Sony FE 1.8/55 ZA T* Review

[Phillip Reeve]

When it was released the FE55 received very positive reviews but I found it to be too expensive to buy. Now that prices have come down a bit I bought one and I have to say that I am really impressed by it, it is a significant upgrade from the classic lenses I normally use. 

 

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The short version of my Sony FE 1.8/55 ZA Review:

good

•  
• sharp across the frame from f/1.8
• very smooth bokeh
• built quality
• very high contrast and excellent flare resistance

average

• size
• value
•  

not good

•  
• manual focusing experience
• LoCA
• onion rings
•  

 

 

 

 

[kiawui]

I bought the A7II and was seriously contemplating between the 55 1.8 and 35 1.4. Bit the bullet and got the 35 1.4. Really loved it. I would love to have the 55 1.8 too because of the size and sharpness but like you said it's not cheap esp when I got the 35 1.4 already. . Have you shot with the 35 1.4 before? What comments would you give with regards to this 2 lens disregarding the focal length?

 

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[seb]

It's a great lens, it's hard to change after it is put on the body.

 

I like the style of the pictures. Did you use a filter on the lense, or only lightroom?

[yali]

Wow. I really like your pictures! You gave me some great ideas to try when my A7RII arrives =)

[cengell]

Hello Phillip, really like shot #1 & #3, what did you use for image processing, if you would explain what you did?

 

Really nice!

 

Christopher

[Phillip Reeve]

Have you shot with the 35 1.4 before? What comments would you give with regards to this 2 lens disregarding the focal length?

No I haven't, the price is out of my leaque and the size a bit offputing. I really liked the images other people posted. Personaly I would pice a 55 over a 35 if I could only choose one.The bulk of the 35 would make that choice easier for me. If I did a lot of reportage work I would prefer the 35.

[Phillip Reeve]

It's a great lens, it's hard to change after it is put on the body.

 

I like the style of the pictures. Did you use a filter on the lense, or only lightroom?

  

Hello Phillip, really like shot #1 & #3, what did you use for image processing, if you would explain what you did?

 

Really nice!

 

Christopher

I used Lightroom to process the images, I wrote more detailed blog post about postprocessing some time ago. ere you go

[zlatko]

That is a very good and informative review.  Thank you! 

[bbphoto]

Hey, great review and awesome shots! Loving what I'm seeing from this lens. 

 

As it stands, I just switched to sony and its my only lens at the moment. It's very sharp and all, but I've found the CA, as you've mentioned to be worse than I expected. I've only seen rave reviews and am wondering if it's my copy or everyone's that exhibits such CA. Have a look below at the crops to see examples of some bad cases. 

 

Note that the tree was shot wide open, while the table set was shot at f/2.5

 

Thanks!

 

 

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