Sony 50mm f/2.8 Review - The Best Sony Macro Lens On a Budget

[@DavidJohnstonPhoto]

Get a free copy of my ebook, The Landscape Photography Handbook, here: www.davidjohnstonart.com/ 👆🏻

[@Rabe1907]

For me, the 50 mm macro lens is the best " always " - objektive of all. I love it ❤ !

[@RickMentore]

Nice work here DJ! My Sony 90mm macro is cool for portrait and in studio, however focus breathing makes too difficult for outdoors as in garden. I look into acquiring this 50mm!

[@evenatienzaart]

I just received this lens and I am very excited by its resolving power and versatility. Not only do I now have a very sharp lens with extremely precise focusing at a normal focal length, but also true macro capability. The sharpness of the lens reveals the high resolution of my A7 RII; and when this lens is used on my A7 RII in APS-C mode (18 mp), or an APS-C camera (24 mp), I also have an effective focal length of 75 mm, so I can get usable macro shots at a more comfortable distance away.

[@surajbaruah9785]

Hi David, needed some suggestions, what will be the difference if adding a macro extension with this lense, can i have ultra macro photos through the extension kit and this lense

[@michaelajoseph6856]

Thank you for a great review!

[@nsilva800]

Nice video! If you want a super fast autofocus macro lens you get a raynox dcr-150 or 250 you get two 43-49mm filter ring you attach it to a sel55210 oss lens on a câmera like a6500 and you get a Speedy 1x 2x 3x macro zoom lens ! I think this combo probably would autofocus quick on that bird you could get 2 or 3 sharp macro shots of it !!!

[@nikonmark37814]

Does anyone make a bad macro lens? NO! I do a lot of macro with my Sony a850, a900 and a77 using the A mount Sony 50 f2.8, 100 f2.8, Tamron 60 f2 and Tamron 180 f3.5. Of all these lenses my favorite is the 180, super sharp and amazing quality at a bargain price!

[@Princeton_James]

The tamron 60 f2 is one of my favorite lenses ever.

[@jdw715]

Not aspect ratio. It's magnification ratio.

[@ManlyHK1]

What is aspect ratio n why is 1:1 important? What would the image look like if it’s 1:2 or something?

[@Ginette688]

Thank you for all the helpful tips. I think you have a UV filter on there. Do you recommend using a UV filter in this lens?

[@Rabe1907]

I use a 55 mm clearfilter B&W. That' s great ❤ !

[@Giuliジュリー]

Came here for the button explanation and i was not disappointed. Thank you.

[@DavidJohnstonPhoto]

Right on

[@kbruff2010]

Good review and explanations.

[@DavidJohnstonPhoto]

Thanks Kevin. Hopefully this info on the Sony 50mm f/2.8 will help you out!

[@deepocean3603]

I’ve just purchased a Sony A7iii with a Sony 35mm 1.8 lens for product photography. I’m wanting a shallow depth of field look, but it seems to blur too much (blur is encroaching on the edges of product). I’ve tried various settings with the Aperture, all with same results. I wonder if this Sony 50mm macro would help my end goal better? I also heard zeiss is a quality choice too. Thanks for your help!

[@DavidJohnstonPhoto]

I didn’t find any of that. Some of my shots were as wide as possible and other were at f8.

[@deepocean3603]

David Johnston thank you for the feedback... I’m hoping the local camera shop will allow me to try out the lens to ensure it is the right route for the shots I’m trying to achieve.

[@DavidJohnstonPhoto]

Right on

[@ToxicChaos]

Nice review. I wanted a macro for a long time. Seems i found the one. 50mm seems good!

[@DavidJohnstonPhoto]

Thanks for watching!

[@alansarpy]

have you used the sony 30 mm 3.5 macro?? i want a macro lens, is it worth spending extra and getting the 50 mm f2.8??

[@DavidJohnstonPhoto]

It’s worth it. The move from f/3.5 to f/2.8 may not seen substantial but when you’re talking macro, it’s a huge difference

[@alansarpy]

David Johnston ok thank you!

[@DavidJohnstonPhoto]

Thanks for watching!

[@gemhad]

macro lense for macro photography. Thanks for clarifying.

[@DavidJohnstonPhoto]

Anytime.

[@KevinHackett]

This would work for video as well right?

