I have been waiting to give these lenses a try for months, and after waiting what seemed like an eternity, I have finally received my review unit of the Zeiss Loxia 50mm F/2 for the Sony FE mount. Today, I am going to go over my initial impressions of the lens, and how I see this fitting into an E-mount shooter’s kit.
[RELATED: Zeiss Announces Loxia FE Mount Lenses]
Initial Thoughts On Zeiss Loxia 50mm F/2
Being one of a few 50mm focal length lenses with a native FE mount, the Zeiss Loxia 50mm F/2 is a lens that many Sony A7 series shooters, or those looking into the FE system, are curious about. Sony and Zeiss have the spectacular 55mm F/1.8 that is one of the sharpest lenses ever tested, and that lens has AF.
So where does that leave the Loxia, a manual focus only 50mm lens, which costs roughly the same as the 55mm? In an interesting place, that is for sure. Being someone who likes using old vintage film lenses for the great manual focus abilities on my A7 II, the Loxia is especially interesting to me as it is a lens that offers me all the latest advances in lens technology, along with that wonderful manual focus experience that I have come to love.
Upon receiving the 50mm F/2 lens, I quickly realized that this was the 50mm lens of my dreams. Don’t get me wrong, I love the Sony/Zeiss 55mm F/1.8. It has an excellent image quality, and its AF makes shooting a much quicker experience. As someone who shoots boudoir, it is important for me to make my clients look great and using a manual focus lens like the Loxia forces me to slow down and really take in each shot before pressing the shutter. The precise focus control with the focus ring is wonderful and is something just not possible on the focus by wire 55mm F/1.8.
The Loxia looks and feels like a premium lens, with its all metal construction and smooth focus ring. Its aperture ring is also a nice thing to have, as most lenses these days no longer include them.
Does this make the Loxia good for everyone? No, I wouldn’t use it in any situation where you need to be quick, like a wedding or action scenario. But if you enjoy a manual focus experience and have the time to slow down, this is a lens you will enjoy immensely.
I have not had a chance to use it yet during a boudoir shoot, but I did take a few test images here for you all to take a look at. I will continue to play with this guy for the next couple weeks, at which point you can expect my full review.
Loxia 50mm F/2 Sample Images
I am looking forward to playing with this some more, but I am curious what questions you all have about it. So speak up, what interests you about this lens? What concerns you about it? Let me know and I will address it in the comments below and possibly in my final review.
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