50mm lenses are some of the most popular in photography, and the best 50mm lenses for Sony cameras give you incredible creative options for photography and videography. Known for their quality, Sony’s 50mm lenses help you capture intimate portraits, dynamic street scenes, and exotic travel travel photography shots.
Our top pick is the Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM, celebrated for its exceptional low light performance and beautiful bokeh, making it a standout choice for professionals and enthusiasts alike. Alongside this top contender, we’ve reviewed seven other lenses, ensuring there’s a perfect 50mm lens for every Sony photographer.
What Is the Best 50mm Lens for Sony?
When selecting the best 50mm lens for Sony, key factors like aperture, weight, and special features have to be top considerations.
Our list includes top picks from Sony and Sigma, chosen for their versatility and ability to capture sharp, detailed images. Each lens offers unique advantages, from macro capabilities to exceptional bokeh, ensuring there’s an option for every type of photographer.
- Superior sharpness and clarity even at f/1.4
- Fast, precise autofocus with quiet operation
- Durable, weather-sealed construction for reliability
- Exceptional bokeh for standout portraits
- Versatile for street, portrait, and low-light photography
- Affordable entry into high-quality prime lenses
- Lightweight design enhances portability and handling
- Wide f/1.8 aperture ideal for low-light shooting
- Produces pleasing bokeh for portrait photography
- Solid build quality for everyday use
- Optical SteadyShot stabilization for sharp handheld shots
- Ideal for APS-C cameras with 75mm equivalent
- Fast f/1.8 aperture enhances low-light photography
- Smooth bokeh perfect for portrait backgrounds
- Lightweight and compact for everyday use
- Unmatched f/1.2 aperture for exceptional low-light performance
- G Master quality ensures superior image resolution
- Creamy bokeh enhances portrait photography
- Fast, silent autofocus ideal for video and stills
- Durable, weather-sealed design for professional use
- Compact and lightweight design for easy portability
- High-quality G series optics ensure sharp images
- Fast f/2.5 aperture for good low-light performance
- Precise autofocus system for quick, reliable focusing
- Durable build with weather resistance for outdoor shooting
- True 1:1 macro capability for detailed close-ups
- Compact design, ideal for on-the-go photography
- Sharp image quality across the entire frame
- Minimal distortion enhances macro and product photography
- Fast, accurate autofocus for precise detail capture
- Exceptional f/1.4 aperture for superior low-light performance
- Art line quality ensures outstanding image sharpness
- Beautiful bokeh enhances portrait and subject photography
- Fast and silent autofocus system for critical shooting
- Durable construction with weather-sealed protection for reliability
- Compact design perfect for travel and street photography
- Exceptional optical quality with minimal aberrations
- f/2 aperture offers good balance of light and depth
- Precise autofocus mechanism for sharp, detailed images
- Robust build with elegant, contemporary aesthetic
Our Favorite 50mm Lenses for Sony
Let’s take a closer look at our favorite 50mm lenses for Sony. From wide apertures for low-light mastery to macro capabilities for detailed close-ups, there’s a lens here for every style and situation. Explore these options to find the perfect fit for your photography bag.
1. Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM
| Brand |
Brand
Sony
|
| Lens Weight |
Lens Weight
516 g
|
| Maximum Aperture |
Maximum Aperture
f/ 1.4
|
| Focal Length Range |
Focal Length Range
50 mm
|
| Image Stabilization |
Image Stabilization
 |
The Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM is a 50mm lens of the highest quality. Super optical sharpness is paired with a super-fast aperture to give you excellent creative control.
This lens is especially good at capturing sharp, detailed images across the frame, giving you exceptional image quality. Its two XA elements and one ED glass element work together to minimize aberrations, ensuring your photos have accurate colors and clear details.
Its fast f/1.4 maximum aperture is a top selling point, making it a top pick for low-light photography and achieving a shallow depth of field. The blurred bokeh effect is extra rich and smooth thanks to the 11-blade rounded aperture diaphragm.
Weighing 516 grams, it’s relatively light for its class, making it easy to carry around for daily shooting. Its build quality and weather sealing make it reliable in various shooting conditions, from dusty streets to damp landscapes.
Its minimum focusing distance of 41 cm might limit its use for close-up shots compared to alternatives like the Sony FE 50mm f/2.8 Macro, which allows for closer subject proximity.
Autofocus is another area where this lens excels, thanks to its two XD Linear Motors. They ensure quick and precise focusing, which is crucial for capturing fleeting moments in street or event photography. While it lacks built-in image stabilization, pairing it with a Sony camera body that has in-body stabilization can help save shots from camera shake.
The Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM is one of the most versatile prime lenses out there. While perhaps out of the price range for beginners, it’s a must-have lens for everyone from enthusiasts to professionals.
