In this blog, I will share with you my review of the Sigma 50mm f/2 prime lens. I’ve been using this lens for a few months, have taken some of my favourite photos with it, and can finally give you my verdict on whether this lens is a good option for your Sony camera. For clarity, I purchased this lens with my own money, and I have no affiliations with Sigma.

Purpose

This is designed to be a compact and fast prime lens. f/2 is plenty for most scenarios and the overall footprint is minimal, meaning this lens will be suitable for many different bodies. A 50mm prime is a must-try for every photographer, and this is a pretty tempting offering from Sigma. The Sigma also offers a great package at a very competitive price point.

Focal Length

50mm is an incredibly useful focal length and is best suited to street photography and portraiture. This is my go-to focal length when I want to practice my street photography and push myself creatively. In particular, 50mm is great for highlighting the subject without worrying too much about the bigger scene. I use 50mm as a learning tool and to sharpen my skills. While I personally don’t shoot portraits, this is a classic portrait focal length.

Build Quality

The lens feels solid with a sturdy all-metal build. The focus dial is smooth and well damped. The aperture dial has solid, distinct clicks. This feels more solid than a lot of Sony’s offerings and it’s a similar level of feel to something Leica would make. For the price, I was expecting a much cheaper lens; however, the build quality blew me away. I can also say that the lens withstands scratches very well. After hours of being rattled in my sling without a case, or around my shoulder, it hasn’t picked up a single mark.

Size & Weight

The lens is small considering the fast aperture; however, it’s on the heavier side. The amazing build quality I just been talking about comes at a price, which is weight. By no means is this a heavy lens; however, on a smaller body like the A7C, you can feel the weight a little compared to something like the Sony 40mm f/2.5. On a bigger body like the A7R, you won’t really notice any difference. If you don’t need f/1.4, then this f/2 offers a huge size advantage and can be the difference between your camera fitting in your sling or not.

Features

If you’re used to the luxuries of Sony’s higher-end lenses, you might be disappointed. While this lens has all the essentials you might need, such as an aperture ring, focus ring, and AF/MF switch, that’s it. There are no custom buttons or other switches. I’m a little bummed out about the lack of custom buttons because it’s a feature I use all the time on my Sony lenses, but I guess it’s a compromise to keep costs lower. While you do get a gasket around the mount, the rest of the lens isn’t weather sealed. As for the features it does have, they are very well implemented, with everything being incredibly smooth and tactile to use.

Image Quality

All modern lenses have fantastic image quality, and I feel we’re at the point where any modern lens above £500 will produce good results. I can’t say anything specific about the 50mm f/2. The image is tack sharp, the bokeh is nice, and the colours render as they should. No issues at all.

AF Performance

The AF is very good and you will not have any issues with it for photo or video. However, if I’m being objective, it’s a little slower than what you’d get on a Sony lens. Every time I use the Sigma after shooting with a Sony lens, the reduction in focus speed is noticeable. By no means is this a slow lens and most people might not even notice the difference, however if you pay attention it’s there. I suspect this is due to the Sigma having stepping motor while many of the high end Sony lenses having linear motors. I also suspect that given it’s third party, there will never be a 100% like for like performance compared to a native lens. I would like to repeat and make it very clear that this lens is amazing at focusing and you will not have any issues at all.

Summary

If you’re in the market for a fast and compact 50mm prime, there are many options, however I feel this Sigma offers the best bang for your buck. At f/2, you’re covered for low light photography and portraiture. The small size means it’s easier to carry around, and for many people, this might be the perfect street photography lens. I haven’t tried other 50mm lenses and I can only compare it to the 50mm f/1.4 from Sony, which is nearly 3 times the price and noticeably bigger and heavier.

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