[@choppaa4204]

if you're filming bugs yes

[@Mr7ish]

Hey David, I just got a Sony a6500. I need a lens for toys/action figure photography. The lens you're reviewing, is it best for what I'm doing? If not what are other options?

[@DavidJohnstonPhoto]

I think this lens would be very good for that!

[@Mr7ish]

Is this my only option? What other models/brands can I choose from?

[@michaelajoseph6856]

You can try Sony sel 30mm 3.5 macro specially made for a6*** cameras (APS-C sensor size).

[@Nila9946]

What camera did u use? Is this lens fit to sony A5100?

[@DavidJohnstonPhoto]

It will! I used an a6000

[@htw007]

@@DavidJohnstonPhoto have you used e-mount to a-mount ring and if yes what ring? do you have any link for the ring?

[@muhammadfaisyalalauddinmuk6646]

Haloo david, Did you use this lens for your Apsc body? I guess it is only for Full frame body

[@DavidJohnstonPhoto]

Yes for my apsc Sony a6000

[@daisukevideo]

Macro lens is very interesting! I also have one. I enjoy shooting every day ♬ Thank you for the video! With love from Japan :)

[@DavidJohnstonPhoto]

Hello! I love Japan!

[@OmaGhomrawi]

Good Video David. Thanls!

[@DavidJohnstonPhoto]

Thanks for watching!

[@Someone-ue6on]

Hello 👋🏼 David! Is this lense better than the 90mm E mount?

[@DavidJohnstonPhoto]

I think so!

[@1234nicklim]

your intro is so good

[@DavidJohnstonPhoto]

Thanks!

[@Moemorca]

thank you

[@DavidJohnstonPhoto]

Thanks for watching!

[@Ginette688]

Does this lens shoot good portrait photography too?. What would the bennifet be to spend the money on the 90 mm Sony macro. Your pictures are so good makes me want the lense-but it may be your skills!!

[@DavidJohnstonPhoto]

Not sure as I don’t do any portraits. I only do nature and landscape photography

[@kbruff2010]

Good video, subscribed and thank you

[@DavidJohnstonPhoto]

Thanks for the sub!

[@paulchapman7169]

I spent some time playing with one of these and I found the autofocus practically unusable. By comparison my Panleica M4/3 45 macro is perfect in this respect. It seemed to work fine as a manual lens (I normally shoot Leica so that is ok). I really liked the focal length which suits me for documentary photography of craftsmen and details of their work but that autofocus is so frustrating. The question is whether there is a manual alternative that will suit the Sony A7iii?

[@Rabe1907]

Focusbegrenzer einschalten !!!

[@ridingdreamer]

Nice review, actually you did it honestly. Helped me. Still thinking this or Voigtlander 65.

[@DavidJohnstonPhoto]

Glad you enjoyed it and that it was helpful! Thanks for watching!

[@aoclive6710]

Can I use this lens on my Sony a7 mii

[@DavidJohnstonPhoto]

If it’s an E mount camera

[@Cagey7531]

This guy knows nothing about macro, getting closer at 1:1 is not a good thing, you can get 1:1 with much greater working distance with longer FL macro lenses.

[@alfredteh]

Hey David, does your 50mm f2.8 macro make some clicking noise while you are doing manual focusing? For instance, please check this video out. kzbin.info/www/bejne/d3WqZImGetmUf8k Thanks. Hope to hear from you soon.

[@DavidJohnstonPhoto]

Not that I’ve noticed!

[@alfredteh]

Hmm, so there are no weird clicking sound like there is a sand stuck in the focus ring while manual turning the focus for 360 degrees at some point right? What do you think about my lens? focus bearing fault? or simply normal case?

[@DavidJohnstonPhoto]

It has to be something in the focus ring if that's when the clicking sound is happening.

[@reviewmaster9469]

Wtf is this dude saying 1:1 aspect ratio?? It's 1:1 magnification ratio.....

[@kbruff2010]

Firstly Thank you

[@DavidJohnstonPhoto]

Right on!

[@강희건]

over exposure, and talking about lens.........well...declining trust dude...but nice review

[@DavidJohnstonPhoto]

I still appreciate you watching

[@jdc2126]

You talk waaay too much and very little to show. Show us samples of close up bees or something.

[@DavidJohnstonPhoto]

Did you watch the video of this lens in use? It gives tons of examples

[@tinplater]

@@DavidJohnstonPhoto He doesn't want flowers, he wants bugs!