2. Sony FE 50mm f/1.8
| Brand |
Brand
Sony
|
| Lens Weight |
Lens Weight
186 g
|
| Maximum Aperture |
Maximum Aperture
f/ 1.8
|
| Focal Length Range |
Focal Length Range
50 mm
|
| Image Stabilization |
Image Stabilization
|
The Sony FE 50mm f/1.8 is the best 50mm prime lens for beginners. It’s lightweight, compact, and affordable, making it the perfect place to start if you want a versatile 50mm prime for your Sony full frame camera.
Its f/1.8 aperture allows for shooting in low light and creating photos with a blurred background. This gives you the creative control to shoot anything from portraits to street photography.
Its optical setup includes an aspherical element that helps improve image clarity. The autofocus isn’t the fastest and makes some noise, but it is accurate in good lighting.
At just 186 grams, it’s easy to carry and use for long periods. It’s also compact, so it’s a perfect fit for camera day bags like the Wandrd Duo Daypack.
This lens has a straightforward build, mostly of high-quality plastic, which contributes to its lightness. While it lacks weather sealing, the wide aperture range is sufficient for bright results in most daytime situations.
Offering incredible value, the Sony FE 50mm f/1.8 is the best 50mm lens for beginners and casual photographers.
3. Sony E 50mm f/1.8 OSS
| Brand |
Brand
Sony
|
| Lens Weight |
Lens Weight
202 g
|
| Maximum Aperture |
Maximum Aperture
f/ 1.8
|
| Focal Length Range |
Focal Length Range
50 mm
|
| Image Stabilization |
Image Stabilization
 |
The Sony E 50mm f/1.8 OSS is the best 50mm lens for Sony APS-C (crop sensor) cameras. With a fast aperture, image stabilization, and sharp optics, it’s the perfect partner for your Sony a6600.
We love to see an f/1.8 aperture on a 50mm lens. It gives you more control over your exposure settings, even producing sharp images in low light. But it also gives you a shallow depth of field, enhancing portraits and product shots with a beautiful bokeh background.
Its Optical SteadyShot (OSS) is a big advantage, providing up to four stops of image stabilization. This allows for slower shutter speeds with less risk of motion blur and reduces camera shake if you’re shooting video from hand.
Its autofocus is quick and reliable in well-lit environments, though it may slow down in lower light.
Weighing around 202 grams, this lens is light and easy to handle, making it a good option for photographers who value mobility. Despite its plastic construction, it is sturdy enough for regular use. However, users should note its lack of weather sealing and take precautions when working outdoors.
The Sony E 50mm f/1.8 OSS combines portability, image quality, and stabilization, making it a popular choice for Sony APS-C camera users.
4. Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM
| Brand |
Brand
Sony
|
| Lens Weight |
Lens Weight
778 g
|
| Maximum Aperture |
Maximum Aperture
f/ 1.2
|
| Focal Length Range |
Focal Length Range
50 mm
|
| Image Stabilization |
Image Stabilization
|
The Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM is the best 50mm Sony lens for professional photographers. A lens of the highest quality, it’s a perfect match for Sony’s high-resolution mirrorless cameras.
Exceptional light intake from the f/1.2 aperture gives you unparalleled low-light performance, allowing you to work in dim conditions without resorting to using a tripod or artificial lighting.
An aperture that fast also gives you an ultra-shallow depth of field, bringing a new level of artistry to your photography. An 11-blade rounded diaphragm also enhances the richness of your bokeh, giving you a smoother blur and more clearly defined shapes.
It’s surprisingly light for a lens of this class, making it a practical option for day-long shoots. The build quality is robust and designed to withstand the demands of professional use, with weather sealing offering protection in bad conditions.
Thanks to four Extreme Drive linear motors, the AF support is incredibly responsive. And despite the speed and precision of the motor, it’s also practically silent.
Practical controls give you more hands-on control when shooting. There’s a manual focus ring, a focus hold button, and a focus mode switch for precision focus control. And there’s an on-lens aperture ring, giving you a traditional photography experience.
The Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM combines exceptional sharpness, fast autofocus, and beautiful bokeh into a durable, weather-sealed package. It’s an excellent choice for professionals and serious enthusiasts who prioritize optical performance and creative control.
5. Sony FE 50mm f/2.5 G
| Brand |
Brand
Sony
|
| Lens Weight |
Lens Weight
174 g
|
| Maximum Aperture |
Maximum Aperture
f/ 2.5
|
| Focal Length Range |
Focal Length Range
50 mm
|
| Image Stabilization |
Image Stabilization
|
The Sony FE 50mm f/2.5 G is the best 50mm lens for video production. Whether you’re a filmmaker, documentarian, or vlogger, this lens gives you the best video results. The versatility also means you can use it for all kinds of photography, including portraits, travel, and street photography.
