Sony FE 50mm 2.5 G

Highly Recommended – a superb standard lens that delivers the highest quality and handles beautifully.

The Sony FE 50mm f2.5 G is a compact standard prime lens that aims for portability but also delivers on quality, even mounted on modern high-res bodies with the aperture wide-open. Details are sharp across the frame whether shooting closeups, portraits or landscape views, and the quality out-of-the-gate proves it’s very practical to shoot at the maximum aperture. Focusing is quick, precise and quiet, and it’s impressive to find a focus hold button, declickable aperture and weather-sealing all crammed into such a small barrel. My only complaints are focus breathing (which will mostly only bother some videographers) and background rendering that’s inevitably busier and less smooth than higher-end models. Overall the Sony FE 50 2.5 G stands out in a crowded market of standard primes by packing respectable quality and decent features into a compact barrel at a tempting mid-range price. It out-performs budget 50s and is sufficiently good to leave the more expensive models to perfectionists and bokeh fiends. A solid general-purpose prime for anyone who values portability without compromising quality.