SonySony SEL55F18Z.AE 55mm f/1.8 ZA Lens - Black

This is one of the two original prime lenses that were released at the same time as the first generation Sony A7 and A7R cameras (the other lens being, of course, its tiny brother - the Zeiss Sonnar 35mm f2.8.) So - here's what I consider to be its good and bad points:• This lens is SHARP. From f2 onwards, it's scalpel-sharp - right across the image frame. This performance level only appears to decline on the other side of f11, when the effects of diffraction unfortunately begin to degrade the resolved image quality on my A7R. Having said this, I am aware that some buyers have complained about receiving decentred lenses...• Externally, build quality is good. The outer lens barrel is constructed from aluminium (the supplied 'petal' type lens hood is part metal, part plastic), and all exposed surfaces are suitably protected by a coating of satiny black paint• Colour rendition seems pretty neutral (perhaps slightly on the cold side), but this is something that I personally don't object to when shooting RAW• Native distortion levels aren't really too much of a concern. Chromatic Aberration is generally well controlled, too - although I do find that dark silhouettes against a defocused blue sky background can annoyingly sometimes produce conspicuous blue fringe halos. Occasionally, some yellow fringing will also be present. Thankfully, vignetting only becomes an issue at the widest apertures. There will be some coma in evidence, however• The bokeh is perhaps not as 'creamy' as you would expect from a Zeiss Loxia 50mm f2; but the combination of a nine-bladed aperture mechanism and the ability to open the lens up to f1.8 produces pleasing results, nonetheless - although the lens's aspheric elements can certainly introduce some oddly shaped specular highlights at times!• The lens is sealed against the intrusion of dust and moisture, but oddly - there's no seal around the lens mount itself (such as you will find on the aforementioned Zeiss Loxia 50mm f2 lens)• As with many modern digital lenses, this 55mm characteristically produces acceptably rich but slightly 'flat' two-dimensional representations of what should be recognisably three-dimensional subjects within the frame. I find that I'm routinely manipulating distortion and contrast levels quite significantly, when working with RAW files, in order to restore a sense of structural depth!• Using this lens on my A7R (which I must acknowledge is somewhat hampered by its reliance on a contrast-detect AF system), the auto-focusing speed unfortunately seems little better than average• The grooved focusing ring is a decent overall size and seems to rotates fairly smoothly in use. Unfortunately, the fact that it isn't actually connected to a mechanical focusing mechanism (the lens makes use of an electronic 'focus-by-wire' adjustment system) soon becomes disappointingly apparent. For twisting the focusing ring produces such an inconsistent response - devoid of any tactile feedback - that you're often left wondering whether you are actually making any progress at all!• This lens accepts 49mm screw-in filters, which are readily available. However, you do need to ensure that you use only high quality filters in order to preserve the lens's very high imaging standards (I would recommend B+W or Zeiss filters)• It's not a broad or particularly weighty lens, but the barrel is certainly long enough to make it feel 'nose heavy' on a comparatively light camera like my own A7R• It is perhaps no surprise that a move to electronic diaphragm control systems (and the need for easy weatherproofing) has led to the disappearance of the good old-fashioned aperture ring from many modern lenses - and along with it, the useful accompaniment of those depth-of-field markings: it is certainly the case with the majority of these Sony-originating FE lenses, anyway. But losing the distance scale as well is still quite a shock to the system - especially if, like me, you're not terribly good at visually estimating distances! Yes - when focusing manually, I do know that my A7R can visually display a distance scale; but as I can personally confirm - this facility is not really of much help when you're using the camera in AF mode!• Further to the previous point, no printed depth-of-field tables are provided with this lens (you have to depend on 'focus peaking', instead, which I'm afraid isn't implemented very reliably on the A7R - and again, it is only available in MF mode• That Zeiss name commands a lot of respect in photographic circles, I know; but whichever way you look at it, this is very expensive for what is in essence an f1.8 standard lens! The price tag doesn't become any more palatable when you discover that this lens is being made by Sony in Thailand (at least, my own example was!) - and NOT in Germany, by Zeiss. Nevertheless, this in all probability is the sharpest lens that I have ever used• You only get one year's standard warranty cover (provided by Sony), whereas genuine Zeiss lenses (i.e., lenses made for and sold by Zeiss, not by Sony) currently receive a standard three-year warranty in the UK. (You have to pay extra if you want to extend the Sony warranty to match)• A drawstring lens case is usefully supplied as standard (although it isn't deep enough to close properly with the lens hood fitted in the 'ready' position)In summary:In terms of its performance, this is a lens that delivers! You can assuredly regard this as being one of the very few native FE lenses that is sharp enough to tax the A7R's 36MP sensor - and it is therefore probably a lens which owners of that particular camera should consider buying. If this was a 35mm f1.8 or 85mm f1.8 lens*, I would of course be absolutely delighted. As it is, the slightly peculiar 55mm focal length does tend to 'fall between two stools' on a full-frame camera - being neither wide enough for general landscape photography, nor long enough for comfortable portraiture (on an APS-C camera, the performance is equivalent to a rather more useful 82.5mm f2.7.) For all its undoubted qualities, I can't quite shake the suspicion (on a full-frame camera, at least) that this is a lens in search of a use - rather than a lens that fulfils a specific role or purpose...All the same, the levels of sharpness and consistency being offered by this lens are truly outstanding; and on this basis, I can therefore wholeheartedly recommend it!(* ...but see the new and very impressive Sony SEL85F18 E Mount Full Frame 85 mm F1.8 Prime Lens - Black!)

