In this review, we will be comparing Samyang 50mm F1.4 FE and Sony FE 50mm F1.8, two Standard Prime lenses from Samyang and Sony. Both lenses have the same focal range of 50mm but different max apertures: Samyang 50mm F1.4 FE has a max aperture of F1.4 while the Sony FE 50mm F1.8 has a max aperture of F1.8. Another major difference between these two lenses is that the Samyang 50mm F1.4 FE has a max format size coverage of Sony E, on the other hand the Sony FE 50mm F1.8 has a max coverage of 35mm FF.
We will start with briefly looking and the main specs of these two lenses and in the section, we will start analyzing in more detail and list the pros and cons of each lenses.
What type of photography are the Samyang 50mm F1.4 FE and Sony FE 50mm F1.8 lenses good for?
The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Samyang 50mm F1.4 FE and the Sony FE 50mm F1.8 for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
| Photography Type |
Samyang 50mm F1.4 FE |
Sony FE 50mm F1.8 |
| Bird/Wildlife | Fair | Fair |
| Sports | Average | Average |
| Portrait | Excellent | Excellent |
| Travel | Good | Good |
| Street | Very Good | Very Good |
| Wedding | Excellent | Excellent |
| Walk Around | Good | Good |
| Vlogging | Good | Good |
| Landscape | Good | Good |
| Macro | Poor | Poor |
Size and Weight Comparison
Size of a lens is an important deciding factor when comparing two lenses.Samyang 50mm F1.4 FE is the longer of the two lenses at 98mm. The Sony FE 50mm F1.8 with a length of 60mm is 38mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Samyang 50mm F1.4 FE also has a larger diameter of 74mm compared to Sony FE 50mm F1.8's 69mm diameter.
Weight of a lens is as important as its external dimensions, especially if you are planning to hand hold your camera and lens combination for longer periods. Sony FE 50mm F1.8 weighs 186g, 68% (399g) lighter than the Samyang 50mm F1.4 FE's weight of 585g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the 'Standard Prime Lenses in Sony E Mount for size comparison purposes.
Standard Prime Lenses in Sony E Mount for Size Comparison
Lens Mounts
Both Samyang 50mm F1.4 FE and Sony FE 50mm F1.8 has the same Sony E lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Sony E lenses are Sony A7R V, Sony FX30 and Sony A7 IV.
Focal Range