The lens impresses with sharp, clear images and minimal distortion thanks to its sophisticated design that includes aspherical and Extra-low Dispersion (ED) elements.
Its f/2.5 aperture, while not the widest, still allows for effective low-light shooting and a decent bokeh effect. Autofocus is quick and silent, enhancing the shooting experience in both stills and video.
The lens’s compact size and light weight (174 g) make it an ideal companion for photographers on the move, offering ease of use without sacrificing image quality.
The Sony FE 50mm f/2.5 G is a good option for photographers and videographers who want a lightweight setup without compromising on image quality. Its durable build and weather sealing add to its appeal, making it suitable for a wide range of shooting environments.
6. Sony FE 50mm f/2.8 Macro
| Brand |
Brand
Sony
|
| Lens Weight |
Lens Weight
236 g
|
| Maximum Aperture |
Maximum Aperture
f/ 2.8
|
| Focal Length Range |
Focal Length Range
50 mm
|
| Image Stabilization |
Image Stabilization
|
Thanks to its 1:1 magnification ratio, the Sony FE 50mm f/2.8 Macro excels in capturing detailed close-up shots. This lens allows photographers to explore the world of macro photography, capturing intricate details of small subjects with clarity and precision.
Despite its specialized macro capability, this lens maintains the 50mm focal length’s natural perspective, making it suitable for portraits and everyday shooting.
Its f/2.8 aperture provides a good balance between light intake and depth of field, making it versatile for both macro work and general photography.
Weighing 236 g, the lens is lightweight and compact, ensuring it doesn’t add much bulk to a photographer’s bag. Its construction is solid, featuring weather sealing that protects it in various conditions, from dusty landscapes to damp environments.
The autofocus is accurate, though not the fastest, which is typical for macro lenses where precision is key.
The Sony FE 50mm f/2.8 Macro is a great starter lens for photographers interested in macro photography. It’s an affordable entry point into this specialist field, and you can still use it for other types of photography.
7. Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG DN | A for Sony E
| Brand |
Brand
Sigma
|
| Lens Weight |
Lens Weight
660 g
|
| Maximum Aperture |
Maximum Aperture
f/ 1.4
|
| Focal Length Range |
Focal Length Range
50 mm
|
The Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG DN | A stands out for its exceptional optical quality and wide aperture. Part of Sigma’s Art line, it’s designed for photographers who demand sharpness and clarity in their images.
With a maximum aperture of f/1.4, it excels in low light conditions and provides a shallow depth of field, making it perfect for creating striking portraits with smooth bokeh. This lens is a solid choice for those looking to capture detailed shots with exceptional clarity.
Weighing around 660 g, it balances well on Sony E-mount cameras and offers a comfortable shooting experience. Its robust build and weather sealing make it reliable in various shooting environments, from studio settings to outdoor adventures.
The autofocus is quick and precise, ensuring you never miss a moment, whether it’s a fleeting street scene or an intimate portrait.
The Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG DN | A is a versatile yet high-performing lens that’s ideal for professional photographers and serious enthusiasts alike. Its wide aperture, sharp optics, and durable construction make it a valuable addition to any camera bag.
8. Sigma 50mm f/2 DG DN | C for Sony E
| Brand |
Brand
Sigma
|
| Lens Weight |
Lens Weight
345 g
|
| Maximum Aperture |
Maximum Aperture
f/ 2.0
|
| Focal Length Range |
Focal Length Range
50 mm
|
| Image Stabilization |
Image Stabilization
|
The Sigma 50mm f/2 DG DN | C blends high-quality optics with a compact design. Its f/2 aperture creates pleasing bokeh and performs well in low-light conditions, making it a versatile choice for a variety of photography genres, from portraits to street scenes.
Despite not having the widest aperture in its class, this lens impresses with its sharpness and the ability to control aberrations effectively, ensuring crisp and clear images.
The lightweight and compact design make it easy to carry around for long periods, appealing to photographers who value mobility. The lens’s construction is solid, featuring weather sealing that protects against the elements, making it reliable for outdoor use.
Its autofocus is fast, accurate, and quiet, working just as well when shooting video as with photography.
The Sigma 50mm f/2 DG DN | C is a solid option for photographers looking for a blend of portability, optical performance, and durability. Its image quality and user-friendly design make it a valuable addition to any Sony user.
Conclusion: The Best 50mm Lenses for Sony
Any Sony user can enhance their photography and videography with one of the best 50mm lenses for Sony cameras. Highlighting key features like low-light performance, optical sharpness, and autofocus support, we’ve shown the wealth of choices Sony users have available when it comes to 50mm lenses.
The Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM is our top choice, chosen for its exceptional image quality and versatility. It stands out among the eight lenses reviewed, offering a blend of performance and reliability. The other seven lenses also present good options, catering to different needs and preferences, so there’s a 50mm lens for any Sony photographer.