I have a pretty exotic collection of Nikon pro glass that includes the unreal 200mm f2 vr2, the 85mm f1.4, 24mm f1.4 and also the Sigma 35mm f1.4 which I consider my absolute best and favourite lens just for the unbelieveable image quality and build quality at such an amazing price point compared to the Nikon lenses. However, the 200f2 and 85f1.4 have to be the sharpest lenses in my kit bag when you get it right that is.In comes the Zeiss 55mm f1.8. I've only had the A7R for 3 weeks and have been using my 85mm f1.4 for some portrait work via a Novoflex adaptor, and stone me the IQ from the 36mp non AA filtered sensor is quite frankly disgustingly unreal. Every single pore in the skin, nose hair, skin hair, blemish or mark is so visible you can't help yourself but pixel peep just for the fun of it. It's like you've taken a macro shot standing 3 yards away from your subject. I knew the 55f1.8 was good based on the reviews online, but it wasn't quite expecting it to be as good as it is! At f1.8, using the manual focus and peaking to get the critical focus spot on, this thing is so damn sharp and renders incredibly. Some have said that 55mm is a bit of a dead zone for focal length with no real purpose, but I say this lens is an astonishing portrait lens indeed. The bokeh is so smooth and delicious, it is tack sharp even wide open, and stopped to f2 or f2.2 this thing is like a samurai sword fresh off the sharpening wheel.I've only used this lens for a couple of days but in a nutshell it is astonishingly good. It is much much smaller and lighter than I am used to as well, but the build quality is superb, it looks great and feels so damn good on the A7. I cannot wait for Sony to release an 85mm f1.8 and a 35mm f1.8. For now my Sigma 35mm retains the titles as the best lens in my bag, which still staggers me considering how unbelievable the 200f2 and Zeiss 55f1.8 are, but Siggy just got that lens sooooo right.Anyway, buy the Zeiss, it's a keeper.

This is the second identical lens I have purchased. The previous one lasted about 7 years and was, y a mile, my favourite. Accidental damage (my fault) meant I immediately bought a replacement. Arrived without a lens hood but seller was responsive and refunded the price of a Sony replacement: excellent customer service. Impressed by product and seller,

amazing edge to edge sharpness. great resolution. very useable wide open at f1.8 infact best i have seen in any lens wide open. little vignetting that could see. I knocked off a star as the focus rings collects dust and bits as does the interior of the hood. but that's mr being picky. all in all on a A7r or A7s it's a challenger to medium format in my opinion.

Paired with my Sony Alpha A7iii! What a superb lens! Sharp.... Super super sharp! And tiny and lightweight! Wasn't expecting it to be so small and lightweight for a Zeiss F1.8 lens! Have used it to photograph the Christmas lights on Oxford Street and London area and also used it for some star trail photography thanks for the fast F1.8 aperture and... Just fantastic photos! Definitely loving this lens and it's living up to my high expectations for it and even more! Highly recommended!

Shipping was horrible as it was done by UPS (it was mentioned delivered when it wasn't, as it was passed to the other shipping companies to deliver it to a much more isolated island, thus tracking isn't available, and once the other shipping company signed for the package, it can't be claimed/tracked anymore, hence it arrived weeks later than the appointed date.)Sharp lens as mentioned in most of the comments! Even though I'm an amateur at photography, the pictures taken were really smooth and bright, great apperture and shutter speed for amazing night photography/astrograph! Also loving the build quality, nice solid slick and "trusty" piece of art! :D