Sony SAL-50F18 50 mm F/1.8 DT SAM Lens

If like me you've loved and cherished the classic Minolta AF 50mm f/1.7, F4 'Beercan' and other classic metal and glass constructed lenses from Minolta's back catalogue of 25+ years, you'll be surprised no doubt that Sony have released a 21st century replacement in the form of the SAL50F18 as a direct replacement for the Minolta 50F17.

OK, so it's make from modern plastic materials unlike it's metal and glass predecessor, which makes it lighter, though still quite robust and with a plastic mount which isn't a problem. As far as I'm aware, no negative reports have been filed because of faulty plastic mounts, so we can leave that aside.

What's important is the image quality, sharpness and colour rendition which the SAL50F18 delivers in spades just like it predecessor and is arguably as good if not better. The bokeh (the out of focus background) is buttery smooth, and this lens is a worthy replacement to the Minolta 50F17.

There is no requirement for a lens hood as the front element is buried deep in the body of the lens and thus is naturally shielded from stray light rays.

One minor issue is the small manual focus ring and a slightly louder AF motor than the 50F17, but other than that, this lens hits the spot in just about every area that's important to any photographer that's looking for an afforable quality prime lens.

The front thread diameter is 49mm, which is the same as the 50F17. A superb portrait lens and one that I'm happy to recommend to anyone.

The Sony DT 50mm f/1.8 SAM (SAL50F18) is a light, bright portrait lens offering superb optical performance at a price that’s irresistible to first-time DSLR users. With a wide f/1.8 aperture, it’s ideal for capturing crisp, beautiful portraits in natural light with smoothly defocused backgrounds. AF performance is quiet and precise thanks to the inbuilt Smooth Autofocus Motor (SAM).

It is my second prime lens I bought for my Sony a200 and I am very impressed with the results.My other prime lens is a Sigma 105mm f2.8. You can immediately see the improved quality in the photos compared to the kit lenses. I'm not a pro but am very happy with this lens and would recommend it to anybody looking for a sharp fast lens.

I bought this lens to fill a spot in my bag and started using is as my primary lens. It has great focal length and ease of use with my Sony A55 camera. It is good to always have a good basic lens besides the various telephoto lens. This is a great lens that I recommend.

For the money this lens is a must for any Sony Alpha user. I took very nice and crispy portrait pictures. Great sharpness and great auto focus!!!