The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sony DT 50mm F1.8 SAM and the Sony 50mm F1.4 for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
Size and Weight Comparison
The size of a lens is a crucial factor to consider when comparing two lenses. Sony DT 50mm F1.8 SAM is the longer of the two lenses at 45mm. The Sony 50mm F1.4 with a length of 43mm, is 2mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sony DT 50mm F1.8 SAM also has a larger diameter of 70mm compared to the Sony 50mm F1.4's 66mm diameter.
The weight of a lens is equally significant as its external dimensions, particularly if you intend to handhold your camera and lens combination for extended periods. Sony DT 50mm F1.8 SAM weighs 170g, which means it is 52g (23%) lighter than the Sony 50mm F1.4 which has a weight of 222g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Standard Prime Lenses in Sony Alpha Mount for size comparison purposes.
Standard Lenses in Sony Alpha Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Sony DT 50mm F1.8 SAM has a filter size of 49mm whereas the Sony 50mm F1.4 has a 55mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 49mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Sony DT 50mm F1.8 SAM:
And these are the 55mm filters that we recommend for the Sony 50mm F1.4:
Lens Mounts
Both the Sony DT 50mm F1.8 SAM and the Sony 50mm F1.4 has the same Sony Alpha lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Sony Alpha lenses are Sony A68, Sony A77 II and Sony A58.
Focal Range
Both lenses have the same focal range of
50mm but while Sony DT 50mm F1.8 SAM has the fastest aperture of
F1.8, the Sony 50mm F1.4's widest aperture value is
F1.4.