In this review, we will be comparing Sony DT 50mm F1.8 SAM and Sony 50mm F1.4, two Standard Prime lenses by Sony. Both lenses have the same focal range of 50mm but different max apertures: Sony DT 50mm F1.8 SAM has a max aperture of F1.8 while the Sony 50mm F1.4 has a max aperture of F1.4. Another major difference between these two lenses is that the Sony DT 50mm F1.8 SAM has a max format size coverage of APS-C / DX, on the other hand the Sony 50mm F1.4 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 Sony DT 50mm F1.8 SAM and Sony 50mm F1.4 lenses good for?
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:
| Photography Type |
Sony DT 50mm F1.8 SAM |
Sony 50mm F1.4 |
| Bird/Wildlife | Fair | Fair |
| Sports | Average | Average |
| Portrait | Excellent | Excellent |
| Travel | Average | Good |
| Street | Good | Very Good |
| Wedding | Excellent | Excellent |
| Walk Around | Average | Good |
| Vlogging | Average | Good |
| Landscape | Average | Good |
| Macro | Fair | Poor |
Size and Weight Comparison
Size of a lens is an important deciding factor 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 Sony 50mm F1.4's 66mm 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 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 Prime Lenses in Sony Alpha Mount for Size Comparison
Lens Mounts
Both Sony DT 50mm F1.8 SAM and 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