lens was also something really special. It was made in collaboration with Zeiss, and is probably also the last lens made for A mount that really mattered. And there was a lot to love from the color rendition, sharpness, bokeh, etc.
Looking back on this review, I’m still in. love with the work that I’ve done with this lens.
I went back and compared this lens to the newer Sony 50mm f1.4 G Master lens. And I’ll still admit that the newer G master has a look to it that seems different a bit more unique compared to everything else that Sony makes. Yet there’s something about the colors of the older Zeiss lens that really make you realize that you’re shooting with a Zeiss. The newer 50mm f1.4 is more muted — and that’s well worth its own adoration.
The A-mount version I still think is also better than the 50mm f1.4 E mount lens that was released back in 2016. That lens has really beautiful image quality too, but there’s something odd about it that I really can’t quite put my finger on.
If you’re into vivid 50mm lenses though, the last A-mount one that was made is probably right up your interest.